Thundercat's new single features Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald
January 27, 2017 6:21 AM Subscribe
You might know him from collaborations with Kendrick Lamarr, Flying Lotus, and Erykah Badu, but Thundercat is a "multi-genre bassist, producer and singer" in his own right.
The first single from his upcoming album Drunk, "Show You The Way" somewhat unexpectedly features yacht rockers Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.
About the track, he's said "That song to me is about going down the rabbit hole, taking you to another place," he said. "On the edge of dark, there’s the brightest light. It means a lot to me in the sense of... the experience that I’ve had growing up with friends and people that I’ve been around where it’s inviting them into where I come from emotionally. Sometimes it’s a pretty intense thing. The point is how weird things can get. I feel like it’s very funny that, in a way, of course Michael McDonald and Kenny would be there."
About the track, he's said "That song to me is about going down the rabbit hole, taking you to another place," he said. "On the edge of dark, there’s the brightest light. It means a lot to me in the sense of... the experience that I’ve had growing up with friends and people that I’ve been around where it’s inviting them into where I come from emotionally. Sometimes it’s a pretty intense thing. The point is how weird things can get. I feel like it’s very funny that, in a way, of course Michael McDonald and Kenny would be there."
It appears there's a sequel to Tron Song on this album - instant buy.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:32 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jason_steakums at 6:32 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Something about the hi-hat is irking me. It keeps sticking out in a way that distracts me from the dulcet tones of our erstwhile maritime legends.
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:46 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:46 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes. I love Kenny Loggins' music almost irrationally.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:47 AM on January 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:47 AM on January 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wanna hear MonoNeon do "Takin' It To The Streets" now....
posted by thelonius at 7:13 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 7:13 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thundercat on His Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins Collab “Show You the Way”
posted by SteveInMaine at 7:14 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by SteveInMaine at 7:14 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Michael McDonald would send me a voice memo and I would break down crying, man."
posted by thelonius at 7:16 AM on January 27, 2017
posted by thelonius at 7:16 AM on January 27, 2017
A wonderful Thundercat track with some amazing voices from the past, ending with what? That's right, the Extra Continue sound from Sonic the Hedgehog. You know, just in case you were still on the fence about buying this album.
posted by pianoblack at 8:02 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pianoblack at 8:02 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Yacht Rock," aside, Michael McDonald is a fine singer, and Kenny Loggins has his moments especially with Jim Messina, plus his guest starring on Method Man's ill fated sitcom shows he has a sense of humor.
posted by jonmc at 8:19 AM on January 27, 2017
posted by jonmc at 8:19 AM on January 27, 2017
I'm not totally sure what "Yacht Rock" is, but it feels derogatory, and I take exception to that when referring to an important member of both Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, who has not only recorded duets with virtually every single great vocalist of the latter 20th century, but apparently maintained enough of a sense of humor about himself to record a Trey Parker song for the South park movie. The man is a philanthropist, I've gathered a friend and inspiration to just about any working singer you can think of, and he even managed to give his kids non-insane names. I get that he helped define the sound of a bygone and now somewhat hokey era (that seems to be coming back??), but he is by any measure among the greatest vocalists and artists of our time.
Sorry for the rant, I just generally feel like Michael McDonald doesn't get a fair shake in the popular lens.
posted by cmoj at 9:46 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sorry for the rant, I just generally feel like Michael McDonald doesn't get a fair shake in the popular lens.
posted by cmoj at 9:46 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Yacht Rock" is not derogatory.
Ask me how I know.
How I know may involve a self-link.
posted by emelenjr at 9:54 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ask me how I know.
How I know may involve a self-link.
posted by emelenjr at 9:54 AM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not totally sure what "Yacht Rock" is, but it feels derogatory
Yacht Rock, Episode 1.
And I hope you're giving Phil Collins the same due, respect-wise.
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:08 AM on January 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yacht Rock, Episode 1.
And I hope you're giving Phil Collins the same due, respect-wise.
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:08 AM on January 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
I kinda unabashedly love Yacht Rock and this track is going to be my new jam.
I got to see a double-bill of Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs a few years back and it was AMAZING
posted by smirkette at 12:12 PM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I got to see a double-bill of Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs a few years back and it was AMAZING
posted by smirkette at 12:12 PM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Kind of unfair to designate Michael McDonald as Yacht Rock when he sang on some of the 1970s darkest records with Steely Dan. The Royal Scam, for example.
posted by grounded at 4:09 PM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by grounded at 4:09 PM on January 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Like smirkette, I am unapologetic in my love of smooth music. This is a great song.
posted by MrBadExample at 11:17 PM on January 27, 2017
posted by MrBadExample at 11:17 PM on January 27, 2017
Apologies for feeding the derail monster here, but I just stumbled on Michael McDonald singing lead vocals on a song with Grizzly Bear that I hadn't heard before and wanted to share it.
posted by SteveInMaine at 5:31 AM on January 28, 2017
posted by SteveInMaine at 5:31 AM on January 28, 2017
Kind of unfair to designate Michael McDonald as Yacht Rock when he sang on some of the 1970s darkest records with Steely Dan. The Royal Scam, for example.
From my "didn't live through that time" perspective, Steely Dan is definitely Yacht Rock sonically. I don't see it as pejorative by any means, however - to me the term is a certain late 70s California sound, all smooth keyboards and guitars, very well produced. It can be trite or have bite, depending.
posted by solarion at 10:13 PM on January 28, 2017
From my "didn't live through that time" perspective, Steely Dan is definitely Yacht Rock sonically. I don't see it as pejorative by any means, however - to me the term is a certain late 70s California sound, all smooth keyboards and guitars, very well produced. It can be trite or have bite, depending.
posted by solarion at 10:13 PM on January 28, 2017
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posted by greenish at 6:24 AM on January 27, 2017 [4 favorites]