And favorite things…

Aretha Franklin: I don’t remember the first time I ever heard her sing. All I know is that when I’m listening to her channel those heart stopping wails, the sound is being carried to a place inside my cells that’s been around a lot longer than I have. My soul sheds happy tears of joy with a sweet ache. I am grateful to her for all the reasons I am grateful for life.

The Beatles: When I got home from school and settled in on the dining room table to do my homework, I’d put on a Beatles album and see how accurate I could do my algebra while singing along. To this day, I know all the words to all the Beatles songs – however I don’t remember much about algebra.

Paul Simon: My first CD I ever owned was Paul Simon’s Graceland. Having been used to the wonderful, scratchy analog of vinyl, I was mesmerized by the mind piercing clean of digital. I would lie in between the speakers for hours.

Stevie Wonder: I’ve never been able to wrap my head around the genius of his musical world. His songs dance from my reach, laughing, mocking. I’ll always run foolishly behind hoping to catch a glimpse into his secrets. Maybe I’d learn more if I could just stop singing and dancing long enough to understand. But I’m afraid that’s impossible.

Cat Stevens: Simple and perfect.

Fiona Apple: Singing along with her gave me courage to be pissed off, sound vulnerable and not give as much of a sh*t. All great attributes for a performer and a human being. She showed me how to channel a jazz vocal through an eclectic production of earthy electronica. I have so much yet to learn.

Jamie Lidell: One day my Music partner Rithma asked me if I’d heard the new Jamie Lidell album, “Multiply”. He was surprised when I said I’d never heard any of his albums… I can be VERY ignorant about electronic music. But I had been introduced to this artist when he had decided to take a complete 180 with his style from traditional electronica to the deepest R&B soul. The funky, layered harmonies were so sumptuous I’d never dreamed they’d be allowed or even possible. I can’t listen enough like a thirst that’s never quenched.

Jill Scott: Ultimate power, perfection and vulnerability all in one. She has a natural openness with sexuality that comes across with deep, raw beauty. She doesn’t whine about it – she flaunts her ability to be in complete control of the situation while letting him know he’s lucky to be a part of it. While I sing with Jill, I really have to visualize that I have no boundaries in my body – that the force can move through me like a fierce gale in a wind tunnel. If I have half her power one day, I’ll be happy.

Radiohead: “Where the Hell have you been!?” was the reaction I got when I told someone I’d never heard a Radiohead song. Even though I was having a terrible conversation with an assh*le that was trying to pick up on me, all bad feelings were forgotten when I finally escaped his company and went to listen to my first Radiohead song off of “Amnesiac”. This group’s vision oozed from their pours and formed the most truthful sound I’d ever heard. I thank them for giving commercialism the finger.

Ray Charles: He breaks my heart. When I found out of his passing, I cried.

Yes: Some bands take you on a journey to a couple of different worlds in one song. This band takes you to several different universes, not to mention dimensions in the span of five minutes. I guess that’s what happens when you get a few musical geniuses together and give them toys with infinite possibilities.