I hope that you all feel loved today.
I sure do.
Aside from the obvious aesthetic attraction to Valentine's Day, I truly adore this holiday for the opportunity that it gives us to give away a little bit of sugar. Whether it's shown in tangible or intangible ways, we get to say, "I think you're the jam", and have it not be so out of context, on this day. Just as wearing fangs to work on October 31st is widely accepted, so is handing someone a tiny card with sparkly hearts on it on February 14th. I dig it.
I'm in New York City right now, working some, playing some. I performed at Rockwood Music Hall tonight in the Lower East Side, which is a venue I've played at a few times now. They are so lovely there. The sound is great in that room, and the people are super welcoming and friendly. (Where else will you receive a personalized Valentine from Amanda, the world's nicest bartender? I mean, really.)
I felt that it would have been flat-out irresponsible of me NOT to sing a batch of love songs, given the day at hand. So, I did my best to scrounge up a good list from my own catalog, with a few covers mixed in for good measure. I sang my version of 'Wildflowers' by Tom Petty, which I've done before on various occasions (humbly, always humbly). That song is everything you could ever ask a song to be: beautiful, honest, loving, and originally produced by Rick Rubin. The other cover was much more of a stretch. So much so, that it's actually more like musical paraphrasing. I don't think "cover" accurately describes what I do to the song. All I'm saying is that, when you sit down with a New Edition song from 1988, you really need to clear your mind of any expectations that you will, in any way, sound anything like the original artists... Like, at all. My version of 'If It Isn't Love' is (sadly) without the MPC drum fills, numerous modulations, and call-back gang vocals by Ronnie, Johnny, Ricky and Mike. But, it is very much the song that Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote and produced. The lyrics and vocal melody are untouched. I don't even change the gender, so in essence, I'm singing a love song about another woman. Fine. If you ask me (and even if you don't), Cyndi's version of 'When You Were Mine' (penned by Prince) is flawless, and especially so because she didn't change the "he" to "she". I can only hope that should we ever record my New Edition "cover", Fab 5 Freddie will appear in my video, like he did the original. Fab is right.
Anyhow, madness aside, the room was filled family tonight. My pals came out from all corners to support me, listen to my music, and eat some vegetarian diner food after the show. I even got to borrow sweet Jenny Brown's guitar for my set. I am so lucky. My sweetheart is far away tonight, on a ship at sea playing music with his friends... But, I wasn't lonely at all. It's not about romance this year, it's about community, and I have that in spades. It's also about watching RuPaul's Drag Race with your crew while eating freshly baked vegan chocolate chip cookies.
Here's to hearts, Cupid, conversation candies, flowers and sweet wishes.
Here's to love.
Happy Valentine's Day, friends.
Here are the songs and link to the photos. More photos by Dave Walsh to come... The dress is a combination of a table runner from France (donated by Gina Repas) and a 1940's tablecloth (donated by Linda Claflin). Thank you, ladies!
xoxo, bu
the streets of my town
between ocean and sea
brilliant mistakes
wildflowers
if it isn't love
true story
younger all the time
strong as you think
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