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“Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays,” is a collection of essays by British journalist/writer Zadie Smith. Divided into five distinct sections, “Mind” is broken down to help readers navigate through this non-fiction work. Essay topics range from analysis of Zora Neale Hurston (both the woman and her work) to Oscar weekend.
What’s To Love?
Despite such diversity in her writing, Smith is very distinct in her tone: candid and compassionate. She’s a writer’s writer; a lady who understands the power of one artist’s influence on another. Kafka is her guy. Garbo is her girl. She admires these people but doesn’t deify them. You start to understand they are an inspiration and not an aspiration.
It seems to me that Smith psychoanalyzes every damned thing she has experienced in life. While some readers, and people in general, may be peeved at this trait, her view of said experiences endear me to her. Even when she speaks of Obama being a native of fictional Dream City, her own life seeps through: “It is a place of many voices, where the unified singular self is an illusion…Naturally, Obama was born there. So was I”. It helps that Zadie Smith knows Zadie Smith is secondary to her subject but still important in a broad, humanistic sense.
Great Minds Think Alike (or for themselves)?
Much is to be said about this collection of essays. From her account of Audrey Hepburn to the memoir-esque “Smith Family Christmas”, every serious reader can find something to appreciate. The days of Great Books are not gone and Hip-Hop is not dead; both simply live on through those who passionately appreciate them. Something classy lies within the pages of “Changing My Mind”. That is, Zadie Smith may very well be as important, as classic, as those who preceded her in art.
Read Along
“Changing My Mind” can likely be found at any local library, most great books are. Also available online for $3-$11.
Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays, Penguin Press (2009)
5 Feel Good Songs
1)Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole-Somewhere Over the Rainbow
“Someday I’ll wish upon a star/and wake up where the clouds are far behind me”
Iz’s rendition of the standard is plain ol’ dreamy. It’s not much else to say…
2)Hi-Tek/Talib Kweli-The Blast
“Gotta keep on dancin”
“The Blast” is one of those songs that never gets old and still retains its relevancy. I don’t believe that to be a very easy task as an artist. Thirteen years after its release, there is nothing about the song that feels outdated. “The Blast” reminds me of one of those days where you stay inside and really clear your mind. The roll of thunder adds to the laid back feeling. Although Hi-Tek is known for being a producer his lyrics benefit this song and complement Kweli’s awareness. I’ve always enjoyed the jazzy undertone of this track and as the years grow it becomes more refined.
3)Melanie Fiona/J.Cole/Wale-Beautiful Bliss
”Babe you know it gets no better than this/it’s like sunshine over a rainy day/gets like a high could you take me away?/…this is my beautiful bliss”
Something about Beautiful Bliss is celebratory. It’s not only the production that makes the song feel grand. All three newcomers seem to be boastful and proud about their recent success. Very little could have went wrong having Wale, Melanie Fiona and J.Cole on the same track and very little did. Per the norm, Wale’s flow was choppy in some areas. This isn’t altogether wrong because he does seamlessly redirect himself. Throughout the song he plays the underdog and through Fiona’s tone and lyrics on the hook, comes out on top. J.Cole shines. While Wale plays the underdog, J.Cole walks us through the life of one. Despite his punchlines being memorable he is far from relying on them for applause. Cole possesses a trait in storytelling few rappers have: poignancy. As the drums roll at the end of his verse, Fiona enters and acts as the ribbon wrapped around this gift of a track.
4)VV Brown/Chiddy Bang-Children
“Watching the t.v. man kids just want to be famous/and be a big star rather be known than be nameless”
If you get past the ice cream truck tune you’ll hear that “Children” is more serious than anything. Even still, this song is heavy on the dopamine. These days, if you want to send a message the mainstream way you have to have a plan. “Children” is heavy material settled inside the most hypnotic and light rhythm. I believe that combination was very intentional. The song is even kind of tricky—-the very audience that Brown and Chiddy Bang are admonishing is exactly the demographic interested in the song. The lyrics aren’t very easy to understand but once you do you’ll be glad the beat is playful that way the words won’t bring you down too much.
5)Jason Mraz-Dynamo of Volition
“I do not keep up with statistics/I do not sleep with out a mistress/ I do not eat unless it’s fixed with some kind of sweet like a licorice”
Jason Mraz may be in a genre all his own. He is an excellent lyricist, songwriter and musician. He has mastered his style of music so much that a lot of his songs resemble each other in that they tend to move through you. ” Dynamo of Volition” is no different. It’s more intoxicating than a lot of other songs I’ve heard. The feel-good is laced throughout this song from start to finish. The beat changes a couple of times and the lyrics are quirky, sometimes even silly. If you listen though, “…Volition” is a hopeful little tune. You feel better about humanity even if it just for four minutes. That alone is a major accomplishment and reason to listen.
*WILDCARD*
Rihanna-We Found Love
“it’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny/but I gotta let it go”
I haven’t liked a Rihanna song since “Unfaithful”. She has a very, let’s say, specific tone. “We Found Love” though, has the power to transport me from the car or train or wherever I am when it plays. Rihanna almost cries throughout this song…and laughs at the same time. This song is happy and sad. It takes something out of me and puts something in me. Very few songs have the ability to move me like this one does. Even fewer Top 40 hits seem to stick with me like “We Found Love” and for that it is a feel good wildcard.
Random Favorite
Despite Rehab being Amy Winehouse’s biggest commercial hit it is one of her most memorable and intimate. Some of the best art comes from an artist sharing the most personal experiences with his/her audience. Rehab is Winehouse exposing a part of herself that results in distinguished music.
Above all, Rehab is just that: distinguished. Not only in comparison to contemporary hits but Rehab could stand against some of the most well-known songs of decades past. Just as personal as Billy Paul’s “Me & Mrs. Jones”, Winehouse crafted a song that guided listeners through a day in the life. The experience is so visual that it’s easy to sympathize with her emotions. Yet one of the greatest traits of the song is that Ms. Winehouse never tries to get listeners to pity her and her addiction. What she does attempt to do, and accomplish, is explain her circumstances with definition.
A certain amount of courage is required for someone to give of herself to the world with no inhibitions. Loneliness is often a topic that is overlooked and people often feel ashamed to admit to it. In the line “I don’t ever want to drink again/I just need a friend”, Winehouse openly admits to her lack of friendship as a factor to her drinking habit.
I feel drawn to this song because it provides a variety of emotions from Winehouse expressing her passion for music (“there’s nothing you can teach me/that I can’t learn from Mr.Hathaway”) to being in defense of not going into rehab (“I’m not going to spend ten weeks”).
While Amy Winehouse may have a catalogue full of deeply personal songs, Rehab is stand-out for its defiance and brilliance in songwriting. Commercial as it may be it still remains one of her best works. While it may have led to a fatal downfall, her habits were personified through her music. Amy Winehouse shines even in her pessimism. Similar to Etta James, she was an artist that seem to have sung and lived the blues and Rehab is a shining example.
Now available on Amazon is “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” by Amy Winehouse.
