I must say there is some great things about being in the business “we” call the music biz. Yes, there are the bad things like getting laid-off, getting fired, did I mention laid-off? But let me harp on the good such as seeing a great singer shine on the stage doing his craft. I had that opportunity last night/this morning as I saw Raphael Saadiq do his thing at S.O.B.'s in New York. Now this in not the first time I've seen dude perform. But for some reason that I can't seem to explain this was his best performance out of the many times I've seen him.
I knew the night was going to be a good one once I walked in the spot and the DJ was banging some ATCQ, Kane and LL (did I mention I missed Hip-Honor's for this?) and that had my head bobbin' and my attention caught. Everyone must have been loving the vibe in the spot last night. I saw some Asian dude doing his best "So You Think You Can Dance" moves all night. You can tell this dude has watched "Moonwalker" one to many times. Shout out to Mike J! His lady friend was not that much better she was spazzing all over the place. It looked as though she was having an epileptic seizure. If rhythm came in the club and slapped her she still wouldn't have gotten it. LOL.
The night started with Emily King opening up with an acoustic set of songs. I love Emily, I truly do but she was boring. So let me move on. I knew the night was going to be a soulful one when the DJ played Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The National Anthem" to bring on Rapahel. By the way I, feel so patriotic when I hear that version. When Barack becomes Prez and I become Secretary of Music, I will take the proper measures and make Marvin's version become the official version. After a moment of reflection thinking of Barack as President, Raphael hit the stage in proper fashion. He was decked out in 60's attire letting everyone know that it's going to be a soulful night. He went right into "Love That Girl" off of his newest CD "The Way I See It". The dude had the choreographed moves down packed with his background singers. If the look of the one-time great leader singer David Ruffin of The Temptations was his hook he did him justice.
Raphael may be one of most under-rated singers/performers of my generation. This dude is a hell of a singer, writer and producer. He knows how to put on a show as well. The crowd went nuts as did I when he went into Lucy Pearl's "Dance Tonight". Although there was no Dawn Robinson his background singer did her thing (Sidebar - Why do some singers feel the need to stretch their eyes when they sing? This chick did that and it bugged me out. Please singers don't do that) they took it to "If I Had No Loot" which the shit in 93!
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The show was laced with hit after hit with a touch of new joints in there as well. When he made it to the Tony!, Toni!, Tone! set the crowd was in this dudes hand's. "Lay Your Head On My Pillow" started it off followed by "It Never Rains In Southern California" to "Anniversary". The vibe was just right until this lady looking like Miss Roper cut in front of me so she could see. Damn you, Miss Roper!
This was one show that I greatly appreciated and enjoyed. There are perks to being in this biz and last night was one of them. Shout out to my girl Kathy Baker at Columbia for getting my late requesting ass in there! Raphael certainly didn't disappoint giving a "GREAT" show, and he closed out with a new joint of the album called "Sometimes", which has a gospel sound to it and it flows nicely. I was feeling the vibe and typing my notes for this blog until this drunken girl tried to slap my phone out of my hand. She is lucky that the song was spiritual because I felt one coming! Needless to say she didn't delete my notes thus this blog.
So do yourself a favor go and get Raphael Saddiq's newest album "The Way I See It". You will be taken back to a time when music was music and where singers actually sang. And while you're at it pull out some old Saadiq from his Oakland days with the 3 T's and Lucy Pearl and even his solo-releases. Thank you God for quality music! Let me go I have to get my shortie a log cabin up in Wis-can-sin! ;)
Don't forget to turn it up cuz' The Music Ain't Loud Enough!
Videos
Love That Girl-http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--184533174
Be Here-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0xrEjfz6qQ
Without You-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8nD9pc70s
Whatever You Want-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVpTaQ8q7Y&feature=related
