Welcome to my corner of the universe to share thoughts, inspirations, and questions that arise while on my journey for Jesus. My goal is to encourage, provoke and relate to others in the body of Christ but since I'm a young, single woman, a good bit of what I say will reflect that perspective. We're all in the same struggle but hopefully some of this Holy Hotness can edify (and entertain) us along the way.
It's been LONG overdue.... but FCF is baaaaaaack!!! Can't promise a new chune every Friday, but you guys have been more than patient--I appreciate y'all!
So with no further ado long talkin', this week we're hearing from Rhythm-n-Praise artist Lexi. Lemme just say that if the music thing doesn't work out for her at some point, she can def make it in show-business. I mean, her church-themed comedy sketches are mad hilarious and she also has a talk show... but sista gurl can blow, too!
This chune, Abide, became one of my instant faves because of the way it just rolls off the ear. Lyrically, it's a worship song but musically, it got stank with a tinge of classic Motown R&B. Just lurrrve the vibe! Anyway, time for you to enjoy summa dis heah!
Wassup everybody? How was your week? Mine was slightly unnerving after suddenly finding out something about a co-worker. *sigh* But life goes on...
Today's chune is simple and straight to the point: calling on the name of JESUS. There's nothing better than knowing the power that comes with it! Debra Killings' rendition caught my ear the first time I heard it because of the bass on the track--literally. This chick plays the bass guitar; naw, actually she murders it! This song is mellow and allows you to take it all in while meditating on that name, but there's no ignoring the deep bass tones throughout. Oh yeah, and she can sang, too!
So go ahead and enjoy this urban worship groove to proclaim the name of JESUS!
Happy Friday once again! I had an "OK" week--except for a pseudo-anxiety attack about starting the next decade of my life--but all's well that ends well. :o) I think it's
especially fitting to end the week on a high note.... and Tyshan Knight has a couple of those in this chune right heah! The production is top-notch, thanks to Higher Intel Music, and the vocals give you that authentic R&B feel; but what I love the most is the 'feel-good-bounce/nod-ya-head/it's-Friday-heeeey' vibe that just drips off of this track. My only complaint is that the song is too short--but then it's a FREE download directly from the H.I.M. site, so I can't get mad about nuthin' for this song!
So when I feel like things are getting outta control before my big birthday, I'll just pull this up on my iPod, bang it through some headphones, and bounce my cares away! Enjoy!
Happy Friday annnnnd Women's History Month! It's been a cool week for me--helped my mom celebrate her birthday by taking a day off and I'm a few steps closer to getting a major possession back into my grasp, so it's all gravy.
This week's chune is one that harkens back to ye olde college days, but it's one of my all-time faves! It would float through my dorm room on repeat, ad infinitum (and probably ad nauseam for those on my floor) but I just couldn't help it. It's what I like to consider a transcendental piece... one of those that instantly gripped me by the ears and refused to let go of my attention. Just something about the intro--it's all at once commanding, yet soothing. The elements of the song flow outward like the waves of a meditative anthem from the throne of the Lord God, Himself. And vocalists Out of Eden meld harmonies effortlessly to create an atmosphere that just takes you away to another dimension... oh, wait--is that just me? Well, let's find out!
I hope everybody's Friday got off to a great start. Mine has been cool so far, but good music always makes it better!
Today's chune is an 'oldie but goodie' that always perks me up and makes me smile. I know it's not the original, but Kirk Franklin's rendition of Lovely Day came out when I was soaking up just about everything that he put out, so it's stuck with me after all these years. It's a simple reminder that no matter what's going on, God can--and usually will--turn it around for the better.
So, here's wishing you all a lovely Friday! Be blessed.
pVI
TGIF--> Today God is First!! (Had to jack that from a friend on Facebook!) Hope everyone had a blessed week. Mine got off to a rather crappy start having to deal with people at work who insist on having their own way... *sigh* Things are only going to get more hectic for the next several weeks and I can already feel the stress cloud descending upon me. But I've been forced to check myself and thank God for my job when so many are desperate for work and money. Also, while asking my Mom to pray for me, she reminded me about "the process" and that this drama is obviously part of mine... so I need to just praise my way through and learn whatever lessons God is trying to teach me. (Gotta luv Mama!)
One of the ways I always relieve stress is through music so I definitely spent some quality time with headphones on this past week. Thanks to the awesomeness that is Pandora, I had a musical ecstasy moment when I heard this chune right heeah: Boasting by Lecrae, featuring Anthony Evans.
The lyrics are mind-blowing enough on their own--and I've come to expect nothing less from Lecrae--but Anthony Evans' vocals dip and roll forcefully over his acoustic guitar. Ooooh! Just got goosebumps! I'll just have you know that I was instantly mesmerized on the first go-round. [can ya tell?] It doesn't happen often but when it does, I just sit there... in suspended animation... taking the song in with my undivided attention. I suggest you do the same!
Happy Friday [in advance]--I'm definitely getting it in early this time!
This chune is timely because, as of late, the general struggle with temptation seems to be in the air. I've vented on it already and I've seen some others online mention it, too. So this one is going out to all of us that need a spiritual boost in that area.
Temptation, by Shei Atkins--the self-dubbed "Ghetto Princess"--is the second track I ever heard by her waaaaaay back in the day while I was in college, and it was like an instant punch to the gut. There are those gospel music artists who say they keep it real... and then there are those who actually do. Shei brings it raw--listen in at 1:32; you'll know what's up--because that's exactly how most of our emotions and experiences feel when we're going through our struggles that we think nobody else understands. For me, this song sparked an instant reaction of, "Did she really say that?!! But for real though... that sounds just about right."
I guess by now I've hyped it enough so with no further ado, lemme fling some Temptation at yuh.
It's been raining in the VI this week, in the natural and supernatural. Last night, it was thundering and lightning with hard rain... plus the local power company has been having rolling blackouts. Day before yesterday, the governor announced that hundreds of employees would be sent home. Needless to say, things have been looking bleak on all fronts.
*NOTE* All songs referenced will be embedded at the end, in order of mention... so if you're tired of reading, just scroll down to go straight to the music.
I made a new CD from recent acquisitions on iTunes to bump in the car... apparently, my 2006 model missed the memo about MP3/audio auxiliary ports. #fail Anyway, I usually burn a CD after every handful of new songs; note - these are songs that are new to me but they've been out for a while already. Sometimes, I 'recycle' songs from older mixes just because they're that hot... the one that made my really bounce behind the wheel this morning was Clap Your Hands.
The D. Haddy fest continued when I got to work because I looked up the song on YouTube so I could share it on my social networks. Then the suggestions caught my eye and I saw another one of my favorite songs from back in the day - Resting Place. After that throwback, I came across some others that were some of my faves--even though I don't have any of his full albums--and came to the following conclusion:
Deitrick Haddon is Christian music fiyah! End of discussion.
Image taken from http://www.verityrecords.com/music/church-moon
Now, I've only heard one track from his latest album, Church on the Moon--Forgiven--and it put me in a trance, instantly. That doesn't happen to me often, but when it does, I literally absorb the song into my being. But even going through his projects since ~2002, which is when I got turned on to him, dude has a solid corpus in performance AND production. This says a lot since I'm partial to his trademark sound [somewhere between urban and churchy gospel], but when he ventures outside of that box, I'm still right there with him. Take Inspiration, for example. It's guitar-heavy with a classic 80s drumbeat, maybe even a little "pseudo-country-ish" ... yet I'm feelin' it! Next, there's Resting Place - the first couple of bars feature a marimba and with acoustic guitar accompaniment sans the beat box, the whole track is enveloped by a completely organic vibe. And on the album Crossroads, I definitely appreciated the two joints laced, figuratively speaking (of course), with reggae/dancehall flavors... It's Over Now and Walls are Tumbling (f/Pastor Paula White). what can I say? You know that's just the "island" in me.
Image taken from http://usedbooksblog.com
But I'm not trying to sound like a Deitrick Haddon infomercial [even though I've already blogged on one of his songs], so my review has to be "fair and balanced"...just like Fox News... riiiiiiiiight. Anyway, in his time on the music scene, spanning from the late 90s with the group Voices of Unity, D. Haddy has garnered something of a reputation for high astronomical self-esteem and possibly being a tad too secular in his stylings. Is there any truth to the charges?? I'll report and you decide (yes, that was another facetious nod to Fox News).
On the album Lost and Found, track #2 entitled "D.D" is essentially an ode to himself. It's basically his truncated life story, some may call it his testimony. But when the chorus is basically your name 4Xs and then your nickname 4Xs, it just might throw off a narcissistic vibe. #imjustsayin Now, ever since Kirk Franklin and God's Property STOMPed onto the scene--possibly before that when Bebe and CeCe Winans 'confused' listeners with Addictive Love--the gospel music crowd has been split between what is or isn't too worldly. I tend to lean towards the 'Jesus likes boom-bap, too' side, but I strongly believe that songs should be tested for content.
Case in point: Don't Go. The "younggins" are thinking Oh, that's 'Foolish' by Ashanti. If you're 25 or older, the first bar takes your right back to Biggie's One More Chance remix. But if you're a real old-head, then De Barge would come to mind. Of course, this isn't the first time a gospel song sampled a "secular" one, so let's get over that real fast. But is the content truly the "good news"? According to some of the comments on the YouTube track, not so. Now, here are the lyrics; it's definitely not on the level of Sinner's Prayer but it's not exactly sacrilegious, IMO. However I do see a conflict with using the hook from One More Chance because it creates a sort of cognitive dissonance: you know you're listening to [what's supposed to be] Christian music, but the sound of it diverts your thoughts to a song that is spiritually detrimental. I get a similar vibe from I'm the One--if I let my mind wander just enough, I'd swear I was listening to some baby-makin' music a-la 90s R&B (*sigh* I can't get that decade outta my musical memory--y'all pray for a sista!) OK, so that's just two songs but, most of the album Seven Days rolls off the ear like a cascade of urban gospel goodness. Shoo, I stay bangin' Clap Your Hands, So Good to be in Love and Inspiration.
So that's all I gotta say about D. Haddy. Now I'll let his music do the talking: all the songs I mentioned and some extras for good measure. Enjoy the music and stay blessed!
pVI
