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| The Great Etta James |
So I thought it was time to blog about this topic; "Refresh Me"! Now what's that suppose to mean? Let me explain...
I've been listening these days to some amazing throw back music, stemming from the circa of 1959 through 1969. Yes folks! Pretty great soul artists are preoccupying my ears right about now. It's very epic I must say, only because I'm having a better appreciation for Etta James, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones, Aretha Franklin at this stage in music. Having to pick apart their lyrics has really revealed an intense pain they were suffering, a deeper feeling that they were singing about back in those days. Honesty, that is so profound. I'm finding musically my direction is changing as well, that's why its been a process to make this next record. Growing,... to sum it up in one word. This is what I'm doing.
While listening to the late Solomon Burke's - Cry to Me... it makes me wonder about the girl he was singing it too? She must of been cared for deeply enough that Solomon was kind enough to look after her simple tears with writing his song. Lyrics such as; "Nothing can be sadder then a glass of wine alone, loneliness can be such a waste of time...". Isn't that the truth, isn't that what we can relate too? I'm sure we've all been there a few times?
Or better yet; the great and glorious smokey vocal tones of Etta James' - I'd Rather Go Blind. Who wishes to go blind after such dreadful heartache? But after listening to Etta's song it made sense to wish that on yourself after being so broken, talk about a heavy pain. Some of my favorite lyrics to that song where; "I would rather go blind then to see you walk away from me..."or "When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips, revealed the tears that was on my face. " It's pretty intense... I actually felt like I was in that smokey room with Etta watching her pain consume her. Once again, pretty heavy right?
This is the beauty of music that helps to unfold the truth in all of us, it sucks you in. We feel something when we listen to it. We cry to cleanse what ever it is that troubles us. There are even times when we can dance and move to that music. Since in such a way we find a real connection with it. This is what I feel when I'm in the throws of listening to music from this decade of old soul.
Charles Bradley, is an exceptional example of "having faith in ones' self". It's a testament to other artist that anything is truly possible, achievable even. Charles Bradley, finally peaked at 62 years of age with the help of The Dap Kings. They created an amazing sound that is so intense when you hear Charles Bradley sing about his 62 years of life, history, his defeats and adversities. You can't help but to believe it can happen to you. A fairytale finally brought to the present, where he is truly himself and the world is listening. I know I am.
This is what refreshes me to believe that it can happen to any of us as long as we believe in ourselves and stay true to who we are. If we stay true to our art form or stay true to our spirit. Never stop fighting for what you believe in on any level. Soul music is making a huge difference in my growth on a whole different platform. This I must say... I am grateful for it!
Amen, to that! Till next time - God Bless.
