Let The Music Play

Sometimes my son and I dance around the house until we are both out of breath. I seriously need to do this EVERYDAY and it would solve my exercise dilemma. Anyway, his two favorite songs are Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts (it’s the Cars theme song) and My Mic Sounds Nice by Salt-n-Pepa. Ha ha! Eclectic, right?

I play these songs (as well as others) over and over and we sing loud, off key and dance ourselves dizzy. I used to do this a lot by myself when I was a single gal and had my own apartment. I would have CD’s (and CASSETTE TAPES) all over my apartment and I would dance and lip sync in front of the mirror. This was seriously my workout back in the day.

I’ve always had a love affair with music. I love it just about as much as I love reading. Songs have the power to lift you up and make you smile or bring you down and hold you there for a while. I find music to be inspirational and empowering. Sometimes in the ears of the wrong listeners it can also be motivation for madness.

I have a particular affinity for “old school” music. I listen to everything from Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics to What Is Love by Howard Jones to I’ve Been Loving You to Long by Otis Redding to Sweetest Taboo by Sade to Baby Baby Baby by TLC. My most favorite music is anything by Prince in the 80’s and old school hip hop from the 80’s. The 90’s new jack swing era also holds a special place in my heart and I have every CD Jodeci ever made. And do I even need to mention the love for Tupac and Biggie? But oddly enough, I also LOVE Dolly Parton’s theme song from 9 to 5 and I think Kenny Rogers’ song, The Gambler is the best metaphor for life:
You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, Know when to walk away and know when to run.You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table.There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealins done.

As far as current music goes. . .I think Jill Scott is phenomenal and I’m waiting with bated breath for Maxwell’s new CD. I like Raheem DeVaughn and Anthony David. Guess my tastes lately reflect a more “mature” woman. However I do like Lupe Fiasco (or maybe just that Daydreamin’ joint because of Jill Scott). One person I am NOT a fan of at all and I am scratching my head trying to not only figure out what he’s saying but how he got famous is Lil Wayne. Don’t get me wrong -back in my backsliding days I used to love me some Cash Money Millionaires, “Number one stunna- what, what what?” and I even liked Weezy’s first song, “The Block is Hot” but that madness he’s spittin’ lately? I just don’t feel inspired, empowered or entertained by much of the muck on the radio these days. I guess I really am getting old. Whatever. Let me get back to MY music. . .this was my most favorite song to lip sync to. . .okay, so I admit I was lip syncing to it last night! (And YES, I do the choreography complete with pretending to play the drums! Ha ha!)

Shelia E Glamorous Life

Another Year

In ten days I will have another birthday, God willing. I will leave behind an age and a year that I will never get back. As I think about how profound that is. . .that I will never be this age again- EVER. I pause and contemplate, was it a worthwhile year? Did I live enough, do enough, love enough?

Since my last birthday I've:

• Visited the Bahamas, San Francisco, Nashville, Disneyworld and New York
• Lost ten pounds and gained six
• Read twenty books
• Started this blog
• Walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• Donated time and money to various charities
• Made peace with my vocation
• Prayed more
• Experienced the death of my biological father
• Taken my son to the library once a month
• Done some home improvements
• Survived strep throat
• Finished three college credit courses
• Published a book!

Wow, I didn't realize I'd experienced so much until I wrote it all down. I think I focus way too much on all the things I want to do and things I haven't done instead of appreciating and celebrating all the things I have done. As I enter this new year of my life, I vow to try to be the best person, wife, mother, sister and friend that I can be and not worry about what others are around me are doing. I vow to start living life at my pace and relish all of the opportunities and encounters that come my way.

I thank God for my health- both mental and physical- the health of my family and for the gift of another year to live on this Earth. No need to make any wishes this year- I've got everything I could ask for plus a lot more that I probably don't deserve and I am extremely grateful!

Here's my theme song for the year ahead!

Hip Hop Hooray

I grew up on hip hop. Actually I grew up on soul music but I certainly came of age during the time that hip hop was considered groundbreaking, political, ingenious and FRESH! The hip hop I’m referring to is now considered “old school”. I’m talking about legends like Run DMC, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Sugarhill Gang, Eric B. and Rakim, Salt and Pepa, Kool Moe Dee, Whodini, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Boogie Down Productions, UTFO, Blacksheep, A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, De La Soul, MC Lyte, MC Shan, NWA, Public Enemy, Jungle Brothers, Brand Nubian, Special Ed, Biz Markie, EPMD, Geto Boyz and the Fat Boys- just to name a few! Back before Will Smith was “Will Smith” the Actor but the goofy Fresh Prince whose rhyming skills were a’ight but his partner Jazzy Jeff’s turntable skills were tight! And back when Queen Latifah was making us feel the Wrath of Her Madness.

But as times changed so did hip hop. It became more violent, sexual and materialistic in nature and while I mourned the death of Tupac and Biggie, I never felt as connected to hip hop as I did back in the day. Now that I am a grown woman and mother I find myself turning away from stations that play the nonsensical “hip hop” of today because I find the lyrics too offensive and I don’t want my son running around the house repeating some of the trash that pollutes the airwaves.

I think there are several parents out there who can relate to my dilemma. How can I consider myself a child of hip hop and NOT want my child listening to the same music? The reason is simple: it’s not the same. And it’s a shame really because it’s a big part of our history and our culture. But there may be hope yet. . . .check out this collaboration just for the kids from some old school greats!

http://babyloveshiphop.com/

Okay, now I can't get the Dino 5 theme song out of my head! "Here come the, here come the Dino 5!"