These "Sung" Heroes (Black Music Month)

I'll say it, Music is Helping us Survive 2020. Music is busying our minds. Music is helping work our feet, hips, & waists to its rhythm & beat. Music is letting us purge our unwanted thoughts & feelings.

2020 has really done a number on every citizen on Earth. But music artists, bands, & DJs have hopped on the internet to ease some the soreness. And I am happy they did.

D-Nice

I want to go and tell childhood me that DJ D-Nice will age well & have a good heart in the future. Because younger me had a huge crush on him. And the first weekend he hopped on Instagram and played music for hours, I felt like that dreamy kid all over again. My Gosh, he is still very handsome. 

Then I focused on the music he was playing. It was like going to a club without the stabbing heels, high priced drinks & getting bumped into on the dance floor. I've wondered if I was in a booth or table next to any celebrities. His "pick-me-up" party does the numbers! I also was there when he came on the comedian, Deon Cole's first DJ set on IG (now on Twitch), and jammed with him. Basically, saying it is room for all of us to have fun. Thank you, D-Nice for space & time to groove.

Verzuz

I'll admit I don't go to all the "battles". Heck, my first attended "battle" was Teddy Riley ~vs~ Babyface. Most Verzuzes are not my style. I know I don't care for T-Pain & 112. But I'm also not that into Jagged Edge & Lil John to root for them. Most of the "battles" I attended were more of the celebration of one another's art kind (That is why I have apostrophes around battle),

such as Jill Scott & Erykah Badu, Bishop Hezekiah Walker & John P. Kee, and Kirk Franklin & Fred Hammond. And believe me, those were the ones that I purged so many frustrations with this current life situation through tears. Those came right on time for me. But I also bopped at my first "battle" visited and dutty wind my best with Bounty Killer & Bennie Man at their matchup. I had to watch the movie, Dancehall Queen (Because in my mind I am one) to prep for that soundclash. And who couldn't laugh at Spice Adams & Affion Crockett making parodies after each one? I still giggle at the Teddy Riley & Babyface one. It all has been nice and salute to Swizz Beats & Timberland for the idea.

Prince Concert of YouTube

Thank you to the Prince Estate for allowing Prince and the Revolution’s ‘Live 1985’ Concert to be streamed on YouTube for a weekend. I still miss Prince. I never got a chance to go to any of his live concerts. After watching the '85 concert I see I missed a treat. He and his band, The Revolution were so energetic. And yes, I sang along, especially when 1999, The Beautiful Ones, & Darling Nikki. It felt good to relive its glory while raising funds for a good cause, Covid-19.

Lives (Yes, I am giggling at the inside jokes "Live, Live?" & "And We Live")

I am thankful to the other artists who have been performing live on Facebook & Instagram also. I know I saw John Legend, Lalah Hathaway, & Avery Sunshine do independent performances. I woke up one morning saw the video of Eric Benet & Tamia treating us to their song, Spend My Life from their homes. TV One & BET have provided spaces for various artists to perform on their accounts. The Go-Go scene in Maryland put on a virtual concert. The Black Academy of Arts & Letters of Dallas has been coming on Sunday evening with local artists singing for an hour. Even the live music lounge in my area of town I like patronizing had local soul & jazz bands perform via FB & IG. 

If you could just see me in my kitchen and bedroom dancing & singing my cares away. LoL

And those are just the performances I attended/watched. Did you partake in any of the singing? If so, let me know what you have enjoyed. I hope any and/or all of it soothed & blessed your spirit too.

Because between Covid-19 running rampant, dangerous, false, racists phone calls, the murder of Black lives, and lack of healthy, intelligent, & safe leadership in handling any of it, we need something to caress our hearts, minds, & souls, at least for a little while during our day.

Bless Them All, for All of It!!!

I leave you with a tune sung by a virtual choir. This song was written by a composer I know, Victor C. Johnson. Its message is simple but powerful.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!