Category Archives: music
The Battle Is The Lord’s
In 1983, I became aware of Christian Contemporary Music. One artist that I fell in love with is Bryan Duncan. Bryan considers himself a “misfit for church”. I can relate to that. Some of his music carries elements of Blues and Jazz that I really enjoy.
Bryan Duncan
Bryan Duncan is a Dove Award and Grammy Award winning artist who has sold over a million records. Along with being lead singer in at least 2 bands and singing on compilations, he has also written two books and is a member of the Black Sheep Harley Davidson’s For Christ.
My heart is heavy for those on the metastatic breast cancer journey. When cooking, I like listening to music. This evening, it was Bryan Duncan’s “Joyride” CD. When I heard the song below, I thought of those on the journey, and the song became my prayer for them.
Be encouraged.
Getting Through Another Chemo Treatment
Yesterday, my new oncologist prescribed dexamethosone. It’s a long, nightmarish story for why that is necessary. In summary, it is due to another oncologist administering a chemo drug to me that was unnecessary just because he had the authority to do so. It started in October with this being a reaction to the same drug;
That’s necrosis, folks. After it healed in late November, the oncologist appeared to not like that another oncologist jumped in leading to that healing, so on December 6, 2018, he had to try to undo it. This time around, things did not end up with outright necrosis, but some of the skin texture did change, with purple swelling and burning pain. The administration of that same drug did result in me being admitted to the hospital for 4 days because of life-threatening issues it caused. That oncologist resigned his practice on January 17th. Read the rest of this entry
Nancy Wilson Feb 20 1937 – Dec 13 2018
Nancy Wilson
There are things that happen that remind us of other things, events, and people from long ago. They are the type of things that remind us of our own mortality, those we love who have transitioned, and how important it is for each generation to teach and inform the next. I owe it to my mom and a man named Charles for introducing me to Nancy Wilson.
I was around 10 years old when my mom bought my sister and I a record player. My mom didn’t know much about recent music. Her background was singing gospel music. My sister wanted to sing and me? I just wanted to enjoy music. It turned out that I became the known singer in the family and the only one to play musical instruments. Go figure.
There we were in the dining room, where my mom put the red and white record player on a table in the corner of the room. Only, we didn’t have any records. There was a local grocery store where a man named Charles worked. We walked to the store and my mom asked Charles if he could recommend any records for her girls. He didn’t recommend any but rather, told us to come back the next day.
Charles gave us a stack of 45’s and some good advice — go by the record shop and buy converts – those little red plastic disks to put in the center of 45’s and also make sure that the speed on the record player was on 45 and not 33.
I could barely wait to get home and start listening to the music. The names – Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone, Jimmy Reed, Nancy Wilson. Read the rest of this entry
If This World Were Mine
Here’s some stress relief for the weekend.
If This World Were Mine is a song written by the late Marvin Gaye, who originally released it in 1967 as a duet with Tammi Terrell. In 1982, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn recorded the song. Some songs never get old, and this is one of them.
Come Together
“He say, I know you. You know me. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free.”
There are times I feel out of touch; out of touch with new music artists, actors and movies. There were once neighborhood movie theaters where you could take a walk and see what movies were playing and coming soon. Now, they are located behind big parking lots. Some previews are shown during commercial breaks on television, but they cannot be compared to the movie posters of old.
Why am I reminiscing? Saturday evening, family got together to watch a movie. It is not the movie that caused me to reminisce but the one song on the soundtrack.
I’m a Marvel Comic movie fan and not much into DC Comic movies. Superman was once my favorite superhero and remains on the list. I think I watched the 1978 movie ten times or more; twice at the theater. I never cared much for Batman. The movies are dark and dank and without his special gadgets, Bruce Wayne is no superhero. Read the rest of this entry
Oh What A Night
It’s been tiring and time consuming keeping up with all of the news. Some comfort I’ve found is putting time aside to watch at least 2 movies a week — movies I’ve not watched previously. (I’m a stickler for re-watching movies I like.)
When I saw the movie “Jersey Boys” was on, I watched it. Jersey Boys is a movie released in 2014. It’s based on a Tony Award winning musical by the same title. Jersey Boys is a biography about 4 boys leading a life of crime, going in and out of jail, and how they later became the singing group the Four Seasons. The movie is a bit long at 2 hours, 4 minutes, but I enjoyed the story, the actors, and the music. Read the rest of this entry
Ray Of Hope
Ray of Hope is a song written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere, two members of the music group known as the Rascals. The song was released in 1968. It’s been 50 years, and Felix is still performing.
The message of the Rascals has always been to stand for peace, love, and happiness. I’ve always said that the Rascals were before their time. They did not receive much cross-over attention until the release of their song “Groovin'”. Now, the lyrics they wrote in songs such Ray of Hope ring true again. For example, in Ray of Hope the lyrics include, “wait my turn ’till I can vote”. It’s a message that the Parkland High School shooting survivors promote for teens reaching the age to vote to make changes in gun control and to end gun violence. Read the rest of this entry
Shine – Courage and Tribute of the Students of Stoneman Douglas High School
The students of the Stoneman Douglas High School Drama Club perform “Shine.” They wrote the song after the shooting at their school that took the lives of 17 and wounded 15.
Victims’ bios are at this link.
They Don’t Really Care About Us
“Some things in life they just don’t wanna see,
But if Martin Luther was livin’, he wouldn’t let this be.”
Lyrics from Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Really Care About Us. Read the rest of this entry
Encouraging Music To Get You Through The Week
The song, Keep on Pushing, was written by Curtis Mayfield and originally recorded by the R&B group The Impressions. It was released in 1964. It is a song about perseverance and finding strength to get through tough times.
This song took on a new meaning for Mayfield after he was paralyzed in 1990 when a light tower fell on him during an outdoor performance in Brooklyn. In a 1997 interview, Mayfield said, “I think my spirits are maybe even higher,” It’s like I died and woke up to see this wave of love from so many people I knew and people I didn’t know.”
Kirk Whalum brings a jazz version of the song. I hope it encourages those who need a lift-up.
Songs To Lift Up Your Week
Bryan Duncan is another one of those artists who, back in the 1980’s, introduced Contemporary Christian music. It witnessed the love, hope and faith of our Creator, and gave the younger generation an alternative to heavy metal and heavy rock.
Bryan Duncan leaned toward jazz and many of his songs reveal his talent in that genre.
You might recognize the first song, Maybe I’m Amazed, which is a cover of Paul McCartney’s song of the same title.
Here’s wishing everyone a safe week.
Music For A Sunday Afternoon Or Any Other Time
The following videos are among some of my favorite inspirational music. I grew up in church where the music was uplifting. I also grew up listening to Blues and Jazz.
Around 1983, I discovered The Allies. Some of you might have heard the name Bob Carlisle, and might be familiar with his award-winning song “Butterfly Kisses.” But did you know that long before then, Bob was lead singer for The Allies? I happen to own every album they made — on (ahem) cassette tape. Yes, I still have several cassette tape players.
The first video is a remake of the song Manish Boy by Muddy Waters. The Allies brought the Blues into Contemporary Gospel Music.
The next two videos are by Mike Farris. The website, Mike Farris Music, says about Mike that “Out of the arms of defeat Mike Farris has done a victory lap…He takes people who are hurting, who are broken, who think they are alone and through just the sound of his voice he lets them know that they’re not.”
The second video is Mike’s rendition of the James Taylor song You Got A Friend. The third video is Mike shaking the house with This Little Light of Mine. Mike’s music awards include the 2008 American Music Award for new and emerging artist; 2010 GMA Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year, and the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album.
I hope you enjoy the songs and are inspired to keep following the path of love and hope. Now, please excuse me while I grab my tambourine. Read the rest of this entry
Wake Up Everybody
The song “Wake Up Everybody” song by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, was released in 1975. The video below was recorded in 2008 for a PBS Special. The lyrics still apply today.
“The world won’t get no better if we just let it be.”
Mid-Week Stress Relief
This was a special week for me. Saturday, I received a gift of a dozen Georgetown cupcakes from a dear friend who lives in another state. Sunday came a gift of Godiva dark chocolates. Monday was a dinner of grilled burgers smothered with onions. Yesterday was a cake with fresh strawberries in the center. Thursday, another dear friend is coming from out of town to take me to lunch.
So, I was moaning and complaining that I’ll have to diet after all of this. My son began teasing me with the following song.
Keep On Moving, Don’t Stop
Hope this helps to lift someone up.
Lyrics;
Written by Sean Conlon, Richard Breen, Jason Brown, Julian Gallagher, Richard Stannard • Copyright © EMI Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Keep on movin’
Don’t stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay
The time will come one day
Why do people
Choose to live their lives this way?
Keep on movin’, don’t stop, no
Keep on movin’
Keep on movin’
Keep on movin’, don’t stop no
Keep on movin’
It’s our time, time today
The right time is here to stay
Stay in my life, my life always
Yellow is the color of sun rays Read the rest of this entry
A Song Running Through My Head and Open Discussion
Have you ever awakened with a song in your mind, and it stays with you all day? You hum it, and then you get the CD and listen to it?
That happened to me yesterday, so I thought I would share it. The words that stuck out to me where “be free”. Those words are deeper than the surface.
When we go shopping, we cannot purchase what the store doesn’t have. It’s the same way as individuals. We can only give to others what we have within us. “Be free.” Before we can allow others to be free, whether in their opinions, beliefs, life-styles, etc., we must be free within, and not in bondage. Conducting warfare, whether verbal or armed, demonstrates the bondage that people have within, because that is what they give to others.
There’s influence, and then there’s bondage. Effective influence is by example — not by words only.
Feel free to use this for open discussion on any issue or subject that you want to share.
Let There Be Peace on Earth – Open Discussion
With many being busy preparing for the holidays, and because we’re still following the trial of Dylann Roof, here’s taking a break to post something uplifting for the holidays. At the same time, feel free to use this post for open discussion.
Here’s hoping you enjoy the following songs.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 