:(
I feel like I'm in the throes of seasonal affect. I don't know if it's a matter of coming from a few days in the California sunshine to be smacked in the face by dry-ass blasts of misery whenever I turn a fucking corner (or even when I don't), or if it's just that said blasts of misery seem here to stay forever (if the world is supposed to be warming, don't we at least get a period of tropical enjoyment before we all have to start wrestling for water and shit?). Whatever. It's a dark time.
And then, adding insult to dry, cracked skin, I get this fucking message in my inbox:
I'm telling you, YouTube fosters the most idiotic way of assessing situations, no matter on what side of any given issue said idiot falls on. I don't understand how reporting on hatred is in any way inappropriate, and I really don't understand how anyone could watch that video and figure that whomever posted it condones the point of view represented (in case you missed it, it was from that doc about the Phelps family, and it featured kids spouting the anti-gay nonsense that's clearly been programmed in them). More and more, I feel like hyper-sensitivity just breeds moronic decisions.
But that's just me being dark again. Even before I got this email that now has YouTube death breathing down my neck, I was low. So on the subway yesterday, I tried to cheer myself up by listening to Groove Theory's "Tell Me." It usually seems to do the trick, but it didn't that time, so I let my '90s playlist play on and the next track was En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)," which actually did make me feel better. That song has always been about hope to me -- it was the last thing the original lineup released together and it's one of the best things they've ever done. As morbid as it is, I find it really uplifting that one's final moment can also be the one that shines the brightest, not because of the finality, but in spite of it. Anyway, here it is:
I know, it's so queer to find hope in a fucking En Vogue song, but sometimes you gotta take it where you can get it, you know?
Go to an Amel Larrieux show the next time she's in the city. I promise it won't disappoint. Though you missed the Valentine's day show she's sure to come back. And the absolute best bringing your spirits up part of the show--everyone in the audience up in their seats singing tell me with her as she threads through the crowd belting it out. Good times. Keep your head up (another good one to listen to).
Posted by: Salome | February 28, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Thnaks Rich! You just brightened my day too with that song! I haven't hear it in so long, and I love the matching outfits, dark lipstick and frizzy hair. Also, the guy in the video is HOT!
Posted by: Chanel | February 28, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Wow, I loved that song when I was younger. It was awesome to see the video, which I'd never seen before. So thanks for posting that!
Don't let those bitches get you down. Give your kitties a snuggle, take a break and eat a cookie, and remember that Tyra has been through it all before and she has persevered. Seriously, feel better!
Posted by: winston for president | February 28, 2008 at 02:29 PM
It's not just you being dark.
It's the eclipse of reason itself.
Posted by: Tanith | February 28, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I was complaining yesterday b/c I had to turn on the a/c (I live in Phoenix). I ranted and raved that I had all of 2 months where my bill wasn't over $200. I'll TRY and keep it in perspective b/c winter stuff is worse. *hug*
Thanks for reminding me of how much I liked this song. Keep your head up.
Posted by: mary | February 28, 2008 at 02:35 PM
I LOVED this song too - used to play it over and over, and I totally agree that it's a great song of hope. Also suffering from SAD (live in Toronto, where the weather is as bad or worse than NY) and feeling like there's no end in sight. If it makes you feel any better, your blog and your hilarious recaps of Flavor of Love on the VH1 blog cheer me up in this (literally) dark time. Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: Kim | February 28, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Yes, Mekhi Phifer was hot in that video. Feel better Rich. Youtube can go kick rocks.
Posted by: Hateraid | February 28, 2008 at 02:46 PM
riding the bus home from manhattan to queens and having a bad day, my ipod played mary j' & eve's "not today," with shania twain's "it only hurts when i breath," in a row and i was ballllling. the regulars on the bus just sat there and watched me sob for a good five minutes. and then i thought to myself, "i'm totally crying to shania twain. get yourself together."
it was a good cry and i'm glad it happened.
Posted by: christiaan | February 28, 2008 at 02:54 PM
so glad you had that song up, haven't heard it in forever and i just downloaded it. don't let youtube get you down, just imagine tyra as a homeless person, it makes me feel better
Posted by: John | February 28, 2008 at 03:10 PM
you were in cali?? :( i wish you paid a visit and watched antm with my sister and i last night... en vogue is the shiznits, as is mekhi... but not as much as you :)
Posted by: jtalia | February 28, 2008 at 03:18 PM
use buzznet.com ?
Posted by: raymi | February 28, 2008 at 03:48 PM
love you, rich. in a month it'll be slightly warmer?
Posted by: J | February 28, 2008 at 03:50 PM
You've got to keep everything in pesrpective. I mean, Tyra was homeless for a WHOLE DAY. One whole day. I mean, can you imagine? Oh, the agony, the agony.
And if that doesn't cheer you up, squish-face is gone!
does that help?
no? maybe some cheesecake?
Posted by: barby | February 28, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Winter blahs suck, Rich. Hope they go away soon for you. I've found a new word that makes me smile every time I say it..."twat-waffle". Rates up there with "ass-clown", don't you think?
Posted by: Deb | February 28, 2008 at 04:34 PM
This winter has been brutally dreary - everyone I know has been depressed by it. In Chicago, it's just non-stop cold and snow. It gets to the point where even if it's 12 degrees, you're kinda happy because at least the sun is shining. I demand summer.
I LOL'd at Barby's comment - so true, Tyra was "homeless" for a whole fucking day, so...um...she knows what dark days are, don't hate! Most Laughably Offensive ANTM Photoshoot Ever.
Posted by: Joe M | February 28, 2008 at 04:55 PM
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Posted by: jacquie | February 28, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Oh what the fuck! Youtube is retarded.
Posted by: Gillian | February 28, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Ugh. I've had the same type of week. "Turn It Up Turn It Loose" is a better instant-happiness EnVogue jam. Hang in there.
Posted by: JB | February 28, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Sorry. "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" UGH! Worst week ever.
Posted by: JB | February 28, 2008 at 05:33 PM
The cross-eyed one was always my favorite. Even if she did have the worst voice.
Posted by: Jasmine | February 28, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Aw. Hang in there, Rich. Sending you virtual sunshine, care bears, kittens, and hippies from the Bay Area.
Posted by: bellasugar | February 28, 2008 at 06:10 PM
I hate how just one person can ruin things for everyone.
Great video pick. This was when Mekhi Pfifer was the HOTNESS! I miss the original En Vogue. And Groove Theory was da bomb! Glad I got to see them live with D'Angelo over a decade ago. Did I just date myself?
Posted by: Baby Girl | February 28, 2008 at 06:54 PM
En Vogue performed at my local Pride festival last summer and used "Don't Let Go" as their encore. Now take the amount of awesome you can imagine that to be, and multiply it by a factor of at least ten. They definitely had the nostalgia thing going for them, and even if they hadn't sounded very good, it would have still been fun. That said, they sounded amazing.
Posted by: Rae | February 28, 2008 at 06:55 PM
I love En Vogue SO MUCH. There's just something so much more sincere, substantial, and believeable in their delivery, as compared to contemporary R&B artists. Seriously, even Destiny's Child was just a poorly-named cheap En Vogue imitation.
Posted by: KatieD | February 28, 2008 at 07:09 PM
I had *NO* idea that Amel Larrieux was the Groove Theory girl! That is insanity.... also, Don't Let Go is my favorite of En Vogue's work..... Loved them. Glad you got some good vibes. Like you said, you gotta take them where you can get them ESPECIALLY in cold-ass February.
Jules
House of Jules
Posted by: bigpikchur.blogspot.com | February 28, 2008 at 07:34 PM