“I love music…just as long as it’s groovin’”
It’s Friday, and that means music during our 32 Days of Black History celebration. If you’re in a Quiet Storm kind of mood, you’ll love the playlist that Yvette has created. She dares you to listen all the way through without saying, “Ooooo, that was my song!”
Over here, I’m featuring some gentlemen who are no strangers to Quiet Storm playlists. Growing up, they were my mother’s favorite group. In addition to the fact that they have given us some great music, I count their songs among my favorites because my mom loved them so much. I can’t listen to “Love Train” or “Forever Mine”, without thinking of my mom (God rest her).
Of course, I’m talking about Philly Soul legends, The O’Jays.
In college, when people talked about “Stairway to Heaven” as a classic, I thought, “Well, I like it, but I don’t know about it being the O’Jays’ best work, much less the greatest song of all time.” I had never even heard of Led Zeppelin.
One thing I love about the O’Jays’–besides the fact that Eddie Levert and Walter Williams’s voices melt me–is that their stuff is serious soul, unapologetically testosterone-fueled, but without the super-aggression of say, a Teddy Pendergrass. I’m all for super-aggressive, baby-making ballads, but not all the time. Walter Williams can admit to crying with his woman (”Cry Together”), and it’s all good.
In this era of too many hip-hop artists denigrating women (and some female hip-hop artists denigrating themselves), I really appreciate songs like “Darlin’, Darlin’ Baby” and “She Usedta Be My Girl.”
In some corner of The Internets, the debate continues as to whether or not “Brandy” is about a dog or a woman. I think it’s very clearly about a dog, but feel free to disagree with me about it in the comments though you will be wrong.
Enjoy.
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You are in the midst of a blogathon celebrating 32 Days of Black History! Yvette at Six Impossible Things…and I are joined by InkogNegro,Christina, Chris, and Tami. Visit, comment, bookmark!
February 8th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
LOL–Yup, definitely a dog! Great playlist, btw. I realize I do not have any Teddy on my Quiet Storm list. Probably because I was never that into him; maybe it was the “super-agression” you mention.