I need a remedy: Cue the Violins of Southern Rock

My musical tastes are quite eclectic. I grew up in the South Bronx so I was exposed to rap from an early stage in life. Although I didn’t take to it right away. I grew up liking Madonna although my mother admonished me to not see her as a role model.   My mother far preferred Country Western music and Mariachi. I just could not ever, ever get into mariachi.  I did like a fair amount of country western music which put us at odds with the rest of our South Bronx neighborhood. I loved the Police when I went away to boarding school and then got exposed to U2. I was never into Pink Floyd the way the stoners were all around me. I didn’t really take to Michael or Janet Jackson. Always far preferred Prince to Micheal. Came to appreciate Nitzer Ebb and Nine Inch Nails as somehow I came to learn about my inner angst and anger.

I am a die-hard New Yorker but I can appreciate many of the good qualities of the south-namely being the fried food, pie and slightly warmer weather.   I also love the local live music scene in the south.  I believe deep down it is how I continue to channel my mother.   She would have just loved being in a bar in Texas (well except for the alcohol-she was a teetotaler) listening to some good old live country, southern rock.  I believe I told you all a while back she used to refer to herself as the Puerto Rican cowgirl. She even had a t-shirt made stating that. It just cracked me up and now I look back fondly onto the lasting image that I have of that blue shirt. I wish I had it. But, I have no materials left that once belonged to my mom. A sore subject, indeed for me.

Nonetheless, If I had to pick a soundtrack to my life, It would have a bit of twang and rock.   Fusion. That is my essence. Give me fusion cuisine, fusion household and fusion musical tastes.  Something my mom taught me early on the spice of life comes mixed.   I have always been in a mixed crowd of friends, mixed life and mixed views.  For me there is nuance.   Grays can be annoying too I know. I far prefer the nuance of purple.   Try to figure that one out.

Have you heard of the rock band The Black Crowes?  Many would not think that they are played on heavy rotation on my iPod. Yet, they are.

I am especially fond of the song Remedy.  I go around these days wondering if I can have some remedy for what is ailing on me?

One of the stanzas notes:

“Baby, baby, why you dye your hair?
Why you always keeping with your mother’s dare?
So, baby, why who’s who, who, baby, know you too?
Tell me, did the other children scold on you?”

And I can really feel those lyrics.

So today, I am searching for that remedy. I feeling it coming closer. I know I will find my answers soon and will will trust in where I go.  Further, I have a feeling my mom would really like that song and will hum along with me.