Music Break: Solange Knowles "Losing You"

Beyonce Knowles-Carter is a brilliant performer but her sister Solange has, in my opinion, has become a style icon, talented writer, and a conceptual artist. Her lyrical content is honest. She tells stories that could happen to anyone but the way she pairs her stories with music video treatments adds a different dimension. Often I want to to join in on the fun I see on-screen. Comparatively, her appeal isn't as broad as her older sister's but I think she' quite comfortable with that; which makes me like her more. She's the odd girl in the back of the class who doesn't seek attention but gets it anyway.

A blog could be created solely focusing on her fashion sense. She invented color-blocking (well, that's probably a stretch). Her thrift store couture and adventurous coifs are ahead of her time. Her most recent single "Losing You" barely shows her expansive vocal range but the melody invites you to memorize the chorus before the second verse hits.

Back to the video tho, its' a composite of shots taken seemingly in an African nation that features well-dressed, dapper men posing in HBCU drum major-like fashions as candid frames of on-lookers are intertwined in the production. It's like watching a music video and the behind the scenes footage at the same time. Nothing new necessarily, many artists have had similar styles but the quirkiness of Solange's "dancing" makes my heart happy. Never taking herself too seriously she adds movements that are lighthearted and playful; but my favorite nuance is that her calmer self consistently shines in brief flashes of cinematography. (So, it's obvious that I'm a big fan by now -right?)

I look forward to Solange's upcoming projects and hope that she just the much due recognition (GRAMMY NOM -at least) that she deserves.

And All I Ever Wanted Was...

...the tall, strong, revolutionary type
whose first mission was his family.

I could have known him once or twice
but I never acknowledged his presence
cause all i ever wanted was to know he existed
I could never imagine him
climbing into my reality

Now its hard to separate
fact from fiction
can't remember what actions to hold myself accountable for
and all I ever wanted was
a house with seven children
all named after black pioneers
jazz music and hip hop simmering in the background
me kissing him like I did when we first fell
wreaths on the front door
arms outstretched

all I ever wanted was
a dreamer to dream with
and a partner to build reality
someone's hand to hold
if the world ever ends
someone who makes me smile

all I ever wanted was
charismatic militance
dark effervescence
discomforting freedom
brilliant imperfection

short poem about situations i cant control

I fear for them

sometimes i think they were born at the end of a dream
like seconds after they screamed their first breath into this world

the lights came on

and the party was over

100 Questions

1.) Who is God?
2.) What is my purpose in life?
3.) Who am I?
4.) Am I loved?
5.) Is my life aligned with my purpose?
6.) Who can I be honest around?
7.) What are my long-term goals?
8.) Will I be disappointed in myself if I don't have children?
9.) Will I be disappointed if I never marry?
10.) Am I clingy?
11.) Do I own up to my mistakes?
12.) How can I save more money?
13.) Am I a good friend?
14.) Will I be a good partner?
15.) Am I growing up?
16.) Is anything I'm doing brand new?   <--bullshit question
17.) Am I grateful?
18.) Do the people who matter most know that they matter?
19.) What makes me happy?
20.) Am I level-headed?
21.) Do i dream too much?
22.) Why do I create fantasies for myself?
23.) Am I the best I can be?
24.) Do I embrace growth?
25.) Do I know who I am?
26.) Do I know what I want out of life?
27.) Am I living?
28.) What am I good at?
29.) Do I nurture my relationships?
30.) Do I have a defeatist attitude?
31.) Do i know how valuable I am?
32.) Do I over-think my actions?
33.) Am I present?
34.) Am I honest with myself?
35.) Do I know my strength?
36.) What are my expectations of others?
37.) Do i have the right set of role models?
38.) Who are my role models?
39.) Am I stubborn?
40.) Why am I a community planner?
41.) Why do I act nonchalant about things that matter to me?
42.) Am I a brat?
43.) How am I growing?
44.) Am I naive?
45.) Do I present myself with class?
46.) Do I act with confidence?
47.) Am I too vulnerable?
48.) How can I achieve balance?
49.) What makes me feel strong?
50.) Do I acknowledge my accomplishment?
51.) Do I speak my mind?
52.) Have I been paying attention?
53.) Do I embrace intimacy?
54.) Do I look up to Drag Queens too often?
55.) What am I passionate about?
56.) What is love?
57.) How can I reach my full potential?
58.) What am I afraid of?
59.) How can I tell people how they make me feel in a way that is valuable to both parties?
60.) Why do I seek attention?
61.) Who do I seek attention from?
62.) Do I make it difficult to be intimate with me?
63.) What is the root of my self-esteem issues?
64.) Why have I closed off my ability to get close to men for so long?
65.) Am I more than I think I am?
66.) In what ways have I undervalued myself?
67.) What makes me a good friend?
68.) What positive traits would I bring to a relationship?
69.) How much should I care about how others see me?
70.) Why do i allow myself to get trapped in useless thoughts?
71.) What is my deepest fear?
72.) How do I make the world a better place?
73.) What do people remember about me?
74.) Do others enjoy my company?
75.) What can I change about the way people treat me?
76.) What song best describes me?
77.) If I were a color, which color would I be?
78.) Are my expectations attainable?
79.) What energy do I attract?
80.) Do people think I'm fragile?
81.) Do I think I'm fragile?
82.) Am I fulfilled?
83.) What do I live for?
84.) Do I acknowledge my beauty?
85.) What frightens me?
86.) What could I do with my life that I'm not currently doing?
87.) What brings me peace?
88.) How do I express gratitude?
89.) Am I honest?
90.) What part of myself do I give to others?
91.) What habits should I give up?
92.) How could I make more money?
93.) What are my talents?
94.) What would make me smile more?
95.) Who am I becoming?
96.) Do I control my future?
97.) What do I see when I look in the mirror?
98.) Do I feel safe in my fantasy world?
99.) Can I handle honesty?
100.) Where do I see myself in 3 years?