Dance Your Ass Off

Your next opus can wait.

First off, I’d like to say “hello” to my Medium buds. I’ve been a bit out of the loop as of late. As far as my keeping up with all the reading I need to do in order to support my fellow writers, I’m “tipped” out and definitely tapped out. I don’t think I can look at another story about how to navigate the new algorithm. But, tomorrow is another day.

That said, this is not a story about Medium. How to make money on Medium, write more on Medium, get laid on Medium, etc.

Today, I’m focusing on dancing. Dancing like no one is watching. Dancing like Beyonce. Dancing like it’s your last day on earth. Because sometimes, you just gotta.

Specifically, I’m talking about gettin’ down to kickass R&B artist, Miguel. Full name: Miguel Jontel Pimentel. The first time I heard this guy was on an episode of the HBO series, “Girls.” The song that grabbed me by the heart and also, the loins, is called “Simplethings.”

I was blown away by Miguel’s rich, flawless vocals and also, by the track’s production quality. Very “wall of sound” Ala 60s mega-hit-producer and legendary bad boy, Phil Spector, who was charged with the 2003 murder of bit actress, Lana Clarkson.

As a point of reference, Spector’s genius was visceral — both heard and felt on such iconic hits as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “River Deep, Mountain High.”

Spector created his signature sound by having a number of electric and acoustic guitarists perform the same parts in unison, adding musical arrangements for large groups and/or orchestral musicians, and then recording the sound using an echo chamber.

If the 60s might as well be the Dark Ages for you (even if you’ve seen “Top Gun”) give a listen to “Simplethings” and you’ll get a taste of what I’m talking about.

To me, Miguel is a mix of some of my favorite R&B, Soul and Funk artists. A little bit Marvin Gaye. A little bit Prince. A little bit Brothers Johnson. The dude’s got some pipes. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s fine. If you care about that sort of thing.

The funny thing is, after I heard “Simplethings” I really didn’t do a deeper dive into Miguel’s music — until recently — when I heard a track off of his latest CD “War & Leisure.”

The track is called “Pineapple Skies” and it is killer. It’s bouncy. It’s sexy. It positively shimmers.

Kristi Keller, I’m just guessing here but I bet you’d love this. I can see you shakin’ it like a salt shaker in my mind’s eye. You, too, Katy Velvet and Robin Klammer and Susan Brearley and Estacious(Charles White) and Michelle Monet and Adam, Diabetic Cyborg and Charlene Fate and maybe even you, too, P.G. Barnett! Or any and all of you funkified Medium-ites.

Usually, I find this annoying, but I’m kind of digging that “Pineapple Skies” has been running in a continuous loop in my brain. I can’t seem to turn it off. If nothing else, it pushes out most of the bad shit. Check it out:

My husband works at home four days a week and, since, I’m home as well, that’s a lot of together time. Normally, he’ll go out for a couple hours in the afternoon, just to get the hell out of the house. When he does, that’s my “me” time. Or, my me and Alexa time.

I’ve been giving that staccato-voiced chick quite a workout of late. And it’s always the same song: You guessed it: “Pineapple Skies.”

For some reason, Alexa calls it “Track 2,” as it’s the second track on his CD, but it’s “Pineapple Skies,” nonetheless.

When she plucks it from the millions of songs on Amazon Prime, that’s my cue to get crazy. And I do. I dance around my kitchen like a maniac, to the bemusement of our three cats. I’m pretty damned good, too.

I’ve always loved to dance. When I was a kid, I wanted to be either a writer or a dancer when I “grew up.” It’s such a pure and natural form of expression. Even if you have two left feet. Dancing is also a great workout, especially if you give it your all.

I wanted to share this music with you today because, I know that like me, many of you are stressed out and burned out. Keeping up with things here is hard work. Fucking hard work, if you’ll excuse me. So take a few moments for yourself. Dance your ass off.

Listen to this song. It’s impossible not to want to move something. Even if you’re stuck in a chair.

I’ll probably be droppin’ it like it’s hot around 4pm CST. Who wants to join me?

Sherry McGuinn is a longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

As always, thanks for reading, guys. I hope you like this. If so, I have a few more for you:

Also, please consider following, as well as writing for my pub, Rogues’ Gallery.