Today's Tune: "Rise Brother Rise" By Soulnaturals Featuring Lotus D

Ray Lewis brings trophy into home stadium rally, after parade - Baltimore, MD February 5, 2013.
Photo © Baltimore Ravens.

Lately, I've been getting into a lot of Soul and R & B music. More particularly, I have been checking out artists and bands within these genres of music, that are of British origin. One of my favorite British groups to listen to right now are the Soulnaturals, especially when featuring singer Lotus D at the lead. Read on to find out why they were chosen for this 'Today's Tune' post, here at Junior's Eyes.

I live in an area near Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. Therefore, it's impossible for me to not be aware of the Baltimore Ravens, our local NFL team. I would have to describe myself as being an extremely casual fan of American football, at least until my local team gets into the playoffs. Of course, I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Obviously, I was rooting for the Ravens. Defenseman Ray Lewis has been one of the team's most respected leaders, and the incredibly popular player had announced weeks ago he was to retire after this season. So for that and many other reasons, I was very hopeful that he and the Ravens could go all the way, and win Super Bowl XLVII. I was so glad that they did win, and are now the Super Bowl champions, for a second time. See Ray's tweet from the plane ride home. It was fun to see who else was joining in, and showing interest, too.

Good luck today to both competing USA squads in your local version of the Grey Cup.#playsafe#fairness#hydrate#huddleupcuddleup

— Brent Butt (@BrentButt) February 3, 2013

For me, the song that kept coming to mind during the playoffs and championship game, was "Rise Brother Rise". It's the latest single by the Soulnaturals, featuring Lotus D, and it's our chosen track for this 'Today's Tune'. Their London, England recording label, British Soul Standard, even chimed in on the Superbowl via Twitter.

How many of you are watching the #superbowl tonight? Who are you supporting??? #Ravens!!!

— BritishSoulStandard (@BritSoul) February 3, 2013

I tweeted the audio shortly before the game. Yes, I'm on the Twitter, now! Anyway, here it is, followed by the official video.

#RayLewisRise Brother Rise and Claim Your Prize!Soulnaturals feat. Lotus Dsoundcloud.com/soulnaturals/r…Go Ravens!#Ravens#RavensTalk

— Dan, Jr. (@DanJunr) February 3, 2013

Soulnaturals Featuring Lotus D - "Rise Brother Rise"

Ray Lewis does his game day dance at home stadium rally, after parade - Baltimore, MD February 5, 2013.

Today's Tune: "Rock This Town" By Stray Cats

Lee Rocker at Uptown, Kansas City MO in July of 2007.
Photo credited to Hozark on Wikipedia.

Rockabilly style double bass player Lee Rocker was born in Long Island, New York on August 3, 1961. Rocker is best known for his time playing in the band Stray Cats. With that in mind, we celebrate his birthday with their popular track "Rock This Town", from their 1981 UK debut album 'Stray Cats'. The song debuted in the US on the album called 'Built For Speed' in 1982.

Others born on August 3rd include: 1926 - American jazz and "standards" singer Tony Bennett ("Smile", "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", "The Good Life"), 1940 - American actor Martin Sheen ('That Certain Summer', 'Apocalypse Now', The West Wing) and in 1966 - Genius Canadian stand-up comedian and actor Brent Butt (Definitely Not The Opera, "Nothing Rhymes with Saskatchewan", Corner Gas).

Deaths of that occurred on the 3rd of August include: Genius American stand-up comedian and social critic Lenny Bruce ('The Lenny Bruce Originals', 'Let The Buyer Beware' , 'How to Talk Dirty and Influence People') in 1966, and in 1995 London born American film actress and director Ida Lupino ('Anything Goes', 'The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes', 'The Food Of The Gods') passed away.

Stray Cats - "Rock This Town" on Fridays (TV) in 1981 or 1982.

Corner Gas Hockey

Since the 2008-2009 NHL Hockey season is now under way (Tomorrow night for the Washington Capitals ), I thought I'd post a few "Corner Gas" video clips that include the best sport man has ever conceived. OK, that may be a weak excuse, but I don't care. These are two of my favorite things.

Season 1 - Episode 12: "Face Off" Part 1



Season 1 - Episode 12: "Face Off" Part 2



Season 1 - Episode 12: "Face Off" Part 3

Click here to see "The Tragically Hip" / Corner Gas music video.



Season 5 - Episode 19: "Final Countdown" Clip

So, is Kiefer Sutherland a Hockey Blogger?

Fill Up With Laughs At Corner Gas

"Corner Gas" is one of my favorite TV shows. I just can't get enough of this continuously top rated and award winning Canadian comedy, created by standup comedian, actor, writer, executive producer Brent Butt. Many US fans have gotten hooked on this CTV original since WGN America started airing it last year.

Production of the sixth and unfortunately final season finished three weeks ago. The first episode of the season will air on CTV in Canada on Monday night, October 13th. It remains a mystery when WGN America will start showing the new stuff. Ending the series was Butt's idea. He would rather end the show while it's still doing well, than wait until it's grows tired and stale.

For those of you that aren't familiar with "Corner Gas", the following includes parts of a description of the show and some Brent Butt background from Corner Gas Online.

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Forty kilometres from nowhere and way beyond normal is Corner Gas, an ensemble comedy series about a bunch of nobodies who get up to a whole lot of nothing in the fictional prairie town of Dog River. StarringSaskatchewan native and Gemini winner Brent Butt, Corner Gas is a roadside service station and is also the first original narrative comedy series in Canada. So far, the series has been honoured with the numerous awards and nominations ...

... Corner Gas focuses on the life (or lack thereof) of Brent LeRoy, proprietor of a gas station that is the only stop for miles around and a hub of action on the Prairies. As LeRoy, Canadian Comedy Award winner and series creator Brent Butt returns to his native province to portray the life he would have led had he gotten a real job: pumping gas in a small prairie town.


Dog River is a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Populated by a group of regular folks, the town's many "distinguished” residents include Brent’s parents Oscar and Emma (Eric Peterson and Janet Wright), coffee shop owner Lacey Burrows (Gabrielle Miller), his best friend Hank Yarbo (Fred Ewanuick), police officers Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal) and Karen Pelly (New Waterford Girl’s Tara Spencer-Nairn) and retail assistant Wanda (Nancy Robertson) ...

... “With genuine characters and a gentle pace, Corner Gas is a comedy that is instantly likable,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV’s President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group. “Brent Butt is one of Canada’s most respected and funniest comedians for a reason: he has broad appeal and a generous comedic approach."

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"Corner Gas" may be ending by Spring of 2009, but Brent already has a pilot for a new show in the works. The new show is called "Hiccups". Both Brent Butt and his real life wife Nancy Robertson, whom he met through doing Corner Gas, will be in the cast.

If you watch "Corner Gas", you'll notice it has two great theme songs. Each episode has always started with "Not A Lot Goin' On" by Craig Northey and Jesse Valenzuela. Northey also wrote the closing tune "My Happy Place". One thing I should mention about people from Saskatchewan. They don't like it when you point out how flat it is. I mean it, don't ever mention how flat Saskatchewan is.

*Photos from Cornergas.com



Brent Butt on "The Hour" after Season 5



Season 1 - Episode 6: "World's Biggest Things" Smashdown



Season 5 - Episode 14: "Contagious Fortune" Highlights