RIP Gregory Isaacs (1951-2010)

Night Nurse

Tell her try your best jest to make it quick
Whom attend to the sick
'Cause there must be something she can do
This heart is broken in two
Tell her it's a case of emergency
There's a patient by the name of Gregory

Night nurse
Only you alone can quench this Jah thirst
My night nurse, oh gosh
Oh the pain it's getting worse

I don't wanna see no doc
I need attendence from my nurse around the clock
'Cause there's no prescription for me
She's the one, the only remedy

Night nurse
Only you alone can quench this Jah thirst
My night nurse
Oh the pain it's getting worse
I hurt my love

I don't wanna see no doc
I need attendence from my nurse around the clock
'Cause there's no prescription for me
She's the one, the only remedy

Night nurse
Only you alone can quench this Jah thirst
My night nurse
Oh the pain it's getting worse
I hurt my love

And I'm sure
No doctor can cure
Night nurse
Night nurse

Video of Night Nurse

:( Another great artist dies. The music world will miss you greatly. I will miss you greatly but I will console myself knowing that I can still hear your voice via my ipod. 

Duck anyone?

Gospel Music?

I was watching this video on youtube the other day and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what denomination these guys were. Their message was pretty generic, hell I could even sing the song without feeling like I was in church. I think what probably throws me off the most is that they are wearing toubs/kanzus with gunias (potato sacks) over them. Thats really strange. I know I have seen this denomination before in Kenya and I know they have an official name, its just I can't remember!

So if anyone knows drop me a line please :-) Much obliged.

Listening to Arias

I have spent all day listening to Arias because I can and its the only time that my mind finds peace. Most of my fam and friends think I am an odd ball whenever I go to catch my fav opera at the local house. I think if I lived in New York I would probably be broke from buying tickets all the time. I remember when I went to Sydney, my delight at being in THE FAMED OPERA HOUSE and sitting in my chair. It was like a dream come true. I can't wait for next season because there are a couple shows I want to catch, like Strauss' Salome and Puccini's La Boheme. For now here is a sample of one of those arias that people know but don't recognize as being part of Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

Jawaahir Dance

Last night I went with my friend to watch the Jawaahir dance group perform at the Southern theatre by Seven Corners in Minneapolis. There were some parts of the performance that I didn't quiet enjoy but for the most part it was very well done. There was a live band playing and I loved loved the oud player. I swear I was in tears when he was singing. The other song wasn't bad either and off course the tabla solo was excellent. One of the violin players looked familiar, till I realized he is a presenter on public access TV.

Cassandra has a very subtle dance style and unless you realize that, you are likely to discount her as not so good. I loved her performance especially the arm and finger movements. They were mesmerizing. The show is still going on till the end of this week and on Wednesday its pay as you are able. It is very informal because you can meet the dancers at the end of the perfomance and talk with the them.

Its been a while since I danced to arabic tunes and watching the show made me hunger for it. So, my friend and I are going to attend a belly dancing class just for kicks. I am pretty sure I can still learn a few things especially the figure eight shake. So for all you MPLS guys, check out the show and hope you like the music as much as I did.

King of Pop

Its with astonishment that I realize the King of Pop will no longer be. I still remember the first night I sat with my siblings to watch the release of Thriller. I peeped in between my fingers whenever the dead came out of the grave but I couldn't help trying to learn to moves in the video. MJ's was the first CD I received from my boyfriend when we were dating and I still have it. I even have a nasheed that he purportedly sung. He will be missed by the masses but the MJ I fell in love with left a long time ago and I think I had already mourned him. May God place him in his good graces. Amin.

Njiwa

Njiwa peleka salamu
Oo kwa yule wangu muhimu
Mueleze afahamu
Kwamba ninapata taabu
Hali yangu mahamumu
Oo maradhi yameni siibu

Chorus
Eewe njiwa x2
Peleka salamu
Kwa yule x2
Wangu muhimu

Usiku kucha nakesha
Oo na yeye ndiye sababu
Ewapo haji maisha
Itamfika aibu
Pendo langu halijesha
Oo ndilo lino niadhibu

Njiwa usi hadhaike
Oo nenda ulete majibu
Nenda upesi ufike
Mkimbilie swahibu
Mbele yake utamke
Oo ni yeye wa kunijibu


Ukifika tafadhali
Oo sema naye taratibu
Ukisema kwa ukali
Mambo utayaharibu
Kamwabie sina hali
Oo kufariki si ajabu

Massari ya3ni Money

I don't think this guy is yet in the American market even though he hails from across the border. Trilingual, he speaks arabic, english and french fluently but more than that his ascent into the R&B charts has being astounding. He was already the biggest selling Canadian R&B artist of 2005. I was supposed to get his cd as a gift for my birthday but after realizing that Amazon was asking for $26 for it, I passed. So far I like his arabic influenced songs, though I can't say much for the "thug" influenced ones. Interesting fact about him was he was born in Beirut. You can't tell from listening to him that he is middle eastern even though you can faintly tell he has an exotic accent. At first I thought he is arab muslim but I was thankful when I realized he is arab christian. This is one of his best selling songs;Be Easy.

Pwani iwakilishwe

Nostalgia kicked in again because the warm weather is finally here. I picked Mr. Nice's song due to the fact that this guy can shake better than most girls out there! Enjoy.

Spring Swing & Being Black

My roommate had this brain storm last summer to organize a swing dance. First day of uni she rushes to welcome me back to the apartment by telling me her ideas while her hands were full with my baggage. Finally last Saturday she saw her work bear fruits. We actually pulled off a swing dance in our little town and it was a success. There was a live jazz band playing all night with a canary chirping some tunes in between. Actually there were three jazz bands and they would take turns playing. We also had a non-alcoholic bar. In between dancing you could go request a kiss on the beach (Just to be PC), a virgin Shirley temple , a virgin pina colada among other things. More than that though was seeing all the students, faculty and community turn up dressed to the nines. I mean I am talking a dead ringer for the 1920-40's era. So we swung the night away. I had to sell tickets cause I was using any excuse not to be on the dance floor. As the night progressed I breathed easy. In walked all the basketball players and off course they wanted in for free. Since they were in our organization I let them slide in. Nico came outside to hang out with me and said we have to go dance at least once. I laughed the suggestion off and continued selling tickets. Ochieng walked in. I had seen him at the swing dance practice we had conducted and he was wearing a shirt with a kenyan logo. I didn't have time to talk to him then but here was a perfect opportunity. As I stamped the back his hands I casually asked him if he was from Kenya. He replied in the affirmative and we talked in kiswahili for a few minutes. Knowing he was with his date I didn't want to interrupt his evening I was just happy to have someone to talk to in Kiswahili. I ushered him into the ballroom but as he walked away he gave me his card, asking me to call him sometimes.

Nico was true to his word, he had gone to get my roommate to sell the tickets while we danced. Nico was a Californian with a Latino ancestry so he could move very well on the dance floor. We danced three songs in succession and I was dizzy for all the spins we were doing. I begged off and went to get a pina colada. The evening went well. I got to dance with Nico again after dancing with Dee and Chicago (Joe). It was a success in my book but my roommate the perfectionist thought we could have done better. So all hyped up we packed the drinks into my trunk and decided to get an early breakfast. Climbing into my car was a couple of other friends and we set out. Maintaining my speed limit we drove to the other side of town. I can't drive without the music blasting and since we were all hype the other guys joined in the merriment. Suddenly the red and blue light flashed in my rear view mirror. I turned the volume knob down and pulled over wondering why I was pulled over.

The cop swaggered to my side as his friend flashed his flashlight at my car occupants. I handed over my license and registration to him when asked. He asked me to sit tight while he ran my license. While we were waiting my friends asked if I was speeding and I said No. I was going within limits. So we started questioning why we got stopped and inevitably we came to the race card. We were all of dark complexion in the car and driving around in the wee hours of the morning with music blasting. My blood boiled as my face started burning at the indignation of being pulled over. I heard a tap at my window and the cop handed me back my documents. He explained he stopped me because my front tag was outdated but the back one was current. WHAT? He took away 20 mins of our lives for something that if he looked at my registration would have seen it was current. I shut my mouth as an outburst was forthcoming. Smiling sweetly I said no worries and pulled away. During our whole breakfast we ranted and berated the American system. Hey I thought we have tunnel of oppression program coming up in a couple weeks that we have to prepare for. How about doing a piece on oppression disguised in the 21st century. This weekend we get to work on it and hopefully I will have plenty of pics to share as we set up our tunnel.

Contrasting sentiments

THE LONELINESS (Babyface)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Im sitting here thinkin' about
How Im gonna do without
You around in my life
And how am I gon' get by
Aint got no days, just lonely nights
If you want the truth, well girl Im not alright
Feel out of place, and out of time
I think Im gonna lose my mind

Chorus:
So tell me how you feel (Im lonely)
Are you for real (so lonely)
Do you still think of me (I think of you)
Baby still (you only)
Do you dream of me at night
(Its like I dream you all the time) so lonely
Oh let me tell you how it feels
(Its like everday I die)
Wish I was dreamin but its real
(When I open up my eyes)
Oh let me tell you how it feels
(And dont see your pretty face)
I think that I will never love again

I miss your face, I miss your kiss
I even miss the arguments
That we would have from time to time
I miss you standing by my side
Im dying here, its clear to see
If there aint no you, God knows there aint no me
Dont wanna live, I wanna die
If I cant have you in my life

Chorus:
So tell me how you feel (Im lonely)
Are you for real (so lonely)
Do you still think of me (I think of you)
Baby still (you only)
Do you dream of me at night
(Its like I dream you all the time) so lonely
Oh let me tell you how it feels
(Its like everdayI die)
Wish I was dreamin but its real
(When I open up my eyes)
Oh let me tell you how it feels
(And dont see your pretty face)
I think that I will never love again

As Spring looms in the horizon my mind reverts back to the “good ol’ days”. Something about the weather changing jump starts a heart. It could be the new seedlings bearing their fruit or it could be the flowers opening up to perfume the whole world. Whatever it is, it lead me to write this post.

This is a dedication to all the first loves out there. Let nostalgia set in as you walk down memory lane with this song. Click above to hear the sultry voice of Goapele as she sings it.

First Love.

As summer was ending, you were walking in
It seemed my life was falling
but in this season we were friends
six days into spring, is where our story begins
you didn't rush a thing,
but you knew you would win

CHORUS
I never thought you'd be the only one
I dreamt of fairytales ,thats how we begun
but I was waiting for some magical moment,
that would prove to me, forever would be fine,
meanwhile my first love, was standing first in line

One of the first times I didn't feel alone,
Is when i was in your arms
you always made me feel at home
we watched the sunrise,cause the night had sliped away
and from then until now, we've been through some different phases
but you love the winter, love the challenge,
always managed to think that we would make it

CHORUS

So let me get used to things, cause gradual is my name
I don't dive into the cold, I get in slow
but every day, I'm making peace with loving you,
peace with being me
any pieces of us-
I claim them all today

CHORUS

Afkii ba juuqda gabay

Naftaydaa kuu jiirbanoo
Waxay haysa jamashadaa
Adaan kuu jeellanahayoo
Jacayl baad igu abuurtay
Ma jiifsado cawadii
Dharaartii ma joogi karo
Dhinaca aad iga jirtaa
Qalbigu ii jiidayaa

Hayeeshee Jab bay horjooga
Jir baa igu helay bannaan
Jar baan ka lushaa khatara
Talaa iga jahawareersan

Jid aan u baxaanan hayn
Jahadii baa iga hallowday
Haddaan kuu jeedi laayoon
Jabka kuu sheegi laa
Awood baan jirin xaggaygoo
Afkii baa juuqda gabay.

Jirrada miyaad ila qabtaa
Miyaad jeer qur ah is tiri
Jalleeco kalgacal ku eeg
Adaa sida johoraddii oo
Jirrada adigaa sidee
Jawaab waafiya i siiyoo
Jaahaaga sidaan u rabo
Ma ii jirisaa

By Saado Cali