Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of music while working from home. YouTube is amazing in this regard. I click on a song I like and the algorithm generates a relevant playlist. Next thing I know, I’m down the YT rabbit hole listening to the soundtrack of my earlier years; songs that used to play on Saturdays when my Momma made me clean up the house. I’m sure a whole lot of y’all know exactly what I’m talking about.
Some of the songs that popped up included the GAP Band’s “I Don’t Believe You Wanna Get Up and Dance,” Con Funk Shun’s “Love’s Train,” Curtis Mayfield’s “Diamond in the Back,” Lakeside’s “Fantastic Voyage,” and the Brothers Johnson’s “Strawberry Letter 23” and “Stomp!” I was bobbing my head so hard I lost track of what I was actually doing.
I ended up on an Earth, Wind & Fire playlist and let me tell you…it is an absolute travesty that I forgot how much of their music shaped my childhood. I have some of their songs in my iTunes, but not nearly as many as I should. Maurice White (may he rest in power) was a bona-fide musical virtuoso and the band were veritable rock gods. EWF’s music is a joy to listen to and it feels good to listen to it.
Watching their videos makes me happy because they are clearly having a good time. I love their free-form movement, their bad-ass costumes, Maurice’s and Phillip Bailey’s superlative vocals, and dem horns…I know I’m about to sound old as fuck, but they simply don’t make music like this anymore. I can’t remember the last song that makes me feel as good as I do when listening to “Can’t Hide Love” or “That’s the Way of the World,” among others.
Maurice White died in 2016 at the age of 74. The Mighty Elements are still together and still touring. The band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, in addition to a slew of other well-deserved honors and awards.
Earth, Wind & Fire has some of the most beautiful, positive and uplifting songs ever and I dare anyone to listen to one of their tracks and NOT move to the beat. Think I’m lying? Watch this. Skip to about 14 minutes in and watch til the end. I got my whole entire life watching Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg dance off “September” (20:12).
Name a group out today that can bring the house down like the Mighty Elements of the Universe. I’ll wait.
While waiting...jam with me, old heads.
Can't Hide Love
Best outro to a song...ever. Fight me.
That's the Way of the World
This album cover cracks me up because I'm trying to figure out
what Phillip is doing and who Ralph is about to cuss out.
In the Stone
What black marching band hasn't covered this bop?
Love's Holiday
"Would you mind...?" No, I don't mind at all...
Serpentine Fire
This video is everything.
Reasons
Phillip's vocals...out of this world!!!
On Your Face
A bop for reals.
I could go on, but there's no need when YouTube already has.
Actually music was not a big part of my childhood. Whatever the grown people were listening to, I had to hear it by default. Since I lived and grew up in the Caribbean, Caribbean music is what I heard the most.
ReplyDeleteBut by choose, my nose was often stuck in a book. Currently I am writing a book talking about why I became a writer. Let me know if you would be interested in a free copy when I publish it in a few weeks.
AWESOME!! I'd love one!
DeleteHoney, you missed out on some classic tracks, but YouTube is right there to help you get caught up.