Life. Death. Music

What is that one song that gets you hyped every time you hear it?

I can think of several, like “My radio” by LL Cool J” , “Poison” by BBD and “ It takes two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. Then there is that chill mood music “Players Ball” by OutKAST , and I can’t think of too many people that would disagree with the ultimate “Summertime” by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. These songs moved people... set the mode of the day or even just that moment. I don’t care what I’m doing or where I’m at, if one of these songs come on, I have to bob my head and raise my right hand to respect the vibe. These songs, believe it or not, are a part of my musical history.

Each song represents a time in my life. For instance “Poison”, two memories come to mind off the top, my younger brother ,Kahil (RIP) and I decorating our basement for my high school graduation open house and my ELEGANTE’ sisters and I painting our baggy jeans representing the group BBD to the fullest. The LaFace family picnic celebrating OutKAST reaching platinum and selling a million units, the day was epic on so many different levels. The secret located event was star studded however at the time you didn’t really know who was who, just a bunch of talented entertainers and moguls. Those who were in attendance know what I mean. This was a music industry era for south, music moments that will never be forgotten. I’m not too sure if music should be just a word or an emotion.

“It was the third day of September, That day I’ll always remember, Yes, I will “cause that was the day that my daddy died…” I never paid attention to the lyrics of that song, only the hook until my daddy died on September 3rd, 2012. Just in case you don’t know, the song is called “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations. Oh... when I think of my daddy, all I hear is music. Sometimes riding in my car alone, a Luther Vandross song will play, my dad loved Luther, and I swear my dad is in the car with me. I just turn the radio up and sang my little heart out for me and my dad.

Good music to me is when there is a message that gets us hyped or in tuned, not just the beat, it has to touch me. It becomes personal. Doesn’t matter if it’s a rap song, slow song (RnB), country or gospel, the music has a message. My father picked his own song selection for his funeral. Again another song, I never really paid attention to until the day we buried him. “Great is Your Mercy..” our bible class choir sang it that day. The lyrics to this song “Great is your mercy towards me, your love and kindness towards me, your tender mercies I see day after day…” I remember thinking to myself, Daddy is still sending us messages. Here we are, feeling sad and caught up in our own individual emotions and he knows we are all gathered. What my dad wanted everyone to know, even on his deathbed, he knew how GREAT our Heavenly Father was and we should never doubt it either, no matter how bad or good the situation was.

I guess it really shouldn’t surprise me how much music has influenced me. I recall being pregnant with my daughter and my son, and telling my husband I can sing and really being able to hold a note. But once I gave birth, I lost it. The crazy thing is both my children can sing very well and so can my husband. Music has power to influence your life even if you can’t sing a lick.