Blog Archives
Mary J. Blige – Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to Mary J. Blige. This is the song, the exact performance actually, that made me fall in love with her as a vocalist and performer, nearly a decade ago. She was already a well established artist at that point and has become a superstar since then.
As a Birthday wish I would like to echo Beanie Sigel’s prayer for Mary From his stellar song Lord have Mercy:
“Take a hand of my sister J. Blige
As I listen to her life go down watching her life spin round
On them records every track she singing prayer
Give her “No More Drama” let her “Rainy Days” be clear”
As I approach my the anniversary of my own date of entry, survey the last year, think about my hopes and goals for this new year, and go over my own prayers (many in the form of poetry) I hope Mary and Beanie don’t mind if I say an adaptation of the same prayer for myself.
Sad Songs and Rainy Days can Always Make me Smile…
… so would you pour another cup of coffee and just stay a while. That was a line in a song I once wrote. I don’t know if it’s says something messed up about my personality. But it certainly holds true for me. I actually don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think it is a testament to the cathartic nature of music. People put their heart and soul into a song, often and especially when they are tapping into the pains of life. Whether or not the listener can relate directly, it should take little stretch of the emotional imagination to relate at least allegorically. Like Michael Stipe says, everybody hurts sometimes. Relating to the sadness, anger, or hurt of another reminds us we are not alone in this struggle we call life. And if that doesn’t at least lift a corner up on your lip or unfurl your brow a bit that I don’t know what can. So without further adieu check three of my favorite songs right now:
