My Secret Music Blog

always celebrating musicians of color

[solid-musics]

i was trying to have an entire month devoted to black musicians for february, but i'm on vacation, and i forgot to fill my queue.

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[video thumbnail description: a black and white video frame of the skatalites album cover. ten band members posing for a photo with their instruments. the top half of the album cover says IN TEXT: ska authentic presenting the original ska-talites from jamaica END TEXT. in the bottom right corner it says IN TEXT studio one END TEXT. end description.]

the skatalites - ska boss

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[image description: a black and white photo of a person with black hair smiling at themselves in a mirror]

erykah badu - "didn't cha know"

Oh hey... Ooh hey I'm trying to decide Which way to go I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere Ooh hey I'm trying to decide Which way to go I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Tried to move but I lost my way Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Stopped to watch my emotions sway Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Knew the toll, but I would not pay Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Cause you never know where the cards may lay Time to save the world Where in the world is all the time So many things I still don't know So many times I've changed my mind Guess I was born to make mistakes But I ain't scared to take the weight So when I stumble off the path I know my heart will guide me back Ooh hey I'm trying to decide Which way to go I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere Ooh hey I'm trying to decide Which way to go I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Tried to run but I lost my way Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Stopped to watch my emotions sway Didn't cha know, didn't cha know Knew the toll but I would not pay Didn't cha know, didn't cha know I said ya never know how the cards may lay Love is life, and life is free Take a ride on life with me Free your mind and find your way There will be a brighter day Love is life, and life is free Take a ride on life with me Free your mind and find your way There will be a brighter day

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boyz II men - "ribbon in the sky [a capella]" (stevie wonder cover)

Oh so long for this night I prayed That a star would guide you my way To share with me this special day Where a ribbon's in the sky for our love If allowed may I touch your hand And if pleased may I once again So that you too will understand There's a ribbon in the sky for our love This is not a coincidence And far more than a lucky chance But what is that was always meant Is our ribbon in the sky for our love, love We can't lose with God on our side We'll find strength in each tear we cry From now on it will be you and I And our ribbon in the sky Ribbon in the sky A ribbon in the sky for our love

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[video thumbnail description: a color photo frame of a large group of people dancing in the street. end description.]

marcia griffiths - "electric boogie (the electric slide)"

[Chorus:] It's Electric! You can't see it It's electric! You gotta feel it It's electric! Ooh, it's shakin' It's electric! Jiggle-a-mesa-cara She's a pumpin' like a matic She's a movin' like electric She sure got the boogie You gotta know it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie! Now you can't hold it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie! But you know it's there, Yeah here there everywhere [Verse 1:] I've got to move, I'm going on a party ride I've got to groove, groove, groove, And from this music I just can't hide. Are you comin' with me? Come let me take you on a party ride And I'll teach you, teach you, teach you I'll teach you the electric slide [Chorus:] Some say it's mystic It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie You can't resist it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie You can't do without it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie Jiggle-a-mesa-cara She's a pumpin' like a matic She's movin' like electric She sure got the boogie Don't wanna lose it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie But you can't choose it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie But you know it's there, Yeah here there everywhere [Verse 2:] I've got to move, Come let me take you on a party ride And I'll teach you, teach you, teach you I'll teach you the electric slide [Chorus:] Some say it's mystic It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie You can't resist it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie You can't do without it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie Jiggle-a-mesa-cara She's a pumpin' like a matic She's movin' like electric She sure got the boogie Don't wanna lose it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie But you can't choose it It's electric Boogie woogie, woogie But you know it's there, Yeah here there everywhere

[solid-musics]

[video thumbnail description: a frame of a black and white photo of five black people standing and facing slightly away from the camera. they are dressed in similar, light colored suits and black necktie. under the photo, some of the letters have been cut off. it says IN TEXT: The Golden Echo END TEXT. end description.]

little axe  & the golden echoes - "you are my sunshine"

no lyrics provided

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[image description: a black and white sketch of stevie wonder's head with short hair wearing sunglasses. there are multiple roughly drawn circles ranging in white, orange, and red progressively getting bigger around his head. under him it says: IN TEXT: Songs In The Key of Life. END TEXT. the line under that says IN TEXT: Stevie Wonder END TEXT. end description.]

stevie wonder - "village ghetto land"

Would you like to go with me Down my dead end street Would you like to come with me To Village Ghetto Land See the people lock their doors While robbers laugh and steal Beggars watch and eat their meal -from garbage cans Broken glass is everywhere It's a bloody scene Killing plagues the citizens Unless they own police Children play with rusted cars Sores cover their hands Politicians laugh and drink-drunk to all demands Families buying dog food now Starvation roams the streets Babies die before they're born Infected by the grief Now some folks say that we should be Glad for what we have Tell me would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land Village Ghetto Land

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[image description: an orange background with a black silhouette of four people raising their fists up, and two arms holding picket signs. end description.]

bob marley - "war" (live)

Until the philosophy which hold one race superior And another Inferior Is finally And permanently Discredited And abandoned - Everywhere is war - Me say war. That until there no longer First class and second class citizens of any nation Until the colour of a man's skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes - Me say war. That until the basic human rights Are equally guaranteed to all, Without regard to race - Dis a war. That until that day The dream of lasting peace, World citizenship Rule of international morality Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, But never attained - Now everywhere is war - war. And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, In Mozambique, South Africa Sub-human bondage Have been toppled, Utterly destroyed - Well, everywhere is war - Me say war. War in the east, War in the west, War up north, War down south - War - war - Rumours of war. And until that day, The African continent Will not know peace, We Africans will fight - we find it necessary - And we know we shall win As we are confident In the victory Of good over evil - Good over evil, yeah! Good over evil - Good over evil, yeah! Good over evil - Good over evil, yeah! [fadeout]

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[image description: charles bradley has singing into a microphone with his eyes closed. he is wearing a black jacket which is zipped down exposing his chest, and is wearing 2 necklaces. the background is a red curtain with white writing which says IN TEXT: CHARLES BRADLEY END TEXT. end description]

charles bradley - "the world (is going up in flames)"

This world is going up in flames And nobody wants to take the blame Don't tell me how to live my life When you never felt the pain Oh, oh, oh, ooh, come on, baby Ooh, they don't hear me cry Ooh, they don't hear me chime Ooh, they hear me cry so what I'm gonna do? Yeah, baby I can't turn my head away, sit on these things The world is burning up in flames And nobody wants to take the blame Is it you? Or you? You? Or you? Me? Or me? Ooh, they don't hear me cry Ooh, they don't hear me chime Ooh, so stop all that lying Ooh, oh, you killing me, oh baby, come on, baby Get it right, gotta lead a better road, gotta make it, baby Gotta make it right

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[video thumbnail description: a color video frame of about 7 people standing on grass, and genoa keawe is sitting on a chair under a black umbrella. genoa is wearing black pants, a colorful shirt, and a grey coat. on her head is a yellow haku lei, and she has several yellow and orange leis around her neck. she is holding her ukulele and singing into a microphone. standing to her right is kamaka fernandez who is wearing a black shirt, jeans, and a black hat on his head. he is standing behind a microphone holding his ukulele and looking at genoa keawe. end description.]

kamakakehau fernandez & aunty genoa keawe - “he uʻi”

He uʻi nō ʻoe ke ʻike mai He pua hoʻoheno i ka lā ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu i aloha He pua i milimili ai ʻO ʻoe he pua i ʻako ʻia He mea hoʻopili i ka ʻili Nou ē koʻu manaʻo Ua ʻohu i ka lei hīnano Mai none mai none mai ʻoe Kuʻu lei ē hoʻokahi nō Kou maka ʻeuʻeu He aha aʻe nei kāu hana Haʻina mai ka puana Haʻina he uʻi i ka lā ʻO ʻoe nō kaʻu i aloha He pua i milimili aiYou are beautiful to behold In the sunlight you are like a lovely flower You are mine to love A flower to caress You are a flower that has been plucked Someone to hold close Constantly do I think of you Adorned with the hala blossom lei Don't, oh don't tease me My dearly beloved Don't wink your naughty eyes Can't you see what you are doing to me Thus ends my song My lovely flower in the sun Dearly, do I love you A flower to caress

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marcus miller ft. lalah hathaway - "someday we'll all be free"

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nina simone - "feeling good"

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raul midon & india arie - "jealous guy"

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the impressions - "we're a winner"

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elizabeth cotten - "freight train"

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les nubians - "makeda"

On veut nous faire croire à des mythes perdus Des passages de l'histoire falsifiès et revus De Ramsès à Mandela, que de vérités tues En ignorant le départ, on erre sans but

Makeda était reine, belle et puissante Salomon rêvait de sa peau noire Je chante pour raviver les mémoires Exhumer les connaissances Que la spirale du temps efface

La reine de Saba vit en moi Makeda vit en moi.

Ravivons nos mémoires Il faut changer l'histoire Elle part à la dÈrive A la dérive des mots….Non Le savoir et la sagesse sont à portée de main écoute et observe

Makeda était reine, belle et puissante Salomon rêvait de sa peau noire Je chante pour raviver les mémoires Exhumer les connaissances Que la spirale du temps efface

La reine de Saba vit en moi Makeda vit en moi.

Mon peuple danse et chante Il exalte sa joie Loin de l'ignorance Il démontre sa foi

Riches d'hommes et de valeurs Nous réparons les erreurs Fils et filles vous et moi Prêts au combat

Makeda était reine, belle et puissante Salomon rêvait de sa peau noire Je chante pour raviver les mémoires Exhumer les connaissances Que la spirale du temps efface

La reine de Saba vit en moi Makeda vit en moi.

One wants to make us believe in lost myths Parts of history are corrupted and re-examined From Ramses to Mandela, So many unspoken truths  By being unaware of the original story, one wanders without goal Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful Solomon dreamed of her black skin  I sing to revive the memories To exhume knowledge That the spiral of time erases The Queen of Sheba lives in me Makeda lives in me. Let us revive our memory The history should be changed History is being deformed by words….No The knowledge and wisdom are within reach Listen and pay attention Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful Solomon dreamed of her black skin I sing to revive the memories To exhume knowledge That the spiral of time erases The Queen of Sheba lives in me Makeda lives in me. My people dance and sing They express their joy  Far from ignorance They show their faith  Blessed with men and values  We repair the errors Sons and daughters you and me Ready for the fight Makeda was queen, beautiful and powerful Solomon dreamed of her black skin I sing to revive the memories To exhume knowledge That the spiral of time erases The Queen of Sheba lives in me Makeda lives in me.

[solid-musics]

sam cooke - a change is gonna come