The current soundtrack or playlist of my life- my top 8 in heavy rotation

I sort of chuckled to myself as I was writing the title because I wondered if using the term soundtrack was outdated. Kind of like talking about records and tapes instead of CD's, it's a new day and a new era. Oh well you know what I mean, Music!

Last week I posted about Track One on my mental soundtrack and why it was playing in my head through out the week. Well I decided to share a few more of the songs in my soundtrack. Go through my list and tell me if you feeling it too.

Current Soundtrack, er-uh, play list of my life
Track 1. Keep on moving *Soul II Soul
Track 2. All of the lights *Kanye West & friends
Track 3. In a sentimental mood (the Love Jones song, although beautiful long before the movie made it popular) *John Coltrane
Track 4. Encourage yourself *Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers
Track 5. Smile *Kirk Franklin
Track 6. Three little birds *Bob Marley
Track 7. Moment for life *Nikki Minage
Track 8. Lose my mind! * Busta Rhymes

*photo credit : phonographplayers.com

Keep on moving, don't stop like the hands of time !: Track one in the soundtrack of my life

..."

It's our time
time today
the right time is here to stay

Stay in my life
my life always
yellow is the colour of sunrays
I hide myself from no one
I know the time will surely come... "

Those are part of the lyrics to the song by Soul II Soul and it is currently playing in my head.

It plays in my head at any given time during the 5 days that I am in school. I love it when I am there and I am excited by what I learn and am eager to apply it to the "real world" but It is hard for this woman to get there some days! I mean, the 6:40 am hour drive can be pretty daunting. And If I don't get my coffee? I'm jus' sayin' - IT'S AND AUTOMATIC SITUATION, lol!

But through it all I am realizing and learning more and more that I am not in this alone. As I am walking through the halls and working in treatment rooms I am finding myself in the company of some phenomenal women. I am hearing their stories listening in amazement as I study with women learning to reinvent themselves, triumphs over self hate and abuse, determination to start businesses and passions for helping others to make a transformation in mind body and spirit. Through the various interchanges of success and failures I drive home in heavy contemplation because I am encouraged and in awe. Some of my classmates are fresh out of high school, some already have degrees and licenses in other fields and you have ladies like me who have not had this length of schooling in 20 years. Either way, it all spells sacrifice.

With so much inner beauty surrounding me, I have to keep with the standard. Listen to track one and remember that my goal is not too far ahead. Four more months and counting. I think I can see the horizon a little bit clearer now...#winning

... Featuring Norah Jones

Okay, I hate to admit it but I cannot say that I was a Norah Jones fan prior to now. I know, some of you might be staring blankly at the screen right now wondering "what's my deal. " Really I don't know why I never liked to listen to her sing I Don't Know Why...Go figure.

Fast forward to 2010 with the release of her newest CD featuring cameos, duets and collaborations with many other artists that I absolutely love. Her work with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Talib Kweli, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson has me scratching my head and wondering where I went wrong with this woman. Obviously I had a misconception, and closed minded view of her talent. I allowed my opinion of one song to over shadow all of her other work. Shame on me.

When given the chance to review her CD I went for it, looking for a chance to try something new and was pleasantly surprised. I could not get enough of it! I am playing this CD daily hearing her renditions of certain songs I was already familiar with such as ; Baby It's Cold Outside & Here We Go Again. I have even been turned on to other songs and artists that I have not heard of before such as ; the Dirty Dozen Band (Ruler of my heart) , The Little Willies (Love Me) and Sasha Dobson (Bull Rider).

The musical selections span over a period of 9 years. Obviously 9 years that I have missed out on. Excuse me while I hit the repeat button...

The Cd is available in stores now. Go to Norah Jones Official website for more info. You can also check out her YouTube channel for interviews and behind the scene scoops on her collaborations.
*No money was given for the review of this CD. However through my affiliation with One 2 One network, I was provided the CD to give my honest opinion*

One of the great one's

Yesterday we lost an amazing woman in music and entertainment, Lena Horne died at the age of 92. She sang a tune with her own flavor. Her eyes came alive as she sang a song with passion, excitement and a certain savvy that seems to have been lost in days of old. My first encounter with Mrs. Horne was in elementary school when I had to do a book report on her for Black History Month. It was during this time that I truly admired her beauty, her style and her professionalism in a business that was not always accepting and often contradictory. Although during the Cotton Club's peak years, people of color were not allowed to patronize the club, but only allowed to serve and provide entertainment, I fell in love with the thoughts of her performing at the Harlem Cotton Club in the 1930's. Imagining that my grandfather was in the audience, captivated by her voice. Over the years, I have seen her periodically on television shows such as, Sesame Street, Sanford and son, The Cosby Show and A different World. With over 30 albums to her credit, the singers and entertainment of the 21st century have a lot to learn, and beautiful high heeled shoes to fill.

A soldier of Love- Sade has struck a cord

I don't know what it is about this song that has just captivated me, but I am totally engrossed in it. Over the years I have liked a few songs by Sade just like the majority of the population, however I would not ordinarily consider myself her "fan". With this new album though, I have felt myself become her fan. Is it the beat of the drum or the strum of the guitar that I hear?Or is it really just parts of the lyrics that are resonating within me right now? It seems that due to all of the things I have been through with certain familial relationships, that I have a soldier-like approach at times. Well, at least I want to have that type of approach. Absolutely, I feel the need to protect my heart from harmful effects of toxic relationships without losing my ability to still serve love greatly and deeply. I totally get what she is saying ..."it's a wild, wild west. Doing my best. To stay alive." Often times I feel like it is a battle to continue to fight for love....not so much to have to love others (that is easy). But the fight is to continue to always love myself ....I have to be a soldier of love sometimes, because I am worth the fight.

A tall glass of cool water

There is one thing that I like about myself. Well....there's more than one thing, but you know what I mean. Really though, the one thing that I am referring to is my appreciation for variety. I have always felt that variety is the spice of life. Never could I go through life as a dull dame. I enjoy new experiences, eagerly anticipating my reactions and responses. happy to add a new notch to my belt. And don't you agree that it adds to great conversation when a person is not one dimensional?

An area that I have always prided myself for having variety, is music. I have an appreciation for good music. Maybe it stems from fond memories of my father sitting late nights at his turntables spinning out the jams that made me shake a leg, swoon & croon. Or it could be the times that my mother took me to the theater and with wonderment I tuned into the orchestra as they used instruments to say what the characters were feeling. As I grew older I ventured into all types of music of various genres and it is this type of gift that I also give to my children.

Recently I had the privilege of listening to the new CD ; YOUR SONGS from HARRY CONNICK JR.. What a delightful treat, a collection of every one's favorites sung in classic Harry style. I popped this CD in while cooking dinner, my children and I began to snap our fingers and tap our toes. It was enjoyable from beginning to end. He added his own special touch to such songs that really are my favorites such as *JUST THE WAY YOUR ARE Billy Joel * THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT* SMILE Charlie Chaplin*THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE Roberta Flack*ANDI LOVE HER the beatles * MONA LISA Nat King Cole. You can expect these hits, plus eight more grooving tracks.

September 22 was the release date of his collection of Your favorite songs, available on itunes and everywhere. Although he is singing songs that he did not write, he still is the great music arranger, orchestrator, and conductor that made him who he is. Mr. Connick is in high demand not only because of his sultry, seductive voice but because he seems to be such an awesome guy. Click his picture to check out a video clip of Harry getting personal backstage on the Oprah show.

Wow, gotta love him!

The soundtrack of our love

Do you remember the song you heard when you first fell in love? Or the song that was playing when you went out on that special first date? I do, and it seems like lately I've been hearing "our songs" alot.

It just strikes at a totally unexpected time, I'm in my car minding my own business and bing! I hear it, and in comes the warm and fuzzies like a flood. Then the butterflies start up right on Que, just like it was yesterday. My mind takes me back through 18 years when I was just a senior in highschool...Wow! Oh the fun times, the joy of feeling like nothing else even mattered but he and I. The late night phone calls only to hang up and call each other again as soon as we woke. Finding any and every excuse to be together and sometimes it felt like even that wasn't enough. I know, sickening right? Hehehehe.

Well, recently after going down memory lane musically, I thought to myself "what would the soundtrack of our happiest moments be like?" From that thought came a play list that I created based on the songs that I thought my hubby and I shared a common sentiment about.

Wanna hear it? Here it go:

http://blip.fm/profile/Hicksgirl93/playlist
Creating the soundtrack of your love is very romantic, and is a great way to "stir it up" with your #1. I've shown you my soundtrack of love, what songs would you add to your own soundtrack?