Sunday, June 03, 2007

new song favorites

I've really been enjoying the new music coming out lately. Two new songs which caught my ear are by India Arie. I'll admit to seeing her on an Oprah show (tivo'd of course) about summer favorites. Her performance took my breath away. The first song she sang was a special one she wrote for the girls she met at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. I love the lyrics and thought they were so appropriate for someone Jordan's age. If you have a girl you'll recognize the fragile age that girls go through self confidence wise. My Jordan has never been aprehensive about anything, but sometimes I see the beginnings of a "female" self doubt...the kind that we as women struggle with everyday which asks if we are enough as is, did we do enough, were we present in the roles expected of us. Jordan's development is perfectly normal and age appropriate, but I just want to squash as much of that self doubt and guilt so she can soar as she gets older. I sent the lyrics off with her in one of her camp letters. The song is called "Beautiful Flower" and I love the lyrics:

BEAUTIFUL FLOWER BY INDIA ARIE
This is a song for every girl who's ever been through something she thought she couldn't make it through, yeah
I sing these words because I was that that girl too
Wanting something better than this but who do I turn to?
Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives, mmmmmhh

Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind
And there is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you
Who are beautiful
Yeah you, who are brilliant
Yeah you, who are powerful
Yeah you, who are resilient

This is a song for every girl who feels that she is not special
Cause she don't look like a supermodel, Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you to shake your money maker
Shake your head and tell them, tell 'em you're a leader
Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives, Yeah

Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind
And there is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you
Who are beautiful
Yeah you, who are brilliant
Yeah you, who are powerful
Yeah you, who are resilient


The other song she performed on that show was called "There's Hope" and it is a song which could only pick up your mood. It's hard to stand still during the song and right now it is my early summer favorite (even over Maroon 5). The chorus goes:

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that


and it talks about how we all want a lot of things, but those aren't the key to true happiness. Check them out for your summer smiles. The Beautiful Flower song is available only in itunes with 100% of the proceeds going to the school. What are your current song favorites?

3 comments:

Dori Ann Dupré said...

Thanks for the India Arie song. LOVE the lyrics, very timely! Right now Im addicted to The Fray...

Maufi said...

Great lyrics. I have to check that out.

Ilka

Ann said...

The Fray is good...but I'm most familiar with their "How to save a life" tune due to Grey's Anatomy. I love almost all the music from that show and there is a great info source about the music choices on the show's website.