When chatting to a good friend on new year’s day, I asked how her daughter was, and at first, it seemed that the question had dampened her spirits.
“Darius, she’s in secondary school now”, was the subdued answer and it was quickly followed by a resigned “Dude – it’s official, we’re old”.
But even after we both cracked out laughing, the thought lingered and you begin to take stock. I guess that the main change in my life over the last several years is that some things have become more important than others and you tend to prioritize better and focus on what’s important. What hasn’t changed though is the ability for nostalgia to hit you hard enough to make you home sick especially with the sub zero temperatures and snow storms that box you in the house and makes you ask that dreaded “what am I really doing here” question.
It made me think of the good old days growing up and enjoying some of the simplest and most cherishable moments life will ever present.
Don’t know about some readers up in here, but there were times when 5 bob could take you a long long way back in the day. My dad used to give us 5 bob a day and that would cover bus fare to and from school, a soda and a snack of some sort (usually quarter bread bandika) for lunch, and you’d still have left over change to buy roast maize with pili pili or patcos to carry you through the evening.
Long before the advent of satellite TV with over 20 exclusive movie channels, local entertainment back then was fronted by public service open air movie services like Tazama Mobile Cinema pitched up in an open field once a month to bring to you the blockbuster of the day. They had this strange habit though, of commentating the movie as it went on in a manner that was as equally funny as it was annoying.
Speaking of entertainment, there were classic shows that would definitely be in my DVD collection right now – From Vioja Mahakamani and the comical antics of the residents of Matopeni, to Vitimbi and the real celebrities like Othorong’ong’o and Masanduku (forget all these latter day celebs who think they’re celebs because…well, anything makes you a celeb these days). There were shows like Tushauriane that were banned outright because they showed a couple embracing and the chap started unblousing the girl. Or even the days when we didn’t have mobile phones and you had to walk a kilometre to the nearest phone box where there was a massive queue of all manner of people – and you’d be mad when your ‘girlfriend to be’ plays hard to get and pulls that stunt of asking you to call later because she’s watching No One But You or The Rich Also Cry. The ungrateful heifer – after all those hours you’ve waited in line to make that call….LOL!
In the 1988 documentary film Michael Jackson- The Legend Continues, the narrator, actor James Earl Jones, aptly describes the fascination and mystique about Michael Jackson’s collective body of performances as a “Presentation of Showtime”. The only argument that can be levelled against this description of Michael Jackson is that his whole life was a presentation of Showtime, and not just the magic he unleashed on stage or through his signature vocals that brought to life his music that continues to transcend generations of millions of fans around the world.
It’s hard to truly appreciate both the magnetism and the reality of such a statement until you personally experience the magic of an individual who has most definitely earned the right to be considered the greatest entertainer on earth. Not many people had the privilege of witnessing in person, the phenomenon that is “Whacko Jacko”, and for those who did, they will continue to bear witness to a magnificent talent and a consummate professional who despite being deeply troubled, arguably gave up any semblance of a normal life to provide the world with the gift of music that is destined to be immortal in its truest sense.
What can you say about such a person? The first thing that comes to mind for me is the sadness this brings and the profound irony that in death, Michael Jackson is literally uniting the world as hundreds of millions of fans and non-fans alike from all corners of the world, mourn the passing of the greatest superstar we will ever know, yet Michael died a very sad, lonely and broken man.
A lot has been written out there about every aspect of the saga of Michael’s life and death, and as a shameless fan of the man and his music, I would be lying if I said I haven’t been affected by his demise. Perhaps there’s nothing as therapeutic as expressing in my own words, my experiences and how the man, his life and his music influenced me. Call it my own little Stone Cold tribute to the enigma that is Whacko Jacko!
Seeing that folks are all getting lovey dovey and using every excuse under the sun to try and get some for Valentines day, I thought it might be good to get into the groove with a love song selection – or as they call it in the maze plantation, shika shika time selection.
In no particular order…I hope you enjoy what I’d play for you and your partner if I was your DJ for tonight….
1. My my my by Mr. Johnny Gill
Without a doubt, one of the best talents of the legends of love music…and a nice strong voice to boot. We need another legend to take over from Luther Vandross so hope he permanently comes out of retirement. This song reminds me of many moons ago when my girlfriend at the time loved Johnny Gill so much she said it was so bad that she could cut his head off and put it in the freezer just so she could see him every day. Needless to say, we did part ways…LOL!
2. Have you ever by Brandy
What a voice? This young lady will top my list of all time favourite vocalists any time.
3. Rock me tonight (for old times sake) by Mr. Freddie Jackson
Now how can this song not do it for you. I tell you, panties have fallen around the world coz’ of this tune. Good ol’ Freddie.
4. He is by Heather Headley
Ladies, if you’ve got a good man who loves you, this song is one to dedicate to him. Make sure you’re singing the lyrics out loud to him if you want to stroke his ego…just for Valentines day only, otherwise he’ll get used to it.
5. For you by Kenny Lattimore
Definitely a contender for the Capital FM (Nairobi) “Lie like a man” gag….any guy who sings the lyrics of this song to a woman on Valentines day (as opposed to any other regular day) is probably lying like a nonsense…but hey, if it gets you into her panties (shrug) do what you have to do to make her happy on Valentines day.
6. I love me some him by Toni Braxton
Good ol’ Toni. Always dependable when it comes to unleashing some serious love songs. She’s got a dirty mind too if she wants to…but a good old fashioned slow jam to get you into the mood anyway.
7. Last night by Az Yet
Plucked right out of the Nutty Professor Soundtrack – without a doubt a song that doesn’t need explanation or one that masks intent with mob mooshy lyrics. It simply talks about being inside of you…go figure….And by the way, its intresting to note that President Obama’s “Chief of Stuff” (or his bodyman) has the same name Reggie Love, as Eddie Murphy’s alter ego in the Nutty Professor movie…but I digress. Last night it was.
8. Stroke you up by Changing faces
A favourite from back in the days of my mis-spent youth. Lots of memories from the days when R Kelly and Keith Sweat were in their element as producers…The sort of song that used to give guys boners hadharani.
9. Someone to love by Jon B featuring Babyface
Without a doubt one of my fav songs…and another one that reminds me of the more romantic days of my mis-spent youth and self perceived prowess with them of the fairer sex. A good tune to romance to.
10. Red light special by TLC
This song is just outright dirty…LOL! Decent enough if you’re not really paying attention – but with lyrics like “I’ll let you touch if you wanna go down, and I’ll let you go further if you take the south route”…yeah, further to the red light special – go figure.
Now if you don’t get laid with all these props on Valentines day…..Hhhhmmmm!
So I was scanning through the channels on TV late last night waiting for the news. I wouldn’t have naturally done this save for the commercials on the Sky Sports News Channel which I was avoiding like a nonsense.
Lo and behold, there was another reality TV disaster, this time in the form of the colourful heir head Paris Hilton, apparently hosting her own show to pick her next British Best friend. In my spirit of being an equal opportunity hater, I should state here that I had consigned similar reality shows like Tyra’s America’s next top model in the queue of the contenders for filing in the section between shit and syphilis. Paris here however, is challenging me to consider taking Tyra seriously and give her model show the benefit of the doubt.
I don’t have anything against Tyra or the many hosts of the woeful reality TV shows, its just that the whole frigging concept of subjecting desperate teenagers and young girls who want their 15 minutes of fame to some tired, questionable and subjective hoop jumping is a retarded concept. For one, these are more often than not vulnerable youngsters with the spot light thrust on them and probably end up more traumatized at the end of the show for having exposed themselves so badly without even realising it. Secondly, I’m yet to actually see the fruition of the vanity of the experience of the show. Pray tell someone, do these folks actually get anywhere in life afterwards – in their chosen career path anyway?
I guess I was just intrigued of how ITV programming bosses are desperate for ideas or ratings they’d unleash Ms. Hilton to the British public. What happened in America??? Or rather, couldn’t ITV figure out American networks were never going to let this ‘Paris British Best Friend’ nonsense actually see the light of day?
And who are these girls who actually even involve their families in desperately pretending to be who they’re obviously not in order to win a prize to become Paris’ new best friend in Britain….LOL! She must have pissed off Nicole Richie badly to need a screening show to pick another party mate. And these British girls are actually crying out loud because they’re being booted off the show following a desperate rant and attempt by Paris to pull off the suspense of Donald Trump or Alan Sugar’s Apprentice firings.
You know, there’s a famous saying which suggests that its better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. Last night was a classic example of the application of this rule of common sense. But I guess sometimes its unreasonable to expect common sense to be a common characteristic.
It seems ages since I was last accused of being as old as a railway line (chuma ya reli) for unleashing an old school play list that brought my age to question. I thought this week, I’d relax with a few easy listening rock classics (yeah! I’m that way inclined sometimes)…so come rock with me.
1. Your beautiful by James Blunt
This is actually my wife’s favourite song. Maybe its her way of getting me to sing the lyrics to her time and time again…and believe me, the effort is worth the while each time round (if you catch my drift). I like the simplicity of the song though…nice and easy and very passionate.
2. Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
Just like with Mary, there’s something about this song that does it for me. In fact, I’ll go as far as saying its one of my all time favourite songs. Don’t know what it is, but perhaps its just Natalie, and especially those lips. I always believed she was a hit even as far back in her days on Neighbours (do folks still watch that show?), but I think its those lips. They’re just designed for action or as Apingo Nyawawa (long story) would say, they’re very nyonyarable…(and wipe that smirk off your face…LOL).
3. Always by Bon Jovi
Very few people will contest that Jon Bon Jovi deserves his legendary status in this wonderful world of rock music. This song is just one reason why. It’s the sort of song you’d love blasting out of the juke box (not too loud, but loud enough for you not to hear the next conversation), while you sit down on a stool by the bar counter contemplating how your day has been…And did I mention that cold pint of beer to go with it?
4. Give into me by Michael Jackson (shorter video clip)
Very rare occasions will beat the “I was there – once in a lifetime” moments that we experience, say for instance, President Obama’s inauguration as the first black resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or the funeral of Diana Princess of Wales. Me thinks that a good contender for a “I was there moment” is any Michael Jackson live concert. Granted, off the stage, he’s let’s just say, probably on his own galaxy…but on stage, the man deserves due respect for what he did on stage.
Give into me was one of them examples that I was lucky enough to see live as part of his UK Dangerous tour in 1992. I used to wonder how folks were stupid enough to lose the plot coz’ of a performing artist, but my answers came in the form of the 60 something year old grandfather boogying his ass off next to me at Wembley Arena…I didn’t even notice myself screaming….
This is the sort of song you blast full volume when you’re home alone on Saturday, walking around naked and doing some cleaning up while miming to the song…and when the neighbour peeks to confirm to himself if he’s seeing what he just thought he saw….you turn around facing him with the mop – imitating Slash playing that guitar while wearing that “WTF! smirk on your face)…LOL!
5. Ironic by Alanis Morissette
I remember this song intimately because of some dramas of my mis-spent youth. If there’s a dangerous thing to do, its walking into an Australian pub in London to watch Australia play New Zealand in rugby on big screen whilst wearing an All Blacks rugby Jersey. My mitigation was that my Kiwi mates Jimbo and Gary (who dared me to pull this off with them) were also as stupid as I was with their All Blacks Jerseys. Needless to say, the mighty All Blacks won the match and Jimbo, Gary and myself got away with having to perform like Alanis Morissette on tables (blame the alcohol) cheered on by a pub full of Aussies (talk about ironic). Good times those were – if only football fans were as civil as rugby fans.
6. Breakfast at Tiffanys by Deep Blue Something
This is one of them songs that just grows on you and before you know it, you find yourself singing the chorus at the top of your voice. Another pub classic that gets the lads and lasses thinking they’re rock stars after only a few pints. But its the kind of song that makes you not regret going to the pub on a Friday night.
7. More than words by Extreme
This song has kinda got that effect that Bob Marley’s Redemption song gives you. Nice, easy and simple, that’s what I’ve always loved about it. Just two geezers sitting down with a guitar and singing some deep stuff. Listen to this and tell me you don’t find this classic loveable. It’s the sort of song that gets other folks in a traffic jam turning around to look at you when you’re blasting it out loud and singing along to it in the car, and you can see that twinkle in their eyes saying “Damn you…that song is cool…”.
8. (What if God was) one of us by Joan Osborne
This song took its time but it grew on me after a while. I sometimes surprise myself when I find myself just singing out to the lyrics while working or doing whatever. It even made some business associates think I was losing the plot when I was clearly enjoying the night out at Stake Out, a club in Kampala, Uganda. See, they had thought I was upset coz’ I didn’t like the roast pork that is legendary in Kampala (give me proper goat nyam chom any time), so its no surprise when they kept giving me daggers while I enjoyed my rock music….what did they expect taking me out to a rock night on a Thursday evening?
9. (Don’t look back in anger) So Sally can wait by Oasis
The only downside to Noel and Liam Gallagher is that they’re Manchester City fans. If only they were gooners. Never the less, this track is one that you can’t miss in any pub juke box and one of them that you find yourself singing aloud like the guy propped up on the bar stool next to you without even realising it.
10. Don’t let go by En Vogue
Again, this is a song that grows on you after a while. From the destinys children of the 90’s – a nice good solid track that feels good being blasted when home alone or in the car. I like the guitar in it and its prominence in the song, and I think it was the only decent track of the album it was on…but all in all, a nice classic track thats a competitor for one of my other favourite En Vogue songs, Runaway love.
The one advantage of the internet is that you don’t have to pay for advertising….that’s right….
I’m shamelessly going to plug a home grown movie (FORMULA-X) in Kenya – last time I checked, our movie industry was coining itself the name “Riverwood” – as in movies produced and sold River Roady style….. It doesn’t roll off the tongue like Nolliwood or Bolliwood, but hey! Its a start….
The Executive producer of this movie Patrick Chabeda, is an old school-mate of mine and a very good friend. Props sana for the work Pato – and congratulations also to the W/D Steve Ominde and Producer Sagwa Chabeda for their hard work in putting together this project. Its no easy feat considering the tight resources available….and what I like most about it is seeing the dreams and visions in the heads of our creative and innovative minds turn into reality….Well done guys.
The movie has been showing since January 2nd 2009 at the New Metro Theatres, Nairobi – Westgate and Junction. If you’re in Nairobi, drop in to experience the home grown production.
Oh wy owh why owh why – the earlier post and visiting Val’s blog has made me nostalgic.
Well, when it comes to past-times, the only competition to my love for Arsenal football club is old school music. Val’s thread on oldies brought back some memories…so I’m on the role….
Here’s some of my favourites….in no particular order
Let’s see how old school you are or if you can remember some of these master pieces
HEALTH WARNING: “Some of these songs were hits even before some readers started eating solid foods….LOL!”
This song is only done justice by listening in a night club with a proper sound system….guaranteed to get you off your seat and shaking what your momma gave you…. Kweli Kashif was one of a rare breed.
I got hooked on this song when the first wave of funky matatus hit the streets in the mid80’s….LOL! I was still in primary school but used to wait for this nissan mat no. 23 to Kangemi for my daily trip to and from school – I think it was called Iron Eagle – and M used to play this song for me everytime I was in the mat coz’ he liked me.
Nothing more you can say about this track….pure class – I didn’t realise for a while that Imagination were a British group…..apart from Soul to Soul and Loose Ends (which might have as well been Soul to Soul coz’ Caron Wheeler was their lead singer), soul didn’t really jump out at you from Britain….
I remember this song very well in 83/84 when it hit the air waves – alongside Don’t look any further and thriller….LOL! I think them KBC (or is it VOK) DJs killed it by over playing it like they did Ray Parker Jnr’s Ghost busters….(And don’t ask me how old I was….I loved music from the time I could walk – he says)…. But even now – this track bounces in a club proper.
Aaahh! Gor biro like a rocket – Biro nyamo abandu) – Damn! This was a hit them days AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia were like Man U and Arsenal. Going to a football match at City Stadium or Nyayo Stadium was a big deal (I should right about this on another post….LOL), even if your parents never knew where you were….
Whenever I hear Pink Cadillac, it reminds me of Carnivore in the days that proper DJ’s still used to use vinyl (non of this CD and MP3 stuff) – Don’t be Cruel by Bobby Brown was number 1 all over the shop, chicks were trying to dress like Salt n’ Pepa in clubs coz Push it was a big hit, and others dislocated their shoulders trying to pop them dancing like them 3 guys in the Mac Band video of Roses are red….LOL!
This guy was the bomb…LOL! But now that you think of it….its ridiculous for a grown man who claims to have a military officer’s title to be trapped like a fool in a cage and doesn’t have a clue about what to do….
Now doesn’t that just take you back….LOL! More when I’m feeling nostalgic again.
When I’m feeling like my headspace is being crowded by mob issues – music does wonders. This last week I’ve been rewinding this playlist in the car and at home…for some reason it makes me happy.
I was surprised to find out that Muzina is actually a gospel song….good ol’ Tabu Ley. Couldn’t stand you when growing up but I guess my folks already knew you were the stuff of legend.
Now here’s an African Queen. Forget these wanna be celebs that think they’ve made it coz’ they’ve been on TV….Shiiit! I’ve been on TV too….And boy she was beautiful.
Now this is Kenyan authenticity at its best. There’s just something about Ja Mnasi that drives me nuts….maybe its the fact that they shamelessly ooze that authenticity as Kenyan, a character trait that we should do much more to embrace, or the insightful and reflective lyrics, or just the calmness in its delivery…..I love this song, so much so that its my ring tone….Yu should here folks who don’t understand it asking me “What is Supaa Supaa” when I sing along to the ring tone…I just tell them if you supaa supaa, utapata mwana si wako….
Now here again is another African queen….Take’s me back to the days of “Yours for the asking” and the music time shows by the blackest man in black Africa – Mr. Fred Obachi Machoka – Come to think of it, in those times of tumaring salaams, there always seemed to be salaams sent to Agneta Machinga and Robbie Ruben Robbie…Kwani everyone knew these two folks?
I think this guy got a raw deal and didn’t get the credit he deserved….a bit like Kelly Brown….Damn, now that was a Kenyan celeb….him and his jerry curl – maybe I should look for his hit “My love keeps taking me higher”.
Nice and easy by two lyrical Congolese legends. Apparently, Papa Wemba’s voice is so flexible and versatile coz’ he used to travel with and learn from his mother who was a professional “crier”. I don’t know that such people existed, but apparently, you can hire a crier to professionally wail and cry during a funeral. Well, as long as it creates jobs….
Now this one is a relic of the matatu funk days….the days it was cool to listen to Sidney Youngblood and Jamtronic, the days Gor Mahia was a force in Africa, effortlessly beating some of the great legends of Africa like Zamalek of Egypt and Esperance of Tunisia….Yeah! The days it ws cool to wear a box cut on your head and think it was the bomb….The days we used to take girls for dates during the day coz’ they had to be home by 5.45 pm before their parents got back home from work…..
