My Song Of The Day and you know why:
Listen closely to the lyrics. Things really haven’t changed since 1985, has it? It’s two-plus minutes of woke, and seven minutes of funk and Prince shaking his ass in nothing but lace pants.
And because I refuse to let MAGA trash taint this day, I’ll be rewatching this. There was a time when I enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July, and President Obama and First Lady Michelle are two reasons why. Plus, Xtina is in this!
You know the more I think about it on this first day of Pride Month (which is a good time to come out with this, so to speak), the more I kinda feel like it’s…been more than 20 years of being Bisexual. The first time I was attracted to a woman was back in 1998, and, at the same time, I still liked guys. That same year was the first time I heard about bisexuality, thanks to a movie called Gia–a biopic about 1980s supermodel Gia Carangi, played by Angelina Jolie. Both women happened to be Bi. Though the biopic featured Gia’s relationships with women, the more I read about bisexuality, the more I felt like, “could that be me?”
The definition of being Bisexual has evolved beyond being attracted to just men and women, yet I still identify as one because my tastes have evolved as well. 😁 And twenty years ago this month, 21-year-old me looked at the mirror and declared to myself that I am Bi. (And then I went out on a date with the woman would become my first girlfriend.) I still refuse to pick a side.
Happy Pride Month, and Happy 20th BiVersary to me. You bet your ass I will be (as the youths are now saying) annoying with my Bi self this month. 🩷💜💙
Shout-out to my close friend who sent me this and knows how I feel every second Sunday of May.
(If you’re wondering, I’m the 3rd and 5th bouquets.)
No foolin’: the start of April brings three things to celebrate this year: Passover, Jazz Appreciation, and Poetry!
I’ve been listening to Prince the past couple of days, and it’s fitting I’m still in the mood for His Purple Badness on this Valentine’s Day. 💜❤️
(Side note: I first heard this song from the OG Beavis & Butthead run, and their commentary on this song will ruin your mood…from lots of laughing! Don’t ask what they thought the music video had a close-up of.)
(The guitar at the end of this is delicious.)
I’ll end this on an upbeat note…
The ultimate Serve in one video & song: vocals, instruments, beats, clothes, face, and HAIR!
By the way, remember the days of YouTube when it was beyond tough to find a Prince song on the site because he was that protective of his work (and rightfully so)?
I also have my own story on him that I’ll share as it gets close to the anniversary date of it. (No, I never knew him personally, but it’s still a cool story.) In the meantime, have a Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!🩷
It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, and while it may seem odd to also include a quote from the late, great Muhammad Ali (whose birthday was this past Saturday), I feel like Ali’s words (and the life he lived) befits the meaning of MLK Day. Cliched as this sounds, their words are the fighting spirit we need more than ever these days.
I’m not big on watching the usual New Year’s festivities on TV, but I’ll always be down for a good PBS documentary. I’m rewatching the We Want The Funk doc, and it’s got me wanting the funk tonight, too! 💃🏻
Happy Funky New Year, everyone! 🥳🎉🎆
I can always use some laughs during the holidays, and the weather outside is still frightful (worse today than yesterday). No Xmas-themed poems or quotes this year–just clips from my GOAT sitcom!
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Happy Thursday to you all!
The weather outside is frightful (at least here in the Bay Area), as is having to be subjected to the same ol’ Christmas music. I’m one to get into the holiday spirit but I also don’t care for traditional Xmas music; working in retail eons ago rendered me this way. It’s worse now thanks to crappy Camp Rock remixes of the classics like “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland”. That said, I have my exceptions…
I’ll always be down for 80s/90s rap and upbeat R&B with a Christmas twist!
One holiday tradition of mine is watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, so of course the soundtrack also gets some play. “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating” are two of the few Xmas classics that I enjoy, and “Christmas Time Is Here” is simply enchanting (I prefer the instrumental over the vocal version).
*That* one holiday song will keep Mariah a forever multi-millionaire, but this other holiday song of hers gets all the airplay in my house! I first heard this particular version of “Joy To The World” in one of those BBC Essential Mixes from the 90s (go to the 1:02:00 mark), coincidentally mixed by the same guy who made this remix. This song deserves more appreciation during the holidays; give it a listen if you need a break from hearing Mimi’s money-maker.
Speaking of BBC Essential Mixes, there are no holiday-themed songs in this one, but I always saw it as a “holiday” mix as it originally aired two days before Xmas (and it just turned 30 years old this year). Forget caroling–I’d rather rave around the Christmas tree with this mix!
I must preface this by saying I am devastated to hear about the recent antisemitic attacks in Sydney, Australia. What was supposed to be a day of celebration of faith and love for the city’s Jewish community turned into a horrific massacre that further fuels the skyrocketing antisemitism around the world that needs to cease. I send my utmost condolences to all the victims of the shooting and their families, and peace and strength to all those of the Jewish faith affected by prejudice.
It’s why I chose this poem below. That last stanza hits harder now than it did before.
A Hanukkah Prayer for a Time of Darkness
by Marla Baker
Creator of All,
In the beginning You made the night sky luminous with the light of the moon and the stars and
You made the daytime bright with the light of the sun and
Saw that it was good.
And You created human beings in Your own image, with capacity
To distinguish dark from light, with capacity
To create holy sparks, see into the shadows and
Shine light where it is dark.
And You saw that it was very good.
Creator of All and Rock of Ages,
In the time of the Maccabees once more You worked a miracle of light,
Permitting our ancestors to rededicate holy space.
And it lasted eight days and eight nights.
Creator of All and Rock of Ages,
In the dark of night, at the darkest time of year
We light candles in remembrance of the miracle,
One more each night until there are eight.
Creator of All and Rock of Ages,
Too many lights have been extinguished.
The world has grown too dark.
Creator of Light and Dark,
Teach us once more to see into the shadows,
To shed our light in all the dark corners and to
Create holy sparks for all humankind
So that once more we can say
It is very good.
******
Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate. ✡️🕎❤️