Fun V. R. RetroQuiz 3- 1990’s Hip-Hop!

1) In Notorious BIG’s song Juicy, what 2 gaming systems were mentioned?

2) Fill in the blanks from the Fugees song Fu-gee-la: “Ohh La La La, _ _ _ _ _ _when we doing our thing.”

3) What is it that MC Hammer states “You cant touch”?

4) According to Ice Cube, what type of day was today?

5) In Mo Money, Mo Problems, Mase mentioned that only one thing had changed. What was that one thing?

6) In Mobb Deep’s Shook One’s, what is there no such thing as?

7) According to OutKast, where did all the playa’s come from?

8) In the Ruff Ryders anthem, what actions does DMX’s squad need to complete? (May be more than one answer)

A) Stop

B) Shut em’ down open up shop

C) Roll

D) Drop

E) All of the above

9) According to Juvenile, what were the original years that Cash Money Records were taking over for?

10) After they had to regulate, Warren G and Nate Dogg had a group of young ladies in the car with them. Where were they heading?

Thank you for taking the time out to complete my 3rd retroquiz! How did you score? Post your results in the comment section! Answers are below. Until the next time, enjoy life and never let it dictate how far you can make it!

V.R.

Answers: 1) Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis 2) It’s the way that we rock when we doing our thing. 3) This 4) Good 5) His Limp 6) Half way crooks 7) Far and wide 8) A, B, and D only. 9) The 99 into 2000 10) Eastside Motel

A Must See Twist To An 80’s Classic

Certain TV theme songs from the past had the ability to simply just make us feel good. Think back to when we were growing up. For some of us, I Love Lucy had a theme song that takes us back to a time where traditional family values were prime time, when the whole family gathered around the TV late at night. For others it may be the many different renditions of The Cosby Show theme, each with a slightly different groove from the original, but all ending with Bill Cosby’s face and that awkward smile at the end.

Then there was the theme of the hit show, Golden Girls. I never actually realized how much soul this theme song had until I came across this gospel style version by YouTuber Finally Aaron. His vocals are amazing and go perfectly with the actual song, especially around the 0:15 mark when he states “this is my part right here!” He really sings that part passionately and you can tell just how much he loves it when he takes his hair off! It is such a funny video that every time I watch it, i burst out laughing! All jokes aside though, Aaron has tremendous talent and I enjoy his content.

In conclusion, it just goes to show that even decades later many of us enjoy the culture of the past, especially television. From the theme of Mash to Family Matters. From the Knight Rider’s theme to the classic show Good Times, I believe it is safe to say that these songs bring back feelings of Nostalgia as soon as the music starts. I appreciate Finally Aaron entertaining us with such a funny and upbeat remix to a classic hit. Anytime someone uses their talent to put a smile on someone else’s face, I respect it. To all of my readers, “thank you for being a friend.” 🙂

V.R.

Memory Lane Moments Part 1- Friday’s Magic

It’s Friday, or as some say, Fri-YAY! Yes my friends it is Friday the 13th, but that is not what this post is about. This is about enjoying the moment, regardless of your circumstances. Spring is in the air! The temperature here in North Carolina is 78 degree’s and it’s good times. Bird’s chirping, fish jumping just ready to be caught, and the sun decided to hang around for a little longer each day. Nothing springs up the feelings of Nostalgia like spring!

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Remember back when most of us experienced Friday afternoon’s as a special time, especially in the spring? School was out, and my family typically either went out to various places if it was my father’s pay week, or we would eat great food gathered around the TV watching the TGIF lineup, headlined by the crazy Steve Urkel of the hit show Family Matters. After family TV time, my parents would allow us to have game nights on the NES! Oh how I loved playing everything from Super Mario Brothers to Mike Tyson’s Punch Out with my brothers in the back room!

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Some Friday’s it was Blockbuster video store nights. Other Friday’s we would head out into the rural area of Walkertown, NC and experience the Bel-Air drive-in theater! Oh how my family loved the drive-in theater! The food there was the best! It was 10 of us total, and the whole car load could enter the movies for $10-$15! Don’t worry, they showed the latest movies as well! Many Friday’s were times to play with our neighborhood friends outside a little later, or even times to hang out with them at their place!

BA

As I reflect back, I encourage you as my reader to focus on simple fun this weekend. Walk’s in the park, eating good food, spending time together, and having great conversations! Life is not always about the large grand scale trips out of town or expensive apparel. Sometimes we have to enjoy the moment’s that God blesses us with. Most importantly remember, that memory lane has not ended. It is getting paved as we ride along it! My advice, enjoy the ride! Signing off for now,

V.R.

Follow me on Instagram @vintageretroman

I truly want to make each of my followers feel like a kid again! That is my overall goal. The nostalgic value of vintage and retro cultures makes people feel good! I do not blog for money or prestige. I write and post content for the people to enjoy, whether it’s one person or 10,000 people. This is why i love Instagram!

Instagram is a wonderful social media network that i truly enjoy. I consistently network with others because of my love for people and retro! Above is my page and screen name @vintageretroman. Please follow me. Love, peace, and happiness to all!

V.R.

A VR review: “Relaxing Super Mario Jazz”

Picture yourself in a Nintendo themed jazz club with a martini in hand (or a lemonade if you are under the legal drinking age.) Now imagine a group of musicians, dressed up as Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach along with a host of others. As one plays the keys, another grooves on the percussion. The smooth sounds of horns and other instruments coordinate with the sounds of your favorite Mario music. This my friends, is Super Mario jazz. When combining the elements of classic gaming music along with relaxing jazz, it is impossible to go wrong. In search of some mellow jazz music to help me relax, I stumbled upon this amazing creation of Mario medley’s and had to share. When you sit back and remember the nostalgia of the original songs, remember it is okay to allow yourself to take a break this day and enjoy! Sincerely,

V.R.

Poem- MegaMan’s Blast from the Past!

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It’s year 20xx and the world’s in a cluster/

Dr. Light just put the finishing touches on my MegaBuster/

As I look around, destruction robot parts in the streets/

It’s me and my dog Rush against the world and I hold the key/

To save humanity, from robot masters created for terrorism/

Even my own brother “Protoman” hypnotized by a whistle/

Cutman, is so sharp look at his boomerang scissors/

Gutsman, will crush you with boulders and make mountain tremble/

Heatman sizzles, Flashman can freeze all time and space/

Crashman fires sticky bombs that can explode in your face/

Sparkman is so treacherous with his weapon electrified/

Only Chargeman’s style is more dangerous from Megaman 5/

Who is behind this, who created this diabolical scheme?/

I should have know it was that evil Dr. Wily on the scene/

Dr. Light my creator has truly done his best/

To upgrade my the weapons, my thinking, and the armor on my chest/

The Blue Bomber, I will defeat each master and take their weapon/

And use it against another weak spot on one of Dr. Wily’s henchmen/

And not to mention, this edition of Capcom’s classic brand/

I, the blue bomber, decided to team up with the Vintage Retroman!

V.R.

Poem- Bittersweet Memories

It’s alright to think of past times and cherish the memories/

The pure love we share with others creates unique synergies/

As days goes on and hearts heal and yet and still it takes time/

People don’t understand thoughts many times, are bittersweet like vintage wine/

It’s quite alright to feel the pain of loss sometimes you have to/

You are only human in the flesh it’s only fair to be true/

To yourself, remember vulnerability builds agility/

And perseverance from past pain will create a new beauty/

But for now, until that happens don’t let anyone convince you/

That your feelings need to change, they haven’t walked in your shoes/

Whether it’s an old song from the 70’s or a trip to see family/

Or a flashback that traps your mind and your thoughts feel clammy/

Remember, you are not alone and there is hope for your future/

It may be hard to see because the evidence hasn’t manifested/

And when the pain has you feel as if you’re stuck in a stupor/

Remember the same One who allows testing, gives blessings and allows rest.

SOLD- Amazing original vintage Nintendo Game Secrets guidebook for NES from 1990.

 

Original Nintendo NES secrets book from 1990

**This product as been sold** Published in 1990, own this collectable secret guide book of some of the original NES classic games. $7.50 with $1.00 shipping.

$7.50

A VR music review “Billie Jean/Poison” medley by Straight No Chaser

That girl named Billie Jean is truly poison. By now in 2018, most of us know that according to legendary pop singer Michael Jackson, that regardless of what Billie Jean said, indeed the kid was not his son. Despite this knowledge, it still doesn’t prevent us from listening to this classic first released in 1982 over and over. Years later when the Billboard hit R&B group Bel Biv Devoe released Poison, we learned that you should never “trust a big butt and a smile” in 1990. When the talented accepella group Straight No Chaser decided to combine the two classic songs, they created nothing short of a masterpiece.

When the listener hears the initial beat box in the opening sequence of the medley with the bass line from the hit Billie Jean, you know it is going to be good. Then when the singers combine harmonies in singing”Girl i must warn you” from Poison over the Billie Jean beatbox, i was blown away! The group does an excellent job balancing the two songs in a call and response rhythm, combining the best elements of both songs from the 80’s and 90’s. By the time the listener hears the combination of the two songs in the chorus, then the switch up to the lyrics of Billie Jean in the second verse, the blend is remarkable. As a true music lover, i cannot get enough of this particular medley. Straight No Chaser has always been an impressive group in my opinion. This song is just a true testament of what happens musically when creativity takes over. Nicely done Straight No Chaser.

V.R.

“Game over”, or is it? How to convert something “tragic” into something “fire”- by VintageRetroman

I remember back on the Holiday Season of 1991. The scene was Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem NC. As i reflect back on some of my favorite memories with my dad, this particular recollection stands out to me. There were two kiosks setup outside of KB toys, a very popular toy store back in the 80’s and 90’s. One kiosk had a Super Nintendo playing “Super Mario World” and the other kiosk had a Sega Genesis playing “Sonic the Hedgehog”. As my sister and i walked the halls of the mall with our parents, we saw the kiosks and ran frantically to the entrance of the toy store where the kiosks were. My sister grabbed the controller of the Super Nintendo for the very first time, and i watched on as she played (another kid was unfortunately playing the Sega at the time, so i had to wait my turn to play the lightning fast Sonic the Hedgehog 1). I was 8 years old at the time, and my sister was 11. As i marvelled at the bright colors and graphical capabilities of the Super Nintendo entertainment system, i noticed that the music and sounds of the 16-bit Super Mario World were so different and unique from the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). I couldn’t believe how great the sound quality was, and the soundtrack was superb. The clarity of the sound stood out to me the most.

The other day my father passed away, and i was searching through my book of memories in my mind and this one came up. As i looked up video game music and trap remixes to cartoon theme songs with my 6 year old daughter, i came across this remix of the Super Mario World “game over” jingle. I was blown away by this musical piece of art by Phillip Schlosser and Hephesto Music. From the excellent use of the sample, to the dynamic rhythms of the percussion and dynamics, this piece is impressive. I love how smooth and simple the sample loop is. The best part is that the synthesizers are not overbearing, so the piece still manages to maintain its value of 1991 nostalgia, while bringing the versatility of a 2018 hip-hop instrumental. Upon sharing this YouTube clip with my brother, he said something that i felt really sums it up. Since it is a game over theme, my brother texted me and said, “They turned something tragic into something fire”. Wow, that is so true in this musical creation! Then i began to think, shouldn’t this be our goal in life as people? To turn something tragic into something good, or as my brother puts it, fire? Many of us are going through trials, hardships, and tragedy. Many of these negative experience in life are circumstantial. My father consistently had a track record of turning something tragic into something “fire”, or within this context, great! My hat goes off to Hephesto music and their creation. As you listen and enjoy this smooth creative instrumental, my desire is that we all think of ways to turn what is “tragic” in our lives into something “fire” or great! The fire of passion, the fire of purpose, and the fire of goodness to others. Love, peace, and happiness to all.

V.R.