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Best Love Songs Ever Recorded (Part 1)

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : February 11, 2013
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Category: Music Monday

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there will be plenty of chocolates, last-minute gifts, hearts and notes that read, “Do you like me?….circle yes or no”. If you’re reading this and above middle school age, hopefully you’re not guilty of the latter gesture. But there’s one thing we can’t forget…the music. There are plenty of love songs out there, but I’ve made a list of the cream of the love crop (in my opinion). These 10 songs are the most vivid depictions of the good, not so good, best and breathtaking moments of love. This will be a 2 part blog in which there will be 5 songs each that are revealed. Makes sure to come back later today for the complete list and the rounding out of the top 10.

10. Jill Scott/BOOMscat: Cross My Mind

Jill Scott 1

“I was just thinking about you”. Jill Scott has a way of making the simplest of statements and concepts mesmerizing. She reminisces about a past lover and takes the listener through her see saw emotions of calling, not calling, smiling and being disgusted. By the time the song ends, she never picks up the phone to pour it these explicit thoughts racing through her mind and concludes that they were just oil and water from the start. Classic. Make sure to check out BOOMscat’s version of “Cross My Mind” at the link below. I must admit, I’m skeptical of anyone touching a Jill Scott song. But the duo pulls off this cover extremely well and even adds a bit of their own flavor.

Check out the BOOMscat rendition here (a mashup of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and Jill Scott’s “Cross My Mind”)

9. Mary J. Blige: I’m In Love

Mary J Blige 1

Mary J Blige is an artist whose pain always seems to overshadow even her greatest of celebrations. “I’m In Love”, lifted from the 1999 Mary album, proves why she’s 20 plus years strong in the music business and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. Lyrically, this song is honest, pure and straight to the point. Musically, the track is smooth enough to listen to on its own. Her tone is even a bit melancholy here….but she says she’s in love and it sounds very believable.  ”Feeling you/There is nothing I won’t do….I’m in love”.

8. Earth Wind & Fire: Would You Mind

Earth wind and fire

This is a feel good, innocent love song that proves you don’t have to be raunchy to make a point. Although this song isn’t as big as “Reasons” or “September”, it’s probably my favorite from this classic R & B group. The production and the vocals are timeless and this is definitely a love song to put on repeat.

7. R. Kelly: You Remind Me of Something

R Kelly

Who else can compare a woman to a jeep and they feel honored? If anybody can do it, leave it up to R. Kelly. In perhaps the most lyrically creative love song series (this song birthed “Ignition” years later and its remix), only he can get away with singing, “You remind me of my jeep/I wanna ride it”. As one of the most versatile artists of his kind (think “Half On A Baby” vs. “I Believe I Can Fly”),  R. Kelly has had a lot of negative press in recent years but you can’t deny his musical genius whether you like him or not.

6. P!nk: The Great Escape

pink black

Many of Pink’s initial fan base feels that she sold out her R & B roots (her first CD Can’t Take Me Home was pure R & B/Pop), for a more gritty, Rock inspired sound. But those vocal chords have always been here. “The Great Escape” is featured on her most recent release, The Truth About Love and is perhaps the most vulnerable song on the album. I actually favor the Pink that emerged after her first album. The song comes from a selfish point of view from someone who always runs away, but challenges their lover not to.

 

 

When Drunk Dialing Goes Wrong

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : September 26, 2012
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Category: WTH?! Wednesday

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There are many things that parents use their kids for. Maybe to get them the remote from the couch, wash dishes or go buy groceries. But what happens when the child plays the role of the parent and tells them no? Well in the case of 56-year-old Robert Hagerman, this is exactly what happened. This Florida dad, who has inebriated beyond belief, asked his daughter to guy buy him some beer and she refused. There’s no indication of how old the daughter is, but she was a smart woman. Her dad obviously had gone way past his legal limit. But what she probably didn’t expect was for him to call the police on her.

Robert Hagerman dialed 911 (after reportedly calling just the day before for over 50 times) repeatedly and told police how his daughter was on drugs and she was beating him. Apparently, while all these calls were going on, his daughter was recording them on her cell phone for proof of his insane behavior. When the police finally did arrive, Hagerman was charged with filing a false report with the police. Hmmm….and that’s the only charge he got? WTH?! I’m not condoning anyone’s arrest or trouble with the law, but it seems like their attitude was very lackadaisical about this whole situation. After arriving at the house after several irate calls, something should have clicked to go check this out and find out what’s going on. But who knows? Maybe that neighborhood is a high crime rate and they just don’t have time for dads with booze (or the lack thereof). I’m still really curious of how old this man’s daughter is. I’m assuming that she’s over 25 years old, but she must have incredible patience. That police report could have been filed with her hitting him over the head with one of the beers….I’m just saying, lol. Thankfully no violence was involved though, which was good. The humorous part about it though is that Hagerman called the police and he ended up getting arrested. SMH. He would have been better off just calling them and asking for a 6 pack.

What would you do in this situation? Were the police too calm about the situation? Is the dad well within his rights to demand his booze?

Inmates Serving Hot Plates?

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : September 12, 2012
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Category: Uncategorized

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It’s 5:00 pm and you’re stuck in rush hour traffic. All you can think about is what’s for dinner. You don’t feel like cooking, so you scan all of the nearby restaurants in your head. Luby’s? Not fun enough. Taco Bell? Not healthy enough. Ruth’s Chris? Too fancy. The Clink Cymru…complete with delicious cuisine prepared by inmates???? WTH?! This is just what’s about to happen at Cardiff Prison in Wales, UK. Award-winning chef Alberto Crisci. All dishes are prepared and served by inmates…inside the prison. Gone are the days of nasty prison food. These inmates have skills in the kitchen and are ready to prove it to willing customers.

Here’s what Alberto Crisci had to say about this risky business: “We want to try and stand on our own two feet as a dining experience and be seen not as competition by other restaurants, but as a sort of recruitment agency so prisoners can go on to find work in quality establishment, develop pride and motivation and provide well for themselves and their families.” The mantra of the restaurant is quality food, with no gimmicks. The Clink Cymru will have its grand opening exactly one week from today on September 19, 2012. It will be fully staffed with 30 inmates who will be paid £14 (Approximately $22.50) for a 40 hour work week. Oddly enough, sex offenders are the only inmates not allowed to seek employment here. But those who are eligible must have between 6 and 18 months left to serve on their sentence. The Clink is actually the second restaurant of its kind after HMP (Her Majesty’s Prison Service) High Down in Surrey.

Several red flags were raised when I first read this article. First of all, people can deal with an open secret, but how many people will really go to a restaurant where they know for sure prisoners are serving their food? More than likely, murderers, thieves, and sex offenders have all served us food at a restaurant before, but we really don’t know so that makes it easier to deal with. After all, everyone deserves a second chance right? But what happens if one of the workers gets upset and decides to take a knife to a customer??? The inmates are chosen as Category D, those least likely to escape or pose high risks. Hmmm…. Plus, even though a world renown chef owns the place, how much training has been done to make sure the employees can actually cook? Surely, Alberto Crisci isn’t preparing all the meals himself.

The Clink Cymru will only be open for breakfast and lunch. I’m sure dinner wasn’t an initial thought, since the night could provide an easier getaway for prisoners. Could you see yourself eating dinner at a restaurant like this?

Quiet The N.O.I.S.E.

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : September 7, 2012
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Category: Uncategorized

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I love going to the movies. If it weren’t for the expensive cost of movie tickets, I probably would go every weekend, provided there was something I wanted to see. No matter what movie or theater you’re in, you will always see an ad or commercial to keep quiet during the movie. Life is a lot like being in a theater. There’s action, drama, violence, romance, comedy and even horror. But we’ll never understand life (or movies) if we don’t quiet the N.O.I.S.E. When our mind’s aren’t probably focused on the featured presentation before, we can misconstrue the plot and miss important aspects of the film.

One of the noisiest, self-destructive emotions we can ever display in life is insecurity. Insecurity is extremely dangerous for this very reason: Not Operating In Security is Exhausting. In a sense you can say insecurity = N.O.I.S.E. Do you really want to keep up all that ruckus in your life? The funny thing is people usually associate insecurity in romantic relationships only. But it goes so much further than that. Insecurity can keep you from reaching your dreams, supporting those around you and living your life to the fullest.

Have you ever been guilty of being insecure (don’t all raise your hands at once)? I know I have. Let’s all remember to quiet that noise of insecurity so that we don’t miss any important details in life.

Check out the recent poem I wrote below, called “In Security”. Let me know what you think about it.

In Security

Somebody please take these

Handcuffs off of me

With urgency

It’s an emergency

My bitterness, my lust

My analytical mistrust

Is what’s got me traveling

Through this confusing intra-state of mind

A rebel against the limits of reciprocity

I don’t really mean it

So you should understand me

And search within the core

That’s where you’ll find the best of me

Never mind the jagged edges along the way

Because the way to love is pain

As this metal begins to scrape against my veins

This ignorance ain’t bliss

Cause after several failed attempts

I’m that hopeless penny with not one

But two holes in it

You see I never really learned

That the way to love is gained

By none of the actions I exhibited

Uninhibited acts of jealousy on the left wrist

And premeditated malice on the right

If I could just get these handcuffs off me

Maybe I could teach myself to sleep at night

But because I didn’t operate in security

By rationalizing events ever so insecurely

I failed to realize that surely

Love is never a sense of stable instability

The sirens are coming closer

Somebody call security