Song of the Day - Breathing Underwater - Emeli Sande

Something like flying

Hard to describe it

My God, I'm breathing underwater

Something like freedom, freedom

My God, I'm breathing underwater

Sigh! No words today!

Song of the Day - Sparrow - Emeli Sande

I wrote this piece ten years ago today...

I woke up this morning, as I do many mornings, with a song in my head.  Only the tune that landed in my head today was related to what was going to happen in just a little while.  The song, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”, by the Temptations opens with the lines I’m still hearing now as I write this:

“It was the third of September.

The day I’ll always remember,

Cause that was the day my daddy died.”

Today George Myers, my father, passed on, and I awoke this morning knowing that it was going to happen.  We’d been dreading it for four days now, knowing that any hope of survival was near zero percent.  From the moment he was taken into the hospital, we were told that he had gone far too long without oxygen and that his brain was no longer functioning.  As the hours and days passed, we knew this was the one time he wasn’t going to beat it. 

We’d decided late last night to remove the support machines keeping his body alive, but we had to put it off for today because one of us was unable to be on hand.  It was an unpleasant situation, to say the least.  We all wanted to get past this anguish.  And having to wait until morning, waking up with the knowledge that your dad was going to die, is just too odious a circumstance to be in.  

Twenty eight years ago, my dad was diagnosed with Diabetes.  At first, none of us had been too familiar with the disease, but what we did know it was controllable one if you followed the guidelines associated with the having the condition.  In the beginning, dad was great about it.  He quit smoking.  He stopped drinking.  Changing his dietary habits, though, proved too difficult for him and this allowed this debilitating sickness to attack his body slowly and steadily for so long.

Early on, dad’s kidneys began to malfunction and he was sent to undergo dialysis treatments three times a week.  He was placed on a list for a kidney transplant.  I hadn’t known what dialysis was at first, and I don’t wish to speak of it here, but I know from dad’s experiences that it is not pleasant.

As is common with diabetics, one problem invariably leads to other problems.  To make things easier for his dialysis treatments, his doctor placed a plastic shunt in his arm.  I recall almost immediately there were infections, blockages, and other problems associated with the multiple shunts that were eventually placed within his arms.  These problems foreshadowed the more serious and painful things to come.  I can’t possibly recall the numerous problems dad’s experienced over the years, but here are some I remember:

-        While working in a local supermarket, a 2 liter bottle of soda fell off a shelf and landed on dad’s big toe.  An infection began to materialize.  That was in May.  By August, the infection had gotten so bad; he had to be hospitalized for over six weeks.  It was the first time we thought we were going to lose him, but he persevered and eventually pulled through.

-          A little over ten years ago, dad got a call that a person with a donor kidney had passed and he needed to get to the hospital ASAP.  In what turned out to be his happiest hospital stay, dad’s surgery was successful and he got to spend Christmas with the greatest gift he’s ever received.  Dialysis was now a thing of the past.

-          About two years ago, dad began to have trouble hearing in his right ear.  It was soon discovered that he had a massive, benign tumor growing on his cerebrum.  With his state of health, surgical treatment was not an option, so he underwent 39 radiation treatments.  Soon after the treatments had finished, his hearing improved once again, but his new kidney had begun to fail.  In what turned out to be the beginning of his end, dialysis treatments once again became a necessity.

-         A more recent infection on his foot hadn’t been responding to treatments.  Intravenous antibiotics were no help as circulation problems were preventing the medicines from reaching the infected site.  A surgical bypass on his leg was ordered by his vascular doctor.  During pre-surgical testing, though, a blockage was found in his heart and a resulting angioplasty put off the vascular bypass.  The cardiac procedure was successful, and he was released from the hospital with the infected ulcer still oozing and painful on his foot.

-        Two weeks ago, and six weeks after the angioplasty, dad was brought back in to the hospital for the original vascular bypass to help fight the infection, which had gotten so bad that he had developed tendinitis in his Achilles tendon which prevented him from walking anymore.  He had had to give up his job and his car, which crushed him.  This surgery was successful, and the infection had begun to heal.

These episodes represent only a fraction of the seemingly countless health-related issues dad has had to contend with.  Late night phone calls became all too familiar.  Every time there was a new emergency, the situation led from a dire to insignificant, a false alarm.  Dad took each case in stride, with rarely an utterance of complaint, even through two toe amputations (Though he always hated the needles!).  We became too used to these episodes, expecting the same result each time.  We’d lulled ourselves into a belief that dad was a fighter who’d always bounce back and be around for years to come.  But it wasn’t meant to be this time.

The day after dad came out of the hospital, he experienced this episode which ultimately led us to today.  Now I’ve skipped ahead a bit from the first part of this story, but this part of dad’s story is more pertinent to the freedom from suffering he earned today.  Having been faced with the decision we all made, we knew we had no choice.  Dad deserved no more pain. 

In the end, he passed peacefully with his wife, his six children and other significant people in his life all around him.  The room was filled with anguish, devotion, love and a sense of collective relief as George finally let go of all that pain. 

So long dad!  I love you!

It was the sixth of May…

Though it's been ten years, my dad lives on still, in my heart and in those of all of the people who loved him.  Miss you dad!  Here's Emeli Sande and Sparrow...

Song of the Day - Next To Me - Emeli Sande

For my dad...happy birthday!

New Music Fridays, September 14th, 2018 - Much Better!

Much better!  After last week's less than stellar new music releases, we've got quite a few new and noteworthy songs in the lineup this week.  Our spotlight includes new tracks by David Guetta, with Bebe Rexha and J. Balvin, Don Diablo with Emeli Sandé and Gucci Mane, new Lana Del Rey, Mariah Carey and more, so check it out...

Say My Name - David Guetta, Bebe Rexha J. Balvin

David Guetta is known for his work with the hottest acts in the music scene throughout his career, and he does it again on a hot new track with the hot and sexy Bebe Rexha and celebrated reggaeton maestro J.Balvin.  Check out a preview snippet of Say My Name... 

Mariner's Apartment Complex - Lana Del Ray

Independent sensation Lana Del Rey is back with a new gem, the first from a forthcoming follow-up to 2017's Lust For Life.  The song is vintage Lana, slow and sultry.  Check out Mariner's Apartment Complex...  

Survive - Don Diablo, Emeli Sandé, Gucci Mane

One of my favorite tracks out of this week's crop is this well-rounded dance masterpiece by Don Diablo, featuring the angelic and hypnotic voices of Emeli Sandé and Gucci Mane, respectively.  Check out Survive...

Stole Your Car - Charlotte Lawrence

Up and coming indie singer Charlotte Lawrence has put out a song that's very deserving of a spotlight.  Stole Your Car is a combination of slower, downbeat verses and some smooth and satisfying up tempo melodies at the chorus.  Check it out right here... 

Dose - Ciara

R&B singer Ciara is back with the second single from her forthcoming 7th studio album and it is a high energy jam, replete with hot beats and even hotter horns.  Check out Dose...

I am certainly looking forward to learning these songs even more in the next few days, but there's even more noteworthy stuff in our honorable mentions.  Check it out...

My Boy - Wale, J. Cole

That Song We Used To Make Love To - Carrie Underwood

GTFO - Mariah Carey

Burnout - Martin Garrix, Justin Mylo, Dewain Whitmore

White Boi - Dillon Francis, Lao Ra

Thank God - Susan H

Dead Flowers & Cigarettes - Mija

All My Life - Major Lazer, Burna Boy

Voices - Against the Current

Tears & Tantrums - XYLO

Blacklight - The Ting Tings

Song of the Day - Starlight - Emeli Sandé

Here's the latest from Emeli Sandé, a surprising dancey tune that I featured on New Music Fridays a few weeks back.  The song is a departure from her usual, more mid-tempo stuff, but like with almost everything she does, it works!  Check out Starlight...

Song of the Day - Breathing Underwater - Emeli Sandé

It's a beautiful, crisp Sunday morning, this first day of October, and it's a great time to feel inspired.  And there's not much better for that than Ms. Emeli Sandé and this goose bump-inducing song.  Check out Breathing Underwater...

New Music Fridays, September 22nd, 2017 - An Awesome Week of New Music

Whoah, what a week in new music!  It's only been a little more than twenty four hours now, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed digesting all of the great, noteworthy stuff that's new this week.  Which ones to share?  For what it's worth, here goes...

Good Old Days - Macklemore & Kesha

Indie turned mainstream rap artist Macklemore has dropped his own solo project without his partner in crime Ryan Lewis and the newest single off the set, Gemini, is a tender, sweet ballad featuring the newly respected, mature Kesha.  The song is radio friendly and has already caught quite the buzz, featuring in all of the major music magazines.  Check out the vintage-esque video set at a campground...

Sexy Dirty Love - Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato's got a brand new album coming out this week and she's dropped yet another sexy tune from the set that's also catching a lot of buzz.  This one is a lot more dance-floor friendly than her previous Sorry, Not Sorry, but still with a lot of rhythm and blues.  Great voice, sexy jam!  Take a listen to the track on Rolling Stone.

Starlight - Emeli Sandé

I love Emeli Sandé, but usually it's for the positivity and inspiration that she so often sings to.  Well now Ms. Sandé has dropped a surprise dance single from her forthcoming third studio album and it is awesome! With a nice groove and her smooth, ethereal vocals, this one is a winner.  R+Take a listen to Starlight...

Generous - Olivia Holt

Marvel's Cloak and Dagger actress Olivia Holt has turned singer with this new, irresistible, sexy finger snapper and toe tapper that I loved the very first time I heard it.  Such a fun tune, and video! Check it out...

Hot Damn - The Shadowboxers

The Shadowboxers are Justin Timberlake's newest discovery just dropped their newest single and it is hot.  The trio of Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins and Scott Tyler have been working with Timberlake all summer long and the results are amazing.  Hot Damn is definitely within the realm of JT's sound, fast moving and dancey rhythm and blues that is very radio friendly.  Take a listen to it on Just Jared, where the tune debuted on Thursday.

Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg

British and French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I'd never heard of before today, has released a new tune from an upcoming album called Rest.  The track is described by Spin's Anna Gaca as "dreamy [and] danceable," and I couldn't agree more with that assessment.  The tune has a sort of strange, but funky bassline that's just immediately likable and the rest of it is, well, dreamy and danceable!  Check out the "offbeat" video to Deadly Valentine...

Borrowed Time - Wyclef Jean

Two of my favorite songs of all time, Gone Till November and Perfect Gentleman, are from former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean.  Jean has been largely absent for the past several years, but that's about to change with his new Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee, his latest album which just dropped on September 15th.  I gave this song an extra listen because it is Wyclef, and I'm actually glad I did.  The tune is a beautiful, socially conscious ballad that actually features sounds never heard before from the planet Jupiter, as recorded by NASA.  Pretty cool, huh?  It really is a beautiful song! Check it out...

Big Girls (Wiz Mix) - Salt n Pepa

Okay, so I can't find much on this freshly released track from Salt n Pepa, but I love it!  It's sounds like it could have been an early recording, a little more rappish than pop, and I can't tell, but I think the recording samples Run DMC somewhere in there.  Great tune!  Take a listen...

A Different Way - DJ Snake, featuring Lauv

I've been a fan of DJ Snake for a couple of years now, and his latest, A Different Way, only adds to my admiration of his work.  Ed Sheeran gets songwriting credits for the tune and smooth-voiced singer Lauv contributes the dramatic vocals.  Of course, it is a DJ Snake track, so it's gotta be danceable, and ooh, the dance sequences in the song are actually what make it for me.  Snake debuted the single in Paris atop the Arc de Triomphe...cool!  Check out A Different Way...  

Okay, okay, I need to stop here.  You see, I told you there was a lot of great stuff this week, probably the most of any single week since I've been doing New Music Fridays.  On top of these nine great songs, there are some really great honorable mentions that you should check out as well.  Take a look...

Phases - ALMA, with French Montana
Again - Noah Cyrus, XXXTENTACION
Hillside Boys - Kim Petras
Week Without You - Miley Cyrus
Ain't Ready - Hoodie Allen
Don't Look Back In Anger - Portugal. The Man.
Lost in the Wild - Synead
Move You - Kelly Clarkson
Ready For It - Taylor Swift
Anything - All Tvvns

There's even more, so stay tuned to John's Music World Song of the Day or Spotify's New Music Fridays to check em out.

Song of the Day - Next to Me - Emeli Sandé

This is my favorite picture I have of my father.  After he passed away back in 2009, we found this painting in the back of his clothes closet and I just thought it was such a beautiful painting of he and his mother, my grandmother.  His face never changed over the years and she, well she was such a beauty herself.  Today would have been my dad's 76th birthday, and so here's a song just for him...

Song of the Day - Breathing Underwater (Live) - Emeli Sandé

I've been listening to this song a lot yesterday (it literally gives me goosebumps!), and since today's "blizzard" has turned out so far to be a lot of water in the form of rain, I thought it appropriate to post it today.  Enjoy!

Song of the Day - Breathing Underwater - Emeli Sandé

Something like flying

Hard to describe it

My God, I'm breathing underwater

Something like freedom, freedom

My God, I'm breathing underwater

I love inspirational music and Emeli Sandé has become a master at inspiration.  In the midst of the early life of her second album, Long Live the Angels, Emeli seems to have fine-tuned herself and her sound, with a collection of fifteen new tunes that all seem a step above those found on her first record, Our Version of Events.  Case in point, this four-minute nugget is inspiration at its best, with beautiful lyrics, an ethereal and gospel feel, and of course her heavenly voice.  Check out Breathing Underwater...

Song of the Day - Garden - Emeli Sandé

Emile Sandé hasn't been around for too long, but she easily and quickly became a favorite of mine after just a few songs and then her 2012 debut album Our Version of Events cemented my love for her.  She's got her own unique style, with a sound that can fit into many a genre.  Her music is ethereal, melodic, bleusy, rhythmic and soulful and I am hard pressed to find a song of hers I do not like.  Well she's about to embark on sharing her second set of songs with us,  Long Live the Angels is due out on November 11th and here's a darkish, head bopping and somewhat infectious low to mid tempo gem from the album, featuring Jay Electronica and Áine Zion.  Check out Garden...  

Song of the Day - Wonder - Naughty Boy, feat. Emeli Sandé

Feeling a bit melancholy today, and so here's a mystical, inspirational track that always picks me up a bit.  Enjoy and Happy Sunday!