The Death of Modern Rock - With Mario R. Martin #3

Destiny's Child...Naw, The Mary Jane Girls
'I'm Rick James, bitch,' might very well have become common lexicon in America after The Chappelle Show, but despite the late singer's popularity, both at the height of his career, as well in recent years thanks to Chappelle, his music wasn't the end all, be all. In fact, I'd go as far as saying Rick James wasn't as influential as people (including himself) like to make him out to be. I'm digressing here though. This month's column isn't exactly about Rick James. It's about the all female group James assembled in 1979, originally as back-up singers for his own projects, and later as a musical ensemble.

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The Mary Jane Girls - "In My House"



Jojo, Candi, Maxi and Cheri (later swapped for Corvette) were no longer just background singers; they were now The Mary Jane Girls. The reefer-smoking James obviously had all the control in the name. Nevertheless, the sexy ladies catapulted to stardom with their Motown debut in the early 80s, only to follow it up with an even bigger effort ('Only Four You') in the mid-80s, which contained one of the most sublime songs in the 1980s, 'In My House.'

'In My House' kicks off with a simple synthesizer beat that is as mesmerizing as it is memorable, only to blend effortlessly with an upbeat, yet sexy bassline (a staple of 80s synth music). As the bars keep moving along, Jojo and company sing a sultry song about what goes on inside their house with their lover, 'if you need a little peace of mind, come on over boy, anytime.' Some might say the song is about promiscuity. Some might say that the song references the drug-fueled 80s and what a couple can do behind closed doors in someone's home (such as cocaine). Despite what extremist religious groups might think about the sexuality issue, or what your local drug dealer might think about the drug reference, it doesn't matter...'In My House' is an anthem for the 80s, regardless of reference (even if you deduct your own), that has all the elements of a banger. Let's review:

Synthesizer? Check. The synth line is as important as the bassline in this track. The 80s loved the synthesizer, and while everyone was doing it, it was only perfected by a few. The synth lines in the song are some of the longest lasting. Sexy bassline? Uh huh. Following the synth is a bassline that sonically stimulates the heart rate. The overuse/misuse of a great bassline is a fine line artists walk. It could easily be overkill, but in this case, everything is in its right place. Directly after the bassline, input a post-disco guitar lick. A little bit of a dance vibe inside of it, the guitar makes this track. Last but not least, add in beautiful, scantily clad women singing, 'So when you need some lovin tenderness, And it's me baby that you miss. Here's the key to unlock the door, To my house.'

This track is one of the best out there. After disco died, so many artists were still programmed in that mode. One foot in the 70s and one in the 80s, many artists blended disco and new wave, which isolated all the best parts of each as artists put their own spin on the style. The Mary Jane Girls never made a third record. They never got the chance. Motown gave them a bum deal and it's not like Rick James was in any position to help them and negotiate, as his career quickly crumbled. So, this is all we have left. This is a little piece of musical bravado that so many people overlook, or worse yet, never get to judge since it's so far down in the recesses of playlists. Nowadays, we have shit radio to listen to, while we sip on caramel macchiatos and talk about the new Panic! At The Disco track or worse yet, watered down Destiny's Child songs.

This may (or may not, depending on who's reading this) be a departure for me as the author of this column to write, but Destiny's Child is exactly what has made music so wrong. Marketing and publicity made the brand, yet the formula was always the same. Each song was Beyonce singing about love lost even though she's been living the high life for years. Each Destiny's Child song was a stagnant jolt of mediocrity that The Mary Jane Girls would have discarded like a used contraceptive.

Even if it is just shy of 30 years since the Mary Jane Girls formed in Los Angeles in Rick James' likeness, the music is timeless and more necessary today than any other timeframe. So when you're done ordering your half-caff cinnamon dolce latte with soy milk, sugar-free syrup, Splenda and an ice cube, go slap yourself in the face for not knowing about the Mary Jane Girls. Slap yourself again for ordering a stupid drink, and then go slap your parents for not teaching you about the fundamentals of music. No doubt they're probably just as lame as you and only stayed together because of you. Congrats mom and dad, you're lame and your kids are too (and I bet their bastard children will be too) because you never played some funky Mary Jane Girls.