I spent yesterday grieving. Surprised D’Angelo’s passing hit this hard. Not because I didn’t realize his impact on music. He’s my only celebrity crush from the neo soul era.

Nothing even matters. He and Lauryn Hill, I learned, laid that track down at her house in New Jersey. I love how she honored, acknowledged and memorialized him on her IG timeline.

A timeline.

D’Angelo died yesterday.

When I say celebrity crush, I mean before Mark Jenkins transformed his body for the Voodoo Album cover. He was shy about exposing his body, and subsequent to the Untitled (How Does it Feel) video- went into depression. After the weight gain, the crowd still shouted “Take your shirt off!” This is what I read/ heard.

Again, I don’t know why I’m surprised at the sinking feeling. When he sat at the piano, playing, and singing “Cruisin,” I was already a fan. I liked his lips and the way he cut his eyes real low. His voice sounded like love-making, even before “How Does It Feel?”

How does it feel?

I guess what I’m saying is I didn’t expect the actual heart-ache. I say “expect” as if there was some foreshadowing to this premature death.

I hate to write that, but I’ve been hearing about it lately.

I don’t want to consider root causes. Pick one.

I spent yesterday and today grieving. A constant barrage of grief, but I lift my now ancestors up. And I thank them.

Thank you, D’Angelo. Thank you Angie Stone. You are two of my faves.

Thank you Frankie Beverly.
And Queen Aretha.
Prince.
Michael.
Assata.
Afeni, because you gave us Tupac.
Roberta Flack.
Rich Homie Quan (because you were the soundtrack to my kids high school and college days).

And on.

While I grieved yesterday I:
–reminded my mother of her doctor’s appointment.
–worked from home.
–cooked for me and my (adult) children.
–checked on friends.
–made my morning workout.
–walked the dog.
–washed clothes.
–stretched.
–tried to drink more water.

It could be the weight of the world compounded with these situations that seem way too premature.

But, collectively, we are more powerful than we realize. We could all engage in deliberate breathing at the same time. Or deliberate silence. Or meditation. We could all hum at the same time. Anyway…

Categories: Live Entertainment, Music, Today's Post Inspired By

Tags: 90s, D'Angelo, Grief, Music Icon, neosoul