Positive Thinking
Musical Look Back – George Michael
(This is a new series of posts where I share the music that I grew up listening to.)
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than what’s being played today. In my case, it is actually true. As evidence, I present George Michael.
George Michael rose to fame in the 80s when he formed the pop duo, Wham with childhood friend Andrew Ridgeley. His first solo single, Careless Whisper, appealed to my teenage angst over lost love. I wasn’t the one with “guilty feet” but I just knew in my heart that I would “never dance again.” Here’s to that sad love-sick teenage girl I used to be:
“Careless Whisper”
Of course, George Michael went on to record the classic album, Faith. Here are some of my favorites.
“Faith”
“Father Figure”
“One More Try”
“I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) w/Arteha Franklin
Enjoy!
Quarantine Book Reads – Part 1
If you’re like most of the world, you’ve been social distancing and working from home. It’s time for a break from the news. I offer a list of books I’ve read and you and enjoyed. Dive into the pages of these gems and escape for a few hours.
- The Husband We Share – London St. Charles
The story of a man who balances two wives could have gone down a predictable path. This story takes you on a ride and throws out twists that leave you turning the pages. Xavier made me tired. He was a busy man with all the lies he had to manage. The two wives, Patricia and Lauren were both formidable women in their own ways. The author did a wonderful job of showing them as fully formed people. I understood how Xavier could love them both. This is a great read.
First Grave on the Right – Darynda Jones
I read this hilarious, quirky novel in two days. The heroine, Charley Davidson, is a grim reaper. Picture “I see dead people” but as a comedy with a mystery thrown in. This PI series will occupy my Kindle until completion.
So We Can Glow – Lessa Cross-Smith
My absolute favorite author. Everything the woman writes is filled with lyrical goodness. Reading her stories is a master class in putting words on paper. She’s my friend in my head. We would spend our time together dancing to 80’s music and talking about books.
Kings of the Castle Series –
This series of books is brought to you by Naleighna Kai, S.L. Jennings, Martha Kennerson, J.L.Campbell, Lisa Watson, Karen D.Bradley, Janice M. Allen, London St. Charles and MarZe Scott. These books are like Lay’s potato chips, you can’t read only one. Once you enter the world of these eight Kings, you gain an appreciation for Good Men.
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted – Jayne Allen
The title says it all. I enjoyed the relatable characters and the real life situations.
Such A Fun Age – Kiley Reid
Red at the Bone – Jacqueline Woodson
A wonderful tale about coming of age and how the choices you make then affect your adult life.
Don’t Get Mad…Get Even – J. L. Campbell
This collection of short stories showing heartbreak and laughter told from the Jamaican culture are entertaining and good damn writing.
Musical Look Back – Salt ‘n Pepa
(This is a new series of posts where I share the music that I grew up listening to.)
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than what’s being played today. Â In my case, it is actually true. Â Let me present, Salt ‘n Pepa.
Wherever I drive, my phone is on Google Music or Spotify. Salt ‘n Pepa’s song, “Shake Your Thang” came on and I was insisting transported back to the time of spandex, biker shorts, asymmetrical hair, and door knocker earrings. Â A time when rap was fun!
Salt ‘n Pepa was formed in 1985 and consisted of three members: Â Cheryl James (Salt), Sandra Denton (Pepa) and Deidra Roper (DJ Spinderella). Â At the time, rap music was considered a fad and was a male-dominated genre. Â Then these ladies hit the scene and showed everyone how the ladies could get down.
Their first major hit was “Push It” but here are a few others that I liked.
“Push It”
“Do You Want Me”
I’m unable to embed some of the older videos but you can check them out here: Â “Shake Your Thang” Â and “Everybody Get Up“.
Enjoy!
Happy Easter
Musical Look Back – Full Force
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than the what’s being played today. Â In my case, it is actually true. Â Let me present, Full Force.
The Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam post last week got me thinking about the men behind that groups sound. Â Full Force produced several artists to include Samantha Fox, Bob Dylan, UTFO, ‘N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.
Their music takes me back to my teenage years of house parties and school “hops”.  Jeri curled members  are Paul Anthony, Bow-Legged Lou, Shy Shy, B-Fine, Curt-T-T and Baby Gee.
Check out my favorites:
“Ain’t My Type of Hype”
“All in My Mind”
“Alice, I Want You Just For Me”
“Temporary Love Thing”
Enjoy!
Musical Look Back – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than the what’s being played today. Â In my case, it is actually true. Â Let me present, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.
The year was 1985 and I was a high school junior in total like/lust with a neighborhood boy. Â He was older (I always did like a more mature man) and I was contemplating the question every young girl must decide. Â When and who should I lose my virginity too?
This boy was in the running but I wasn’t sure.  That’s when Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam came on the music scene.  Their song “I Wonder If I Take You Home” was my personal anthem.  I played this track off there self titled album over and over.   I ultimately decided that he wasn’t worth it  (Good call on my part!) but I still love this group to this day.
Check out some of my favorites from this group?
“I Wonder If I Take You Home”
“All Cried Out”
“Head to Toe”
Enjoy!
Spring Reading Sale
Take advantage of this Spring sale with books at discounted prices! The sale starts today, Friday, March 20th and ends, Friday, March 27th. As an added bonus, you’ll receive FREE SHIPPING on all orders.
Inbox your name, mailing address, and book titles to mdrayford@gmail.com. Payments may be made via:
PayPal: mdrayford@gmail.com
CashApp: $MRayBooks
Venmo: @Michelle-Rayford
And as always, thank you for your support.
#autographedcopies #getcaughtreading #mdrayfordwrites #springsale
Musical Look Back – DeBarge
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than what’s being played today. Â In my case, it is actually true. Â Let me present, DeBarge.
When El DeBarge’s latest song, Second Chance (which is beautiful and prophetic) came across the playlist, I was taken back to a simpler time. Â Back to middle school when I first heard the group, DeBarge. Â The year was 1982 and I was just beginning to navigate the boy and girl dynamics. Â The song, “I Like It” was in heavy rotation on the radio and the lyrics spoke to my 13-year-old heart. Â A teenage boy would have been wise to repeat these lyrics,
I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout you for quite a while
You’re on my mind every day and every night
My every thought is you, the things you do
Seems so satisfying to me,
I must confess it, girl
I like the way you comb your hair
And I like those stylish clothes you wear
It’s just the little things you do
That show how much you really care
They then followed that hit up with “All This Love”. Â The DeBarge siblings (Bunny, Mark, Randy, James, and El) made a total of six albums, four on the Motown label, before they ultimately disbanded in 1987. Â Drug addiction and jail sentences have been documented over the years. Â But I choose to remember the talented siblings that played on the soundtrack of my teenage loves.
“I Like It”
“Time Will Reveal”
“Rhythm of the Night”
Remember the movie “The Last Dragon”? Whatever happened to Bruce Leroy?
Enjoy!
This Takes Me Back
During the drive home yesterday, a song came across my Spotify that took me all the way back to Heyward Gibbes Middle School. The year was 1982. My biggest worries were homework, getting out of dressing out for gym class and the school dance.
The school dance was a major source of stress. Would the boy I like ask me to dance? What would my friends and I wear? Would my mother even allow me to go?
Can’t really recall the details of the dance but I remember this song. Cutie Pie by One Way. Listening to this song transported me back to that dusty gym with the raggedy basketball nets. And the secret area behind the gym where you went to kiss the boy you were crushing on for weeks.
Do you have any songs that take you back? Let me know in the comments.