Queen Connect

 Longing For I enjoy listening to a variety of music.  One genre that I listen to frequently is reggae music.  This sound originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s with elements of rock and soul music performed at moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat. The subsets of music birthed from reggae music that I enjoy listening to are dancehall and  reggaeton.   Dancehall music is a more carefree and sparce version of reggae with an urban youth feel.  Some dancehall artists currently in my playlist are Sean Paul, Shenseea, Popcaan, Mr. Vegas and Beenie Man, however anytime I hear Elephant Man I'm going to turn it up and dance. Reggaeton is another younger genre that was birthed in the 80s from Panama and popularized in Puerto Rico and is heavily shaped by the African diaspora, dancehall from Jamaica, reggae en Español from Panama, an underground mixture of Puerto Rico hip-hop.  Some Reggaeton artist currently in my playlist rotation are Don Omar, ...

 I Could Fall In Love - The "Seductive Romantic Confessional" I became familiar with the American singer "Selena" Quintanilla after the movie about her life was released in 1997.  I remember watching it at home and being glued to the television from beginning to end.  While watching the movie I learned that this song was the first song to crossover into the American billboard and that she sung in English. I like this song because it is so relatable.  I believe that many of us have stumbled into relationships where we realize suddenly that there could be more, and it could be great but then you question should it be?  This song sings innocently about the first moments in love when all is new, and you are wondering what it could be.   I love how this song is described as a "seductive romantic confessional.  I would not have described it as a "seductive" until I translated the words that Selena speaks midways in the song.  "I'm always dreaming o...

 Missing You #19 There are so many songs that sing about the many phases of love including love ending.  In Diana Ross' "Missing You" she sings about a love she lost abruptly.  Throughout the song she declares how she misses someone who left her life, but she doesn't know why.  In the first verse she sings, "... Trying to understand the reason you left me.  What were you going through ?" She goes on to sing how she misses them and wondered where things changed, " Tell me why the road turns ."  Since you've been away, I've been down and lonely Since you've been away, I've been thinking of you Trying to understand the reason you left me What were you going through? When you're missing someone everything around you, even the smallest of things reminds you of that person.  And you usually remember the good things and it makes you smile.  But then you become sad because there is still a lingering question of why.  That is what Ross s...

  There are songs that immediately transport you to another place and time.  Mary J. Blige featuring Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, one of the members of the all-male R & B group Jodeci.  At the time when Mary J. Blige's album was released in 1992, I was 10.   I didn't purchase the CD until a few years later and I remember it being one of the first CD's I bought and listened to from start to finish.   The CD came with a poster that was in the inside front case.  I hung it up on my wall and immediately felt like a grown woman .   Mary J. Blige is known for her womanly anthems.  She sings about the many phases and faces of love with hits like, "Real Love" that spoke about the search for love and "Not Gone Cry", one of my favorite singles from Blige from the "Waiting to Exhale" movie soundtrack which discusses the pain and heartache from betrayal in love.    I love hearing both men and women singing together on a song.  This ...

People that are in recovery for alcohol and drugs are often encouraged to try rehab.  Depending on the severity of the situation, they are not encouraged sometimes they are required to go into rehab.  That is because they understand the importance of a new environment when it comes to the healing/recovery journey.   " Well, I know that I'll get through this 'Cause I know that I am strong A rehabilitation center puts you in a different environment that maximizes your potential for recovery.  The new environment is key though.  It's so important to change it up in your life sometimes.  I have a friend that loves to change up her house furniture arrangements.  I swear I will go to her house one day and be blown away by her decor and then a week later I will return to be blown away again.  She loves to switch it up. During a rough time in my life, she began to encourage me to switch somethings up in my environment.  I didn't immediately take...

There are some songs that I love simply because of the memories they bring back to me.  I remember spending time with a family member, and it was my first time as an adult spending time at their home.  I got to know their spouse better and I ended up spending more time with them then I did with my actual family member.  We had a great time.  We watched movies, we ate good food and we talked.  This person began to open up and share some beautiful things about their relationship. I could have listened to them share their experiences all night--and I sorta did.  Before we knew it hours had went by and it was too late for me to leave so it was decided that I would stay the night and plans were made for a big breakfast and more chatting.  I went to sleep tired but content and hopeful because I went to sleep full of beautiful love stories. Well before morning came, I was woken up by loud music.  Anita Baker's "No One In The World" was playing loudly and...

Silly: The song my momma made me stop listening to. Before Beyonce sung about being "Crazy in Love", Deniece Williams wrote a song called "Silly."  She sung about feeling foolish in love-feeling silly.  I had this song on repeat for days.  I know I was in middle school, maybe 6th grade, possible 7th grade, but I heard it on the radio- V101.5 at that time it was a radio station that played ole skool Jamz.  One day I heard it and the lyrics resonated with me.   I was middle school heartbroken, but it was serious.  I'd filled up my journal with written tears for a boy that I felt foolish to feel anything over (story of my life.)  I don't know what it is about discovering a song that makes you feel like it was written for you that it makes you want to play it on repeat all day. Why do we do that?  Why do we listen to a sad song when we are sad?  Believe it or not, scientists have asked this question and claim they have an answer.  They ...