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

Happy Black History Month Pt 2

If I was going to do another blog entry on black history and it was dealing with music, the Apollo had to be mention. The Apollo Theater is famous for the likes of James Brown, The Jackson 5, and Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston recorded her most famous video "The Greatest Love of All". The Apollo has made the some of the BEST stars of all time.

Like I said in Part 1, since we in black history month, even though this black history month hasn't been happy with the deaths of Etta James, Don Cornelius, and Whitney Houston. But their musical spirit still lives on. 

THE THREE SONGS THAT REPRESENT BLACK HISTORY 

1.) Living For The City -Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was a big part of black history. Even though, I like 60s Stevie a little better than 70s Stevie, but during the 70s he's music was revolutionary. He talked about things that the black communities had to deal it. I feel that "Living For The City", Stevie described to the mainstream America, what issues we as African Americans had to deal with. 

STEVIE'S LYRICS

His father works some days for fourteen hours 
And you can bet he barely makes a dollar 
His mother goes to scrub the floor for many 
And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny

LISTEN THIS CLASSIC 

2.) Fight The Power- Public Enemy

Public Enemy is definitely one of the groups in hip-hop that wanted to explain the mainstream America about black history. This song as well as the video was very powerful. Chuck D explained our struggle that we went through for over 400 years. Lastly, Chuck D was trying to talk to the black communities to stand firm for you believe in.

CHUCK D'S LYRICS

Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power

LISTEN & WATCH THIS POWERFUL SONG & VIDEO

(I LOVE THE BEGINNING)

3.) We Shall Overcome- Glory Gospel Singers

This song is so powerful during the famous marches with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, my people would march and sing "We Shall Overcome" so the racial hate can stop. We didn't want to get treated like second-class citizens. We deserved the same rights as everyone else. Those marches and people like Dr. King helped the world finally see our first Black President, Barack Obama. Even though, my race still deal with racial injustice, but it is a lot better than Jim Crow days and the 1960s. 

LYRICS TO THIS POWERFUL SONG

The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through,
The Lord will see us through someday;
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday

LISTEN NATALIE FORD W/GLORY GOSPEL SINGERS SING THIS BEAUTIFULLY

LISTEN TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR PREACH ABOUT HOW "WE SHALL OVERCOME"

GOT THREE MORE NEXT WEEK!!!

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



Happy Black History Month Pt 1

Now my blog is about soul music so for the month of February every week I am going to give you 3 songs a week, that represents my culture and how we had to overcome a lot of challenges. 

1.) (Say It Loud) I'm Black & I'm Proud -James Brown 

This song by James Brown symbolizes black history for me. James Brown made a song for my culture to feel good about ourselves. During the civil rights movement, African Americans were treated unfairly because of the color of our skin. So as the 1960's were ending and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, which cause our leadership to collapse. So, James Brown made a anthem for the black community to go out and stand up for what you believe in, be your own leader because you are BLACK & PROUD.

LISTEN TO THIS CLASSIC ANTHEM!!

 

This song by James Brown symbolizes black history for me. James Brown made a song for my culture to feel good about ourselves. During the civil rights movement, African Americans were treated unfairly because of the color of our skin. So as the 1960's were ending and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, which cause our leadership to collapse. So, James Brown made a anthem for the black community to go out and stand up for what you believe in, be your own leader because you are BLACK & PROUD.

2.) People Get Ready- The Impressions

What can I say Curtis Mayfield is one of the best writers of all time. While he was with the Impressions, he wrote songs of the struggles African Americans. But People Get Ready in my opinion is the best. He writes and sings that a "All you need is faith" in this song is telling his people that as long as we trust and have faith in GOD everything will be okay. 

LISTEN TO THE SOUL & THANK THE LORD

3.) How I Got Over- Mahalia Jackson

How I Got Over is definitely an gospel anthem because we as a community wonder how we got over, but it was nobody but GOD. Mahalia sung this song after Martin Luther King Jr's historic "I Have A Dream" speech. Mahalia was preaching through her voice, that GOD will never leave us through the bad times.   

LISTEN TO THE MAHALIA PREACH WITH HER VOICE

THE VIDEO WHERE SHE SINGS IT AFTER THE "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH

GOT THREE MORE NEXT WEEK!!!

The Men About the Cause

Marvin Gaye & Donny Hathaway

I was sitting around thinking albums that spoke about what was going on in our black neighborhoods. The two albums that came to mind were "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye & "Everything Is Everything" by Donny Hathaway. I feel that these albums spoke to the African America communities back in the 1970's and lot of the issues they both addressed can be used in today's world. 

Going to start with Marvin's "What's Going On" album

Marvin Gaye recorded this masterpiece back in the 60's but record executive of Motown, Berry Gordy felt that the world wasn't ready for something this dark. During that time, Gordy was about making music that would cross over to a mainstream audience. When Marvin entered "What's Going On" in the mid sixties, Gordy denied it. After so much forcefulness from Marvin, Gordy finally released it in 1971. This album became on of the greatest albums of all time.

With this album Marvin was singing about issues were that African American male has to death with after the Vietman War. After a shameless war, these men had to come back to their neighborhoods dealing with poverty and drugs. Marvin spoke about this issues head on, what songs like 'What's Happening Brother', the lyrics said "What else is new my friend, besides what I read/Can't find no work/can't find no job my friend/Money is tighter than it's ever been"....Listen to Marvin spoke for the brothers.

Adding to the not finding a job, the men get into drugs which causes some comfort but after the high comes down, the problems are still there. In song 'Flying High(In The Friendly Skies)', Marvin sings "I go to the place where danger awaits me". On this song Marvin takes you there, check it out. Marvin sounds so DAMN soulful...

On this album, Marvin really talks about the issues. Then he talks about the children of the world how they need to be to be saved from all this poverty and depression. 'Save The Children' is very inspirational to children that need guidance...listen to how Marvin says our children are our future.

In the African American community, GOD is the strength of our lives. Marvin understood that he had songs like 'GOD is Love' and 'Wholy Holy'. GOD is love is one of my favorite gospel songs of all time. When Marvin songs this these lyrics it sends chills through me "Oh don't go and talk about my father/God is my friend/Jesus is my friend/He made this world for us to live in, and gave us everything". Listen to this GOSPEL

Lastly from this masterpiece, Marvin really spoke about the inner cities and how they have changed. Songs like 'Mercy Mercy Mercy (The Ecology)' & 'Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)'. These songs are soul classics, but you don't understand the depth of these songs. Marvin was trying to convey a message that things should for the better, to make this world a better place. Even though I love both, 'Inner City Blues' seemed to touch me a little more. The production is dark but gives you light. Marvin wanted you to get a feel what the inner cities felt like. This song gives you soul to the max. Feel the soul when Marvin says

"Hang ups, let downs/Bad breaks, set backs/Natural fact is/I can't pay my taxes/Oh, make me wanna holler/And throw up both my hands"

When you listen to this songs, you can understand why this album is one of the best albums of all time. And to think that Berry Gordy though that "What's Going On" was one of the worse albums he has ever heard. This album is a masterpiece because of the message that Marvin was giving.

Now to Donny Hathaway "Everything Is Everything"

I was introduced to Donny Hathaway in my teenage years. I knew he did duets with Roberta Flack but I didn't know his music until I got into college. In addition, the only solo songs I knew from Donny was 'This Christmas' & 'A Song For You'. So, when I heard, 'The Ghetto' for the first time, I listened to it over 100 times. From that time, I knew I had to listen to the album that 'The Ghetto' on. I was introduced to the "Everything Is Everything". This album in my opinion explained to the mainstream world, what the inner cities were all about.  

Donny Hathaway on "Everything On Everything" in the beginning is talk about how the guys in the inner city wanted a good woman behind him while he goes to the trails of the world. The song 'I Love You' he sings "Mmm, times haven't always been so very good for us baby, no, no/You stood by my side/Yes you did, whoa and that makes me love you/And baby, darlin, the road was mighty rough, mighty rough sometimes/(You held onto my hand)/But you held onto my hand/Whoa, that makes me love you, oh"...Check it out

To add this album's production is awesome, most of the time Donny didn't have to sing he could just like the piano speak for it's self. Like this song, 'I Believe it In My Soul', the piano break in this song is legendary

Now Donny is done with talking about the love, he wants the mainstream world to understand how the inner cities are tough but his people manage to get buy in the faith of the GOD.

'Sugar Lee' in my opinion is 2nd to 'The Ghetto'. What I get from this song, is Donny is trying to use our faith in GOD and what you hear when you walk through "the hood". The hands claps give me church kind of feel, but through out the song you are hearing people talking, but this is what you hear in the inner cities. The production of this song is awesome. Feel yourself in that place. Catch Don Cornelius coming down the Soul Train Line.

'Trying Times' is just like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Happening Brother' & 'What's Going On'. In this lyrics he sings Tryin' times, what the world is talkin' about/You got confusion all over the land, yeah/You got mother against daughter, you got father against son/You know the whole thing is getting out of hand". Donny's vocals are incredible, you hear the soul out of his voice how he wants the world to change.

Donny's 'Thank You Master (For My Soul)' is so inspirational. This is just a prayer song that everyonen should understand. He is explaining this song, that even that people in the inner cities got through hard times but we know how to pray. The arrangement of this song is so dark but beautiful. I love when Donny sings, "Lord, thank Ya, thank Ya, Master, thank Ya for my soul/cause you didn't have to hear my moanin/.Lord, You didn't have to hear my groanin'/but You kept me, yeah/you put shoes on my feet, you kept food for me to eat, yeah". Feel the Holy Spirit, listen to the vocal run from 2:41 to 2:48, it sends chills up your spine.

If you wanted to know what "the hood" feels like, listen to 'The Ghetto', this song is one of my favorite songs of all time. Like I said Donny Hathaway was more for the music than lyrics, and this song was no exception. Just feel this 7 mins of excellence.

I feel with "What's Going On" & "Everything Is Everything" brought the inner city to mainstream. Marvin and Donny gave the mainstream world a light into the dark world of the inner cities and how we dealt with it. And the number one way was the faith in GOD.

THANK YOU MARVIN & DONNY FOR THE HONESTLY IN YOUR MUSIC!!!

Favorite Group Of All Time

THE O'JAYS

Before I get started, I wanted to say Happy New Years and welcome back to my music blog. Now before the new year began, I didn't know what my first blog of the new year was going to be about. But my mother gave me the original vinyl cover (33s) of the O'Jays classic 1975 Family Reunion album. When she gave me that cover, I knew I had to blog about my favorite group of all time the O'Jays.

Take a look at the CLASSIC "Family Reunion" cover of UNITY

I was introduced to the O'Jays when I was about 7 years old. During the Christmas Holiday, my family played 8 tracks before we got our record player. I remember my mother playing The Ship Ahoy album on 8 track. I remember hearing the first song the gospel inspired "Put Your Hands Together", hearing Eddie Levert's voice stuck in my mind because it was so soulful. I just remember that album playing when I fell asleep and I woke up hearing the title track "Ship Ahoy" then I was hook. Everytime I got a chance you would play that 8-track. But the song on that album that become my favorite song from the O'Jays was "You Got Your Hooks On Me", take a listen to Eddie breakdown

That sounded good didn't it...I'm going to give you a little background then back to the music.

O'Jays were formed in the late 50's, but then known by the Mascots. But In 1963, they got the name The O'Jays, from a DJ in Cleveland who was with the part the management of the late Frankie Crocker. During that time, they had local hits that included "Ill Be Sweeter Tomorrow", "Stand For Love", and "One Night Affair". But it was when the trio got with Gamble and Huff they got their first big hit the 1972 Backstabbers. The album included hits like these:

Backstabbers

Time To Get Down

Sunshine

#1 Pop Song- Love Train

Sidebar some of these songs where also written by Whitehead & McFadden, the people responsible for this... 

Ain't No Stopping Us Now

I know yall grooving to this but back to the O'Jays. After the Backstabbers album the hits just keep coming. The album that I introduced me to the classic group, Ship Ahoy. The hits included

Put Your Hands Together (Figured I would give you a Soul Train Line Clip)

Now We Found Love (Rapper Heavy D or Reggae Third World didn't make it first..youngins)

One of the realest song of all time- For The Love of Money (Live)

See the O'Jays just kept bring the hits, their third album Survival included the hits "Give The People What They Want" and the love anthem "Let Me Make Love To You". In this song, Eddie Levert is SANGING to that woman...take a listen

The fourth album Family Reunion as I spoke about previous was just a unified album for everyone. As you look at the cover above, the group was trying to show that we all are a family, all races. This album included hits like

Unity

One of my Grandmother's favorite O'Jays song- Livin For The Weekend

The Pop Classic- I Love Music(Another Soul Train Line)

Stairway To Heaven

Every Black Family get together plays this- Family Reunion

After the Family Reunion album the hits kept coming like the inspirational "Message in the Music", the smooth "Darlin Darlin Baby", "Use Ta Be My Girl", and the song about a dog "Brandy". When I first heard this song, I thought he was singing about a girl. But my mother told me it was about his dog that died. Take a listen.

And the Classic "Cry Together"(This is where JaRule & Lil' Mo got their song 'I Cry')

As you can see this group has timeless music, O'Jays will always be my favorite group. The O'Jays music never be duplicated but people have tried. 

These two videos are best Tributes to them:

LSG-2003 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS

Tevin Campbell, Trey Songz, Tyrese, Johnny Gill (TYRESE WAS SANGING)

http://pann.nate.com/video/214029322

THANKS O'JAYS FOR THE REAL MUSIC FOR OVER 40 YEARS!!