Me Music (June is Black Music Month)

June is Black Music Appreciation Month. According to Wikipedia, it was initiated as Black Music Month by President Jimmy Carter who,

on June 7, 1979, decreed that June would be the month of black music. Similar presidential proclamations have been made annually since then. This year, let's talk about the music that actually describes me. There are songs I can relate to. Then there are songs, I swear was made with me in mine.

She's a 337 Caramel Cutie.

No, I'm a 214, through & through. But the rest of the lyrics to this Zydeco ditty are me. We can dally all day, any day, but I'm not easy. If I give me easily, he did too. And I don't want an easy man, because I'm not...

Oak Cliff, that's their hood. I am a

Southern Gul. I remember when South Dallas was the Only place in Dallas where you could get two pieces of chicken & pepper. And if your finger waves didn't last all night (actually a week) long, you were deemed unworthy to wear finger waves. Erykah Badu & her boy, Rahzel gave a true ode to my home area.

🎶Big D Little a Double l as🎶

Those ladies, right above walk to the beat of this song, The Men All Pause. They believe they took the Best in dresses & skirts. Yet, they can also feel great in the right pair of pants. They have actually stopped a male conversation or two, just by walking in. So, why not walk to the beat to this song's drummer?

🎶It is like that red Sprite, you can't imagine.🎶 Aquemini is the best Outcast album ever. Everybody was grooving to the handclaps of Rosa Park & the recurring horns in SpottieOttieDopaliscious. I also shaking a load off & not worrying what another n-word think. Man, that's Liberation and baby, I want it.

Want to see my confidence shine play the song featured, Ebony Eyes. Here are some of the lyrics

She's a Miss Beautiful Supreme

A girl that others wish that they could be

If there are seven wonders of the world

Then I know she's gotta be number one

She's a girl that can't be beat

Born and raised on ghetto streets

She's a devastating beauty

A pretty girl with Ebony Eyes

I really think that song is about me. And it has great dance beat. I've taken a dance break or a few during the harmonica breakdown. Just a very fun song that tells everyone about me.

So, get to know me through song that tells you who I am. Hover & Click on each song title. Songs that tell you about how I walk. Songs that tell you about where I live. And even songs that tell you how I free my mind. Enjoy My Me Music!!!

Oh, in the comments let know what songs describe you. I like learning about others via music. 🎶Getting to Know You. Getting to Know All About You🎶

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms

My Underrated Black Music Artist List (It's Black Music Month)

Yep, it is Black Music Month! To commemorate I decided to make two opinionated list. The Underrated music artists.

Now, let me define Underrated.The artists that pop culture just plays with and never give them shine. Some of you guys see them but because you have to move from the machine that tells you what is cool, sometime you ignore them. Oh, the video on top? That's just my latest overplayed song on my playlist. It is called
Purse First" by Bob the Drag Queen. He won this past season on RuPaul's Drag Race. He's black. And I am a fan.

My grandfather told me a story of a church musician that really challenged them to sing. Her complaint was, "All y'all wanna do is pat your a-word and holler". Isn't that what go goes for today's music. Well, 'Purse First" does that to me so, Enjoy!!!

5. Kem  I can't explain why he is underrated. He has a nice voice and his music seems very universal. I love" I Can't Stop Loving You" & "Share My Life". It was weird when I heard him more as a ringtone on my sister's phone than I did on the radio. Now, I am feeling him as a feature on Gregory Porter's song Hold On.

4. Tweet This past week she was the topic of this week's Being. I missed it because I was out but everyone I asked about was so eager to talk about who she is currently dating. Umm excuse my gossip craze, she has a new album out called Charlene. And Won't Hurt Me is great. So many (included me) have said, we wished Tweet come out with one more good album. Tweet is good. I knew it when I heard her harmonize some lyrics in "Motel".

♫Go to hell baby

Cause I know I saw you go into a motel♫

OMG, I was a fan. Now, she has a new album. ♫Do whatever you feel you gotta do it♫ but stop sleeping on Tweet.

3. Raheem Devaughn Y'all are funny. He sings the perfect balance of sex & love. He had song called "BOB" (Battery Operated Boyfriend) on an album. He even had a real raunchy video to the song, "Single" come out a few years ago. Even K. Michelle put you guys onto When You Love Someone and thought y'all loved her whatever popular reality show she is on. Maybe he's going to ditch the love stuff, smack the "Customer" on her butt while she is a BOB. But then I won't like her. Don't change Raheem, never mind.

2. Corinne Bailey Rae All music can't make you feel good. I feel like that church musician for earlier, Yes, I a fan from the start with "Put Your Records On". My rollers sets were called The Corinne Bailey Rae at that time.

I loved that she melodically sung her pain in "Do It All Again". Her husband had just die and I understood. While she telling people even though all this happening, she is still not giving up on love, folks were complaining that it was to dark. *sigh*  Rae went away and while the masses are sipping Lemonade, she is dropping music. Have you seen Green Aphrodisiac? No, you haven't because nobody is wondering why she is wearing or holding a gold marijuana plant. I have and I have questions. I think the song is about being high on life.

1. Lalah Hathaway Let this woman win another Grammy in ceremonies earlier than the live show and I will scream. I know "But she has the awards". Lalah Hathaway should be winning the awards that are seen by the masses. Y'all know my favorite singer is Twinkie Clark. Lalah Hathaway is next. Her song is pure & innovative. Y'all know I love that in an artists. I have been a fan of her since the 90's when, she came out with Baby Don't Cry. Back when she snapped her fingers & did the side to side step the whole video. Her voice is hear in some many genres from Gospel to Jazz. Have you heard her version of "Ultimate Relationship". You will cry out "My God". Lalah's voice should be heard on not just Adult Contemporary radio but Pop radio. Mirror is out, now. I wish the masses would stop hiding their ears, so they could hear her.

If I could have honorable mentions, it would be Luke James & Michelle Williams. 

So, this is my list of the Top 5 Underrated Black Music Artists that I Love. I hope you guys go listen to them, if you don't already. Who's on your list? Leave then in the comments below.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Oh I'm Eclectic Now But... (African-American Music Month)

As Kerry Washington’s character in the “I Think I Love My Wife’ might have said, I used to have N-word Ears when I was younger.

And though I may be eclectic now, I will Always Love Black music. I don’t ever remember not Loving Black music. I grew up in a home & a community where music was played all the time. Most times (except Saturday afternoons when Lawrence Welk reruns and A Gaither (The daddies to the Oak Ridge Boys) Gospel Hour came on) it was Black music. We got dressed to it. We cleaned to it. We got our hair done to it. It was played at all the picnics, luncheons & barbecues. In my home we even slept to it. There was a blues juke joint on the corner of my street. My Foundation church is a 6 minute walk from my home. Across the street from it is a COGIC church. I was in the 6^th grade with the little girl who was their drum player. You could hear her play all outside of their church. She was good. (I’m going to ask her on FB does she still play sometimes) I grew up surrounded by black music.  My first memories of loving a song was a black song.

When I was preschool age, you couldn't tell me I was not Evelyn Champagne King. I knew all the words to Love Come Down. I could dance like her on the video. Yes, I had the two two-step sway down. Matter of fact I still do that move. At school while the radio was playing, I would sing along happily to this song.

I said at school because unlike parents now my mother didn't take kindly to children signing “Adult” songs out loud. She would ask in a minute “So what does that song mean” in a minute. My siblings and I would never be on YouTube, World Star, or Ellen singing “Super Bass”. We would be signing “Let It Go” or “HAPPY”. To my mom, Children should sing children songs, gospel included. Back then we had soulful children singers and somgs so we didn't lack in that experience. Oh but I loved that song. King had a pure voice that was telling a story (That I didn't know the meaning of until I was a teenager. Yes, I was Shocked too) about love whole heartedly.

Black music still plays a significant role in my life. Even the newer stuff out. Happy by Pharrell makes me Happy like everyone else. Oh and Drake is turning the rap game around for me. Yes, Jimmy of Degrassi: The Next Generation has my ear. I get dressed to Fancy and Worst Behavior just like these young girls, too. The guy has flow. Then there is Jhene’ Aiko with a song called The Worst. As the kids say, that song gets me all in my feelings. The hook says:

I don't need you

I don't need you

I don't need you

I don't need you

I still want you

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

I don't mean to

But I love you

Oh I like it. This Picture Quote describes my feelings for the song perfectly.

Oh I love to hear new music by the older artists. The new Michael Jackson (without Justin Timberlake version) Love Never Felt So Good http://youtu.be/GJDdBbgJafU is a banger. Some company has it in a commercial and I stop and bop around every time I hear it. LoL Then there is Prince with Breakdown http://youtu.be/iE6g-jnEhew & Breakfast Can Wait http://youtu.be/GHbyNrGXpAA. I don’t know a Prince song I dislike. You know “Purple Rain” is 30 years old. Once I was old enough to understand the lyrics to Purple Rain & Darling Nikki 

 I declared him The Musical Genius.   

Love Come Down can come on now and instantly I turn into that little girl in day care. Swaying thinking I had a flower in my hair and a flowing dress. That’s the kind of feelings Black music gives me.

My N-word Ears still left me a memory clone or two of themselves as I ventured into other music. I’ll never abandon them as the music has never abandoned me. Bobby Womack passed this weekend. RIP He sang a song called No Matter How I Get http://youtu.be/4cvQMmsGkLg. It’s my favorite song by him. Well, Black Music that song is for you. No Matter How High I get…

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms