I’ll slip back in here like a creeper because this weekend’s music revelation is too important.
I hope/believe, after all of the “oh don’t you mess with this woman” and “did he really do it” and “who’s becky” comments, that people will move on to discuss how this work of art is and will remain powerful and important. That album is about so much more than infidelity. I’m so grateful to see women in power talking about things that too often get left in the dark.
A woman taking ownership of her experience is the most powerful act of rebellion. I am so in awe of people who are brave enough to see themselves as they truly are.
Now comes the fun new task of making a house a home. All my money is going to home depot runs and paint samples and furniture and home improvement and, hopefully, art.
Here are a few 20×200 pieces that I’m drawn to, funny how they all share a common line.
As many of you know, one of the greats, Levon Helm passed away last week. I thought I’d share this video of Marc Cohn’s song, “Listening to Levon,” which sums up just what his songs did to you when you heard them, no matter where you were.
Last night, suddenly my phone was constantly buzzing with 50 emails at a time updating me on my youtube account. Apparently the 2Pac facebook page had posted my cover of “California Love” and things, well, got real…
I have passed 100,00 views on this little song, which I posted two years ago in homage to two incredible rappers, namely Tupac Shakur, who’s poetry and art transcends race and speaks to people of all walks of life.
It has been a very interesting thing to read the comments made on this video. Some have given me a thicker skin even. But for the most part, they are positive and encouraging and I think that says a lot about music and the power it has to bring people from different backgrounds together with a common bond.
I remember buying his book of collected poetry, “The Rose that Grew from Concrete” in 1999, three years after his death. It was beautiful and powerful and showed the world and me how much love can grow from hate. The title poem, still simply says so much to me today:
Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature’s law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.
People can be so angry and mean with their words. These silly youtube comments are a perfect example of that. But my heart breaks for those who fail to understand my intentions – and those of anyone who wants to create music to share and connect with others. This has been quite the start of a year with weighty realizations. Again, I find myself realizing that I can’t escape my need to play music. How very uplifting.
