A to Z Music Challenge - V is for Luther Vandross, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Violent Femmes, Van Halen, Richie Valens, Veruca Salt, Vanilla Ice and Village People

Look at this!!! Two days in a row. Don't get accustomed to this kind of consistency, people. Squirrel!!!

Off we go.

Luther Vandross
Oh that voice. This is the kind of music that goes best with a fireplace and a bottle of wine.


Stevie Ray Vaughan
Blues, rock and a hell of a guitar. This is the music I could listen to in a dimly lit bar all.night.long.


Violent Femmes
Fast, angry and all kinds of awesome. They were by far one of the best early alternative bands, and their influence on music lingers today. Thank god.


Van Halen
The rock band that lived on the walls of many teenage girls' walls for a long, long time, they still draw huge crowds. They changed rock and roll and were a part of the stadium rock movement, playing to bigger and bigger audiences. The line-up change that will live in infamy, David Lee Roth was replaced by Sammy Hagar when they were close to the peak of their career. Their influence on music and videos is pretty easy to see here.


Richie Valens
Thanks to the movie La Bamba and Lou Diamond Phillips' portrayal of him, I'm pretty sure that there were at least two entire generations of women who had the hots for him. Lost far too early in a plane crash, he was a breath of fresh air and one of the first voices in a whole new genre of music.


Veruca Salt
Named after the obnoxious character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, they were edgy and raw, and came about just at the time the world was ready for their lyrics. I love this stuff when I'm angry. LOVE IT.


Vanilla Ice
You know you loved this terrible, catchy rap. You know it. Don't try and kid yourself or anyone else. Go ahead and sing along....we all know you know all the lyrics. Stop. Collaborate and listen.


Village People
What isn't to love??? Costumes, poking fun at stereotypes, catchy lyrics, boundary pushing....I love it all.