Just Because I Felt Like It: D'Angelo & the Vanguard on "SNL"

D'angelo is back!!! After shocking his fans with a surprise album in December, D'Angelo has been on a roll. He was the musical guest last night on "SNL." He performed "Really Love" which is a personal favorite of mine as well as "The Charade." What is so important about his second performance is just about everything. His band, the Vanguard, all rocked "I Can't Breathe" and "Black Lives Matter" tees. There was a chalk outline of a body on the floor where D'Angelo performed. "The Charade" is one of the most politically charged songs on "Black Messiah." They ended the performance with one of their fists raised in the air which is the symbol for Black power. All of this occurred after 12 so it was essentially February 1st & the beginning of Black History Month. This was poignant and calculated and greatness. It became a topic on all social media. Everyone was talking about it. D'Angelo made a statement and we all got it. We matter period. I love this. J. Cole took a stand on Letterman by performing his Mike Brown ode "Be Free" as did Joey Bada$$ on Fallon by ending his performance with his hands up. I really love my people. Both of D'Angelo's SNL performance's are here. Get into them.

"Crawling through a systematic maze

And it pains to demise

Pain in our eyes

Strain of drownin', wading into your lies

Degradation so loud that you can't hear the sound of our cries

All the dreamers have gone to the side of the road which we will lay on

Inundated by media, virtual mind fucks in streams

All we wanted was a chance to talk

'Stead we only got outlined in chalk

Feet have bled a million miles we've walked

Revealing at the end of the day, the charade..."

Get Into It: "Black Messiah"

It's been almost 15 years since D'Angelo (And The Vanguard) blessed us with a new project "Black Messiah." It's been almost 15 years too long since we heard his melodic tone. I've decided that this was a birthday gift for me. I have been a lifelong fan. His music has always been an experience for me. I couldn't wait to dig into this "Black Messiah" project. I listened to it early this morning. I was pleasantly surprised with every single track. It's an effortless flow of songs that speak to me. It is the perfect follow up to "Voodoo." It has that same funk era feel that made "Voodoo" so classic to me. There isn't one song that I dislike. My standout early favorites are "Another Life," "Really Love," "Betray My Heart," and "1000 Deaths." Those are the four that I've played the most today. D'Angelo sounds amazing on these tracks. 

 The above video has the whole project on it. It is also available on itunes and you can stream it for free on Spotify. I cannot stop playing it. It has been the soundtrack to my Monday and second full day of being 35. This is grown folks music at its best. I just know that this project will sound amazing with a live band in concert. Whenever he goes on tour, I will be there. I love the very earthly feels of "Black Messiah." It feels like home. It's odd how something so new can still feel old and very familiar. I love that he took the Beyonce' approach a full year after her with this surprise release. We all knew D'Angelo was working on new music but none of us had any idea when or if we would get it. This project is a gift that I am fully prepared to enjoy for weeks to come. If you are an old fan, you will deeply enjoy this. If you are new to D'Angelo, this is a great introduction. Get into everything that is D'Angelo and the Vanguard's "Black Messiah." It's worth it. 

Ladies Love Lyrics: Lauryn Hill & D'Angelo "Nothing Even Matters"

There are some songs that just stay with you. Lauryn and D'Angelo's "Nothing Even Matters" is definitely one of those tracks. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is full of songs that will always mean something to me. I loved the soulful combination of their voices on a track. It is the epitome of a great love song. I do believe that this just may be my favorite track on the cd. It is timeless and classic in my book. This song used to make me really hopeful about finding, getting, and deserving a love like that. I used to think to be so in love like that nothing or no one else matters must be a wonderful thing. I am glad to say that I now know that it is :) Enjoy this relatively new throwback track!

[Lauryn]
Now the skies could fall
Not even if my boss should call
The world it seems so very small
Cause nothing even matters at all
See nothing even matters
See nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all

[D'Angelo]
See I don't need no alcohol
Your love makes me feel ten feet tall
Without it I'd go through withdrawal
Cause nothing even matters, at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
No-thing matters at all

[Lauryn]
These buildings could drift out to sea
Some natural catastrophe
Still there's no place I'd rather be
Cause nothing even matters to me
See nothing even matters
See nothing even matters to meee
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me

[D'Angelo]
You're part of my identity
I sometimes have a tendency
to look at you religiously
Cause nothing even matters, to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even mat-ters
Said it don't matter, baby baby
Don't matter

[Lauryn]
Now you won't find me at no store
I have no time for manicures
With you it's never either or
Cause nothing even matters, no more
See nothing it don't matter
See nothing even mahhh-ahhhters no more
Nothing even mahh-ters
Nothing even matters no more