Friday, November 19, 2021

QUARANTINE LIFE: LESSONS IN THE MUSIC

“I feel like you can learn from everything. It’s not like you can only learn from elders. You learn all the time. You watch what people do, and go “Sh*t!” 

~Regina King



Art is, and always will be subjective. Tastes vary. What I think is good—great, even— has been pretty much solidified.

I hate the way creatives are pitted against one another. I love when they rise above it, control the outcome, and seem to care less what others think.

I’m also thankful for the era in which I was born. Singers SANG.


I thought I would just watch VERZUZ and be entertained as two of my favorite singers forayed into the pandemic- spawned arena. Instead, it was a whole sermon. Observations, lessons, warnings, wisdom, and wake-up calls were shouting simultaneously as the two legends traded hits. Lessons in perseverance, longevity, mutual respect, beauty, professionalism, grace, honesty, friendship, gifting, and the importance of self care flowed along with the music. 

I was amazed, proud, happy, worried, impressed, grateful, cringing, smiling, cheering, and reminiscing all at the same time. 


I had no expectation of hearing youthful voices that had been forever immortalized in wax, or remastered for digital platforms. I was just happy to see them. If they hadn’t sung at all; if they’d just held a public conversation it would have been okay with me. 

Their legendary status, like my concept of what constitutes great singing, is etched in stone. 

I watched and REMEMBERED why I was drawn to, and absorbed their music when I first heard it. I remembered why these two were favorites, inspirations, influencers—and still are. They didn’t sound like anyone else. Their voices had power. What they executed live, was just like the records. Their albums weren’t a studio engineer’s magic show or science project.

Their collective body of work eclipses much of what masquerades as music these days. Did they need the platform? No. Did they need to prove anything? No. Did they make me remember why I loved to sing? Yes. 

As my 61st birthday approaches, was I suddenly grateful to still be able to eek out a song? Yes. Did I silently pray to still be able to sing at all when I’m their ages? Yes. 

Do I get the soul crushing, talent eroding, gift manipulating, fickle business and busyness of music, and still want to sing anyway? Yes.

I watched an example of what happens, what could happen, and what does happen in the lives of ordinary people blessed with exceptional skill.

I pray that the love of just singing a song; the simplicity and joy of it never dies.








JUST TO SING A SONG 

Should your life be in danger just to sing a song?
Will dear friends become strangers when you sing a song?
Will the things that used to matter, suddenly seem small?
Will the person that you once were
Be recognized at all?

Does it amaze you
All that you go through
Just to sing a song?
Does it even faze you
What they say you should do
Just to sing a song?

If the crowd is overflowing, or an audience of one,
Will the joy in what you're doing still be there when you're done?
Will your words need explaining even though they're sincere?
Will anyone even notice when you're no longer here?

Does it amaze you
All that you go through
Just to sing a song?
Does it even faze you
What they say you should do
Just to sing a song?

You said you gave your all
You really gave your all
And what does that mean?
Was it really for them?
Was it really for you?
Was it ever for me?

Nobody made you
You didn't have to
But you sang your song
Nobody made you
You didn't have to
But you sang your song

Hate there was so much pain
No cause for so much pain
The songs, they were free
Were they really for them?
Were they really for you?
It's a lesson for me

Must say I'm glad you 
Gave all you had to
When you sang your song
Must say, I'm sad you 
Lost yourself when you
Dared to sing your song









#chakakhan
#stephaniemills
#verzus
#covid
#quarantinelife


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