Have You Seen My Childhood?

I wanted to find a UNIQUE title for my blog about Heavy D's passing. I am sure plenty of people wished him a Peaceful Journey & said they had Nothin But Love for him. I wanted something that said a lot more. As soon as I found out he passed I called J. As I was waiting for her to answer, my mouth was hanging open in complete & utter disbelief. I couldn't understand WHY I was taking it SO HARD. Once J & I started talking, she pinpointed it. Our childhood was dying or being killed off. Dying in the literal sense that people that we adored  as children have died, but being killed off in a more figurative sense with all these remakes of things that were classics from my childhood.

The DJ on the "oldies" station that now plays music from MY era played a mix of Heavy D's music & it was all SIGNIFICANT in my childhood memories. Suddenly I started to feel  like a childhood friend died!

I thought about Peaceful Journey, which I couldn't even listen to yesterday. But I remember how I was so sad when I found out his dancer Trouble T-roy died. I recorded They Reminisce Over You from the radio & sat down at my desk to transcribe the words which I posted on my wall next to the Heavy D & The Boyz picture I tore out of Right On or Word Up Magazine I refused to take down for 2 years. Peaceful Journey didn't get as much spin on the radio that I can remember, but I remember hearing it a few times though I never caught  it on tape. It did not escape me yesterday that Peaceful Journey was dedicated to the memory of Troy and used an MJ sample (The Jacksons more accurately) & performed by Heavy D. All of these people are now gone.

I thought about how deeply entrenched Heavy D was in so much of what I enjoyed. From A Different World, to In Living Color, to Living Single, to Boston Public he was on my tv for YEARS. From The Cider House Rules, to Life, to this month's Tower Heist he was in my movies. And I am just beginning to realize how much of the artists I enjoyed over the years he produced- Summer Rain by Carl Thomas, the Candy Rain album by Soul For Real still gets played in its entirety on road trips just to name a FEW.

Over the years, he managed to remain relevant and positive. I don't recall hearing any scandals involving him. And everyone I know who has met him said he was a good guy. He seemed to have avoided the pitfalls of hip-hop stardom and lived a life worth celebrating. Even though he was an artist from my generation,  people's MOTHERS were upset about the news. I know my mom LOVED him, especially on Boston Public one of the few shows she and i watched together.  While I am no longer tearing up as I was for most of the night last night, I am still saddened and deeply affected by this death.  RIP Mr. Myers!



WHERE is the Next Musical Genius!??!

Does ANYONE play an instrument anymore?
Can anyone sit down with a pen & pad & write POETRY & put it to music?

Where is the next musical genius?
How many of these artists being lauded today can IDENTIFY instrument and walk up to it & play it?Excluding a beat machine...

With Usher claiming he is the successor to MJ (NOT!) and Kanye being compared to Quincy (and Quincy HOLLERING: I don't THINK so!), where is the next big thing that is accelerated to the top by more than a always-in-your-face PR campaign, a wind machine & a constant reminder of them being great?

Prince plays over 20 instruments... How many artists out today can NAME 20 ACTUAL instruments?

I am clearly disgusted with what is passing for popular music, partially increased by the fact that I am listening to Hot 99.5 right now & Ursher is whinnying thru this song. I need the old days back when ONLY Roger was using a vocorder! And only rappers performed in concert with a DJ! *sigh*

I need the REAL singer/songwriters to please STAND  UP!