I thought I had written a blog post already about how certain songs
brought back a memory or took me back to a moment in time but I have searched through
all my posts and I just can’t find it.
When friends ask me about how I am handling my grief after the
loss of Chief, I usually talk about how I manage my feelings, the ebbs and
flows etc. and almost all the time, I mention how certain songs bring up
memories of him.
We both loved music and if anyone would look at our playlists,
they would struggle to pigeon-hole us into a particular genre. Our tastes ran
all over the place, his a bit more risqué/eclectic than mine. I used to just
love R&B then I lived in the UK for a bit and got into Pop, Alternative
Rock and all sorts. Chief would listen to anything. Between us, our tastes in
music ranged from “you need to listen to this” to “I know, please don’t judge
me”. J
Anyway, so I spent some time thinking deeply about the songs that
evoked memories of Chief to me and I was able to draw up a list; I know I am
missing a lot more but they usually come to me after I hear them being played
so I might update this list as and when I have anything new to add.
1.
Asem ft.
Kwabena Kwabena – “Bye Bye”: He sent me a link to this song when I was in
the UK in 2013. We were apart from March to October of that year when I was
pregnant with Awura. This was him really showing his soft side, admitting he
missed me and our life together and I was sooo touched. I struggle to listen to
this song without crying now.
2.
Bread – “Aubrey”: I don’t
think that many people know of this group called Bread; they were an American
Soft Rock Band from L.A. and Chief shared this song with me after we had
decided to name our first born Aubrey while I was pregnant. We loved the lyrics
and the soft melodic tune. We sadly lost our Aubrey Joy Awurakua 3 weeks after
birth but she will always be our first born; forever in our hearts and alive in
this song.
3.
Stevie
Wonder - “Isn’t She Lovely”: This was his song for his daughter. Nothing
more to say. The plan was to play this during her birth or soon after.
Unfortunately, he could not be there. The first time he laid eyes on his
daughter was around the humid and crowded luggage carousel in Kotoka
International Airport 2 months after she was born. But she got it played to her
anyway, as he cuddled her in bed; what those 2 did best was nap together.
4.
B.o.B – Is an
American Rapper well known for hits like “Airplanes”
and “Nothing on You”. Chief discovered
him after a trip to the States and knew I would love his soft rap style and
downloaded his whole discography at the time for me. I am not a big fan of raw
hard hitting rap. Soon after he returned, he called me over to his laptop, looking
very pleased with himself telling me there was this rapper he knew I would
LOVE! He started playing his single and I was thinking in my head “uhuh I am
probably going to have to pretend I love this, shit!” But I loved the album!
Right up my alley.
6.
Duncan
Mighty – “Obianuju”: We loved to bounce along to this in the car on the
days we had not argued about something and the air was not thick with tension
lol.
7.
J Martins –
“Cool Temper: We went through a period when this was played almost every day
and he would get out of his office chair and dance to it. I think this was his
pick-me-up song. If you knew Chief, you would know he applied 110% energy/effort
to anything he believed in and if it didn’t work, he took it hard. I think this
helped. The lyrics say it all:
Hey! If you believe, you go defeat
Stand up to your feet
And say no to your defeat
Believe and do the best
Only Jah fit do the rest
You fit be the next
Believe in me I say
Coolu coolu Mama,
Coolu coolu Papa
Coolu coolu Brother,
Coolu coolu Sister
Coolu coolu Aunty,
Coolu coolu Uncle
Coolu, coolu, coolu Coolu coolu temper
8. Scissor Sisters – “I Don’t
Feel Like Dancin”: I got him to like this pop/glam
rock group and this single was a fave to just bump to. Now, Scissor Sisters are
as flamboyant and in-your-face gay/bisexual whatever sexual you can think of as
they come. They were not the sort of band Chief would have naturally gravitated
to but me, with my liberal self, got him into this one. Did you know that the band took its name from the female same-sex sexual
activity tribadism commonly known by
its scissoring position is a sex act in which a woman rubs her vulva against her partner's body for sexual
stimulation, especially for ample stimulation of the clitoris. Kwakwakwakwakwa!
So that is the Scissor Sisters I loved and he grew to also like some of their
songs and their energetic videos.
9. Michael Buble – This might surprise some of Chief’s friends but there have been many
nights when I would wake up in the middle of the night and my vampire/nocturnal
husband would be sat behind his desk with Michael playing softly in the
background. The man who was a ball of rough energy on the basketball court
loved boring ass Michael Buble. I have got a ton of his songs on his harddrive.
I don’t listen to Michael but I stumble on his songs when I am searching for
other stuff. Sometimes I click on “Crazy
Love” just to go back a bit ….
10. Maroon 5 – “She Will Be Loved”: I loved
Maroon 5 before I got married; Adam Levine is sexy with a voice like a god. One
of the few albums I actually bought with cash. We both liked this song which is
about a woman getting the love and respect she deserves. Can anyone musically
plead better than sexy Adam?
11. Estelle – American Boy: This takes me back to some Sunday mornings with this playing out loud
and me dancing naked with my jiggly bits clapping furiously and him shaking his
head. J I especially loved this line:
He said ‘Hey Sister’
It’s really really nice to meet ya
I just met this five foot seven guy who’s just my type
I like the way he’s speaking, his confidence is peaking
Don’t like his baggy jeans but I’ma like what’s underneath it
12. Oasis – “Wonderwall”: Another UK Rock band; in their finest form, they were known as the
Kings of the Britpop scene. Chief knew vaguely about them and I sorta got him to
listen to their songs more. Wonderwall we both loved …. Their songs take me
back to road trips …
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