Modified Desert Island Discs
Music
After some serious discussion with Mshairi and this thing about lists of music I worked on a list of favourite music and to be honest it is one of the most difficult things to do. Music has been a constant in my life it goes back years with my love for music and there are also life defining moments when I hear certain type of music. As a child, my Dad had a friend who called me Miriam Makeba as I sang endlessly. I resented being called Makeba because I did not understand what the name meant. While I was training at the Kenya School of Hairdressing, my sister called me from Toledo, Ohio and she said hear, listen to this is one of my favourite songs and that is how I heard Brandy by the Ojays, I could not get a record of that song and it like ten years later that I heard the full version of it and it features in my catalogue of music.
My list has to take into account where I am right now and to be honest, it is a spin off of Desert Island, what music would one take to a desert island, the selection is normally 8 but this is my list so it is going to be a number of my choosing. You know the iPod which would take 3000 songs, my iPod would have a trailer attached to it for music that would not sit comfortably in an iPod.
However, before I start there is mention of other musicians and forms of music that I just love as in the intensity of Mark Knopfler and his Brother in arms, wow, the gravelly tones of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, Percy Sledge When a man loves a woman, Otis Redding Sitting in the Dock of the Bay. What can I say about Salif Keita and the joy I had in discovering his music, Franco and Tabuley, Sam Mangwana, Kofi Olomide and those Congolese musicians who played in Nairobi like Mangelpa(sic). Zaiko Langa Langa who I went to see in London and got myself well and truly drunk.
Angelique Kidjo saw at the Afica Centre and just loved her music and that she is one hell of a woman. Baaba Maal, Youssou Ndour, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Anita Baker, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, India Irie, Yolanda Adams, Dennis Taylor, Mario, Tyreese, Nelly, Patti Labelle. Aretha Franklin and Emma Franklin, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Earl Klugh my oh my the list is endless, some of these do not appear anywhere in my list but they feature very strongly in my life. I have not forgotten other music that I was weaned on like the Hindi films music which we heard growing up, the Taarabu music.
I will never forget a concert that I took 8 teenage girls to in the 90s of MC Hammer in his heyday. I shall not mention any names but that was one of the fun moments at Wembley Stadium. Brothers Johnson with Stomp, Bob Marley, Santana, last night these names just came trickling in my mind- Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder would feature prominently in my list and I would have their music played anytime anywhere, Lionel Richie and of course the Commodores, Randy Crawford. I would fill the pages of this blog with the music that I love. Yet I do not like all music like Joss Stone who may be an Elvis come-back(clone), notice the white person singing like she/he black!!! Will Young, George Michael, Robbie Williams and let me not have another list of music that grates my ear.
Here is my list and it is no particular order
1. As-Stevie Wonder
2. Secret Garden- Quincy Jones and Co
3. So sad the Song- Gladys Knight
4. Only Love-Luther Vandross
5. Juicy Fruit- Mtume
6. Love Twins- Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
7. Brandy- O’jays
8. Malaika- Fadhili Williams
9. The Click Song- MIriam Makeba
10. Let’s Get It On- Marvin Gaye
11. Human Nature- Michael Jackson
12. Stay- Temptations
13. Track of my tears- Smokey Robinson
14. Something Inside so strong- Labi Sifre
15. Why can’t we live together- Timmy Thomas
This list is endless and could strtech so far, and it is not carved in stone
After some serious discussion with Mshairi and this thing about lists of music I worked on a list of favourite music and to be honest it is one of the most difficult things to do. Music has been a constant in my life it goes back years with my love for music and there are also life defining moments when I hear certain type of music. As a child, my Dad had a friend who called me Miriam Makeba as I sang endlessly. I resented being called Makeba because I did not understand what the name meant. While I was training at the Kenya School of Hairdressing, my sister called me from Toledo, Ohio and she said hear, listen to this is one of my favourite songs and that is how I heard Brandy by the Ojays, I could not get a record of that song and it like ten years later that I heard the full version of it and it features in my catalogue of music.
My list has to take into account where I am right now and to be honest, it is a spin off of Desert Island, what music would one take to a desert island, the selection is normally 8 but this is my list so it is going to be a number of my choosing. You know the iPod which would take 3000 songs, my iPod would have a trailer attached to it for music that would not sit comfortably in an iPod.
However, before I start there is mention of other musicians and forms of music that I just love as in the intensity of Mark Knopfler and his Brother in arms, wow, the gravelly tones of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, Percy Sledge When a man loves a woman, Otis Redding Sitting in the Dock of the Bay. What can I say about Salif Keita and the joy I had in discovering his music, Franco and Tabuley, Sam Mangwana, Kofi Olomide and those Congolese musicians who played in Nairobi like Mangelpa(sic). Zaiko Langa Langa who I went to see in London and got myself well and truly drunk.
Angelique Kidjo saw at the Afica Centre and just loved her music and that she is one hell of a woman. Baaba Maal, Youssou Ndour, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Anita Baker, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, India Irie, Yolanda Adams, Dennis Taylor, Mario, Tyreese, Nelly, Patti Labelle. Aretha Franklin and Emma Franklin, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Earl Klugh my oh my the list is endless, some of these do not appear anywhere in my list but they feature very strongly in my life. I have not forgotten other music that I was weaned on like the Hindi films music which we heard growing up, the Taarabu music.
I will never forget a concert that I took 8 teenage girls to in the 90s of MC Hammer in his heyday. I shall not mention any names but that was one of the fun moments at Wembley Stadium. Brothers Johnson with Stomp, Bob Marley, Santana, last night these names just came trickling in my mind- Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder would feature prominently in my list and I would have their music played anytime anywhere, Lionel Richie and of course the Commodores, Randy Crawford. I would fill the pages of this blog with the music that I love. Yet I do not like all music like Joss Stone who may be an Elvis come-back(clone), notice the white person singing like she/he black!!! Will Young, George Michael, Robbie Williams and let me not have another list of music that grates my ear.
Here is my list and it is no particular order
1. As-Stevie Wonder
2. Secret Garden- Quincy Jones and Co
3. So sad the Song- Gladys Knight
4. Only Love-Luther Vandross
5. Juicy Fruit- Mtume
6. Love Twins- Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
7. Brandy- O’jays
8. Malaika- Fadhili Williams
9. The Click Song- MIriam Makeba
10. Let’s Get It On- Marvin Gaye
11. Human Nature- Michael Jackson
12. Stay- Temptations
13. Track of my tears- Smokey Robinson
14. Something Inside so strong- Labi Sifre
15. Why can’t we live together- Timmy Thomas
This list is endless and could strtech so far, and it is not carved in stone
This entry was posted
on Monday, February 28, 2005 at 11:56 am.
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I quite like Will Young.
...How can anyone admit going to an McHammer concert ;)
I will be back with my list or post one on my blog but hey was Mama Junkyard not included in the list of 8 teenagers? I thought she was...
I remember taking someone who will remain nameless to see Snoop Doggy Dog at the Brixton Academy - the most bizzare experience in my life and a band that had a very short shelf life - Colour Me something:-)
I said the teenagers shall name themselves at the time Mc Hammer was hot and the girls had fun and so did I actually. So MamaJunkyard music is like that at the moment. Mshairi do not spoil it the nameless one is quaking in her boots as she is waiting for reveleations of nappy changes.