11 Years Later: World Trade Center Attacks

2 Albums/Music That Kept Me Sane During Trying Time:

Wow, I can't believe it's been 11 years since the World Trade attacks happened. September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget. It one of the days that you don't like to remember, for example the day Michael Jackson died or the day The Notorious B.I.G passed. You will always remember the things you were doing on those days. But I am glad that two albums got me through those tragic times, Mary J. Blige's No More Drama and Jay-Z's The Blueprint. And with both artists being from NY, it felt good that we New Yorkers had to our home artists to listen to help us through the pain.

Now September 11, started out as any normal day. I remember waking up with me and moms still talking about the Janet Jackson "All For You" concert that we attended about 3 weeks prior. Her and I was reminiscing about the concert and it was the last time we heard Aaliyah before she died. So I finally left the house walking to the bus stop, listening to Mary J. Blige's No More Drama album. The album was released about 2 weeks ago, with me with me being a big Mary fan I was playing it non-stop. So, I get to school and first period began and my Electronics teacher, Mr Delfino always played the news. But this day, I actually paid attention to it and I heard the newscaster say "Oh my God that plane just crashed into the World Trade Center".  Now with the class at full attention, the newscaster says again "Oh my GOD another plane went into the second building". Now the classroom was so quiet you could hear a pin dropped. My instructor kept the TV on the whole class, we didn't even do anything for the rest of class. My instructor and I were from NY, so most of the people in the class couldn't understand what we felt. After the attacks, I felt empty so I took out my cd player and just played track 6, from Mary's album which was the title song "No More Drama". The song during this time had so much more meaning. While listening to the song, I was just thinking how blessed I am because 3 months prior my Electronics class went to the World Trade Center to check out the wiring of the building. Furthermore, my grandma just retired from AT&T after 30 years which was near the World Trade Center. I just started praying and thanking GOD that my family wasn't affected by it. but I prayed for the people that were.

So, the  school day ended and I remember getting home and my mother called me and said "Get some clothes for you and me and get to grandma's house, I will meet you there" Meanwhile, I had the No More Drama album blasting while I getting ready, by this time the album had so much more meaning. But these three songs were more meaningful during this:

No More Drama

Testimony

Destiny

As my mother got to my grandma's house, my family kept the news on and I stayed on the computer for updates. Then I realized Jay-Z's The Blueprint was just released. I went to cdnow.com and previewed the album. After previewing it I knew I had to get it. So I downloaded it. Alot of the songs had that soulful spirit what soothed my soul. (Yea I used Napster at the time. but I brought that Friday though lol) But during this time, three songs stood out:

Heart Of The City

 

Never Change

All I Need

These songs to me were uplifting to me because I needed music to escape what tragic was going on in the world. As a result, the whole week No More Drama & The Blueprint were the only two albums I was listening to. Furthermore, I want to think Mary & Jay-Z for releasing these albums at that time because it became food for thought for me. 

WHEN YOU TURNED ON THE RADIO THESE SONGS WERE ON 24/7 DURING THIS TRAGIC TIME:

Whitney Houston's National Anthem

Various Artists-What's Going On

Marvin Gaye-What's Going On

Bruce Springsteen-Born In the USA

WHAT SONGS ON MUSIC WERE YOU LISTENING THROUGH THESE TRYING TIMES??

My Top Three Soundtracks of all time

On August 17, the remake of Sparkle is being released featuring the late Whitney Houston. This was the last performance from Whitney Houston before her death. But if you are familiar with the original Sparkle, that included Irene Cara and Phillip Michael Thomas, it was known for the music. The soundtrack was done by the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin and produced by the late great Curtis Mayfield. But I will discuss the background about Sparkle as this blog progress. I decided to do this blog because I saw an article about top soundtracks and three soundtracks weren't one it. So as a music lover, I felt it was my duty to write about them. As you can see my favorite 3 soundtracks are Claudine, Sparkle, and Waiting To Exhale. These three soundtracks displays soul and passion at it's finest.

3. Waiting To Exhale

This Babyface produced album is legendary. This album can be called the "women's soundtrack" because with this album all songs were sung by women. In my opinion, the soundtrack fits the movie. The movie was about 4 women that go through heartbreak and how they conquered. And the soundtrack does the movie so much justice. But the funny thing about this album is that women SANG all the songs but a man wrote all the songs. Babyface might have gone through this situations because he wrote great songs. Nevertheless, this shows that men can also relate to this soundtrack because men experience heartbreak as well. 

Now I knew about this soundtrack because this album has hits but I never fully listen to the album, I only knew the singles. Finally, one of my classmates in college was saying that the Waiting To Exhale is the best soundtrack of all time, I knew then I had to listen to it. The following Saturday came, and I had nothing to do, so I went to the store and brought me a bottle of a certain "spirit" and figured I would listen to this album. I think that was the best and the worse thing I could have done. This album was emotional so when you are full of the "spirit" it makes you think about your situation that you are dealing with. So, as epic as the album was I was in my dormroom crying on certain songs. But that crying show me that if a soundtrack can bring me to tears, it has to be epic. I was "Sittin Up In My Room" (dormroom that is) reminiscing. In addition, what I like is Babyface wrote each song for the right person, which the artist made the song theirs. From this album there are 5 songs that I always have to hear:

Aretha Franklin -It Hurts Like Hell

Whitney Houston- Why Does It Hurt So Bad

Mary J. Blige- Not Gon' Cry

Shanna- How Could You Call Her Baby

Whitney Houston/CeCe Winans - Count On Me

Now after listening to all these songs, they basically tells the story of the movie. The characters go through heartbreak and at the end they realize they could count on with other to get through it. I must say if you want an epic soundtrack this has to be in your collection. 

2. Sparkle

This album takes me back every time I see it the cover. This album was the first 8 track that I pick out of my grandparents wall unit when my mother and I moved back north from her finishing her college education. Now this was the time I started falling in love with soul music. So, me as a 10 year old kid goes to this wall unit and see all these big cassettes and ask my mother "what are these big cassettes?". My mother responds as she laughs, "I am getting old but those are 8 tracks!" So, I see Aretha Franklin and pull that 8 track out and it's  "Sparkle". So, I started asking my mother about this album and she explains this is the soundtrack to a 70s movie titled Sparkle. She then explains that Aretha's "Sparkle" was already done before the movie was done. Of course, I never saw the movie so I started asking questions. As a result, my mother rents the movie but I love Aretha's version so much more. I am not bashing the movie, because it's a classic but Aretha's version to me was more soulful than the movies version. And with Curtis Mayfield's legendary producing this album this album is legendary. Even though, I love all the songs on the album there are 3 songs that are my favorites. Even though there is 8 songs on the cd:

Look Into Your Heart 

Hooked On Your Love

Jump

Now Aretha was SANGING on this album, I know you probably saying why was't "Something He Can Feel" on his favorite list. See I already knew about this song so when I finally heard the album these three songs became my favorites. But as I stated before I love the whole album. Now this leads me to the remake of Sparkle, I was a little nervous when I heard that Whitney Houston was remaking Sparkle back in 1999. I was thinking that this album and movie is tough to remake so if Whitney was going to do it she had to do it right. Then I found out Aaliyah was going to play Sparkle, I figured the movie was be fine but the soundtrack still worried me. But when Aaliyah passed, the movie was put on hold. Then in 2012 it was said that the movie started production with Jordin Sparks as Sparkle. After I heard that I said, well she does remind you of Irene Cara, so I said it could work. Then I said the only person that could produce the soundtrack to get that soul vibe is R. Kelly, because he is the closest to Curtis Mayfield we are going to get today. Next week, it's said R. Kelly was producing the soundtrack. I knew then that this can be a great remake like Dreamgirls. I haven't heard the soundtrack yet but with Curtis and Aretha leaving that legendary, R. Kelly has some big shoes to fill. But the original has to be in your soundtrack collection. 

1. Claudine

Another Curtis Mayfield produced album, this soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack of all time. Not just because Gladys Knight is my favorite singer but with this album all the songs are my favorite. I remembering being 10 years old and first hearing this album I was floored. As I stated, me and mother moved back north after she graduated college and we used to listen to old soul and we couldn't find cassette with old music. As a result, someone told my mother about a guy that sells old music in Brooklyn on Belmont Ave. On Saturday, my family decided to take a ride out to Brooklyn so we can to go meet this guy. So, we went to Belmont Ave and we saw this brown van with this older guy. When we get up to the van, he opens up the van we see all these cassettes that included Tyrone Davis, Sam Cooke, Bobby Womack, etc. Me and my mother felt like we were in heaven. So my mother decided to get two cassettes "Claudine Soundtrack" & "Sparkle". When mom popped that cassette in I fell in love with this album at 10 years old and I still play it at 26. Gladys' voice on this album is just legendary. Since I have pick favorites I will chose 4 songs:

To Be Invisible

The Makings Of You

Hold On

Makes Your A Happy Home

Well I hope yall enjoyed my music journey through my favorite soundtracks, these albums in my opinion define soul at it's finest. Hopefully if you don't have these soundtracks, then maybe this blog can get you add them to your collection.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK?

Happy Black History Month Pt 3: Inspirational

This is the last blog entry for the month of February, which is black history month. I figured why not conclude it with the person that got the African American community through all of struggles, which is our LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. If it was not because of him my community would have never made it through the "Trying Times" (referring to a Donny Hathaway classic). 

Today was a day I was feeling a little discouraged and GOD always know what you are going through when nobody else does. So at work, I normally listen to my music and today it seems that it was playing my gospel playlist on it's own. The songs just keep playing, but a live performance by Whitney Houston singing "In Return" made me break down in tears at my desk. It just made me realize that GOD will give you joy during the tough times. This performance just started me to think about the situations that brought GOD brought me through, this discouragement I am feeling is very light. GOD has been good in my life and why should I feel sad, because GOD always answers my prayers.

So from the moment after my breakdown, I was listening to gospel music for the rest of the day. So from my story I realized that about 70 years ago my community was going through tough times everyday, but the thing that kept my community strong and believing was the faith they had in GOD. 

These are my favorite GOSPEL  songs/performances that I hope will inspiration you and keep you faith strong with GOD.

Whitney Houston "In Return"

In this song, Whitney is gracefully singing that you put your trust in GOD he will give you joy, love, and life abundantly. Listen to the POWER of this message

Bebe & Cece Winans "It's Ok"

(http://youngsoulbrother.blogspot.com/2011/03/bebe-cece-winans.html)

Bebe & Cece Winans is one the reason why I fell in love with gospel music. This song is makes me feel that I knew GOD is control "if you just believe".  The part that always get me is the bridge. Listen to this inspiration ballad

Kirk Franklin & the Family "Silver & Gold" 

"Silver & Gold" was the first gospel song that I took notice to. I remember in South Carolina before my mother and I would go to church on Sunday she would always turn the radio to the Sunday morning worship and "Silver & Gold" would always play. I asked my mother what the song meant, she explained that before money and riches, GOD should be the first in your life. At 7, I didn't really understand what it meant but I knew at my young age this song got to my spirit because I used to sing it around the house all the time. But when I found out how GOD was, I began to understand the lyrics. Listen to the live version and let GOD have his way

Aretha Franklin "GOD Will Take Care of You"

I figured for the last song I will give you the song that will always get me through the tough times. Aretha's first words she sangs it so heavenly,"be not dismay" always gets me teary eyed because when my mother in the hospital and one my drive home to NJ, the only song I listened to was this song because I needed to have strength because I didn't want to see my mother in the hospital. But the words "GOD will take care of you through everything" gave me the strength to see her and my prayer helped my mother make a speedy recovery. Listen to this empowering anthem

BONUS

Kirk Franklin "Smile"

About a month ago was going through some problems at my job and it caused me to be sad, but one day after work I came home and turned on my TV and "Smile" video came on. This song made me breakdown because you should always smile because you are blessed that GOD woke you up to face another day because other people didn't. That should put a smile on my face. The lyrics that get me is "I almost gave up all my power that I can't explain". Listen to this encouraging song

Rest In Peace To "The Voice"

Whitney Elizabeth Houston

(August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012)

When I heard that Whitney Houston died, at first I didn't believe it. I thought it was a joke because on twitter they kill superstars everyday. But when I get into my friend's car, turned on the radio, and her anthem "Greatest Love Of All" was playing I knew and the radio announcer said "Rest In Peace Whitney". I just got quiet in the car in disbelief and the tears began to fall. We all knew that Whitney was dealing with personal demons, but you never thought it would end like this. But GOD was ready for her and she is doing so much better than we are, she doesn't have to deal with this crazy world anymore.

This tragic situation really hit home for me because the Friday before she died, I was at work and I said "I feel like listening to some Whitney for these last two hours". So, for two hours I was listening to songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", "Lover For Life", and my personal favorite "Where Do Broken Hearts Go". These songs in my opinion were "cheesy" but Whitney made them awesome with her live performances. As a result, I have a lot live performances on my Whitney playlist. And on those live performances Whitney was SANGING. That's why she was called "The Voice".

I first heard Whitney Houston by my aunt when she lived in Long Island. She used to play Whitney Houston and Anita Baker. My family knew Whitney, but my family was more into the old soul. But at the age of 7, I knew Whitney Houston for the myself. In 1991, she did the national anthem for the Superbowl, which is consider one of the greatest time in history. In elementary school, we had to say the Star-Spangled Banner, but my school always played Whitney's Superbowl version. From that moment, I was introduced to "The Voice". Even though, Whitney wasn't in heavy rotation at my house, but she was played. I just remember one day I was looking through my family's 45 collection, and I remember coming across Whitney's "How Will I Know"33RPM record. She just looked so cheezy but when those vocals began all of that went out the window. From that moment, I began to listen to her more. By 1997, Whitney became was one of my favorite SANGERS of all time. When I mean SANGERS, I am referring to singers like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Patti Labelle. So, with Whitney dying you feel like something is missing from the music industry. Even though, "The Voice" was gone years ago because of her personal demons but Whitney was always relevant in the music world, just like Michael Jackson who died 2 years ago.

At first, I didn't want to do a blog on Whitney because I felt it would be tough but listening to her music and performances non-stop for the past couple of days, I knew it would only be right to show RESPECT the one of the best of all time.

In closing, I just want to give my prayers to Whitney's family especially Bobby Christina, her daughter. She is the person that is the most affected by this. Pray that GOD puts his shield around her and protect her.

MY TOP 10 PERFORMANCES

10) I LOOK TO YOU (WITH KIM BURRELL)

These two powerful voices definitely let the lord have his way

9) AIN'T NO WAY (WITH MARY J. BLIGE)

This was a classic duet these ladies SANG

8) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (WITH CECE WINANS)

CECE in my opinion is the only own that can go "toe to toe" with the Whitney

7) SAVING MY LOVE FOR YOU IN 1991 ON TOUR

The background vocals just helped put this song into overdrive

6) ALL THE MAN I NEED AT THE ARESNIO HALL SHOW

She murdered the vocals on this especially at bridge..watch magical

5) PORGY, AND IM TELLING YOU, I HAVE NOTHING AT 94 AMA

Whitney killed this Medley and did it effortlessly

4) DIDN'T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL IN 1988

Whitney had this crowd in her pawn of her hands with her voice

3) ONE MOMENT IN TIME AT 1989 GRAMMYS

Magical is the only word

2) ALL AT ONCE AT THE 1987 AMAS

She made this look so easy, but nobody can touch her

1) GREATEST LOVE OF ALL AT 15 ANNIVERSARY OF ARISTA

The best Whitney Performance in opinion of all time

There is a lot of Whitney performances that are classic but these are my top ten. Just listen to the performances so Whitney can take you on a ride with those vocals.

REST IN PEACE  "THE VOICE" YOU MUSIC WILL LIVE ON



RANDOM BLOG!!!

Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson

For the last couple of days, I have been listening to live performances of Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson. While I listen to these women sing, it sends chills up my spine. At times I shed a few tears because their voices are so beautiful. Their voices are definitely a gift from GOD. As a result, I figured I would share a few of my favorites and explain why these two are in my 10 singers of all time.

Starting with Whitney Houston, she is considered "THE VOICE". During the 1985-1995, her voice could not be matched. After 1995, Whitney took advantage of her gift and GOD took it away from her. In 2009, Whitney came back with her new album, which was very successful but her live performances were not the reason for her being considered "THE VOICE". But thank you for www.youtube.com, you can go there to her some of Whitney's best performances.

Favorite Whitney Houston Live Performances:

5. SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU ON THE IM YOUR BABY TONIGHT TOUR

    During this performance, she turns soul-pop jam into a jazzy number. She does it so

    effortlessly with runs and all. The background vocalists makes the performance so 

    much better, its better than the original version to me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=earJYHP6bLQ      

4. YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE LIVE ON JOHNNY CARSON

    During this performance she slow mid tempo jam down with her and the piano. She gets

    you from the 2:00 point until the end of the video. Her voice sounds so smooth and clear,

    she makes you feel what love is on this on. CHECK IT OUT!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI3YrAv0C-I

3. PORGY, AND I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE NOTHING AT THE 1994 AMA

    During this performance she showed the world why she was the artist of the year for 1992

    - 1994. She killed this performance and looked good doing it. Her band was on point with

    her voice anything was just going her way that night. She won 8 awards and had the best

    performance of the night. SPEECHLESS

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eGIo_SCrN8

2. ALL THE MAN I NEED ON ARSENIO HALL SHOW

    This is my favorite Whitney Houston song, with this she shows me why. You can feel

    she was singing to a then ex-husband Bobby Brown. Whitney has feeling this performance

    from beginning to end. CHECK FOR YOURSELF!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcCNp8YWAnw

1. THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL AT ARISTA'S 15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

    My opinion this is Whitney's best performance ever. Her voice and everything is just

    flawless. NO WORDS LEFT, JUST WATCH!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIfypx2wlWg&feature=fvsr

    

ON TO KELLY!!!

Kelly Clarkson is the first winner of American Idol. In my opinion, she is the best idol. Kelly's voice she can sing any type of music from country to gospel. During the her season of American Idol I had her going to the finals, but I thought Tamyra Gray was going to win. But Kelly definitely proved why she is the best with her live performances. Kelly is still out so she still have time to make more great performances, but these are my favorites.

Favorite Kelly Clarkson Peformances:

5. MISS INDEPENDENT LIVE ON AOL

    During this performance, she turned a pop song into a rock song. Her vocals on this

    is flawless. This was actually the first performance that made to really started me to 

    like her more than I did on idol, because she really made this song hers. WATCH

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgr4DOMbNvw

4. HEAR ME LIVE ON ROLLING STONE

    This is my favorite song from Kelly. This performance she sounds on good. She sounds 

    just like the song. LISTEN

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7TBguassE

3. BECAUSE OF YOU LIVE ON DUTCH RADIO

    During this performance, I can feel her through my soul. She sounds so soulful, everytime

    I listen to this performance I just close my eyes and listen. TRY IT!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToW56Hj3U0w

2. BREAKAWAY LIVE ON VH1 UNPLUGGED

    This Breakaway album was that cd I listened to when I finally left home for college. I

    listened to this album because I was breaking away from my shelter up bringing. This

    was the album that helped me through this life changed. But this performance of 

    Breakaway is the best. She makes me feel so good, I sing along everytime I hear it, 

    I try to listen to hit every hit too. CHECK IT OUT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwkM_BBUtk8

1. UP TO THE MOUNTAIN LIVE ON IDOL GIVES BACK

    This is my best Kelly Clarkson performance in my opinion. She takes this song to church.

    She she makes me cry. She sings with so emotion. SPEECHLESS

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shTQ5UTbfsM&feature=related

    

Now if you don't feel anything from these performances something is wrong.