A to Z Music Challenge - F is for Aretha Franklin, Nelly Furtado, Fugees, Foghat, Foo Fighters, Flogging Molly, Faith No More, Florence + The Machine, Ella Fitzgerald, Fleetwood Mac, Flock of F*$#ing Seagulls, Foreigner, Fiona Apple and 50 Cent

F.  Seriously, too much musical awesomeness here in this letter.  This is gonna be a long post, so let's get to it.


Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul, she has been a force to be reckoned with in the music world for decades.  She is the definition of diva.  She demands things go just as she likes them to, and after all these years most people just go on and do what she says.  All she's asking...


Nelly Furtado
She's beautiful and she has one hell of a voice.  She hasn't been around for all that long, but she's made her mark on the music world.


Fugees
This group integrated reggae with hip hop and soul, fusing the lyrical talents of Wyclef Jean and the sultry voice of Lauryn Hill, plus a little Ol' Dirty Bastard for rhymes.  What they came up with was fresh, it was new, it made everyone appreciate music blending for sure.  This may be one of my favorite covers of all time.


Foghat
With some of the most recognizable guitar riffs around, it's no surprise they were included in the Guitar Hero game series...and yes, I beat the devil when he went down to Georgia at the end of the game, for the record. They helped bring the slide guitar into more common usage.


Foo Fighters
I could (and have) written entire posts about this band.  Dave Grohl started the band after taking a short break from music when Kurt Cobain, his Nirvana bandmate, committed suicide.  Dave is one of the most talented, most entertaining, funniest musicians out there, and the videos the band has put together are some of the most hilarious ones ever made.  Some of their songs have become a piece of my personal story, primarily this one, which I heard for the first time as my emergency flight to see my father approached LAX.  I'm pretty sure Dave was singing to me that day.


Flogging Molly
I love this band for a few reasons, the most glaringly obvious one is that they are a Celtic rock band.  Throw in some punk, and I'm a happy girl.  They sing traditional stuff, they change up other styles, they make people like me very, very, very happy.  Black and Tans required.


Faith No More
They were a welcome change to the world of hair bands when they hit the scene.  They were edgier, weirder, more punk and less hairspray.  I was a rebellious teenager, so I ate this up.  Adults weren't quite sure what to do with them.  Which made them even more awesome.


Florence + The Machine
Florence Welch easily has one of the most unique, most powerful voices of this generation. The songs are so heartfelt, so true to life, so real, they are painful when you really hear the lyrics for the first time. Watching her perform is a true treat for all the senses, and someday I will see her in concert.  Oh yes, I will.


Ella Fitzgerald
One of the purest voice talents ever, she is music history.  I don't even have to say anything else.  Her music speaks for itself.


Fleetwood Mac
The band has had many different line ups over the years, but the one that most people associate with is the one fronted by Stevie Nicks and her characteristic voice.  My personal favorite is Landslide of course, but I'm throwing in Tusk because of the very special place it holds in my heart as an alumni of USC. I freaking love my band.



Flock of Seagulls
New Wave at it's best (or worst, depending on who you ask of course), they are remembered for their crazy hair almost as much as for their music.  (Okay, maybe more, depending on who you ask of course).


Foreigner
One of the best selling bands of all time, but staying together for well over thirty years helps do that. While they've rarely held the spotlight for any reason for long, they've been insanely consistent over the years, and have written some of the great rock anthems and ballads.  Get your lighters ready.


Fiona Apple
This lady made my gay island for a reason.  She's gorgeous, she's mysterious, she's all kinds of messed up in the head, and I think we'd get along splendidly.  This.


50 Cent
He's been a drug dealer, he's been shot a whole bunch of times, and was even an amateur boxer for a while.  Defying the odds at the time, he made it off the streets to a hugely successful career as a rapper, producer and actor.  When this one comes on the radio, mama may get her rap on and scare the children a bit.