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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sly & the Family Stone's 10 Best Songs (Staff Picks)
Funk, rock and soul maverick Sly Stone died at 82 on Monday (June 9). According to a statement from his family, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's passing came after 'a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues,' while he was surrounded by family and loved ones. More from Billboard Cardi B Stresses 'Music Is a Collaboration' While Accepting 2025 ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award The Doobie Brothers On 'Civic Duty,' 'Limitations' in Today's Music & Writing Songs With Charlie Puth Liam Gallagher Gushes About Oasis Reunion Drummer Joey Waronker: 'This Guy Is Special' 'While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come,' the statement continues. That legacy is indeed a singular one, and he built most of it with his eponymous '60s and '70s group Sly & the Family Stone. With the band, Sly Stone both scaled the greatest heights of Flower Power utopianism and plumbed the lowest depths of Nixon-era disillusionment, with incisive lyrics, brilliant hooks and grooves that could be as lock-step tight or as meanderingly loose as the song called for. Over the course of their original run, Sly & the Family Stone scored three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, released at least two albums considered among the greatest of the entire rock era, and played one of the signature sets at 1969's iconic Woodstock festival. Though the band largely fell into disarray in the mid-'70s, and neither the Family Stone or its leader ever were able to quite recapture their peak prominence, the music lived on through subsequent generations — and could be heard sampled and recycled on major hits by Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Cypress Hill, the Beastie Boys and countless other later acts. Below, Billboard rounds up our picks for Sly & Co.'s 10 all-time greatest — songs that captured turbulent times and spoke to universal truths, and remain just as potent over a half-century later. Opening with a drum roll and the shouted titular command, Sly & the Family Stone made sure their first masterpiece LP immediately snapped listeners to attention. But 'Stand!' is too melodic and empathetic to ever risk coming off didactic, with even directives like 'Stand for the things you know are right/ It's the truth that the truth makes them so uptight' delivered so tenderly it sounds like the band realizes it's not telling you anything you don't already know. And unlike too many protests, this one ends in unequivocal victory, as the song closes with a glorious parade of trumpets and jubilant 'na-na-na-na-na's. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER With lullaby organs and a drum groove so clipped and woozy it almost sounds like it's predicting J Dilla, 'Just Like a Baby' made it clear early in There's a Riot Goin' On that the Woodstock-era triumphalism of Stand! was well over. While even that album's angriest songs had energy and purpose to them, the band's uncertainty is felt throughout the narcotic groove and buried, often wordless vocals here, but with results just as spellbinding — and arguably even funkier. Future generations would agree, as you can hear traces of 'Baby' in everything from D'Angelo's Voodoo to Childish Gambino's 'Awaken, My Love!' — A.U. A Doris Day song from an Alfred Hitchcock movie might seem like unlikely material for a gospel-inflected funk cover, but Sly Stone never played by anyone's rules (even his own). Stone spent much of There's a Riot Goin' On and follow-up album Fresh tearing down the utopian hippie view of America he'd built in the '60s, and 'Que Sera, Sera' — which arrived on the latter album's side two – seems to be his shoulder-shrugging admission that just like everyone else, he ultimately has no idea what the hell is going on in this life. But when the funk is this mellow and the organ playing this heavenly, uncertainty doesn't sound so quite so scary. — JOE LYNCH Underpinned by a bold lead bass line, this 1973 hit that reached No. 12 on the Hot 100 features one of Sly's most impressive vocal performances, as he both growls and croons in due course to a girlfriend about what he needs to stay in a relationship. One of the most iconic basslines in funk, its genius is in its steady simplicity, allowing the organ, piano and horn flourishes to really breathe, and Sly's voice to shine, with no line delivered in the same way twice. Its parent album, Fresh, is one notorious for its overdubs, but even still 'Stay' has an improvisational feel, melding the backline rigor with the expressive fluidity that is a hallmark of great funk records. — DAN RYS Something of a thesis statement for the Family Stone, 'Family Affair' — which became the band's third and final No. 1 on the Hot 100 in late 1971 — is a more laid-back groove, with Sly's voice melting and oozing all over the track as he sings about sibling, parental and newlywed relationships, and what keeps them all together. Trading off vocals with his sister Rose, Sly keeps it simple, with a bass, rhythm guitar and keyboard holding down most of the track, a breezy wah-wah guitar providing flourishes here and there. But as with much of Sly's work, it's the sum of its parts that makes 'Family Affair' such an enduring cut more than 50 years later. — D.R. As the multi-racial, multi-gender Sly & the Family Stone emerged in the mid-'60s, its demographic composition wasn't the only radical thing about it – it also fused the worlds of R&B, soul, and rock and roll in ways that thrilled audiences, but confounded the suits. When the band's 1967 debut, A Whole New Thing, flopped, management told Stone it was 'too funky' and that he should 'just do something simple.' 'I said, 'OK, something simple, huh?'' Stone later recounted. That something simple: 'Dance to the Music,' which with its relentless rhythm section and direct lyrics, commands listeners to do just that. Stone would go on to make higher-concept music, but 'Dance To The Music' is a foundational text in psychedelic soul — and, perhaps more importantly, was a big enough hit that it afforded the ambitious musician the considerable creative freedom he would need moving forward. — ERIC RENNER BROWN Opening in medias rock, 'I Want to Take You Higher' is a blunt battering ram of blues, psych, soul and funk that was initially stowed away as the B-side to 'Stand!', but hit America's eardrums so hard that it went top 40 in its own right. This rallying cry is the sound of Sly Stone and his merry pranksters pushing James Brown's meticulously timed funk off its foundations, destabilizing it with the untethered energy of an off-the-rails rock n' roll jam session. The studio version feels like it might fling off into the ether at a moment's notice — and in concert (including at Woodstock), it often did. — J.L. For those rare times in life when there's no riot goin' on and nothing immediately pressing to take a stand over, there can simply be 'Hot Fun in the Summertime.' Sly & the Family Stone's most classic-sounding pop song — tone down a couple of those vocal ad libs and it could've easily been a Nat King Cole composition — remains an essential seasonal standard for its sun-tanned horns, nostalgic lyrics and impossibly breezy sway, one of the most topical bands of its era proving it could be be just as potent blissing out in the shade for two and a half minutes. But like all truly great good-time songs, 'Summertime' also comes tinged with the unmistakable sadness of knowing it's all too good to last: 'First of the fall, and then she goes back/ Bye, bye, bye, bye.' — A.U. This is the rare example of a band figuring itself out in a transitional period while still delivering its best work. Sly and the Family Stone achieved so much and evolved so quickly from 1967-69, it's no wonder that Stone felt compelled to craft a song that served as both a meta victory lap and farewell to his bright, buoyant first chapter before segueing into a lyrically and sonically murkier second act. But how many artists can write a song about their biggest, most beloved hits that's also better than damn near all of them? Larry Graham's slap bass gets a lot of the credit, but the tightly wound guitars, woozy horns and staccato vocals are equally hypnotic. — J.L. Sly & The Family Stone's first of three No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 was more than a massive hit – it was a reflection of contemporary American society. Released in November 1968, as one of the most tumultuous years in American history drew to a close, 'Everyday People' uses near-childlike simplicity ('There is a blue one who can't accept the green one/ For living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one') to urge Americans to come together despite their differences. The song had an immediate impact and a lasting influence, from helping to mint a new catchphrase ('different strokes for different folks,' originally popularized by Muhammad Ali and later the inspiration for the title of the TV show Diff'rent Strokes) to featuring an early instance of the slap-bass technique. And few moments in Sly's catalog are as singularly stunning as when he and his bandmates arrive at the first chorus shout: 'I am everyday people!' — E.R.B. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion - With new questions about his acuity, Biden's pardon choices should be revisited
The five of us have something in common. We were all convicted of federal crimes over the last 12 years, and we all completed applications asking for pardons from former President Joe Biden. Unfortunately, at 12:01 p.m. on President Trump's inauguration day, all five of us received emails informing us that our applications had been denied and we would have to reapply under the new administration. We have all completed our sentences, so there is no question of having those shortened. What is at stake, in some of our cases, is our ability to make a living, sustain our families and become productive members of our communities again. Presidential pardons have historically been a source of both relief and controversy. The pardon power was intended as a mechanism to provide justice and mercy to citizens for their offenses, because of our flawed humanity and because our justice system, like all human systems, is imperfect. While designed as a mechanism for justice and mercy, concerns arise when pardons appear self-serving — especially when granted by a president whose mental acuity has been questioned. Biden's pardons of close associates and family members raised serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly when others in similar situations were denied pardons. The issue at hand was not about his legal right to grant pardons, but whether his cognitive condition affected the integrity of such decisions. This is particularly noteworthy since Biden used the full Nixon-era formula in granting 'full, complete, absolute and unconditional' pardons to members of his family, covering a lengthy period of time and without citing any specific alleged wrongdoing on their part. Reports citing Biden's struggles with memory lapses, confusion during public engagements, and limited unscripted interactions have led to growing skepticism about his ability to make impartial, well-reasoned choices. If his cognitive decline influenced these pardons, then others denied pardons on similar grounds deserve reconsideration. Biden, despite advocating for criminal justice reform, denied pardons to many nonviolent drug offenders and individuals who had applied for pardons citing unjust sentencing. And at the same time, relatives of the president, whose cases raised potential conflicts of interest, were granted pardons. The broader justice system often denies appeals based on procedural technicalities, even as high-profile figures with political ties are able to benefit from executive pardons. If Biden's mental capacity is in question, Congress should consider requiring competency reviews for presidential pardon decisions. And those denied pardons should be given a second chance. A justice system built on impartiality cannot allow preferential treatment, particularly when personal ties may cloud judgment. No one disputes the president's constitutional discretion in wielding the pardon power. But pardons must be given fairly, justly, free of undue influence. If Biden's family and associates benefited from a decision process that did not include his full understanding or consent, justice demands that others denied pardons receive reconsideration. Each of us respectfully requests it of President Trump now, for ourselves and for all those Americans who will need mercy and forgiveness in the future. Warren Ballentine is a former attorney and radio host with more than 3 million listeners. Jesse Jackson Jr. is a former Democratic congressman representing Illinois. Michael Cohen is President Trump's former attorney. Michael Rothenberg is a rabbi and was a lawyer and part-time judge in DeKalb County, Ga. Dr. Michael Jones is a cardiologist in New Orleans. All five were convicted of non-violent federal crimes between 2013 and 2023 and have served their sentences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cohen, Jackson urge Trump to reconsider pardons denied by Biden
Five individuals who sought pardons from former President Biden are calling for his clemency decisions to be reexamined amid fresh debate over his mental sharpness while in office. Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, rabbi and former political candidate Michael Rothenberg, cardiologist Michael Jones and radio host Warren Ballentine outlined in an op-ed published by The Hill on Monday that they completed the process to apply for pardons under the Biden administration but were ultimately denied. All five were convicted of nonviolent federal crimes dating back to 2013, and all five are asking President Trump to reconsider their pardon requests. 'Biden's pardons of close associates and family members raised serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly when others in similar situations were denied pardons,' the five wrote in an op-ed for The Hill. 'The issue at hand was not about his legal right to grant pardons, but whether his cognitive condition affected the integrity of such decisions,' they added. 'This is particularly noteworthy since Biden used the full Nixon-era formula in granting 'full, complete, absolute and unconditional' pardons to members of his family, covering a lengthy period of time and without citing any specific alleged wrongdoing on their part.' Jackson said in an interview that his push for reconsideration extended to roughly 70 million Americans who had served their sentences doled out by judges and now find themselves in a 'perpetual state of felonization' where it can be difficult to find a job or get housing. The op-ed comes as fresh reporting and new books, including 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' have reignited debate about Biden's mental acuity while in office and whether he experienced cognitive decline. A Biden spokesperson told The Hill that the former president and his team thoughtfully reviewed requests for pardons and commutations and pointed to Biden issuing more than 2,500 individual acts of clemency. Biden issued more than 80 pardons during his four years in office, and he commuted the sentences of thousands of individuals. The vast majority of his acts of clemency were granted to nonviolent offenders, including numerous individuals who had been charged with nonviolent drug offenses. But some of his more controversial uses of the pardon power came toward the end of his term. Biden granted a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who had been found guilty on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. Hunter Biden had been a political target for Republicans throughout his father's time in office. Former President Biden also granted blanket pardons in the final moments of his term to five family members and several former government officials who had been the targets of political attacks from Trump and his allies. Biden and his allies have staunchly and repeatedly refuted claims that others in the building were making major decisions or that Biden lacked the mental and physical sharpness to carry out his duties. Jackson, the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, served 17 years in Congress before resigning in 2012 amid a criminal probe. He pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiring to defraud his reelection campaign of roughly $750,000 and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal tax crimes, campaign finance violations and lying to Congress. He later became a witness in President Trump's 2024 criminal trial over an alleged hush money scheme. Ballentine was convicted of fraud in 2013. An appeals court dismissed his appeal in 2016. Rothenberg was sentenced in 2014 on a charge of wire fraud connected to his campaign for a seat on the DeKalb County, Ga., Superior Court. Jones was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. 'No one disputes the president's constitutional discretion in wielding the pardon power. But pardons must be given fairly, justly, free of undue influence,' the five wrote in their op-ed. In an interview Monday, Jackson told The Hill that he did not submit a formal pardon application under the Obama administration or the first Trump administration, though he did reach out to then-Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, a former colleague in the House, in the waning weeks of Trump's first term. Jesse Jackson Jr. noted that many pardon recipients have not submitted formal pardon applications, either. In addition to Jackson's application, his father wrote to Biden last December urging a complete and unconditional pardon for his son. Jackson's pardon application was denied on Biden's final day in office, and he was encouraged to reapply under the incoming administration. To be sure, President Trump has further exacerbated questions about presidential clemency power and how it can disproportionately benefit those with connections to the administration. Trump during his first term used clemency powers on political allies such as Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone and Michael Flynn. Already in his second term, Trump has pardoned a former Republican congressman who was charged with fraud, commuted the federal sentence of a notorious Chicago gang leader and pardoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted on bank fraud and tax evasion charges and whose daughter spoke at last summer's Republican National Convention. Trump also pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants on his first day in office. Jackson's argument is that those convicted of federal offenses or who pleaded guilty to federal offenses must carry the social and economic costs of 'felonization' well beyond their time served. Jackson asserted that Trump could take sweeping executive clemency action that would be worthy of international recognition. 'We'd like Donald Trump to reinstate every pardon application that Joe Biden did not review, because he only reviewed clearly his family's,' Jackson told The Hill. 'This is the path to the Nobel Peace Prize,' Jackson added. 'How many people can you help without Congress, without the courts? These people will be forever grateful to him.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
With new questions about his acuity, Biden's pardon choices should be revisited
The five of us have something in common. We were all convicted of federal crimes over the last 12 years, and we all completed applications asking for pardons from former President Joe Biden. Unfortunately, at 12:01 p.m. on President Trump's inauguration day, all five of us received emails informing us that our applications had been denied and we would have to reapply under the new administration. We have all completed our sentences, so there is no question of having those shortened. What is at stake, in some of our cases, is our ability to make a living, sustain our families and become productive members of our communities again. Presidential pardons have historically been a source of both relief and controversy. The pardon power was intended as a mechanism to provide justice and mercy to citizens for their offenses, because of our flawed humanity and because our justice system, like all human systems, is imperfect. While designed as a mechanism for justice and mercy, concerns arise when pardons appear self-serving — especially when granted by a president whose mental acuity has been questioned. Biden's pardons of close associates and family members raised serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly when others in similar situations were denied pardons. The issue at hand was not about his legal right to grant pardons, but whether his cognitive condition affected the integrity of such decisions. This is particularly noteworthy since Biden used the full Nixon-era formula in granting 'full, complete, absolute and unconditional' pardons to members of his family, covering a lengthy period of time and without citing any specific alleged wrongdoing on their part. Reports citing Biden's struggles with memory lapses, confusion during public engagements, and limited unscripted interactions have led to growing skepticism about his ability to make impartial, well-reasoned choices. If his cognitive decline influenced these pardons, then others denied pardons on similar grounds deserve reconsideration. Biden, despite advocating for criminal justice reform, denied pardons to many nonviolent drug offenders and individuals who had applied for pardons citing unjust sentencing. And at the same time, relatives of the president, whose cases raised potential conflicts of interest, were granted pardons. The broader justice system often denies appeals based on procedural technicalities, even as high-profile figures with political ties are able to benefit from executive pardons. If Biden's mental capacity is in question, Congress should consider requiring competency reviews for presidential pardon decisions. And those denied pardons should be given a second chance. A justice system built on impartiality cannot allow preferential treatment, particularly when personal ties may cloud judgment. No one disputes the president's constitutional discretion in wielding the pardon power. But pardons must be given fairly, justly, free of undue influence. If Biden's family and associates benefited from a decision process that did not include his full understanding or consent, justice demands that others denied pardons receive reconsideration. Each of us respectfully requests it of President Trump now, for ourselves and for all those Americans who will need mercy and forgiveness in the future. Warren Ballentine is a former attorney and radio host with more than 3 million listeners. Jesse Jackson Jr. is a former Democratic congressman representing Illinois. Michael Cohen is President Trump's former attorney. Michael Rothenberg is a rabbi and was a lawyer and part-time judge in DeKalb County, Ga. Dr. Michael Jones is a cardiologist in New Orleans. All five were convicted of non-violent federal crimes between 2013 and 2023 and have served their sentences.
The Hill
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Cohen, Jackson Jr. urge Trump to reconsider pardons denied by Biden
Five individuals who sought pardons from former President Biden are calling for his clemency decisions to be reexamined amid fresh debate over his mental sharpness while in office. Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, rabbi and former venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg, cardiologist Michael Jones and radio host Warren Ballentine outlined in an op-ed published by The Hill on Monday that they completed the process to apply for pardons under the Biden administration but were ultimately denied. All five were convicted of nonviolent federal crimes dating back to 2013, and all five are asking President Trump to reconsider their pardon requests. 'Biden's pardons of close associates and family members raised serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly when others in similar situations were denied pardons,' the five wrote in an op-ed for The Hill. 'The issue at hand was not about his legal right to grant pardons, but whether his cognitive condition affected the integrity of such decisions,' they added. 'This is particularly noteworthy since Biden used the full Nixon-era formula in granting 'full, complete, absolute and unconditional' pardons to members of his family, covering a lengthy period of time and without citing any specific alleged wrongdoing on their part.' Jackson said in an interview that his push for reconsideration extended to roughly 70 million Americans who had served their sentences doled out by judges and now find themselves in a 'perpetual state of felonization' where it can be difficult to find a job or get housing. The op-ed comes as fresh reporting and new books, including 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' have reignited debate about Biden's mental acuity while in office and whether he experienced cognitive decline. A Biden spokesperson told The Hill that the former president and his team thoughtfully reviewed requests for pardons and commutations and pointed to Biden issuing more than 2,500 individual acts of clemency. Biden issued more than 80 pardons during his four years in office, and he commuted the sentences of thousands of individuals. The vast majority of his acts of clemency were granted to nonviolent offenders, including numerous individuals who had been charged with nonviolent drug offenses. But some of his more controversial use of the pardon power came toward the end of his term. Biden granted a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who had been found guilty on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. Hunter Biden had been a political target for Republicans throughout his father's time in office. Then-President Biden also granted blanket pardons in the final moments of his term to five family members and several former government officials who had been the targets of political attacks from Trump and his allies. Biden and his allies have staunchly and repeatedly refuted claims that others in the building were making major decisions or that Biden lacked the mental and physical sharpness to carry out his duties. Jackson Jr., the son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, served 17 years in Congress before resigning in 2012 amid a criminal probe. He pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiring to defraud his reelection campaign of roughly $750,000 and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal tax crimes, campaign finance violations and lying to Congress. He later became a witness in President Trump's 2024 criminal trial over an alleged hush money scheme. Ballentine was convicted of fraud in 2013. An appeals court dismissed his appeal in 2016. Rothenberg was convicted in 2023 on multiple money launder and fraud charges. Jones was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. 'No one disputes the president's constitutional discretion in wielding the pardon power. But pardons must be given fairly, justly, free of undue influence,' the five wrote in their op-ed. In an interview Monday, Jackson Jr. told The Hill that he did not submit a formal pardon application under the Obama administration or the first Trump administration, though he did reach out to then-Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, a former colleague in the House, in the waning weeks of Trump's first term. Jackson Jr. noted that many pardon recipients have not submitted formal pardon applications, either. In addition to Jackson Jr.'s application, Jesse Jackson Sr. wrote to Biden last December urging a complete and unconditional pardon for his son. Jackson Jr.'s pardon application was denied on Biden's final day in office, and he was encouraged to reapply under the incoming administration. To be sure, President Trump has further exacerbated questions about presidential clemency power and how it can disproportionately benefit those with connections to the administration. Trump during his first term used clemency powers on political allies like Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone and Michael Flynn. Already in his second term, Trump has pardoned a former Republican congressman who was charged with fraud, commuted the federal sentence of a notorious Chicago gang leader and pardoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted on bank fraud and tax evasion charges and whose daughter spoke at last summer's Republican National Convention. Trump also pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants on his first day in office. Jackson Jr.'s argument is that those convicted of federal offenses or who pleaded guilty to federal offenses must carry the social and economic costs of 'felonization' well beyond their time served. Jackson Jr. asserted that Trump could take sweeping executive clemency action that would be worthy of international recognition. 'We'd like Donald Trump to reinstate every pardon application that Joe Biden did not review, because he only reviewed clearly his family's,' Jackson Jr. told The Hill. 'This is the path to the Nobel Peace Prize,' Jackson Jr. added. 'How many people can you help without Congress, without the courts? These people will be forever grateful to him.'
