Today is my 25th birthday, which means I was born in 1983 and I was born female. This also means that I was one of the screaming, obsessed, and devoted fans to the New Kids on the Block in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Sure, I was young but I was in love.

Imagine my birthday surprise when twenty years after the release of their multiplatinum album, “Hangin’ Tough,” the band has announced that they will be reuniting. All original members of the band will be included: Donny Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood. This isn’t just a “nostalgia tour,” they say and have been recording all new music. Most of which was written by band member, Donny Wahlberg with the help of bandmates Joey McIntyre and Jordan Knight.

The teeny bopper in me is thrilled! The older, feminist, anti-mainstream personality in me wants to protest, but whatever. JONATHON IS LIKE SOOOOO CUTE!

But for some reason when thinking of the song “The Right Stuff,” I can’t help but sing Weird Al Yankovic’s version, “The White Stuff.”

“You’ve got the white stuff, baaaaby. In the middle of an Oreo!”

According to a CNN article published on Monday, March 24, 2008, singer Corinne Bailey Rae’s husband, Jason Rae, was found dead on Saturday. Upon examination of the body, the cause of death was inconclusive and police were awaiting a toxicology report. Several articles since then, however, suspect a drug overdose.

Jason was a Scottish-born musician that played the saxophone with the funk group, Haggis Horns that played as a back up band for Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson as well as Corinne herself.

I personally have never heard of Haggis Horns, but I have definitely heard of Corinne Bailey Rae and I love her music. So, I suppose I could have heard of Haggis Horns if they were ever playing on a track that I was particularly digging. My heart goes out to Corinne in this time of loss and hope that it turns out to be something beyond a drug overdose. It seems that is happening all too often lately.
If you haven’t heard of Corinne Bailey Rae, I suggest you check her out.

I’d Like To - Corinne Bailey Rae

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