Instead of looking up on iTunes the most played songs, I’m going by feeling and memory (and past friPod posts of this year).
I can’t include albums of the past 2 months for the sole reason that they are too recent, even if I listened to said recent album on repeat for 10 hours on 3 consecutive days. I’m also aiming for albums and not necessarily singles that I’ve listened to repeatedly over the past year. Doing a singles list would be much more difficult. But on with the list (in no particular order this time)… (more…)
Today’s friPod goes out to all the kiddies and college students… or anyone going back to any kind of school, or going out to do something that they believe in to either better themselves or others around them. Once again, this is coming from The Roots featuring John Legend bringing you “The Fire.”
This song, like much of the album, is about achieving and overcoming, if you couldn’t tell from the album’s title How I Got Over. The title track, by the way, is an equally awesome if not the best song on the album. Specifically, well to me, “The Fire” is about desire, passion and ambition for reaching and accomplishing that goal you set for yourself. I really resonate with this song personally because it’s speaking to that fire within me, to achieve something great. I admit I kinda lost my drive over the summer. But as I, and many others, remind me–life happens. So I lost some of the passion and focus that I need to keep going and doing what I need to do, but I’m gaining it back and do what needs to be done.
This is why I felt this song is perfect for this time of year and for all those that are going back to school, hoping that fire in them only grows brighter and stronger so they can become great as well. I was never a fan of saying “Good luck” to people, mostly due to my unbelief in luck… but it also felt like some throw away encouragement phrase that doesn’t hold a lot of weight when someone is about to tackle an obstacle. Well, this song’s chorus says what I will say from now on:
There’s something in your heart And it’s in your eyes It’s the fire, inside of you Let it burn You don’t say “good luck” You say “don’t give up” It’s the fire, inside of you Let it burn
I love that. Honestly, that’s a much better thing to tell people, especially with a challenge like school and education. Speaking as a non-college graduate, giving up seems so much easier than going through. But, I’m not going to give up. I wish I hadn’t stopped. Part of that reason is due to the school loan repayments kicking in (and it’s ridiculous that higher education is so expensive), but being continuously fed knowledge is awesome. Knowledge really is power, that isn’t just something people say.
So with that, I will quote the end of Black Thought’s verse (I love quoting this guy and I love his raps… he’s a lyrical idol of mine). As I said, I loved the whole song and many other lines, but this is one that truly sums it all up.
Something in my eyes say I’m so close to having the prize / I realize I’m suppose to reach for the skies / Never let somebody try to tell you otherwise
My last note on this song is the instrumentals from the band itself. It gives me the feeling of triumph and determination. This is what I’d call “Champion music.” The driving drum line, no doubt one of the many products of ?uestlove. But just the way the song is structured, it sounds like an anthem, or maybe something you’d hear in a movie when the hero is about to embark or is engaging in battle, or a march, or possibly a theme played in the resulting victory. Needless to say, vocals and instruments compliment each other. There’s an invigorating and triumphant mood to it that makes me want to turn this up to 11 every time I hear it. There is a music video, to be honest I’m not a huge fan of it, but it’s something different. Feel free to discuss your thoughts with me afterwards.
So with that, Indoobians, I encourage you to not give up on whatever endeavor you are about to endure. Also, keep an open mind because you can never learn too much.
I instantly fell in love with this song before the chorus was sung. Little did I know that my mind would be blown away by the soul vocals and precise wise raps that makes up the song “Wake Up Everybody.”
What I didn’t know at first about this song, is that it is a cover of the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song. What I also didn’t know is that the entire album, Wake Up!, brought to you by John Legend and The Roots, is mostly a covers album of socially conscious songs of the 60′s and 70′s. Before that factoid, I was already signed on once I heard The Roots and John Legend. But back to the song…
Not only does it start with Black Thought and the Legendary Roots Crew with Mr. Legend taking on the brunt of the vocals, it also features the lovely Melanie Fiona complimenting ever so perfectly with a great voice. According to her The Bridge album, she seems a bit socially conscious herself, which is definitely a plus in my book. Before knowing this was a cover, I just associated this song to being about current times. Even though it was a song of the past, it’s still very much relevant to today’s time.
Another update to the song come from Common. Could this track get any better? Besides keeping it on repeat… I don’t know. But the video? Yes! Not only do we get the lovely eye candy of Fiona (or maybe that’s just me), but we get a vintage throwback to the era this song came from. If you didn’t know by now, I’m a fan of the vintage. And Common can rock a vest, can he not?
Awesome song, awesome video, awesome artists, awesome message. Let’s not forget what this song is trying to tell people. And it’s for all people. We need to wake up! Everyone should be aware of what’s going on in the world, in their society, in their community. Everyone can make a difference. I’m what I consider a pretty passive activist. I’ll help pass the word around, but at this time in my life, I may not be out in the streets with posters and signs. But I give much respect to the people that do that. I also don’t talk a lot about politics or world events, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware. My quick thought on this whole “ground zero mosque” is this: if Muslims aren’t allowed a mosque, Christians/Catholics aren’t allowed a church, Jews aren’t allowed a temple, etc.
Anyway, back in the day, Civil Rights and racial equality were still issues, just like they are today. I would think they are a lot better than in those days, but sadly it isn’t gone. It’s sad that some people are still asleep to that. But I even thought, if I could go back to the Civil Rights days, I might join a sit-in. All of that is another story for another day.
Instead of looking up on iTunes the most played songs, I’m going by feeling and memory (and past friPod posts of this year).
