1. "Blood of Eden," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
2. "Washing of the Water," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
3. "New Romantic," Laura Marling (from My Manic and I - EP)
4. "Nemesis," Aaron Parks (from Invisible Cinema)
5. "JAMIROQUAI/Main Vein," Timmy Regisford (from Live From The Shelter Restricted Access Vol.1)
6. "Real Talk," R. Kelly (from Double Up)
7. "Goodbye," Tracy Chapman (from Let It Rain)
8. "You Got What You Wanted," Ike & Tina Turner (from So Fine)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Top 8 Songs: Week Ending January 17, 2009
1. "Somewhere," Caron Wheeler (from UK Blak)*
2. "Only the Lonely," Aretha Franklin (from Aretha Sings the Blues)
3. "You're the One," Kate Bush (from The Red Shoes)
4. "Supreme Balloon," Matmos (from Supreme Balloon)
5. "Washing of the Water," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
6. "Blood of Eden," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
7. "Riding on a Railroad," James Taylor (from Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon)
8. "New York Is a Woman," Suzanne Vega (from Beauty and Crime)
* In memory of Andrew Sam (1981 - 2009)
2. "Only the Lonely," Aretha Franklin (from Aretha Sings the Blues)
3. "You're the One," Kate Bush (from The Red Shoes)
4. "Supreme Balloon," Matmos (from Supreme Balloon)
5. "Washing of the Water," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
6. "Blood of Eden," Peter Gabriel (from Us)
7. "Riding on a Railroad," James Taylor (from Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon)
8. "New York Is a Woman," Suzanne Vega (from Beauty and Crime)
* In memory of Andrew Sam (1981 - 2009)
Friday, January 16, 2009
My Tribute at My Cousin Andrew Sam's Funeral (January 15, 2009)
My cousin Andrew was an original—no small feat in a family of 10 children, 27 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. And though each of us is unique—otherwise known as “a character,” Andrew stood out in a number of ways.
I often referred to him as our family genius, because no one was as adept at numbers, percentages, and stats like Andrew was—especially when it came to sports. Name the sport, and Andrew could tell you about its movers and shakers as well as its underdogs. He was a one-man ESPN. I always thought it was a shame that he never had the opportunity to work in the sports field—that he managed to escape their notice—but being an undiscovered gem was Andrew’s fate. Those of us who knew him knew how bright he was and how rapturous that brilliance was to behold. We shone because of him.
Andrew also managed to hold his own in a house of three Forbes matriarchs. He was the man of the house—not because he was the only man in the house—but because of the seriousness with which he took the duties of father, protector, handyman, grandson, nephew, brother, and son. My father may have taken the reins from his father, but Andrew took the reins from him and watched over his grandmother, Aunt Pauline, sisters Paulette, Sonia, and Christine—and last, but really first and foremost, his mother.
It was his masculine energy that balanced, grounded, and held the household together. His grandmother knew she was in good hands with him around, as did his Aunt Pauline. His sisters knew they were in good hands with the bratty brother who grew into a protective brother, surrogate father, and trusted friend. And his mother knew she was in good hands with the one man who did what the men before him failed to do: never let her down.
If I have a regret, it’s that I failed to take the time to deepen the bond between us. We talked during my visits to the house, my calls to find out how grandmother was doing, whether it was a good time to visit, or the zip code I often forgot, but there never seemed to be enough time. My trips to 27 Veronica Place were focused on maximizing the quality time with the woman of our shared adoration—our grandmother—and he knew and respected that. He also knew I loved him, and I know that I was loved by him. Still, that kind of love is addictive and makes me wish I’d had more of it.
But love was one of Andrew’s many gifts, and perhaps his greatest. He gave it, truly, generously, and unconditionally. Those of us blessed enough to have received it understand the profundity of Saturday’s loss. We also know the importance of today’s sendoff; the body is being laid to rest, but the spirit lives on. And though I miss and will miss Andrew for the rest of my life, I am trying to think of this less as my/our loss and more as his cousin Camille’s gain. Like her grandmother, aunts, and cousins before her, she knows she’s in good hands--as does he.
I often referred to him as our family genius, because no one was as adept at numbers, percentages, and stats like Andrew was—especially when it came to sports. Name the sport, and Andrew could tell you about its movers and shakers as well as its underdogs. He was a one-man ESPN. I always thought it was a shame that he never had the opportunity to work in the sports field—that he managed to escape their notice—but being an undiscovered gem was Andrew’s fate. Those of us who knew him knew how bright he was and how rapturous that brilliance was to behold. We shone because of him.
Andrew also managed to hold his own in a house of three Forbes matriarchs. He was the man of the house—not because he was the only man in the house—but because of the seriousness with which he took the duties of father, protector, handyman, grandson, nephew, brother, and son. My father may have taken the reins from his father, but Andrew took the reins from him and watched over his grandmother, Aunt Pauline, sisters Paulette, Sonia, and Christine—and last, but really first and foremost, his mother.
It was his masculine energy that balanced, grounded, and held the household together. His grandmother knew she was in good hands with him around, as did his Aunt Pauline. His sisters knew they were in good hands with the bratty brother who grew into a protective brother, surrogate father, and trusted friend. And his mother knew she was in good hands with the one man who did what the men before him failed to do: never let her down.
If I have a regret, it’s that I failed to take the time to deepen the bond between us. We talked during my visits to the house, my calls to find out how grandmother was doing, whether it was a good time to visit, or the zip code I often forgot, but there never seemed to be enough time. My trips to 27 Veronica Place were focused on maximizing the quality time with the woman of our shared adoration—our grandmother—and he knew and respected that. He also knew I loved him, and I know that I was loved by him. Still, that kind of love is addictive and makes me wish I’d had more of it.
But love was one of Andrew’s many gifts, and perhaps his greatest. He gave it, truly, generously, and unconditionally. Those of us blessed enough to have received it understand the profundity of Saturday’s loss. We also know the importance of today’s sendoff; the body is being laid to rest, but the spirit lives on. And though I miss and will miss Andrew for the rest of my life, I am trying to think of this less as my/our loss and more as his cousin Camille’s gain. Like her grandmother, aunts, and cousins before her, she knows she’s in good hands--as does he.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Top 16 Songs: 2008
1. "Magic Doors," Portishead (from Third)
2. "Soldier," Erykah Badu (New Amerykah, Pt. 1 [4th World War])
3. "Punches," Collin Herring (from Past Life Crashing)
4. "Welcome to the Occupation," Cold War Kids (from Loyalty to Loyalty)
5. "American Boy (featuring Kanye West)," Estelle (from Shine)
6. "Edith And The Kingpin (featuring Tina Turner)," Herbie Hancock (from River: The Joni Letters)
7. "Another Day," Jamie Lidell (from Jim)
8. "Youthless," Beck (from Modern Guilt)
9. "Nylon Smile," Portishead (from Third)
10. "Can It Be (Half A Million Dollars And 18 Months Later)," Murs (from Murs for President)
11. "Here, My Dear," Marvin Gaye (from Here, My Dear)
12. "Spiralling," Keane (from Perfect Symmetry)
13. "Roosterspur Bridge," Tori Amos (from American Doll Posse)
14. "Breakable," Ingrid Michaelson (from Boys and Girls)
15. "Telephone," Erykah Badu (New Amerykah, Pt. 1 [4th World War])
16. "Ocarina," Birds & Batteries (from I'll Never Sleep Again)
2. "Soldier," Erykah Badu (New Amerykah, Pt. 1 [4th World War])
3. "Punches," Collin Herring (from Past Life Crashing)
4. "Welcome to the Occupation," Cold War Kids (from Loyalty to Loyalty)
5. "American Boy (featuring Kanye West)," Estelle (from Shine)
6. "Edith And The Kingpin (featuring Tina Turner)," Herbie Hancock (from River: The Joni Letters)
7. "Another Day," Jamie Lidell (from Jim)
8. "Youthless," Beck (from Modern Guilt)
9. "Nylon Smile," Portishead (from Third)
10. "Can It Be (Half A Million Dollars And 18 Months Later)," Murs (from Murs for President)
11. "Here, My Dear," Marvin Gaye (from Here, My Dear)
12. "Spiralling," Keane (from Perfect Symmetry)
13. "Roosterspur Bridge," Tori Amos (from American Doll Posse)
14. "Breakable," Ingrid Michaelson (from Boys and Girls)
15. "Telephone," Erykah Badu (New Amerykah, Pt. 1 [4th World War])
16. "Ocarina," Birds & Batteries (from I'll Never Sleep Again)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
