What a day yesterday was. First Farrah, then Michael. I just want to set the record straight about some of the posts I made regarding Michael’s death. I don’t want everyone to think I’m some cold-hearted bitch (well, just a little anyway). As someone that was molested as a child, it’s hard to feel any type of sympathy for Michael. I understand his difficult upbringing and the challenges that I suppose all young children face when growing up in the limelight. I for one was a huge Michael Jackson fan from his early days with the Jackson 5 and the Saturday morning cartoon that spawned from their success to his breakout as a solo artist with Off the Wall. When Thriller came out and MTV began playing “Billie Jean” all bets were off. I remember being in Corpus Christi with my grandparents for Christmas or Thanksgiving, I’m not sure when, but the Thriller video came on MTV. I was completely blown away by the video. My uncle came in and saw it, then began screaming at my mother about how she could allow me to watch this evil shit. “Michael Jackson was the spawn of the devil” he shouted. This coming from the man that used to hide a bunch of Penthouse magazines in his closet and called me into the bathroom one time and pissed all over me. I digress.
I guess my point is that I prefer to remember Michael from parts 1 & 2 of his life. By the time Bad came out and his peculiarities began to surface, my admiration began to wane. Of course at the time I was really into alternative music so that probably had a lot to do with it. By the 90s, I didn’t even have a passive interest other than what was being reported in the news. So, I’m sorry if anyone is offended by my comments but just understand there is a Michael 24/7 news cycle coming to you throughout the summer and quite possibly through the end of the year. People’s fascination with him encourages the news outlets to continue to promote all the garbage that’s certainly bound to be spewed on a daily basis, not unlike Princess Diana.
While I can appreciate those of you who may have shed a tear or two after the official announcement of his death, it’s those people that allow this to ruin the next several weeks of their life until he’s laid to rest that I don’t get. So when I say “get a life” I really mean it. Either that or don’t be skipping your medication because I have little sympathy for your emotional drama (anon, that one’s for you).
With that behind me, I want to introduce you to the second installment of Catching Up with Freemasons. These guys are following up their awesome 2007 album Shakedown with Shakedown II. 
While the new album, which is released on Tuesday of next week, contains many unreleased gems that were only available as promos and included in these two mixes, there’s a bevy of new material including some hot classic a capellas which are probably a good hint of what’s to come. While I haven’t heard it yet, the tracklisting suggests massive hits to be released over the coming year(s). Frankly, you can thank Freemasons for this blog. I had stopped mixing in 2005 and completely got out all together, instead focusing on work. It wasn’t until later that year when Rick left town for his nieces quincenieta that a friend dragged me to Blake’s for a couple of cocktails that I heard “Mesmerized” by Faith Evans. Needless to say, I was blown away and my faith in club music had been restored. The rest is history.
I also want to make note that if you haven’t already, you should go ahead and re-sign up for my updates via the RSS feed or email or however you get them. If you’re wondering why you haven’t been receiving them, it’s because I had to change my feed due to some issues over at GoDaddy.com. I apologize for the inconvenience, and won’t mention it again.
I’ll be back later this evening with a HUGE update of Pride mixes from a variety of sources that have been good friends with this blog. If you don’t want to wait, you can click on everyone’s links under “Friends of the Family” and see what all they have in store for you. I also plan on being back sometime next week (hopefully by July 3rd) with the first of the BPM Summer Editions. I hope everyone has a fabulous and frivolous time at all the Pride events going on in your cities this weekend. I’ll catch you all this next week.
Until then…enjoy and HAPPY PRIDE!
Album : Catching Up with Freemasons
Disc : 2/2
Genre : Dance, House, Funky
Year : 2009
Total Time : 2:06:22.00
Track : 1
Title : Pjanoo (Freemasons Rebuild Mix)
Artist : Eric Prydz
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
Track : 2
Title : Deja Vu (Freemasons Club Mix)
Artist : Beyoncé
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
Track : 3
Title : Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) (Club Mix)
Artist : Freemasons feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Purchase : Xpressbeats
Track : 4
Title : When You Touch Me (2008 Club Mix)
Artist : Freemasons feat. Katherine Ellis
Purchase : Amazon
Track : 5
Title : Uninvited (Freemasons Mix)
Artist : Alanis Morissette
Purchase : Unavailable
Track : 6
Title : Ring The Alarm (Freemasons Club Mix)
Artist : Beyoncé
Purchase : Masterbeat
Track : 7
Title : In My Mind (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix)
Artist : Heather Headley
Purchase : Masterbeat
Track : 8
Title : Lovin’ You More (That Big Track) (Freemasons Remix)
Artist : Steve Mac vs. Mosquito feat. Steve Smith
Purchase : Juno
Track : 9
Title : C’mon Get It On (Freemasons Remix)
Artist : Studio B
Purchase : Juno
Track : 10
Title : Disco Lies (Freemasons Club Mix)
Artist : Moby
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
Track : 11
Title : Here Comes The Rain Again (Freemasons Remix)
Artist : Eurythmics
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
Track : 12
Title : If (Freemasons 2009 Re-Rub)
Artist : Freemasons feat. Hazel Fernandes
Purchase : Juno
Track : 13
Title : Watchin’ (Club Mix)
Artist : Freemasons feat. Amanda Wilson
Purchase : Juno
Track : 14
Title : Love Sensation ‘06 (Freemasons Club Mix)
Artist : Loleatta Holloway
Purchase : Juno
Track : 15
Title : Sandcastle Disco (Freemasons Extended)
Artist : Solange
Purchase : Masterbeat
Track : 16
Title : The One (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix)
Artist : Kylie Minogue
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
Track : 17
Title : (Don’t) Give Hate A Chance (Freemasons Remix)
Artist : Jamiroquai
Purchase : Shakedown II 06/29/2009
