DONNA SUMMER - The Woman In Me (My 2011 Theme!!!!)

Usually hearing Donna Summer makes me think of my Uncle Glenn but this particular song brings me back to the summer of 1986. The summer my sister Dela and I were OBSESSED with Days of Our Lives. Patch and Kayla were the hot new couple and each weekday was planned around making sure we were in front of a television at 1PM EST to watch what new shenanigans were going on in Salem. That was also the summer I got boobs. Previous summers were spent going to Dunn Park for the free lunches and playing outside until we were dead-tired and staying at my grandma’s until my mom came home from work.

This summer Dela and I were assigned chores. We were old enough (and tall enough) to cook dinner, do laundry, and watch our younger siblings DW (Daniel) and Lelia. Taking them to the park every day and trying to get them back home before Days came on was a chore. But some how we managed to do it.

For awhile my mother thought that my sister and I were not able to tell that difference between what happens on TV to what my sister put it ‘Mommy we know its fake. Roman died and came back from the dead that doesn’t happen in real life.’ (Although I do find it interesting that ten years later Days repeat the Roman Brady/John Black/ Roman is not dead storyline. Now Roman is played by an actor that used to be Kayla, Roman’s sister’s, ex-boyfriend).

Even at nine and ten, we knew that real romance never unfolded the way the budding romance of Steve and Kayla. Not to say that we didn’t fantasize about what our first kiss would be like. We would imitate the soap stars by kissing the backs of our hands. One time my grandmother walked in our little ritual. At first we thought we were in trouble but she just smiled and later on relayed the story our mom who laughed out loud.

Now that I am older this song takes on a different meaning. At thirty-four, I now realize what Donna was singing about its been two years since I’ve had a boyfriend an year since my last sexual encounter was so perfect. Days before I received the news that one of my mentors had passed away she had just turned forty and I was still dealing with the death of my Uncle Adrian (who was five years older than me). The night of that encounter if only for a few moments took all that pain away. Every kiss, touch reminded me that I was a beautiful desirable woman. The sex was good but what really made it memorable was for the first time in a long time someone wanted to take care of me, make me feel good and let me know verbally and physically how much he ‘appreciated’ me. 

Carole King-So Far Away

  It’s amazing to me that a song I’ve heard many times only made sense to me one Sunday afternoon at Dado Tea in Harvard Square. Growing up my stepfather would sometimes listen to the soft rock station and they would play this song. When we would go to Bellingham, MA to visit his mother and sister, Diane, I would always ask Diane if I could look through her record collection. I liked looking at the art work and reading the liner notes especially the ‘Thank You’ section. The artist would thank family, friends, use nicknames or inside jokes and sometimes list other musicians that have influenced them. The album cover to Tapestry always fascinated me, Carole King’s long wavy, blonde hair sitting near a window with the sunlight pouring on her. Her clothes are just so laid back, jeans and a shirt, nothing provocative and sexy. Her songs and voice were the focal point

            My interest in her grew when I purchased 80’s teen sensation (and my favorite cast member of Kids, Inc) Martika’s first album. I saw Martika perform on American Bandstand and Dick Clark asked her about covering Carole King’s I Feel the Earth. I made sure on the next visit to Bellingham that I asked Aunt Diane to play that record for me. She did and the songs didn’t make any sense but Carole King’s voice stuck with me.

    Over the years I would hear her songs on the radio or in movies, but on a Sunday in January 2009, that song played in the café I was reading in. At that moment hearing So Far Away my heart felt like it was going to burst. Each note, each word made me want to cry. That feeling of longing, that loneliness being away from the one you loved I felt all of it. Although I’ve heard the song a billion times the circumstances in my life made me aware of its meaning. I had just broken up with Ben. I was in Boston, MA he was in Williamsburg, VA and despite all of our problems I was still very much in love still longing to be with him. I tried to imagine the person Carole King was writing about and if they broke up or remained together. Sadly, Ben and I didn’t make it as a couple, but that song will always be a reminder of that relationship, that sincere moment in which I continue to long for the love of this man.

Chai Tea Latte-Angel Taylor

I read about Angel Taylor on one of my favorite blogs Black Girls Like Us. One of the writers of the blog saw Angel Taylor opened up for Adele, a British soul singer, and raved about her. I downloaded Angel Taylor’s EP after reading the post and I’ve been listening to one song over and over again.

            Chai Tea Latte is about having a first date with a man who ‘blown my mind in two hours time’ and in waiting for him to ask her out again. The song has made me think of two things. The first thing is when Ben and I started dating again and every moment just felt amazing. I miss that, I miss looking at him, I miss hearing him tell me how much he loves me, how happy he was to have a second chance. It brings me back to those moments. The second thing is going back out there and dating again knowing I will be waiting for some guy to call me and ask me out, that nervous/exciting waiting for him to take me out for a ‘chai tea latte.

            Now that I am no longer with Ben I miss those moments in the beginning. When I hear this song it takes me back to the three-hour phone call where we both confessed still being attracted to each other and his sincere apology that opened my heart and allowed him back in. It makes me think of him picking me up from work opening the car door to the biggest bouquet of sunflowers. The ride home with the dark clouds rolling alone as we drove  down Mass. Ave to Somerville seemed like a movie. As he asked me about my day lightning flashed across the sky and a loud crash of thunder followed. I squeezed his hand tightly and shared with him my long-standing fear of thunderstorms. In my driveway the drops of rain pummeled the car and he suggested we wait until the storm passed. Before I could respond he kissed me. That moment was perfect. Although the relationship was far from it I am open and ready for more ‘Chai Tea Latte’ moments.