Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Usually on my birthday, I play Nas' song "Life's A Bitch". He has a few lines in his verse about how much of a blessing it is waking up early on his birthday, and how he feels like a man not a boy, and he's reveling in the fact that God has created him. In fact from 1995 (when I turned 20) up until my 34th birthday, I would make it a point to play the song, recite the lyrics, and then go on with the rest of my day. Sounds harmless enough right?

Well this morning I decided that it may be time to go in a slightly different direction. As big of a Nas fan as I am, reciting lyrics to a song that has the chorus, "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high, 'cause you never know when you're gonna go" is just plain morbid. The Nas' verse I used to love is still good, as is the song in its entirety, but damn. Life is only a bitch when the Eagles lose, Michael Jackson dies before the damn "This Is It" concert, and its sub freezing in DC for 25 days straight with no debilitating snow in sight. Still, I'd rather think happier thoughts on the 35th anniversary of my birth.

So instead, I will play a song by a guy who has been dead for 43 years, used heroin, and died of liver cancer. Oh and by the way, he just happens to be one of the five greatest musicians to walk this fine Earth of ours. There are several versions of this song out there, but this is my favorite. It was recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island in 1963. You probably won't listen to the whole thing but you should.

John Coltrane - My Favorite Things

6 comments:

soft and subtle said...

Happy Birthday Chief! Enjoy your day and have fun. It's always a blessing to see another day and another year.

£ said...

congrats on your bornday son. Now is the time to start shaving your ear interiors... :)

Miss. Lady said...

Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day and many blessings to you. :)

Janelle said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUY GURU aka BLACK LARRY DAVID!!!! Look at you getting all mature and shit about what you want to listen to on your day of birthday!! I'm so proud of you. hahahaha

rashad said...

Thank you all for the birthday love!

Me said...

Hope you had a fantastic birthday, Rashad.