The Heart of the Matter!

So on an average Wednesday night, whilst waiting for the second round of Emmerdale to come forth (look, Wednesday night telly is dry, alright!) I switched over to a MTV Base and found them churning out the top 20 Justin Timberlake 'choons'. Don't get me wrong, I was never the die-hard fan but I appreciate some of his songs and especially when he gets serious with his lyrics. So came about the blast from the past 'What Goes Around Comes Around' and I'm like "oooh, that was my TUUNE [end high pitch!]". I think I got so wrapped up in nostalgia, how I used to enjoy hitting up the clubs with fellow BDSSs, that I immediately opened up my laptop with super enthusiasm and logged on with the intention of titling this blog after the 'tune'!!

But when it came down to it, I didn't feel inspired enough to start writing so I had a trawl down memory lane, through the songs that have made imprints in my heart throughout my life and stumbled across the following:

"These times are so uncertain, there's a yearning undefined

And people filled with rage

We all need a little tenderness, how can love survive

In such a graceless age

. . .

"And the trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness

Are the very things we kill, I guess

Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms

And the works they put between us, you know it doesn't keep us warm"

. . .

". . . All the people in your life, who've come and gone

Will let you down, you know they hurt your pride

Gotta put it all behind you, 'cause life goes on

You keep carrying that anger, it'll eat you up inside"

These are wise words from my girl India are from, yep you guessed it; 'The Heart of the Matter', who's been my source of musical inspiration through both the happy and also the tough times and the above is an extract from a song that I feel beautifully encompasses the two together. Although I understand this song is a cover, she has a soulful voice that seems to find its way around the lyrics and compositions in a way that sounds as though it was written on the spot for you and about a situation that you coincidentally happen to be going through at that time. She does it everytime, for example (and feel free to click on all songs mentioned in this blog in case you're not sure what I'm on about):

Brown Skin: for when I'm feeling sexy and wanna lay it on my dark skinned-brother (!) and Ready for Love: for the times where I never thought love would ever find me.

So I thought that this is what I'd share with you, on this dry Wednesday evening. However, to make things a lot more interesting, I included a few more chronological blasts from the pasts which I guess pretty much sums up the kind of well-rounded variety of moods that I tend to adopt from time to time - purely for your enjoyment (well ok, mine then!!)

'Come Down Father', Beres Hammond

'By Your Side' - Sade
'Turn Me On' - Kevin Lyttle
'Too Bad Mind' - Elephant Man
'Willie Bounce' - Elephant Man (hand prints on walls come to mind. . .)

'Back to Black' - Amy Winehouse (Bi knows!!!)
'Bed' - J.Holiday
'African Queen' - 2Face Idibia

'Borbor Pain' - Emmerson (for all my Sierra Leoneans out there!!)
'Year of the Lover' - Lloyd
'Skin' - R. Kelly