#MusicMonday: We Can Thank Stevie Wonder for MLK Day

I was tempted to just let MLK come and go, like any other day. But, a video interview of George Lucas changed my mind. Lucas was struggling to explain why it was so difficult to get support for his most recent film Red Tails, which features an all black cast. It was obvious that the lack of a prominent white actor was a major hindrance to the advancement of what looks like a very promising film. “Really?” I thought to myself, “In 2012?” Yeah. I know that all people groups have their struggles and privileges—today is the day I’m challenged to not take Dr. King’s dream for granted. America is still divided by lines of color. It’s only appropriate to celebrate the progress we’ve made, and to remember that we still have a long way to go. I think sometimes people mistake the song above as just the “Black People Version” of Happy Birthday; but it was actually a part of Stevie Wonder’s campaign to make Martin Luther King’s Birthday a national holiday—a testimony that even artists can use their gifts to effect real change in the world. Thank you, Dr. King. Thank you, Stevie Wonder.

Happy Dreary Monday

Before I tell you about that phone call, I have a confession to make:

My priorities are so outta’ wack…

I’ve been trippin’ over this online music competition on OurStage.com because “Tell Me About Your Day” somehow made it into the top 10 Soul songs for this month. I’ve been tweeting non-stop about it trying to get people to go and vote between now and Wednesday so I could possibly win the grand prize and get my music career a little jump start. 

I held down the #1 spot all weekend, but this morning began the semi-finals and I seem stuck at #8. 

The crazy thing is: I actually care. I feel like so much is at stake in this competition that I actually found myself a little discouraged as an artist when no one seemed to be responding to my tweets. I thought “if my music isn’t good enough to ride to the top, then I should just give up”. And there may be some truth in that but…REALLY? I’m gonna’ let a largely unknown internet competition make that great of a decision for my life? 

A little while later I was on the phone with someone I care for a great deal. I can’t tell you all of the details because it was such a personal convo, but I can tell you this person was having a VERY rough time; which explains why we hadn’t spoken in a while. You know what they told me? They told me that one of my songs was one of the only things that was helping through this dark time, then they thanked me for writing it, and told me that I’ve been helping them, even though I’m no where near them geographically and we haven’t spoken - all through a song.

…

…

I have to remember that many music legends didn’t win competitions and got booed off stage. Many great artists were never praised during their time. But most of all, this artist thing is not about praise and recognition. It’s that ONE person who says, “thanks, you’re music has touched me.” It’s that person that matters. I don’t even want to say the name of the song they were talking about because I reeeeaally want to protect their identity.

So thank you-you know who you are-because today you helped me.

Now I need to go get my apartment in order, pay rent, and do my taxes. :-)

- dre