By The Planet Ill Staff
And so after a full day of hearing about boo’d up couples or single haters, “Balentimes” Day comes to a close. Planet ill don’t love them hoes. But it does love the music. This last piece is how each of us came to love the music. Some choices may surprise you, others may resonate with you, but if you feel like doing so before you bring your day to a close, you should comment and add your song to the discussion. Enjoy.
Liz Belilovskaya
Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” made me love music. I first heard it at age 13. I found his Blues album at my step mom’s house. She had it in her CD rack, but never really listened to it. The dangerously elegant way he played that guitar of his really impressed me, and then he sang. His voice implored me to sharpen my ears but let my soul journey away from me on the notes that told his story. He loved a woman, but he has not seen her for a while, in “about 99 and ½ days”.
He found the door to his house locked upon his return home. He was at a loss for a little bit (during the seriously wicked solo) but then thought of a plan, to go back the way he came from down over the hill “cause if (his) baby don’t love him no more, (he) knows her sister will”. This song is the most wonderful piece of music, it also has some of the most selfish lyrics (not obscene) I’d heard at that time and I was immediately enticed. It is unforgivable that he is gone and I live my life never getting the chance to hear this song from the one man who can play it as it should be played.
Fawn Renee
I wish I could remember the exact day that I knew music was my soulmate, but I can’t. I just know that I was no more than 6 years old, and my father, a musician himself, was teaching me to a few chords on the piano. I had learned a sequence of chords and scales, which, once I perfected them, sounded beautiful. I was so pleased with myself. When I perfected the scale, my father said, “Here is the song that you’re playing, in its entirety. It’s by a woman named Nina Simone.” The song was “Here Comes The Sun.”
I had learn the first few chords of the piano-led song. When I heard the fullness and emotion in Simone’s voice, matched with the sound of the piano, accompanied by the fleeting percussion and subtle bass-line, I was in love. I remember smiling, from the inside out. And ever since that day, I’ve chased that feeling. Whether composing, singing or simply listening music, I’m always seeking the euphoria I felt the day I heard Nina Simone’s “Here Comes The Sun.”
Here_Comes_the_Sun_-_Nina_Simone
Shelz
PE’s “Rebel Without A Pause” goes down as the most impactful song I heard as a Hip Hop youngster. Bomb Squad was so unforgiving on the ears and Chuck D made black rage riveting to kids one generation removed from the Civil Rights era in a way their parents could not.
That song was loud, obnoxious, frantic, frenetic and commanding; all the things I was aspiring to be at the time. Lol… I may not have grown up to be as powerful as that song seemed to me then, but I can say it made me a lover of all things Hip-Hop (er…within reason.)
Public_Enemy_-_Rebel_Without_A_Pause
Malice Intended
By the time I was ten, I was already pretty much sold on rap music. I liked the sound and the attitude of it, but something was missing. I had yet to hear an artist or a song that truly spoke to me, something that would solidify and validate my connection with the music. I found that missing link in Eric B & Rakim’s “Paid in Full.” The track already grabbed me well before Rakim’s vocals came in. Instantly upon hearing the line “Thinking of master plan,” my connection to Hip-Hop became an unbreakable bond.
I was too young to truly understand what Rakim was talking about. All I knew was that the sound of his voice coupled with that immortal bassline demanded my full attention. “Paid in Full” became the first rap song that I knew by heart. I could recite the lyrics at the drop of a dime. To this very day, it’s still one of my very favorite songs. That single verse will always be untouchable in my mind.
Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full 06 Paid In Full
Odeisel
Run DMC’s King of Rock made me love Hip-Hop. No contest. But the long that made me fall in love with music and recognize its true range and power was “Saturn” for Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life. From the gigantic trumpeted intro to the snaking swirling basslines and the piano keys that pound. The movement of elements is so dynamic, even though the song itself isn’t very fast.
There are very subtle harp strings on the edge of the beat, nestled behind piano keys, the ticking of a clock and escalating synths that build to crescendo as he hits the break. After all of that, it settles right back into rhythm and continues on a path and the clock keeps ticking, bleeding into “with a cold expression on your face, saying give us what we want or we’ll destrooooooy.” Stevie touched on the evil of man, icy imperialism, and wasteful consumerism; all taken to task with the most beautiful elements of creation. Our very best, in bed with our very worst. It gets better every time I hear it.
DJ Fusion
I literally broke multiple cassettes, rewinding and fast forwarding this song over & over again from the classic “Midnight Marauders” album by A Tribe Called Quest. That jam was “Keep It Rollin.’” Just the interplay between Phife Dawg, Q-Tip & Large Professor effortlessly bragging over the ill, mellowed out Roy Ayers flute and drum sample, makes the track ridiculously insane.
Those cats flowed as naturally as the sun rising in the east over a real non-stereotypical beat for straight talking shit. The lyrics dropped in the mix that gave a mini-history of the Main Source breakup (“I’m Uptown chillin, takin in this Grandmaster Vic blend from the projects, the PJ’s, fuck them two DJ’s”) just give this track more flavor, even today.
A_Tribe_Called_Quest_-_Keep_It_Rollin’
Elianne Halbersberg
Trying to choose one song, for me, is like trying to choose one flavor at the ice cream counter, one topping on a pizza, or even one Bible verse. There are so many favorites for so many reasons in so many genres; so many that speak to my heart, make my head spin, make me fist-pump and head-bang, make me break down and cry. Thank God that feeling has stayed with me since I was a child. Narrow it down to one song? Impossible. Every artist has a catalog, a repertoire. It would do them no justice to show favoritism to one of their children and ignore the rest. But I clearly remember my first KISS. Where and when? It does not matter, because every song, every album, every concert, every YouTube video is like the first time all over again. They excite me today the way they did the first time I heard them, saw them; interviewed them. They say you never forget your first KISS. I haven’t, I won’t, I never will. I can’t wait for more.
KISS_-_I_Was_Made_For_Loving_You
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