Sometimes the moment hits me harder than others. There have been times when I'm driving in my car and a certain song will play on the radio that makes my shoulders shake. Other times, like today at work, I just want to shriek, "WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME??!!!"
I am talking about Maxwell, who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2001. Okay, it was a concert, with thousands of other people there, but I'd like to think it was just the two of us in the room. This was back when his last album, Now, had been released and I was playing it nonstop, particularly "Lovers Only." A new singer by the name of Alicia Keys opened up for him and I spent the rest of the show drooling over Maxwell, or Max, as he lets me call him.
Max and I have a complicated history. Back in college, two of my roommates were crazy about him, but I just didn't understand. His music was alright, but I thought he was rather odd looking. His hair was all over his head and he was always doing something bizarre in his videos. I liked his music, but he wasn't on critical levels.
Then a few years later, I saw him do an interview on BET. I don't know what it was -- the sunglasses he wore, the tone of voice or his outfit -- but it was then that I got it. Dude was special. I was sold.
Because I worked (still do) in a creative environment, I was able to display the poster I bought from the 2001 concert near my desk. Of course my colleagues wanted to talk smack, particularly the men. One guy in particular always had something smart to say -- Maxwell's overrated, his music sucks, when is he coming out with a new single? I kept my head high and ignored the naysayers.
That was years ago. Now it's truly time to ask, 'When are you putting out a new single, Max?' I've been patient -- Lord knows I have been. I give him a fair dose of Google and I saved him as a friend on myspace, which includes a sample from his "upcoming" album. Other than that, I sit tight and check the new releases each week.
The problem is -- I am not a patient woman. I listened to one of my stations on Pandora.com the other day and they had the nerve to play Max's "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)." It took everything within me not to keep from falling out of my chair. Oh, Max. It was so good to hear his voice again.
Now I'm back to checking his website and Google, to see if I can get even a mention of a cd release date. Hopefully, I'll get some news soon. It's so hard to be dedicated, especially when there are so many men out there who deserve my appreciation.
(Photo from http://z.about.com/d/randb/1/0/Y/5/-/-/Maxwell.jpg)
12 comments:
I'd like to first discuss the disappearance of his gorgeous mane. What happened?? Sigh.
I want it back...he made an appearance recently at a party (read about it on my favorite entertainment blog) and he had a beautiful chocolate diva on his arm and looked really happy...I wonder if this is the beginning of a publicity jaunt for a new album. Hmmm....
And I'm not quite crazy about the snippet on the myspace page...I'm hoping for something more along the lines of Now or Urban Hang Suite. Omg, this man is fine. Have you seen his legs (that Cococure video)?? Omg, I nearly had a coronary. He's hawt.
Eh. The myspace single is alright. Doesn't mreally make my toes curl. And he is hawt! I can't recall seeing his legs, though. I'll have to investigate....
This does not have anything to do with your post but I wanted to put this out there if you dont mind.
Dunbar Village Protest.
I ripped this from What About Our Daughters blog the crew over ther have been fighting the good fight against the ill treatment of black women for a while now and deserve our support.
The protest may be to soon for some to get on the bus, as much as I want to go, I cant but I assure you the fight will be far from over. Stop by the blog and show them your support.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Dunbar Village: COUNTER PROTESTERS TO GREET SHARPTON FRIDAY AT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C.-November 13, 2007- When Rev. Al Sharpton descends on the Department of Justice headquarters on Friday, November 16, 2007, he'll be greeted by counter protesters asking why he and other African American leaders have refused to publicly comment on a horrific crime against humanity committed against a Black woman and her child in a housing project called Dunbar Village located in West Palm Beach, FL.
The Dunbar Village tragedy is the horrific story of the brutal gang rape, sodomy, and torture of a 35 year old black Haitian immigrant and her 12 year old son. 10 black teens forced their way into the victim's home at a public housing complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. The mother was forced to perform fellatio on her own son at gunpoint. The teens then cut and stabbed the mother and her son, poured cleaning
solvent on their skin and in their eyes, and would have set them both on fire, but as one teen suspect reported, no one in the gang had matches. Currently, only four suspects are in custody. During the 3 hour rape and torture, not a single neighbor called 911.
The counter protest was organized by Shane Johnson after he read about the crime on the blog, What About Our Daughters? "How is it that practically every social justice organization from the ACLU to the NAACP to the SCLC knows something about Dunbar Village but refuses to speak out about it?", asks, Shane Johnson who is a blogger and the author of Black Sapience…My .02 (http://blacksapience.blogspot.com). Johnson adds, "This protest is not to request that Sharpton and his allies march in West Palm Beach, but simply an inquiry regarding Rev. Sharpton's peculiar silence on this issue."
For over three months, Gina McCauley, who created the blog, What About Our Daughters? (whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com) has been asking why prominent African Americans have failed to make any public comment about the Dunbar Village crime. She posted the names and contact information of prominent African Americans and organizations on her
blog and despite numerous calls, emails and letters from readers, not a single person on the list has issued a public comment on the crime. She describes their refusal to publicly comment "Immoral Indifference."
"It is the height of hypocrisy that Black leaders have remained silent for so long about the Dunbar Village Rape tragedy. Black leaders remain silent about victims of Black on Black crime." McCauley noted on her blog that several prominent African American issued statements on the humane treatment of animals during the controversy surrounding Michael Vick. "We can get a statement about dogs, but not about two
human beings."
Tanisha Mathis, who operates the website Essential Presence (http://essentialpresence.blogspot.com) adds, "African Americans are falsely led to believe the mainstream is not sensitive to their issues but its proven repeatedly that it is, in fact, Black leaders and Black news entities that are the most silent in regards to crimes against Blacks like the Dunbar Village gang rape."
McCauley and Mathis have both blogged tirelessly about the Dunbar village case and have produced online videos in an effort to increase awareness of the crime. To date, their videos have been viewed almost 100,000 times. Mathis' video was featured on the local news in West Palm Beach, and Mathis has toured Dunbar village at the behest of local leaders.
The counter protesters will meet Rev. Al Sharpton and his supporters in Washington, DC at the Justice Department on Friday, November 16, 2007.
"This type of crime happened on our watch and our "leaders" are still silent. They are silent because they are indifferent. Their indifference is immoral." McCauley says.
This protest is a call to arms for anyone who cares about black women. For more information, contact Shane at sbjatlanta@yahoo.com , http://blacksapience.blogspot.com.
Posted by clnmike at 9:36 PM
November 14, 2007 6:51 PM
BTW Nice Blog You Got Here.
girl i feel you. i miss maxwell too! where art thou maxi!?
OMG, I never want to come back to the US again. This is horrifying. I'm at a loss. Speechless.
Haha I like how you “met” him…I know where did all the good music go? I love his album with sumthin’ sumthin’ on it. I still listen to that one…
s/c/w - thanks for the shout out on my blog! I too miss Maxwell - I was just listening to "This Woman's Worth" on my drive home!
Great blog - keep up the good work!
I need for BET to set aside an hour where Maxwell can just sing "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" over and over until I fall asleep. I was a little skeptical of him at first, too, but he does have that something something. I will help you organize a search party for old boy.
Aww s/c/w, don't remind me! *sniff*. I miss him too! I think it's about time to put his face on a milk carton or send out the bloodhounds...becuz bruh's been gone waaayyy too long...
...cool blog
i really wish i knew what you were talking about. sigh.
I'm glad to see that so many others feel the same way as I do!
@Michael Gonzalez: Thanks for visiting. Please stop by again!
@Motown: Apparently, I'll have to bombard you with some of Maxwell's stuff via youtube. Kinda like the way you did me with Amos Lee! =)
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