LET LOVE REIGN

There are many musicians who have made an impact in pop culture.  Artists that were game changers in their respective genres like – Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Mary J. Blige and Sade.  Today, not many artists have the same impact but have made stood considering today’s music is very generic.  In an era where hip/hop and rap rules, there have been leaders and followers.  Some of the artists making an impact today include – Rihanna, Beyoncé, Eminem, Lady Gaga and Drake.  But what of those artists that somehow fly under the radar and that have contributed brilliant music?  Such artists like – Faithless, Joi Cardwell, Billie Ray Martin, Roisin Murphy, The Knife, Deee-Lite, Oh Land, Robyn, Royksopp and Bjork.

Kristine Weitz – known as Kristine W, has been an active artist – mainly in the dance/club scene in North America.  Her first commercially released single, “Feel What You Want” was a success in Europe and became her first of 8 consecutive Billboard Club Play #1 hits.  Saying this, let’s take a look at her body of work.  As mentioned, Kristine’s first number one hit on a Billboard Chart, was “Feel What You Want”.  Since then, Kristine W has tallied 16 number one singles on Billboards Club Play Chart.  As of April 2015, Kristine W is currently in the top 5 artists with most number one’s on this chart.  Here is the current ranking of most number 1’s on Billboard’s Club Play

1. Madonna (44)
2. Beyoncé and Rihanna (22)
3. Janet Jackson (19) 
4. Mariah Carey and Donna Summer (17)
5. Kristine W and Jennifer Lopez (16)

For an artist who hasn’t had much airplay on commercial/pop radio, it’s pretty amazing to be in a ranking with such high-profile artist such as Beyoncé, Rihanna and the Queen of Pop – Madonna.  As a matter of fact, Kristine W was named Billboard’s # 3 artist of the 2000’s only behind Beyoncé and Madonna. 

In my opinion, Kristine W, has released one of the best pop/dance/electronic albums – Land of the Living.  This album is a perfect amalgamation of pop/jazz/club and electronic music.  Land of the Living is a powerful and passionate album that comes from the heart and a place of love.  It’s an album that has a message about perseverance, determination and becoming independent.  Land of the Living reinforces that the dance community is not only about beats, fun and drugs but that it cares about social issues and is as legitimate as the other genres in pop culture.

Here is a bit of background surrounding Kristine W’s releases:

• She has released 8 full-length albums:  Perfect Beat (1986, re-released in 1994), Land of the Living (1996), Stronger (2000), Fly Again (2003), The Power of Music (2009), Straight Up With A Twist (2010), New and Number Ones (2012), New and Number Ones Club Hits Part One (2013), New and Number Ones Club Hits Part Two (2014). 
• Has officially released 20 singles.
• All of her commercially released singles were # 1 singles on the Billboard Club Play Chart except, “I’ll Be Your Light” (2), “So Close To Me” (2), “Everything That I Got” (4) and “Love Come Home” (4).  “Love Come Home” war originally released in 1994 and did not chart.
• Her most successful charted single was, “One More Try” which hit Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and peaked at # 78.
• Her album “Straight Up With A Twist” includes jazz and chill out reinterpretations of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven”, Donna Summer’s “On The Radio” and Eagles “Take It To The Limit”.  It also includes reinterpretations of her own classic hits, “Wonder of It All”, “Stronger”, “Some Lovin”, and “Feel What You Want”.

I have had the opportunity of seeing Kristine W each time she has come to the Toronto, Ontario Canada region and even met her on several occasions.  She really does give everything she’s got when performing and greeting her fans.  I am inspired of how hard she works to get her music out to her fans especially without the backing of a major record label. 

I continue to have much of her music on repeat on my phone, computer, home stereo and record player!  Yes, I revisit and play vinyl as often as I can – the music is so crisp and clear on vinyl.  It also provides that comforting ‘old school’ feeling of when the purchase of music was just as exciting as listening to it.  I have many favorite singles from all of her albums.  It’s hard to pick one song that is the best but, there is always one song I always go back to when I need motivation, inspiration and a reminder that LOVE can conquer anything.  That song is “Let Love Reign”.  Hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me.  Here are the lyrics, YouTube audio follows:

Let Love Reign  

There’s a kingdom that lives
Maybe it’s only in my mind
Where love reigns all the time
Do you believe? I still believe

Our brother’s sleeping all alone in the park
His head is resting on a pillow of hope
Then he says dance for me, he gives me smiles for free
He trades a joke for mine and the world is fine

And we let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It will be coming back to you
Let love reign

A rich man’s sitting on his velvet couch
His kingdom rains until he’s drowned in my dreams
And then he says sing for me, give me your song for free
I’d trade his soul for mine if I could only make him kind

And he would let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It’s coming back to you

There’s a kingdom of kindness where love is
And a rainbow will come with the rain’s kiss
And love remains when love reigns

Let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
And everything you do
It will be coming back to you

‘Cause only love reigns
With my love reigns
Everything you do
Is coming back to you

I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns
I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns

I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns
I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns

I do believe
I do believe
I do believe
Let our love reign

 

This song is from Kristine W’s 3rd official release, Stronger (2000).  It also includes the hits, “Stronger”, “Clubland”, “Lovin’ You” and “All That Glitters”.  You can purchase all of Kristine W’s music by visiting her official site:  www.kristinew.com or via the iTunes store.   

 

We are all responsible for spreading love and positive energy into the world ensuring that LOVE will reign.

 

 

Top Images – Covers of Kristine W’s first album (Land of the Living) and second album (Stronger)

Bottom Images – NoH8 campaign photo and the cover of her latest single, 2014’s “Love Come Home” remixes all available via Kristine W’s website, www.kristinew.biz

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

 

THE POWER OF MUSIC AND LYRICS – KRISTINE W

The previous post I wrote about the power of music and lyrics showcased the vocal talents of Celine Dion and the song “Call The Man”  On today’s blog, I want to showcase an artist who is fully engaged in the process of creating, writing and playing inspirational music and lyrics.  The artist is Kristine W (Kristine Weitz).  Kristine isn’t a household name but is definitely in great company.  Billboard named her the 3rd best dance artist of the 2000’s, only behind Beyoncé and Madonna.  Kristine is also in the top 10 all-time artists with the most #1 singles on Billboard’s Club Play Chart, she has had 16 of her 18 released songs reach the summit on this chart.  Kristine continued to work at The Las Vegas Hilton, two 90 minute shows a night, six nights a week, while working on her follow to her debut album Land of The Living up entitled; Stronger.  She performed there until 1999, writing and performing songs that would later be featured on the album. Kristine performed more shows than Elvis, and on her final night – June 28th, 1999 – the Governor made that date Kristine W Day in the state of Nevada.

Kristine’s most successful and only Billboard Hot 100 single was from the album Land of The Living.  “One More Try” reached # 78 on that chart.  Prior to the release of “One More Try”, The dance/club community were introduced to Kristine W by way of her first official release “Feel What You Want”.  The track was written by Rob Dougan, Rollo Armstrong and Kristine W.  Kristine W challenges the listener to think outside the box and really feel what you want to feel….and that there is no shame in feeling what you feel.  She entices people to feel what is going on around them and to let love be the conduit in that feeling.  Here are the lyrics followed by the official video where Kristine W channels various personas.  I have also included Kristine’s reinterpretation of “Feel What You Want”, which is included in the fantastic double cd:  Straight Up With a Twist.

FEEL WHAT YOU WANT

The sun rises at nine departs at five
Ain’t doing overtime no more
Because in this world of color
The brightest picture is plugged right into your wall
And maybe there’s a million people singing shoeshine blues
To no one that they’ve ever met before and
Indifference is a drug that I see people buy
at the local store, local store
You, you, you think a little love is all you need
But love is such a small thing can’t you see
I think you’ll find it sits in a book and
changes the words that you read

You just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be
Oh
You just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be

The man in the moon has a cold in the back of his head today
So dark is the river as the old bridge of lovers
finds it’s getting washed all away
There are three wise men in the darkness of the desert
Still trying to be finding their way
The tables have been laid and the food has been served
But the cost of eating is too much for most to pay

You think a little love is all you need
But love is such a small thing can’t you see
I think you’ll find it sits in a book and
changes the words that you read

You just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be
Oh
You just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be

Feel it, feel it
Go ahead now go
Well, you just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be
Oh
You just feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel
What you want it to be

Feel what you want it to be
What you want it to feel

What you want it to be

The song transcends the dance floor – Kristine has reinterpreted this song several times after the initial release on her debut cd, Land of The Living (1996).  She reworked it on her double cd Straight Up With A Twist, she included a chillout version and jazzy version.  She also revisited the song in the 2009 release of The Power of Music and finally on her most recent releases; New and Number Ones (2012), New and Number Ones Club Hits Part 1 (2013) and finally on New and Number Ones Club Hits Part 2 (2013).

Whether you listen to “Feel What You Want”  in the car, on the radio, on your phone/mp3 player or at a club, it is evident that this song is another example of the collaborative efforts of individuals who are passionate about the power of music and lyrics.  We thank them for sharing their talents and providing the soundtrack(s) to our lives.

For Kristine W’s complete discography, touring information and to buy her music, please visit her official website:  www.kristinew.com you can also purchase Kristine’s music on iTunes.

May music and lyrics inspire you to create positive change in the world.

Together we can make the world a more positive one!

SONG OF THE WEEK – LET LOVE REIGN

Kristine W has been called the ‘Queen of Clubland’ and has had every single she released top the Billboard Club Dance Charts with the exception of “I’ll Be Your Light”, which peaked at number 2 and “Everything That I Got”, which peaked at # 4.  Kristine W – was named the 3rd best dance artist of between 2000 – 2009 (Beyoncé was #2 and Madonna # 1).  The only song to reach Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart was the single “One More Try” from the fantastic album ‘Land of The Living’ – the song peaked at # 78.

The ‘song of the week’ comes from Kristine’s ‘official’ 2nd studio album called ‘Stronger’ – it is called “Let Love Reign”.  The audio follows the lyrics.  Please note – the picture for the audio is not affiliated with Kristine W – it is a fan made audio.

LET LOVE REIGN

There’s a kingdom that lives
Maybe it’s only in my mind
Where love reigns all the time
Do you believe? I still believe.

A vagrant’s sleeping all alone in the park
His head is resting on a pillow of hope
Then he says dance for me
He gives me smiles for free
He trades a joke for mine
And the world is fine
And we let love reign
Reach out and don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It will be coming back to you
Let love reign

A rich man’s sitting on his velvet couch
His kingdom reigns
Until he’s drowning my dreams
Then he says sing for me
Give me your song for free
I’d trade his soul for mine if I could only make him kind
And he’d let love reign
Reach out don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It’s coming back to you

There’s a kingdom of kindness where love is
And a rainbow will come with the rain’s kiss
And love remains when love reigns

I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns
When love rains
Everything I do is coming back I know
And I will let love reign
Please believe and let love reign

For more information about Kristine W, complete discography, bio or to buy her latest music – New and Number Ones and New and Number Ones (Club Mixes) or any of her music, please visit www.kristinew.com or the iTunes store.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one.

 

SONG OF THE WEEK

There are not many dance/club artists that make the cross-over transition to the world of pop – they may not be happy about that, but I surely am!!!!  Case in point – KRISTINE W.  Kristine W has been on the club/dance scene, officially since the release of her first commercial single Feel What You Want and she hasn’t stopped.  She worked on her first ‘official album’ (she released an album entitled Perfect Beat in the mid 90’s) called Land of the Living consisting of club floor thumpers, gentle ballads and high energy dance songs.  The album produced the song One More Try which charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart (#78).  On Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart, Kristine produced 3 chart toppers from Land of the Living:  Feel What You Want, One More Try and Land of The Living.

In light of the release of her latest effort – New & Number Ones, I have selected Everything That I Got as the song of the week.  This is the second time I have chosen a Kristine W song as ‘song of the week’, and she deserves it.  I recently purchased New & Number Ones on iTunes and am very happy Kristine has returned to her club/dance roots.  This album is definitely a club floor filler.  Kristine W has reinterpreted  the classic Chaka Kahn hit, Through The Fire and filled it with infectious grooves and a high energy beat.  Kristine W also reinterpreted a ballad by Donna Summer called Sometimes Like Butterflies – this song is beautifully sung and is filled with so much emotion, it has a tinge of that classic disco sound but with an awesome new groove that only Kristine W can accomplish.  I am sure that Donna Summer would have loved this re-interpretation if she was still with us!  Sometimes Like Butterflies, is currently my favourite on the new album and reminds me of a song from her Stronger album called – Let Love Reign, it has the same kind of emotion.  Kristine has also revamped old classics; Feel What You Want, One More Try, Land of the Living and Lovin’ You.  The classic club floor anthem and un-released Don’t Wanna Think has been given new life as I Get Up and finally – Kristine W has pumped new life in the great house track Love Come Home.

I am looking forward to seeing Kristine W tonight, she will be signing copies of her latest cd in a Toronto, Ontario Canada at Woody’s.  I will also see her on her New & Number Ones club tour singing her latest hits at Fly Nightclub in Toronto, Canada.    Everything That I Got, her latest single, is currently # 18 on Billboards Club/Play chart and looks like it is poised to become her 17th # 1 on this chart.  New & Number Ones will be playing very loudly on all my listening devices for years to come, just like all of her other hits.

Kristine W was named Billboard Magazine’s # 3 Club/Dance artist of the decade (2000-2009) only behind # 2 Beyonce and # 1 Madonna.  Definitely no small feat.

Kristine W – Album Releases

• Perfect Beat (1994, Plain Rap Records)
• Land of the Living (1996, RCA Records) – containing 3 Billboard # 1 singles: Feel What You Want, One More Try and Land of the Living
• Stronger (2000, RCA Records) – containing 2 Billboard # 1 singles: Stronger and Lovin’ You
• Fly Again (2003, Tommy Boy Entertainment) – containing 3 Billboard # 1 singles: Fly Again, Save My Soul and The Wonder of It All.  Also contains # 2 single: I’ll Be Your Light”
• Hey, Mr. Christmas (2008 Fly Again Music) ***EP***
• The Power of Music (2009 Fly Again Music) – containing 7 Billboard # 1 singles: Walk Away (Tony Moran featuring Kristine W), The Boss, Never, Love is the Look, Be Alright, The Power of Music and Fade.
• Straight Up with a Twist (2010 Fly Again Music) ***jazz and chillout versions of Kristine W classic and reinterpretations of songs by some of Kristine W’s favourite artists.

The # 1 Billboard Club/Play single Some Lovin‘ (originally recorded by Liberty City) can be found on the American Queer As Folk Soundtrack.

To learn more about Kristine W, watch videos, discography or to purchase her fantastic music, please visit her official website or iTunes:

www.kristinew.com

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Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart and the Record Holders

Dance music has evolved so much throughout the years in the 70’s it was called disco, in the 80’s it was syth-pop, in the 90’s it was house music and now it is an amalgamation of pop, house and electronica.  Pop artists like; Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez are currently dominating Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart.   Dance music wasn’t really taken seriously as a genre – especially after the ‘death of disco’ but their has been a huge resurgence due to big name dj’s remixing and reinterpreting songs by big name pop stars like; Madonna, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé and Rihanna.

Dance music usually has been described as fun and energetic music without a real social message – this statement couldn’t be further from the truth.  Dance music is fun and energetic but many artists in the community are political and want to ensure their message to be heard, whether it be about social issues or political issues.  Deee-Lite ensured their fans get out and vote by recording a song called ‘Vote Baby Vote’.  Ultra Nate insisted we all be ‘Free’ to do what we want to do without any worry and Jay Williams made us ‘Sweat’ until we were soaking wet to stop racial intolerance.

Music is a great way to forgot about our worries and troubles – even for just a moment.  Dance music allows us to take those worries and troubles to the dancefloor and sweat them out!!!  Here is a list of the record holders who have 5 or more # 1 hits on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart:

58.  Aretha Franklin (5) **

57.  Christina Aguilera (5)

56.  Natasha Bedingfield (5)

55.  Snopp Dogg (5)

54.  Justin Timberlake (5)

53.  Seal (5)

52.  Shakira (5)

51.  Georgie Porgie (5) **

50.  Toni Braxton (5)

49.  Goldfrapp (5)

48.  Annie Lennox (5) **

47.  Bob Sinclar (5)

46.  Ce Ce Peniston (5) **

45.  Jamiroquai (5)

44.  Diana Ross (5) **

43.  Rosabel (5)

42.  Frankie Knuckles (5)

41.  Gloria Gaynor (5) **

40.  Inner City (5) **

39.  Nelly Furtado (6)

38.  Erika Jayne (6)

37.  Pussycat Dolls (6)

36.  Robin S (6) **

35.  Martha Wash (6) **

34.  David Morales (6)

33.  New Order (6) **

32.  Deee-Lite (6) **

31.  Mary J. Blige (7)

30.  Gloria Estefan (7)

29.  Pitbull (7)

28.  Lisa Stansfield (7) **

27.  Chaka Kahn (7) **

26.  Cher (7) **

25.  Barbara Tucker (7)

24.  Crystal Waters (7) **

23.  Ultra Naté (7)

22.  David Guetta (8)

21.  Britney Spears (8)

20.  Michael Jackson (8) **

19.  C & C Music Factory/Clivilles and Cole (8) **

18.  Kim English (8) **

17.  Ono (9)

16.  Kylie Minogue (9)

15.  Depeche Mode (9)

14.  Katy Perry (10)

13.  Enrique Igesias (10)

12.  Prince/Prince and the Revolution/Prince and New Power Generation (10) **

11.  Pet Shop Boys (10)

10.  Lady Gaga (12)

09.  Jennifer Lopez (13)

08.  Whitney Houston (13)

07.  Mariah Carey (15)

06.  Donna Summer (16)

05.  Kristine W (16)

04.  Beyoncé (18)

03.  Rihanna (18)

02.  Janet Jackson (19)

01.  Madonna (42)

*numbers in paranthesis indicate the total number 1 hits each artist has accumulated)*

**denotes artists who have not charted on this particular chart in the last 10 years**