When I think of a person with strength, I think of Mary J. Blige. Mary is the essence of going through a storm and rising like the phoenix, renewed and restored. I love Mary now, fabulous and free…but I also loved her back then, hard and hurt.
My favorite Mary J. Blige CD isn’t the one you would think. Although I loved My Life, and consider it a for sure classic, I hear nothing but pain when I listen to it. That’s understandable, given the situation and environment Mary was in back then. I knew that pain would eventually be broken, and a new Mary would emerge. I found healing and moving on listening to Mary J.’s self-titled CD, Mary.
This is my favorite CD because I could hear Mary shedding all of that misery and emerging as someone who believed in herself. That is beautiful to me. Recognizing your own power is a freeing experience, and you can hear Mary beginning to step into the spot reserved for her so long ago on this CD. Her voice is stronger and more mature, the lyrics are purposeful, and each is a strong step forward. Plus, any CD with a song titled Beautiful Ones tends to show up on my favorites list (hint, hint).
I put this CD on when I want to think beyond whatever is troubling me. When I need a reminder that the sun is on its way over that mountain in front of me, I listen to Mary.
This is my blog post on last year’s anniversary of Michael’s passing. I was going to write something new, but I think this sums it all up…
I actually dreaded writing this post all week. I knew I was going to do something, but I wish it were under different circumstances. I wish I was trying my best to get tickets to see Michael Jackson live somewhere; instead I’m here writing a blog post about the one-year anniversary of his death.
It still doesn’t seem real, you know? Like the world played a huge trick on my spirit. This one hit me hard; when the news was announced that Michael was gone, I sat at this computer and screamed. My son came running, asking if I was alright. I couldn’t even tell him. I couldn’t say anything.
It’s hard to explain feeling like part of you is ripped away in response to the death of someone I didn’t know personally. But you see, I felt like I did. Michael Jackson was part of my life—a big part—and knowing that there is a void where he once shined makes me sad.
We will always have the music, though. May you continue to live on through the wealth of classic music that you have gifted to us.
R.I.P. Michael…
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on July 4, 2009 by michaeljacksonVEVO
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on April 4, 2008 by Dilawar12
That’s my new word…magnificent. It is just big enough to encompass all the feelings, but just mysterious enough to leave some things to the imagination.I will be choosey in how I use this magnificent, though. It is not to be thrown about reckless and wanton. No I shall reserve the use of magnificent for those things that truly deserve the…well, the magnificence.
Jill Scott’s The Light of the Sun is magnificent.
Now, I must preface my review of this CD with a disclaimer. Jill can do no wrong in my eyes. She sings the soundtrack of my life. It is a cosmic thing, really. She and I are the same person in my head. When I feel as though I can’t breathe, Jill comes through with some words that help me to reach a moment of clarity. I say to anyone and everyone listening that she is me and I am her. I adore her.
Jilly’s latest offering is chock full of music that not only makes you want to move, but makes you think. She is the queen of becoming yourself, and taking everyone along for the ride. If you can listen to a Jill Scott song and not grow, not feel a sense of empowerment…well, then I feel sorry for you. Because this music is not just music; this music is a lesson. It is love and life and freedom and motivation. It is magnificence on wax.
I’ve long held on to the belief that music should offer you a look at the artists; what they think and feel and happen to be going through at the time. Music should aslo offer you a peek into yourself and give you a push in the back toward your destination. Jill does that. With her powerful words and stunning voice, she has the tendency to show you that displaying tenderness should not be considered a weakness.
I’ve listened to this CD at least 5 times today (yes, I said today) and it gets more and more real to me with every listen. Maybe it’s because she gives me confirmation that it’s okay to be who I am; maybe it’s because all of the things she sings and speaks, I know. Maybe it’s because she sings the soundtrack to my life, and this latest chapter is spot on.
I don’t think I can put into words the enormous crush I have on Eric Benet. And it is not just a “here lately” thing; I’ve had this crush probably since I saw him singing to Halle that night on the Soul Train Awards many years ago. More than that, though, is the fact that his voice sounds like it has just been delivered from heaven. He comes fully equipped with one of the sweetest falsettos I have ever heard, and all of his songs seem to speak directly to me (at least they do in my mind).
This week, I turn my ears to Eric Benet. There will probably be a lot of daydreaming and inappropriate smiles on my part, but hey, I can live with that. Here is one of my favorites, which also happens to be the most recent:
video credit: originally uploaded to YouTube on October 14, 2010 by EricBenetTV
Alright…’Ye’s new CD comes out today. It is actually playing in the background, but I feel that I owe it my full attention. Once I listen and get over my stan-hood, I’ll post a review later this week. It’s hard to get excited about music nowadays, with it being more about who is the better marketing exec as opposed to who has the most talent. But I’ve been looking forward to this CD for a while…some good shit to listen to, finally.
I leave you with some of my favorite Kanye tracks. Have a great week everyone!
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When I was young, my mother used to walk around the house singing this song. It always made me giggle, because back then, I had no idea the meaning of the words that she sung. Lord knows I do now.
Good music always stands the test of time. The best music never loses it relevance to society. This is one of those songs…
Enjoy!
p.s. Sam Cooke was too fine!
video credit: Originally uploaded to YouTube on March 30, 2009 by Ralluf1986
For some reason, this week I’ve been on a Maxwell kick. He has been crooning in my ear while I work, and I believe that I’m all the better for it. My writing has been silky (if I must say so myself) and I am going to give the credit to Max.
Here’s one of my favorites…I give to you with a warning: you may just experience wild flutterings of the heart and breathless moments while listening.
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Of course I could not let this day go past without celebrating and remembering Tupac.
I am not going to say much, because what needed to be said has already been written. I will say this: I don’t remember Pac for his music as much as I remember him for what he was. He was a diamond, a passionate poet who lived his life with fervor and purpose. He may not have been the very best MC, or even had the illest flow, but he made you stop and think. I think that is immeasurable, and something that is surely missing from today’s Hip-Hop music.
Happy Birthday, Tupac Amaru Shakur. You are missed…
This is my favorite CD because I could hear Mary shedding all of that misery and emerging as someone who believed in herself. That is beautiful to me. Recognizing your own power is a freeing experience, and you can hear Mary beginning to step into the spot reserved for her so long ago on this CD. Her voice is stronger and more mature, the lyrics are purposeful, and each is a strong step forward. Plus, any CD with a song titled Beautiful Ones tends to show up on my favorites list (hint, hint).
