Tag: 2016

[Thoughts] That Is SOoo Last Year

Greetings fellow bloggers! If you are reading this you are already aware that the Creator has given us another year! Another chance to become better homo-sapiens. Another chance to spread more love is right around the corner from us all!

2016 was a shocker year for me, mostly because of the mass panic occurring on monumental levels anytime ANYTHING  was addressed in media. Donald Trump won the presidency and people literally were trying to flee the country. Side note: My prayer is that people don’t put so much faith in government this year.My prayer is that we wake up from being clones controlled by consumerism and politics this year. George Michael joined Prince and David Bowie in the sky and I wept for the future of music.Is there a bright side somewhere?

Last year was eventful to say the least, but I’m not one to complain constantly and forget that there is always much to be grateful for. After all, the entire year wasn’t a bust was it? I had some good times: My sister got married, my brother got engaged, my health started making a turn for the better, my parents are doing well, and my pockets aren’t as empty as usual. All in all a win! Hey, Metallica even dropped an album, so why aren’t we rejoicing?!I was going to do a list of my favorite albums of 2016, but I figured I would combine afew of my favorite things of 2016 in one post. So hereeeeee weee goooooo!!

Favorite Concert:

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Leon Bridges with Lianne La Havas

Great Times at The Wolf Trappe in Vienna,Virginia! If you have paid me and this blog ANY MIND AT ALL over the past few years, you will know that I’m completely in love with Ms. La Havas and her finger picking style. The songstress mesmerized her audience from The Wolf Trappe’s outdoor theater setup and I just wanted to die! I quickly turned into a stan as I sang along with her word for word and was sad to see her go. Mr. Bridges was headlining, but its only a matter of time before I get to see Ms. La Havas doing the same.

Other concerts I liked last year: Lit, Everclear, Sugar Ray, Bush, 98 Degrees,

Favorite Reads:

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Anna Kendrick- Scrappy Little Nobody

Ha! I was waiting for this come out all year. The book was more of a semi-autobiographical essay book of Kendrick’s thoughts and rise to fame. She comes across as a down to earth, witty, intelligent chick who works hard in an industry we don’t know a whole lot about. Very well done Kendrick! Also, I’m kinda pissed at you that I had to google ‘dolphin rape.’ We now know that we know nothing!

Other books I liked last year: Iron Goddess A Shea Stevens Thriller by Dharma Kelleher

Favorite Album:

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Esperanza Spalding-Emily’s D+Evolution

I’m honestly SHOCKED  that this album wasn’t in everybody’s top 10 albums of the year! Ms. Spalding introduced us to Emily, her younger alter-ego, who had many existential questions but teetered some of my own thoughts exactly. On top of it all, I would say Ms. Spalding was being experimental in sound, but it soon became clear in listening, that she is just a musical genius and I am late to the party. Bravo! Emily’s D+ Evolution was unlike anything I’d heard on radio last year and I hope she keeps the good tunes flowing. The first time I heard Good Lava, I almost cried because it was the perfect of ever sound I ever needed to hear, but couldn’t put into words. Yessuh!

Other albums I really liked last year: Bruno Mars-24k Magic, Robert Glasper-Everything’s Beautiful, Corrine Bailey Rae- The Heart Speaks In Whispers, Metallica- Hardwired…To Self Destruct

Check me out on twitter: @DropaJewel @Dropapost

 

 

{Thoughts} Is This The Beginning of The End?

December 2016 is upon us. A wise man once asked: Is this the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end? The words of Ozzy Osbourne ring true as 2016, as we know it, is coming to a close. So much has happened over the last 11 months and it makes me wonder how to end this year with a bang. Unarmed Blacks are still being killed in record numbers all across the Unites States. The Presidential election was no doubt the talk of the year. We lost come of our most influential musicians of all time. Some of us lost friends/family and loved ones who were just answering the call to transition from this realm. Some of us fell short of reaching our goals this year. Whether to lose weight, exercise more, save money, stop smoking, or live debt free…this year was interesting to say the least.

But if you are reading this…there is still time. There is still hope.

If you are reading this, you are a living breathing organism existing in the present. As long as there is breath in your body, you have an opportunity to be the change you would like to see in the world. I’ve often said that 2016 was a year to realize that we need more love and compassion for each other. So what will 2017 offer?