I'm just thinking about how there are certain decisions you make or things that happen in life that could only happen in the moment and with the build-up and history that comes before it. This can be a good thing, it can also be a bad/strange/disorienting/wack thing. Timing is a trip! And, letting go is a journey. In that same vein, so are the steps you have to take to meet your event or happening that is coming for you... that you don't even know about yet, or may even hope for. Still moments, are only still in a small scope. Some times are meant to be slower, and sometimes you feel stagnant but have the potential to be moving/doing whatever you can until you get to where you want to be.
So many changes I've gone through since I got to college, so small and so varied and sneaky and important that I can hardly keep track of them. But, it's happening for the better and I'm growing. And, I'm starting to feel like I can shake off anxieties and worries I've had about not being enough to pursue what I want. I've heard it said a lot and I think about it sometimes: You only get one life. When you think of that, what other people think and your own fears (wherever they may stem from) can't compare to what you can gain from living a life with little to no regrets, from growing and moving on, overcoming and taking on new challenges, going where you can go and being able to be proud of who you're becoming. And this is a little morbid, maybe but living and dying are kind of inseparable things. Each day that you're living is getting you closer to the day that you die. It's something I think about every once and while, not a lot 'cause that's a lil too heavy and almost unnecessary for the every day. But I read this is in a poetry workshop last week. I'll leave on that note.
"For the Anniversary of My Death" by W.S. Merwin
Every year without knowing it I have passed the day
When the last fires will wave to me
And the silence will set out
Tireless traveler
Like the beam of a lightless star
Then I will no longer
Find myself in life as in a strange garment
Surprised at the earth
And the love of one woman
And the shamelessness of men
As today writing after three days of rain
Hearing the wren sing and the falling cease
And bowing not knowing to what
----- I need to get up on my two stanza (short poems) poetry. I have never written anything this short and complete (aside from random haikus and stuffs). His poem is actually pretty amazing to me. I'm going to work on it.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Missed Connections.
So I randomly came across this blog yesterday that led me to this blog called Missed Connections. So apparently, there is this whole phenomenon where people post instances where they had a connection with someone and missed out on whatever could've happened there. Missed connections, I gather, are meeting eyes and feeling your heart jump/ seeing something really interesting about a person that just draws you in etc etc and not making moves. The blog above showcases Sophie Blackall's illustrations of these instances with the text from things written on Craigslist or the missed connections website. She's focusing on New York but there are different ones for different cities. It's wild to me that this exists, because it just seems to me this is something that happens and you might smile at or kick yourself for later and leave it at that. I wonder how many of these things actually work out. Dreams dashed or come true and all that jazz. Either way, I think the illustrations are dope, and fun. Now, I'm pretty interested in the idea. Thinking I might write a story or something. But, it has already been done of course in movies, books and songs. It is an old idea that never gets old in my opinion, especially since I hadn't realized how it has already entered my consciousness in other ways/forms.
For example, Alicia Keys and Mos Def in this song/video...
Or Lenny Kravitz and this woman from the little restaurant in the video for "Again" (with the infamous booty/shower shot). The embedding is disabled, so to YouTube (click the link) you go.
Or in the movie Meet Joe Black. And, this one was pretty intense.
That's the best of the YouTube vids. Missed connection starts around 1:10. It would've been nice to see the convo beforehand. Whoever is in charge gone make sure you watch the movie. It's good though. Long as all get out, but I enjoyed it.
For example, Alicia Keys and Mos Def in this song/video...
Or Lenny Kravitz and this woman from the little restaurant in the video for "Again" (with the infamous booty/shower shot). The embedding is disabled, so to YouTube (click the link) you go.
Or in the movie Meet Joe Black. And, this one was pretty intense.
That's the best of the YouTube vids. Missed connection starts around 1:10. It would've been nice to see the convo beforehand. Whoever is in charge gone make sure you watch the movie. It's good though. Long as all get out, but I enjoyed it.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
You know 'em.
Either you've heard "Not Just Knee Deep" in this scene.
or "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" in this, the greatest of all commercials (greatest, meaning I played it like 10 times when I first saw it because it made me smile that deep).
or have had the great fortune of just hearing/learning of their music in some other way. I can't remember where it started for me but "Oh, happy day!"
Parliament Funkadelic. AND one of the security guards at my school used to play/sometimes still plays with them! Every once and a while you find remarkable people here, with a great love for something.
I'll leave you with a few words from George Clinton I found on the inside of my "Funked Up: The Very Best of Parliament" CD.
"All that is good is nasty and ain't nothin' good unless you play with it."
(I'll let you think on that one)
and less racy
"Funk is its own reward."
Indeed. Though, I wonder whether that's meant just for the performers/musicians/singers or if listeners are included. I'm just gonna include myself.
(disregard the first 17 or 18 secs) but yes, they did. "Agony of Defeet"
or "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" in this, the greatest of all commercials (greatest, meaning I played it like 10 times when I first saw it because it made me smile that deep).
or have had the great fortune of just hearing/learning of their music in some other way. I can't remember where it started for me but "Oh, happy day!"
Parliament Funkadelic. AND one of the security guards at my school used to play/sometimes still plays with them! Every once and a while you find remarkable people here, with a great love for something.
I'll leave you with a few words from George Clinton I found on the inside of my "Funked Up: The Very Best of Parliament" CD.
"All that is good is nasty and ain't nothin' good unless you play with it."
(I'll let you think on that one)
and less racy
"Funk is its own reward."
Indeed. Though, I wonder whether that's meant just for the performers/musicians/singers or if listeners are included. I'm just gonna include myself.
(disregard the first 17 or 18 secs) but yes, they did. "Agony of Defeet"
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Can we...
have a get together between young people (late eighties/early nineties babies) who love them some oldies? Every time I go to a party I feel a lil unsatisfied 'cause I know I jam so much better to the older stuff. Well, and by "jam" I mean I feel and enjoy it more. Uncontrollable. That shoulder just start movin' on it's own... then it's all over. I know I'm not alone! Shoot! Speaking of jammin'... Just look at all the sweat, head and body rockin!
And "Ow!" to the dancing musicians in the front.. hrrmmphf! Actually, the whole concert get's down!
We don't have to dress like them, but can we have fun like them?
That rainbow shadow-like thingie that follows them when they move is necessary, though.
And, I've just realized that's what I would want for my birthday. I'm not big on parties or planning anything but if I could have a party where we just played mad music from like the 60's to the nineties...YES! That would be the definition of JOY. Especially, if I had someone to slow dance with. Mmhm. We can dream.
And "Ow!" to the dancing musicians in the front.. hrrmmphf! Actually, the whole concert get's down!
We don't have to dress like them, but can we have fun like them?
That rainbow shadow-like thingie that follows them when they move is necessary, though.
And, I've just realized that's what I would want for my birthday. I'm not big on parties or planning anything but if I could have a party where we just played mad music from like the 60's to the nineties...YES! That would be the definition of JOY. Especially, if I had someone to slow dance with. Mmhm. We can dream.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Music Gives Me Hope
It'll be interesting to see what's the first song that comes to mind once i finish this. Up, i done thought of one already: "I Know It's You" by Donny Hathaway. Sigh with joy when I allow myself to really listen. Oh, and Amel Larrieux's "Make Me Whole." Dammit. I'll make a list. Warning, most obvious most true warning: this list will not be complete and cover the expanse of my heart.
1. "I Know It's You" -Donny Hathaway
2. "Make Me Whole"- Amel Larrieux
3. "For Once in My Life"-Stevie Wonder
4. "Sunshine of My Life"- Stevie Wonder
5. "Overjoyed"
6. "Do I Do"
7. "All I Do"
8. "That Girl"
9. "I Was Made to Love Her"
10. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (ugh! just gotta close your eyes and see that walk in the park!)
11. "As"
12. "You and I"
See a trend? I can't ever just listen to one Stevie Wonder song. It's one of those things i tell myself i'm gonna do just to allow me to go down that road. That's a list in itself and i'm sure many people have them.
13. Now for more Donny, "Love Love Love"
14. "A Song for You"
15. "Nothing Even Matters" (!) - Lauryn Hill & D'Angelo
16. funnily enough "I Used to Love Him" - Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige
17. "For Real" -Amel Larrieux
18. "Try Your Wings" -Amel Larrieux (it's a jazz standard but I heard her sing it first)
19. Lauryn Hill singing "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"
20. "Stellar" (!)- Incubus
21. "Dig"- Incubus
22. "Sun Comes Up" -John Legend
23. "Love is You" - Chrisette Michele
24. "I'd Do It All Again" - Corinne Bailey Rae (and when you know the history that goes with it and pay close attention to the video, it becomes even more amazing)
25. "Call Me When You Get This"- Corinne Bailey Rae
26. "Head Over Feet"- Alanis Morisette
27. "No One Else"- Amel Larrieux
28. "Heaven Must Be Likes This" -Ohio Players
29. "Always & Forever" - Heatwave
30. "Iris" - Goo Goo Dolls
31. "Angel"- Groove Theory
32. "Didja Know" - Groove Theory
33. "For the Love of You" (!)- The Isley Brothers
34. "Maybe Tomorrow"- The Jackson 5
35. "Not Like Crazy" - Jill Scott
36. "It's Love" - Jill Scott
37. "The Way" - Jill Scott
38. "Hello, It's Me." - The Isley Brothers, Amel Larrieux, John Legend (each of them have a version)
39. "Ordinary People" -John Legend
40. "P.D.A." - John Legend ;]
41. "Only Heart" - John Mayer
42. "Daughters" - John Mayer
43. "City Love" - John Mayer (!!!was a little obsessed before I left for college)
44. "Love Song for No One" - John Mayer
45. "Dulce Compania" - Julieta Venegas (if I'm translating it right with my knowledge of Spanish, haha.)
46. "Glow" - Kelis
47. "I'm Into You," "Set You Free," "Inside" - Kem
48. "I Belong to You" - Lenny Kravitz
49. "Dreaming Wide Awake" - Lizz Wright
50. "Sunshine" - Lupe Fiasco
51. "...And He Gets the Girl" - Lupe Fiasco
52. "Never Too Much" - Luther Vandross
53. "Eight Days A Week" - The Beatles
54. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - The Beatles
55. "Get to Know Ya" - Maxwell
56. "realove" - Musiq
57. "Romancipation" - Musiq
58. "Her" - Musiq
59. "Speechless" - Musiq
60. "Misty" - Nancy Wilson (heard her sing it first)
61. "Fly Me to the Moon" - Nancy Wilson (same)
62. "The Very Thought of You" - Nancy Wilson (same)
63. "Pretty World" - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
64. "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (i just imagine slow dancing to this in the living room)
65. "Quiet Storm" - Smokey Robinson
66. "Send One You Love" - Stevie Wonder
67. "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" - Tavares
68. "Get Ready"- The Temptations (!!!)
69. "When Somebody Loves You Back"- (R.I.P.) Teddy Pendergrass
70. "My Girl" - The Temptations
71. "Anniversary" - Toni!Tony!Tone!"
72. "Somersault" - Zero 7
73. "Only Have Eyes for You" - The Flamingos
74."Til the End of Time" - The Flamingos
75. "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" - The Flamingos
76. "For Lovers Only" - Maxwell
77. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - Aretha Franklin
78. "Daydreaming" - Aretha Franklin
79. "I'll Write A Song for You" - Earth, Wind & Fire
And anything else that lets me know I'm not the only one hungry. Actually that's this song, "The Blues Are Brewin" -Billie Holiday and when i heard her sing, "When the Lord up above you/sends someone to love you/the blues are something you lose." I stopped. (My) Deep dark secret belief being aired out all crazy. Alright, not too deep and dark and secret but yeah. And that's not to disregard the importance of self-love and knowing other things can making you happy and etc. Now, I know that line from the song maybe a complex and contested statement but shoot for that moment i said, Ah ha yes! I have reasons for each song above and I'm sure I'm missing some but I can only do so much at once.
And what made me think about this, these sites: GivesMeHope and LoveGivesMeHope. Now, call it sappy if you want, but I melt (and by melt, i mean i get all warm inside and find a tear or two in the corner of my eyes) a little after reading a few of these in one sitting.
And until I get to know what I'm feeling about each time I hear these songs, Music Gives Me Hope.. for Love.
1. "I Know It's You" -Donny Hathaway
2. "Make Me Whole"- Amel Larrieux
3. "For Once in My Life"-Stevie Wonder
4. "Sunshine of My Life"- Stevie Wonder
5. "Overjoyed"
6. "Do I Do"
7. "All I Do"
8. "That Girl"
9. "I Was Made to Love Her"
10. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" (ugh! just gotta close your eyes and see that walk in the park!)
11. "As"
12. "You and I"
See a trend? I can't ever just listen to one Stevie Wonder song. It's one of those things i tell myself i'm gonna do just to allow me to go down that road. That's a list in itself and i'm sure many people have them.
13. Now for more Donny, "Love Love Love"
14. "A Song for You"
15. "Nothing Even Matters" (!) - Lauryn Hill & D'Angelo
16. funnily enough "I Used to Love Him" - Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige
17. "For Real" -Amel Larrieux
18. "Try Your Wings" -Amel Larrieux (it's a jazz standard but I heard her sing it first)
19. Lauryn Hill singing "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"
20. "Stellar" (!)- Incubus
21. "Dig"- Incubus
22. "Sun Comes Up" -John Legend
23. "Love is You" - Chrisette Michele
24. "I'd Do It All Again" - Corinne Bailey Rae (and when you know the history that goes with it and pay close attention to the video, it becomes even more amazing)
25. "Call Me When You Get This"- Corinne Bailey Rae
26. "Head Over Feet"- Alanis Morisette
27. "No One Else"- Amel Larrieux
28. "Heaven Must Be Likes This" -Ohio Players
29. "Always & Forever" - Heatwave
30. "Iris" - Goo Goo Dolls
31. "Angel"- Groove Theory
32. "Didja Know" - Groove Theory
33. "For the Love of You" (!)- The Isley Brothers
34. "Maybe Tomorrow"- The Jackson 5
35. "Not Like Crazy" - Jill Scott
36. "It's Love" - Jill Scott
37. "The Way" - Jill Scott
38. "Hello, It's Me." - The Isley Brothers, Amel Larrieux, John Legend (each of them have a version)
39. "Ordinary People" -John Legend
40. "P.D.A." - John Legend ;]
41. "Only Heart" - John Mayer
42. "Daughters" - John Mayer
43. "City Love" - John Mayer (!!!was a little obsessed before I left for college)
44. "Love Song for No One" - John Mayer
45. "Dulce Compania" - Julieta Venegas (if I'm translating it right with my knowledge of Spanish, haha.)
46. "Glow" - Kelis
47. "I'm Into You," "Set You Free," "Inside" - Kem
48. "I Belong to You" - Lenny Kravitz
49. "Dreaming Wide Awake" - Lizz Wright
50. "Sunshine" - Lupe Fiasco
51. "...And He Gets the Girl" - Lupe Fiasco
52. "Never Too Much" - Luther Vandross
53. "Eight Days A Week" - The Beatles
54. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - The Beatles
55. "Get to Know Ya" - Maxwell
56. "realove" - Musiq
57. "Romancipation" - Musiq
58. "Her" - Musiq
59. "Speechless" - Musiq
60. "Misty" - Nancy Wilson (heard her sing it first)
61. "Fly Me to the Moon" - Nancy Wilson (same)
62. "The Very Thought of You" - Nancy Wilson (same)
63. "Pretty World" - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
64. "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (i just imagine slow dancing to this in the living room)
65. "Quiet Storm" - Smokey Robinson
66. "Send One You Love" - Stevie Wonder
67. "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" - Tavares
68. "Get Ready"- The Temptations (!!!)
69. "When Somebody Loves You Back"- (R.I.P.) Teddy Pendergrass
70. "My Girl" - The Temptations
71. "Anniversary" - Toni!Tony!Tone!"
72. "Somersault" - Zero 7
73. "Only Have Eyes for You" - The Flamingos
74."Til the End of Time" - The Flamingos
75. "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" - The Flamingos
76. "For Lovers Only" - Maxwell
77. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - Aretha Franklin
78. "Daydreaming" - Aretha Franklin
79. "I'll Write A Song for You" - Earth, Wind & Fire
And anything else that lets me know I'm not the only one hungry. Actually that's this song, "The Blues Are Brewin" -Billie Holiday and when i heard her sing, "When the Lord up above you/sends someone to love you/the blues are something you lose." I stopped. (My) Deep dark secret belief being aired out all crazy. Alright, not too deep and dark and secret but yeah. And that's not to disregard the importance of self-love and knowing other things can making you happy and etc. Now, I know that line from the song maybe a complex and contested statement but shoot for that moment i said, Ah ha yes! I have reasons for each song above and I'm sure I'm missing some but I can only do so much at once.
And what made me think about this, these sites: GivesMeHope and LoveGivesMeHope. Now, call it sappy if you want, but I melt (and by melt, i mean i get all warm inside and find a tear or two in the corner of my eyes) a little after reading a few of these in one sitting.
And until I get to know what I'm feeling about each time I hear these songs, Music Gives Me Hope.. for Love.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Just watch.
"Haiti" by Carvens Lissaint
One of my friends, amazing poet/performer/person and proud Haitian has a poem about the experience he had when he visited the country this past summer. This video is an advertisement for an event called Every Drop Counts that will be held in Chicago.
Check it out. You won't be disappointed. Extraordinary passion and heart he has.
Leah Smith
I don’t know her personally. But, I have a friend who does. That friend introduced me to her album. I don’t know much but that she’s from Philly, is in her early twenties and has toured with Israel New Breed. What I do know, she has a beautiful voice and tremendous talent in singing and songwriting. Her album, Beautifully Made, sounds to me like an interesting Gospel/R&B hybrid. There are definitely songs that demonstrate a Christian influence and others (but, then arguably all) have more of a universal feel. There are useful lessons/important issues raised throughout. I don’t really like talking about music in this way. It means different things to different people and I even feel differently about the same music at different points in my life, as many people do. So, I’m gonna stop. Best I got, just listen.
“Beautifully Made”
“Shields and Swords”
Music can be purchased here on iTunes or CdBaby or digistation.
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