CAT BEAR Gail Nobles

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 "Caught Up in the Rapture" is a 1986 ballad song by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was released as the follow-up single after "Sweet Love" from her album Rapture.

"Caught Up in the Rapture" was Baker's third top ten R&B single, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and number nine on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles chart. It was also a minor success on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, reaching #37 on the week of February 14, 1987.

 Anita Baker has beautiful lead and backing vocals. One of Anita's genres that is mentioned is Quiet Storm. It is a radio format and genre of R&B, performed in a smooth, romantic, jazz-influenced style.  It was named after the title song on Smokey Robinson's 1975 album A Quiet Storm.

 The other genres of Anita is R&B/Soul, Soul Jazz and Smooth Jazz.  I'm Gail Nobles thank you for listening to the Cat Bear.

Podcast vocals: By Gail Nobles

Aaliyah wasn't the only one that died in a plane crash in 2001. I remember another singer being pronounced dead in a plane crash in 2001 named Melanie Thornton. She sang the song titled Love How You Love Me. On the night of November 24, 2001. Thornton was one of the 24 people who died in the plane crash of Crossair Flight 3597 near Zürich Switzerland at the age of 34.

The main cause of the accident was the Captain descending the plane too early causing it to crash into a forest area when it got too close to the ground. Thornton had given a performance in Leipzig and two hours later she took the flight from Berlin to Zürich for upcoming radio and TV appearances (among others, the broadcast Die Bar on TV3, which was cancelled) to promote her new single "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" (a Christmas ballad recorded for a German Coca-Cola TV commercial) and her album Ready to Fly. Thornton was laid to final rest in her native South Carolina, at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina.

Melanie Thornton was the lead singer of the Eurodance group La Bouche from 1994 to 2000, alongside American rapper and backing vocalist Lane McCray. Their two most successful singles, "Sweet Dreams" and "Be My Lover", were released in 1994 and 1995 respectively. After leaving the group, Thornton began a solo career and found success primarily in European countries before her death in 2001. Her solo songs include "Love How You Love Me", "Heartbeat", "Makin' Oooh Oooh (Talking About Love)" and "Wonderful Dream (Holidays are Coming)".

I’m Gail Nobles. You’re listening to The Cat Bear. Today’s topic: Melanie Thornton. Rest In Peace.

Story: Jimmy Red Panda
Story written by: Gail Nobles ©️2024
Lyrics by: Gail Nobles
Art by: Gail Nobles

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There was a man whose name was Jimmy Panda. He was a tall and big man who people called the Cat Bear. Some called him the Red Panda. He sat down on a bar stool to shorten his height and smoked a cherry cigar to talk to women. The women felt that they needed a ladder to hug him when he stood. 

Jimmy lived in the days of Music’s Great Depression. Nobody was singing about love, and he would often dream about love. Jimmy was a playboy up and down the street going from house to house, but he was not happy. He didn’t know what love was until he met a girl named Marha. Jimmy’s mother and father would often worry about him being a wild guy running around. They thought someone would kill him. But when Jimmy met Martha, he married her and decided to settle down. He never returned to that lifestyle again. Jimmy became more interested in music and wanted to start a business.

The Red Panda brought real music to bars and clubs. He told his story how he fell in love. He would sing a special song. He had everyone singing along. Jimmy got his own show and invited talented people to perform. He had it put on the air from his own home and brought back the music of love. 

Jimmy: I'm Jimmy Red Panda, and you’re listening to the Cat Bear. 

Intro by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
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Tonight on American Idol, I saw an interesting musical artist named Iam Tongi. He has a beautiful voice and beautiful song titled Why Kiki. It was released in 2023 of September. He has a music video out for the song. You can see it on YouTube. You can also hear his music on Spotify.

 Iam Tongi won season 21 of American Idol. He is the first person from Hawaii. The first Pacific Islander and the first non-country singer in three years to win the competition. Tongi deserves it all. He is a great singer. You can feel him when he sings his songs. So check out Iam Tongi today if you haven't already. Check out his single Why Kiki.

I'm Gil Nobles, and you're listening to the Cat Bear.

Music and Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Cover art by: Gail Nobles
Interlude written by: Gail Nobles
Interlude: Aaliyah Stayed In Her Own Lane

Aaliyah stayed in her own lane.
She was hot like fire in full speed.
Aaliyah was in the lead.
She seems timeless without end.

Whisper: Ya'll hear that?

Story by: Gail Nobles
Podcast intro: Gail Nobles
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Today's topic: Aaliyah:Turn The Page. The song Turn The Page by Aaliyah is track three on Music of the Heart (The Album) produced by  Guy Roche. It was released in 1999. The song brings old memories to my mind.

Aaliyah sung these words in the lyrics: What would I do if some strange morning I opened up my eyes to find you gone? I can't imagine how I would survive it. I'll find another reason to go on…. When I look back, you're everywhere. Turn the page, you were there.

 When Aaliyah asked the question ‘what would I do to find you gone’,  those are words I always found myself asking about someone. I couldn't imagine how I would survive it, and I guess I found a reason to go on. Aaliyah has done a great job singing the song Turn the Page, and it's a great song a song with meaning and feeling.

 There were many nights and many mornings I had to turn the page to another chapter without that special someone but still intact in my heart. God answered every prayer. He showed me what was still there. 

Turn the page comes from the soundtrack of the film Music of the Heart. You can hear the song on YouTube. Turn the Page by Aaliyah.  I'm Gail Nobles.