West of Hollywood

SOULFUL SUNDAY: GRACE JONES

This past week I scored three tickets to Grace Jones' return to the Hollywood Bowl this summer and I am as giddy as a little girl.  Love that woman.  Now comes the difficult task of deciding which hooded pantsuit to wear to the concert. 

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: MARVIN GAYE

There is no other, no better than Marvin Gaye.  His life was too short but his music lives on to soothe and groove by and remind us all of life's simple lessons.  This song is a favorite and tells of a simple lesson of love that I learned long ago. 

I want you the right way

I want you
But I want you to want me too

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: CHAMPION JACK DUPREE

It's time for some blues.

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: MARVA WHITNEY

Learn it.  

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS

I'm having a strange day.  The wind is blowing my mind around like the palms and something just doesn't seem right.  I can't seem to focus on anything it feels like the dark came early today.  But I'm holding on and using my imagination to keep on keepin' on, like Gladys tells me.  Thanks, Mama.   

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: NINA SIMONE ONCE MORE

In honor of the Academy Awards I'm closing out Nina Simone Month with a live version of one of her lesser-known songs that speaks many truths about the nature of celebrity, as well as sounding a bit like the melody from It Ain't Easy Being Green - which is never a bad thing.  

 

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: MORE NINA SIMONE

I've been listening to this song all week, incorporating David Bowie's cover of it into my first hacky attempt at video editing.  Bowie's version makes me a little weak in the knees but Nina's is the deep, darker soulful classic that I always go back to.  I think it's the most romantic song ever recorded.

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: NINA SIMONE AGAIN

Her songs have been calling to me more than any others lately and so I'm dubbing this Nina Simone month.  Here is one that is calling to me tonight containing instructions for using the most simply profound mantra ever put to music.

  

Don't let the problems of this world rob you slowly outta your mind

Just smile, look at the problem and say 'it be's that way sometime'

click play 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: NINA SIMONE

I'm feeling very misunderstood today, worn down from trying to be a friend to someone who doesn't trust my intentions.  It's a low feeling to be misunderstood by someone I care about and I can't think of anyone better to voice that feeling than the incomparable Nina Simone.   

"I'm just a soul whose intentions are good.  Oh lord, please don't let me be misunderstood." 

Take it away, Nina.

 

SOULFUL SUNDAY: THE GAP BAND

This is definitely more funk than soul but it is a favorite that I'd like to dedicate to my four friends who had surprising break-ups this past week.  Something is in the air.  

To all the broken-hearted, take comfort that as sad as you may be at least you didn't go up the block to get your babe a strawberry pop then come right back to the flat to find he had burned rubber out the back.  That is truly sad.