Daily songs inspired by Black Music Month

Note: This was originally intended to be posted Thursday, before I left on vacation. I did not have time, and in fact had three days with neither posts nor daily songs! And yet, it probably doesn't change too much, until we get to the end.

Remember me writing that I seem to put more meaning into the songs of the day when I was not blogging? Well, I am blogging again, but this is still pretty meaningful.

After I finished the songs inspired by the review retrospective, I had a week of songs about heat, and then I started wanting to honor the books and movies that made up my Black Music Month. It works out to just over a month of songs.

I will list the work and then the songs I took from it.

I, Tina: My Life Story by Tina Turner with Kurt Loder 

Obviously I was familiar with many songs mentioned in the book, but both of these were new to me.

7/9 “Rocket 88” by The Kings of Rhythm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0

7/10 “I Might Have Been Queen” by Tina Turner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiIOmuFiy8E

Mary J. Blige's My Life

I especially loved "Hourglass", but wanted to include the other song just for the sheer magic of what it must have been like for Mary to duet with someone who had inspired her so much, though I chose Anita Baker's original version. The duet can be found on-line, separately from the movie.

7/11 “Hourglass” by Mary J. Blige
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfh0iz3QIg

7/12 “Caught Up In the Rapture” by Anita Baker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrfcbNCqH40

Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny by Nile Rodgers 

I adore Nile more and more all the time. Coming away inspired by his musical instincts, his integrity, and his attitude, I wanted to pull in a lot of the songs mentioned. (Also, it led to an additional viewing.)

7/13 “Le Freak” by CHIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXgSHL7efKg

7/14 “Lost In Music” by Sister Sledge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIrnevgyCFw

7/15 “Upside Down” by Diana Ross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhZ9yGu2wog

7/16 “Modern Love” by David Bowie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HivQqTtiHVw

7/17 “Shadows On Your Side” by Duran Duran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CocRf3aim4Q

From reviews, though they fit comfortably within Black Music Month.

7/18 “Doin' Fine” by Lady A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBQTRKNC0WA

7/19 “When Will the Ignorance End” by Blackberri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt4Lba6ZWn8

Then there was a song from a reviewed band, but is followed by songs from the presentation on Early African American Composers by two of The Ragged Blade Band's member, Cherry and Jerry. 

7/20 “What Kind of Love” by The Ragged Blade Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMheAc2uge8

7/21 “La Pas Ma La” by Ernest Hogan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvu_7l52LF4

7/22 “Frog Legs Rag” by James Scott
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxJDd5A_vM

7/23 “Walking the Dog” composed by Shelton Brooks, performed by Rufus Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw1KAlQSYjw

7/24 “Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGqBmlZR3dc

Oregon Symphony Storytime featuring Harlem's Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson. This was a song written as a memorial for Florence Mills.

It was also fun to realize that the storyteller, Shalanda Sims, was the playwright for Who I Am.

7/25 “Black Beauty” by Duke Ellington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDJtb8Qbbyo

The Defiant Ones

I learned a lot from this. I developed a lot of compassion for Dr. Dre, which is tested now learning that his daughter and grandchildren need help. However, another thing that came from many of these works is that there is a lot that goes into making a person. Even with disagreement, I can see the humanity in almost anyone. (For this documentary specifically, still having a hard time with Marilyn Manson. Maybe not trying that hard.)

7/26 “Supersonic” by J.J. Fad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti1bFMBd6V4

7/27 “Express Yourself” by N.W.A.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31FO_4d9TY

7/28 “The Formula” by The D.O.C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k1XyvwM4no

7/29 “Dance to the Drummer's Beat” by Body & Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kfNawe3_4

7/30 “Who Am I (What's My Name)?” by Snoop Dogg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2soGJXQAQec

7/31 “So Many Tears” by 2Pac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z52-lIZMbQ

8/1 “Talking To My Diary” by Dr. Dre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_WXSsvIqM

20 Feet from Stardom

I think I may need to blog about this separately, actually. There was a lot. That includes a lot of artists who have been a part of many things you have enjoyed, but not always getting a lot of credit. I wanted to spotlight them as much as possible.

8/2 "Yes" by Merry Clayton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6fcxN9KjA

8/3 “It Ain't Easy” by Claudia Lennear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCv0Pdxr-6Q

8/4 “Disco To Go” by The Brides of Funkenstein (because of Lynn Mabry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Hxgd8EU-A

8/5 “Save Me” by Lisa Fischer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUJhpbB8MsQ

8/6 “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby” by Táta Vega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbmKSv47i3E

8/7 “Heart Lead The Way” by The Waters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THGjDJuvT7A

8/8 “Forbidden Nights” by Darlene Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4915gjpFEo

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph 

I highly recommend this book. I listened to a lot of music for it, and this was my favorite of the songs. There were some others I thought about doing, then was not going to because I wanted to wrap up on Thursday, but we know how that went.

8/9 “Before I Let Go” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbj15Zlh-Ag

The Beautiful Ones by Prince with Dan Piepenbring

This is another one where I can't help but be aware how many more songs could be done. I also know it's not the last book I am going to read on Prince, so I think the other songs will come then.

8/10 “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJAeWPEWTw

Miss Sharon Jones!

This may be another movie that needs its own post. If I don't get to that, let me say that I just realized that I had never made "Retreat" a song of the day, though there have been a few from Sharon Jones. I did not realize until I watched why this video was animated: Jones did not think she had the strength to do a video. With some of the dancing footage drawn over, they do still have her spirit. Then the wolves are symbolic of her battle with cancer, and it's really beautiful. There was a lot of love in that group.

8/11 “Retreat” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOYkHjdpdM

The Making and Meaning of We Are Family

Nile's book mentioned this documentary, so I found it and watched it. For all the allusions to our innocence being lost at 9-11, we still seemed so much more innocent there. It was touching, and then there are actually two pretty great videos from it. Lots of familiar faces, and some I had to look up.

8/12 “We Are Family” by Various Artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPnhkr2Vr0Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnD8BYjZiW0

The Black Friend reprise

I did try scheduling some daily song tweets, just to try, because it would be a useful option. They were set up, but did not tweet.

I was trying them with some of those other songs mentione by Frederick Joseph. So, they go today and tomorrow. 

8/16 “Party Like a Rockstar” by Shopboyz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82vpIsQ3lX8

8/17 “Umi Says” by Mos Def
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vntLKOd9saI

After that, through September it will be songs from reviewed artists, including some throwbacks that didn't make it into the Review Retrospective, especially when some of those bands have new songs. 

Then I have some exciting plans for October, November, and December.

And all of it does have meaning.