Love's Anthem
Be glad I handed the reigns over to Scenic for the Met's two-day Love Fest. My idea for celebrating was a historical piece on a massacre that took out a bunch of mobsters. Alas, sane Scenic is back bringing us something we can all relate to; the love song. It is such an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday for the attached and unattached alike, it even inspired me. At the end of this entry, lies my Valentine's gift to you in the form of a short trip down memory lane and some of my favorite love anthems. After you read today's entry, I'm hoping it will inspire you to cement a budding love, renew a lingering one or simply happily remember a flame burned out. Perhaps you will go to YouTube, find your own favorite love song and leave it in a comment. At any rate, know on today of all days, I do, love you because if you can't even say it on Valentine's Day, well, when can you?
By Scenic Everidge
I recently came across this quote, "Music is what feelings sound like." Music always best expresses my feelings and every year I have a song that follows me all around becoming my theme.
We all fall prey to love’s seduction by music. Songs by Marvin Gaye and Al Green cemented young men's desires between Melodys and rhythms. And, Melody got around! Songs like “Let's Stay Together,” “Let's Get It On,” and “Let's Chill” make women jump up hitting the dance floor exclaiming, "That's My CUT!"
Now, I'm almost constantly listening to Alicia Keys' latest CD, "As I Am." I don't believe in coincidences, so I know there is meaning behind why at this stage in my life, every song resonates so deeply within me. I understand music has a universal appeal, thus, ultimately everyone feels each song is singularly for them but Alicia and I are like this—crossing my middle and index fingers—when it comes to this CD. Every track is a conversation between friends and lovers making it the perfect soundtrack for Valentine's Day.
When I listen to “Superwoman,” I feel invincible. When I hear the stirring, crackle of Alicia's voice in "No One", singing, "I just want you close where you can stay forever," I tear up longing for that kind of love. Although I love every single track, "Like You'll Never See Me Again" is my cut!
ALICIA KEYS: LIKE YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN
In the song's lyrics, Alicia plays out a scenario for her love of their tomorrows that don’t come, tells him just how much he means to her because “the present is a gift” begging for a promise of his love of her everyday like he'll never see her again. It's quite possibly one of the greatest love songs I've ever heard and definitely my anthem for 2008.
A year ago, I was singing a different tune. Last year's theme for my love life was Beyonce's "Irreplaceable." I'm not sure if Mars was in retrograde and Venus was lost, drunk AND stuck on stupid, but it wasn't a good "love" year for me, but it was a great year for that song. “Irreplaceable” spent more than 10 weeks in the Number 1 spot atop the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, given a shot at a Grammy and was her most successful single in 2007.
BEYONCE: IRREPLACEABLE
The song, released as a single from Beyonce's B-Day CD on December 5th, 2006, consequently, my own B-Day. In the year following its release, I ended a 12-year marriage, dated only to break up and do it again before dating some more. The lyrics to “Irreplaceable” pegged and penned by R&B producer and recording artist, Ne-Yo, flooded my brain with every relationship turn, twist and disappointment. It quickly reminded Not-So-Mr. Wonderful of the moment, and myself, that:
"I could have another you in a minute, matter fact, he'll be here in a minute, baby.”
It wasn't just me. Women all over the world were getting their neck roll on saying, "You must not know 'bout me," not just to the men in their relationships but to men walking down the street. “Irreplaceable” was the 'get gone' song of the year. Again, that was last year.
With Alicia's "Like You'll Never See Me Again" playing in constant rotation on my I-tunes list, I ask myself the question: "What do I most want for Valentine's Day?"
It's simple really. Like most people, I want a love I can treasure while being treasured in return. I never want to be like the millions of people mentioned in the song who will never know what love is until they lose it. The love I see is a love where you're comfortable enough to talk mess across a Spades table when they get set—err, that means lose a hand for those not in the know. It’s a love passionate enough to exude full-blown moans when you catch whiff of their fragrant scent on the sheets the night following a "good night."
It’s a forever and ever love, an unquestionably-committed love, a mutually-respected love, truly best friends love, and sometimes, an I-just-want-you-right-now love. Where your friends just roll their eyes when you mention their name because they know you're about to gush pure sugar. It’s a can't be hidden, denied or disguised kind of love.
It’s a love lived as if every moment is your last and each second with that one is a blessing. It’s a love that cannot disappear or is ever taken for granted.
My, and my girl, Alicia’s message to you on this grand day of love, flowers and chocolate hearts is this: consider giving Mr./Ms Special your all by telling them how you feel. Show them so there is no room for doubt if tomorrow never comes. Don't wait to say the things you need or want to say. Don't wait for a ‘magical sign’ that this is THE ONE. Really, if they weren’t THAT ONE then you’d be still listening to your own ‘get gone’ anthem.
Instead, use today to love like you'll never see them again. Because chances are, if you don't, you’ll discover—only too late—they were irreplaceable and you won’t ever see them again.
HERE ARE SOME OF LOISLANE'S VALENTINE FAVORITES FROM DAYS GONE ON:
GUY: LET'S CHILL
RUDE BOYS: WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE
PATTI LABELLE: IF YOU ONLY KNEW (LIVE)
GUY: PIECE OF MY LOVE
AL B. SURE!: OOOH THIS LOVE IS SO
Scenic,
You and Alicia can't be like that cuz ME and Alicia are like THAT. LOL!! I don't know what it is about her style... um, wait I do know. She is uber-talented, isn't celluloid and sings from her heart, which resonates in my own.
The song that is the crux of your piece is a permanent fixture on MySpace page as I hope serves to yield insight about the kind of woman I am and how I should be treated. The only thing supplanting it, albeit temporarily, is um, er, Superwoman, because, well, I am that, too. LMAO. And her wordplay "present is a gift" is soooo dang good, I wished I had come up with it first. DRAT.
After dreading this particular sort of V-Day (confused? read yesterday's entry), I am so glad to be able to look at it with fresh eyes. I love music and music loves me. And, Alicia did write tracks 3-14, specifically for ME. Thought you knew?
And a note about Beyonce. Her B-Day release was dropped on her own B-Day and as a Virgo, this was only a few short weeks after I rid myself of that cracked egg I, on occasion, mention. When I got the CD I was prepared to hear another love song. Gladly, this song fit in with my own personal situation and, therefore, quickly made it to my "Glad It's Over" CD. If anyone needs a copy, I can email the playlist. Anywho, only a real, bonified, Virgoan, Southern Belle like B could appear in a vid in big-a$$ rollers and look good doing it. I heart her too.
Thanks for another great entry. I can't wait to see what songs readers post in their comments.
Reply to this
How special for the women of this world that they where created to give life, just as God gives life. Co-creators with God and yet we allow people to abuse us and use us for their own self gratification.
While dealing with the "L" word we all seem to forget and use the "S" word to hide behind.
"S" and relationships come they go because we have lost ourselves in a world where more emphasis is place on sex than love. It has confused the world and made us all vulnerable to attack.
Love: Before anyone can enter into a relationship with another they must first learn to love themselves, know themselves, forgive themselves and others. We seem to always think that someone else is suppose to make us happy when we have to be happy with ourselves prior too. If we do not like ourselves why should anyone else. Our baggage from past relationships will surface and once again, we are all back to square one. Alone, hurting because of the lack of respect we have for ourselves.
Know and love yourself first, forgive yourself and others and pray that the person who comes into your life will love you and respect you unconditionally as God does. Why do you settle for less. As Aretha says "Respect."
I have always found it amazing how an animal, a little dog or cat can love you unconditionally but humans can't. Can we say "Ego?"
We serve up the "S" like Nathans serves up the hot dogs but who wants hot dogs the rest of their life.
Unconditional "L" is ever lasting, never fades, and is the only reason we where all put on this earth is to learn about Love and NOTHING else.
May God Bless Us All On This Valentines Day that we will all learn to love and to settle for nothing other than an "Unconditional Love," in return.
Good Luck,
xoxoxoxoxo
Reply to this
You too Nashville. How I lub you unconditionally. And, although, one cannot eat Nathan's hot dogs for ever, I could not go without a hot dog for eternity. LMAO. More to your point, women should demand respect with the gusto in which Aretha sang it. Thanks for reminding us of that.
And I found a little something for ya circa 1967...
hugs and kisses, back.
Reply to this
Hey LL!
Just a quickie...Bday the CD was released on 9/4/06,Beyonce's bday, BUT the single Irreplaceable was released on MY Bday of 12/5/06 . LOL! Music, baking and love, I know. LOL!
Ok, so I should have gotten my links together earlier, but I was sleepy.
http://www.amazon.com/Irreplaceable-Beyonc%C3%A9/dp/B000KJTFAW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreplaceable
Thanks for the V-Day spot Cuzzo! Happy Valentine's Day!
P.S. Now you're trying to pull Alicia? Um, we don't share too well do we? LMAO! I just can't share her. Sorry Love. I can't. I still have notes from Kindergarten that say, "Scenic does NOT play well with others and refuses to share." BUT, I will let you listen to bootlegs anytime you wish. Smiles. Luv ya!
Reply to this
Ok Slick Scenic,
I'm not disputing the fact that the song was released when you say. What I AM saying is that being that I had the CD when IT was released, I was hip to the song way before the December release. Um, Music, baking and ummm breaking up, I KNOW! LMAO@U....
And, how dare you try to take Alicia! Didn't I explain to you that I discovered her in 97/98 timeframe because her 'Butterflies' was on a Columbia House (where she was initially signed ) sampler my then boyfriend gave me? I was like who the hell is Alicia Keys? Then in 2001, when another boyfriend gifted me with "Songs in A-Minor" I was like, I know her! And went through my entire collection to find that sampler to realize it was her. So don't (as a friend in Tunisia likes to tell me) cap. I had her before you even knew she existed and I am keeping her!!!
I am an only child, you know I don't like to share. And since, I willingly, gladly and energetically forfeited the first thing we had in common, you better give me this! ROTFLMAOPIMP!!!
You are quite welcome for the spot. Made good reading all-around. Thanks for doing it.
Reply to this
Ok, so you had her FIRST, but...BUT...I'm keeping her. Sometimes, that's all that matters. This isn't the first thing you got dibs on first, Love. LMAO!
As far as only child thing, I'm the only of about 20 some odd siblings. I say only because I take NOT sharing seriously!
But you are right...we amicably divided first piece of shared materials so I should be able to keep Alicia all in the family. Alright, you can have her...but if she releases something on my bday...it's MINE!
Luv ya Cuzzo!
Sending a smile...and "kisses". LMAO!
~Scenic~
Reply to this
You are right, it only matters who keeps her AND that be me. However, I like your point about maintaining it within the fam. So, I will be the one to share. You must ask for permission, however. LMAO. I rather fight over her, any day, anyway.
BAAAAH! "Kisses" back to ya! BAAAAAH! Quiet is kept that one took me a minute but I got it. Someone should email the link! LMAO.
PS: Speaking of our egg days, going back to Eggs Gone Mad, since you didn't know who Az Yet was, I found this for you. LMAO.
Reply to this
Um..that stuff ( using some restraint) was sad and depressing when Chicago did ir originally. R&B makes it a pre-GET GONE anthem. LMAO! If it's THAT deep, that mofo shouldn't have done it whatever IT is, so he wouldn't have to say I'm sorry like that. *Insert our secret password HERE with 5 exclamation marks * But in the vein of full disclosure, telling someone how ya really feel and Happy Hearts Day, "Awwwwww". Swoons. Swooons. Swooooons.
And LMAO at the one that took a minute. *SMH*
Reply to this