It was one of those rainy nights in Sarapiquà and Rebecca and I were splitting a beer and listening to music. I want to say it was "Help Me" by Joni Mitchell, and I was just singing along like I always do. Becks looked at me and said, "Man Billy, you do listen to a lot of music. I would have never thought that black men listened to Joni Mitchell". I could be embellishing just a little as I sit here listening to Ferrante and Teicher's "Moonlight Cowboy". We toyed with the idea of writing a blog about music and stuff that black men like from the stance of a white person that had done research on his "black" friend. It would have been totally irreverent and I am pretty sure my mother would have scolded me for it, clear from across the water.
Well we have all settled somewhat back in the US but the idea never really left me, so here I am (2 years removed from a life changing event) writing about the things that I and hopefully other black men like; that other groups of people may not know we like. Now I know what you are thinking... Honestly I have no idea what you are thinking, but I would like for this to work on a couple of things.
1- To demystify the black man. I think that we as a group of people are put into boxes, and this starts at a young age and we are usually ostracized for getting out of the boxes that our peers, parents, family, and society put us in. Only until recently has our box expanded, but it's still just that. A box nonetheless.
and
2- To have some fun, learn some things, and just enjoy the dialogue. I mean why not? We live in a time where people do not fear what they give life to on the Internet. Physical confrontation and dialogue has been replaced with likes and status updates, and in worst case scenario people's hate is manifested in this regard and then pushed to the masses.
Now here is my disclaimer. No black man is the same, and I do not take responsibility for you reading this blog and then going out there to embarrass yourself with this new found knowledge. Like I said, this is to have fun, and one mans tastes may differ from another.
So....
Let us begin with this song!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8zlP_0AuZM
The tune is still one of my favorites and it comes from one of my favorite groups... EVER!!! You can't deny that moustache yo. My little brother thought they were black well into his teens!!!
I digress, the lyrics, the undeniable harmony, and just the truth to this song make it one of those things that some black men will find themselves belting out on a cold December morning in their cars with all the windows up. It's one of the songs we may find ourselves humming while brushing our teeth or trying to hit those notes while we are in the shower. This is for the happy black man, and in his own private recesses he does enjoy Hall and Oates.
