I thought I knew the answer to this when the prompt was first posted, but then. Then, one particular song came on more than once in the past week, and I promptly started dancing–even though I was at work functions. I mean, I did the Mindy chair dance, but still.
Did I mention I was at work functions? Both times?
In an effort to find something to post about tonight, I somehow fell down a YouTube rabbit hole. I still am not sure how it happened. All I know is I wound up watching this interview with En Vogue on Wendy Williams (they have a new album coming out!):
Then, I watched some more videos, but most importantly this one in which Maxine and Dawn talk about why they left the group (Dawn : En Vogue :: Ice Cube : NWA):
Today I learned there’s a song named “Akilah” from an album titled Akilah! by jazz artist Melvin Sparks.
First of all, that exclamation point is everything, and I am here for it.
Secondly, if there’s ever a biopic made about me, I want this song played over the opening sequence/credits.
It could work.
Okay, I crowdsourced this one on Facebook because I was stumped. I had one idea (jokes) and a suggestion from my daughter (job), but I wasn’t super excited about either one. THEN, my glorious FB peeps came through with a barrage of suggestions that included:
And I was like, omg, I’m going to do Jesus Jams. No, Joyful Jams! And a friend was all “JOYFUL JESUS JAMS” and I was like, “OMG, I totally got it now!”
So, I present to you the gospel song that keeps giving: “Jesus Be a Fence.”
Let’s have a chat about Whitney Houston.
I was reminded of how much I used to love her when I was teaching a poetry unit, and one of the poems we discussed was “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe. In prepping for class, I ran across this:
When I showed it to my students, I was just so happy. I did the hand to the heart pose of remembering and love and everything. This was literally me in the middle of class:
http://www.riffsy.com/embed.js
Once when we were on a road trip, my mother found this cassette in her car and, since I was driving, I popped it in and was able to sing the whole thing backwards and forwards even though I hadn’t listen to it in years:
I knew it so well because I used to listen to it non-stop as a kid. Non-stop. I can even do Jermaine’s parts on “Take Good Care of My Heart.” (…and I just found out that that’s Teddy Pendergrass on “Hold Me.” WOW.)
Do you remember that time Whitney was on “Silver Spoons”? I DO!
I had no idea “Saving All My Love” was about being a mistress until a couple of years ago. I was so scandalized!
Apparently, I loved her so much as a kid that I wrote to her and got an invitation to join her fan club. So, I was a member of the Whitney Houston Official Fan Club. I had a t-shirt and everything.
So, I loved her a lot is what I’m getting at. I mean, it was OFFICIAL. I just wish I had gotten a chance to see her in concert.
For the A to Z challenge, I’m blogging about fannish pursuits (aka things I’m a fan of or have strong feelings about). Tune in tomorrow to see what I picked for X!
True story: I had no idea what I was going to write about for U until someone on Facebook suggested I write about Usher, and then I remembered I have very strong feelings about Usher.
Let’s start with Confessions.
You may remember Confessions. It gave us the club banger “Yeah!” that was THE song of 2004. And I know it was a club banger because that was back when I still went to the club.
Okay, but “Yeah!” isn’t even my favorite song, though it is pretty great. (I mean, it’s super great.) I also like “Do It to Me,” which is Usher doing his best Prince impression/homage.
I could talk more about Confessions (I mean, it’s pretty solid from beginning to end), but let us also talk about 8701, which has two of my favorite Usher songs of all time.
“Can U Help Me” may be my favorite Usher ballad. MY HEART. It clenches every single time I listen to it. It’s just so earnest and heartfelt, and I WISH I COULD HELP YOU, USHER. I AM SORRY YOU ARE SAD.
And then there’s “U Don’t Have to Call”:
This song and this video are pure glee and fun and love. He just looks like he’s having the time of his life there. It makes me so happy. Just. Everything about it.
Okay, and never forget that time Usher was on Sesame Street.
He is adorable and I love him. I am also a big fan of that haircut.
I remember when he was on The Voice bringing joy and beauty into my life on a weekly basis. That smile! That voice! I love him. Usher, I love you.
Thanks to my FB peeps for reminding me.
For the A to Z challenge, I’m blogging about fannish pursuits (aka things I’m a fan of or have strong feelings about). Tune in tomorrow to see what I picked for V!
The Englishist 