music, my one true love...
haiku:
music is like Lays
i can’t just listen to one
good shit on repeat
I have certain songs of that I will put on repeat or keep playing one part over and over again. There seems to be certain songs in general that just touch a place in my soul or speak to a situation I am going through. What songs have you played to death lately? These are mine:
true story...
I was having a conversation with my good friend The PBG last night about how I often am late to the party when it comes to great music. In this conversation I was specifically referring to Lalah Hathaway, who has been making music for over 10 years and I just discovered her 3 months ago. However, I think I discovered her right on time in the scheme of my life. I have a belief that music finds you right when you need it. As I blogged last week, her song “Breathe” kept me from completely losing it during a time of crisis. I believe that song and album wouldn’t have been appreciated at another point in life. To people who are not big music lovers this may not make a lot of sense, but my life revolves around music, or revolves around me, depending on how narcissistic I am feeling at any given moment.
word.
Anyway I lost my point, but we continued to talk about some of the songs and/or artists that we either slept on or tucked to the side but revealed themselves at just the right moment. One of the songs was “Me” by Erykah Badu from New Amerykah, Pt. 1. It was amazing, or maybe not so amazing, that we both had the same revelations and conections to this song as it pertains to finding your place in the world and realizing you just have to say “F*ck it” sometimes and just be “me.” I mean be you, not me, but I got to be me. Now I am confused. You get the point though, I hope. Point being, good music warms my soul, even that dead part that makes me hate random stuff. In case you wondered.
Have you ever had one of those moments when a previously ignored song or artist comes along and tells your story? Please share.
How do I make Mondays wonderful? By bringing awesome guest poets, of course! Today’s guest is a huge talent and (in her words) “We ‘stan’ united for Badu”. That lets you know the breadth of her fabulousness! Today’s guest poet is the lovely Candace J, (@InHerNotebook on twitter). Show her some love!
Isn’t she adorable?
I am the girl who has it all together when IT only depends on me. For all other parties involved there is this app called Notepad detailing my thoughts:
-Caught in an angle of song-
Kind of how Green Eyes still cuts deep
And now how I sigh when she justifies my insanity is Just In Time
For a while I was undercover; a Nina Mosley, shattered, talking blue linings in red clouds
Thinking you’d conclude this movie with the same urgency and recognition of the Jones pouring down
Does Love take intermissions?
Will Love ever see the fool being made of me in this contraption of sound?
I always get choked up when she sings the completion:
‘you can’t be what i need you to’
questioning why he’s still considered
‘and i don’t know why I f*** with you’
when he can’t be the love that I need in him
I hear that thinking about your feelings won’t bring them any less meaning
Even if you say it cleverly you’re still showing me I’m the only one that can’t do without
I didn’t even have to repeat to resonate with what that “You’re Loving Me” track was all aboutI’m becoming numb to this unwarranted punishment
It’s not so terrible that I’ve got your ends, Benz & friend
…maybe it’s not the song I’m stuck in
This week’s Blog Poetry slam topic and poem is coming from my very dear friend and kindred spirit, Amy. You can find Amy at her two beautiful blogs: random and pressing details and The Attic of my Mind or on twitter. Amy and I share a mutual “stan-dom” for Erykah Badu, so she contributed a poem that I thought would be perfect. Today’s theme is to write a poem about or inspired by your favorite album or artist. The next two poems will be Amy’s and then mine. Write your poem and put it in the comments. Your poems can be short or long, silly or serious, however the spirit hits you. Happy Writing!
© AmyMay
Cold, Lonely
on cold lonely nights
i hug my journal
i strike pen to paper until the smoke detectors go off
and let the flames warm the empty side of the bed
and thaw the ice forming on my heart
so it can melt onto the page
to make sweet poems
to cut the edge of my bitterness
on cold lonely nights
i cuddle badu albums
hoping the other side of the game
will certainly occupy the other side of the bed
and lull me into dreams of having you right now
instead of next lifetime
underneath the orange moon
together going on and on…
© Naturally Alise 2010
musical treat:
old poem of mine that I think fits:
You have finally faced the music
Cut through the overproduction,
Pushed through the synthesized keys and unlocked your destiny
Swam against the tide of superfluous watered down beats
Escaped the trap of snares…
Came up and breathed in the pure air of lyrics.
Unearthed what lies beneath and between the lines.
Found the treasures of knowledge in each syllable…..
I am trying to get back into the rhythm of writing in general. I think every week I will do some sort of music post about musicians that I see as poets, sometimes more, not putting myself on any sort of schedule, but I just want to expand myself creatively. Enjoy…
sang it girl!
Everyone who knows or semi-knows me, knows that I am a ridiculous, hardcore Erykah Badu fan. The funny thing is I don’t think she is the best vocalist and honestly sometimes I don’t know what the hell she is talking about. However, I love her because you can tell everything that comes out of her mouth is true emotion… she means it.
Then there are those artists who step on stage and Badu-ize the crowd. Those are the ones who come to the stage wearing what they wore all day with bags under their eyes, but by the time they leave the stage they leave your soul overfilled and salivating for more, leaving your inspiration gluttonous. Those that deliver any art form from the inside out, instead of the other way around are the best in my book.
Here are 3 of my favorite Erykah Badu performances where she really exhibits that soul-filled performance that makes me love her:
“Ye Yo”
I think this is my favorite Erykah Badu song ever. Though it does not have many lyrics, the ones it does have are so powerful. This song talks about the connection of mother and child. My favorite lyric being:
“Well see the suns in the east and the moon reflects
Like the knowledge and wisdom I manifest
If you wanna go to heaven lay upon my breast”
Beautiful. (The song makes me sad though because my relationship with my mom right now isn’t great… sigh…)
“Green Eyes”
Another favorite of mine is “Green Eyes”, from the Mama’s Gun CD. Not for the catchy intro of the song, but for the pure, raw emotion of the 2nd and 3rd part. I always view this song as 3 songs, the first part playfully poking fun at oneself for what seems to be just innocent jealousy. However, the next part of the song takes a journey into the deep feelings of jealousy, resentment and insecurity. I think often many people forget about the layers in Badu’s songs. She can take the most playful or seemingly benign concept and show the anatomy of it, not only through the lyrics but through the inflection and tones in her voice. This is definitely a song that displays that.
“I Want You”
Another Badu favorite of mine is “I Want You” from Worldwide Underground. Once again, this is a relatively simple song, but it expresses the depth of love/attraction she feels for her mate, one of my favorite lines is
“got a good book and got all in it
tried a little yoga for a minute
but it won’t let go”
I definitely know that feeling, where you are so enamored with someone (or thing) that you can’t concentrate on anything because the thoughts are so consuming. I know you’ve been there before!
These are just a few of my favorites….. What are your Erykah Badu faves?
