1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: As media, all right, So sometimes I get invites to 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: do poetry at people's like Christmas services because you know, 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: church folk, Yeah, we know it's the end of the advent, baby, 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: so sometimes I get invited to do that. Now, I 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: don't really write like Christmas poems. I just like, I 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: don't know. I don't have a lot of like very 7 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: much like coming up a savior type beats. I don't 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: come from the snow, so I ain't got a lot 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: of things like that. And also I don't really like 10 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: Christmas music. Now, hear me out. This is my hottest 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: of takes about music. But that take actually led me 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: to the one poetry piece I have about Christmas, and 13 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: I got to do it for the Fox Soul Channel. 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: I got to be on TELEVI Vision doing this. Shout 15 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: out my boy she Han when they did a few 16 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: years back a Christmas special about poetry, and I wrote 17 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: a poem called I can't stand Christmas Music. So for 18 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: this tap in, I'm just gonna do that poetry piece 19 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: for you. I have a confession to make the hottest 20 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: of takes, and I welcome all fades. I'm no longer 21 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: afraid to state my truth and I know I'm not 22 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: alone in this. I can't stand Christmas music. There I 23 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: said it. I came to ride for those who suffer 24 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: in the passenger seats in silence, hurriedly looking for podcasts 25 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: to shove in the ear holes, while braving the mauls 26 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: who really really really loved their nephew but fully plan 27 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: out elaborate lies when their sister sends them the evite 28 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: to his recital, Those with the ready answer for everybody's question, 29 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: but what about this song? Or well, I know you 30 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: like this one? How many versions of the same song 31 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: is enough? It's the repetitness for me, this is sonic tyranny, 32 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: solidarity for those chased by jingle bells all the way home. 33 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: All I want for Christmas is for you to stop singing. 34 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: All I want for Christmas, and I will not be 35 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,839 Speaker 1: shamed for my anger. I am dreaming of a snowless 36 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: Christmas beach, bonfire, sand over snowfood, silent night. Please just 37 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: one and I'm taking all fades now. This doesn't mean 38 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: I don't love Christmas. And of course, what self loving 39 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: black brand would not acknowledge the notable exceptions of Stevie Wonder, 40 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: Nat King, Cole Snoop and Nate Dog outcast players ball, 41 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: That's absolutely a Christmas song. Argue with your mama for 42 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: the song on e thell hums to herself as she 43 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: stirs that cauldron of collective identity season with lowry and 44 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: long suffering. Or the bars Uncle William got about the 45 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: six tray bone in cousin Shan's hand and that he 46 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: has no choice but to play unc is still undefeated. 47 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: Or the guttural, beautiful melody of Christmas Eve Communion Merleau 48 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: and Motherboards, whom, despite my postgraduate studies decolonized library and 49 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: theological training on historical and political understanding of the holidays, 50 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: seems to with an unbothered patience commune with the advent. 51 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: At a cellular level, these songs are in their bones. 52 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: It's a level I must admit I've never reached. I 53 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: ain't survived what they have. They fellowshipped with his sufferings. 54 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: They say, young man, you sing with your mouth, we 55 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: sing with our souls. You know the roots of all this, 56 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: But you can't smell the flowers? Hark, can't you hear 57 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: the herald angels sing? I say, Grandma, ain't no angel 58 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: in the Bible named Harold Well, I said to myself, 59 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: because I value my life, and eventually they drop their 60 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: greatest nug of wisdom. Son, just keep on living, Oh, 61 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: when I do love the song of clapbacks in the 62 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: key of life that teaches you life keys like we 63 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: drag you because we love you. We have a thick 64 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: skin and a soft heart. My middle name is Emmanuel. 65 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: Aunt Stephanie used to sing over my cradle, you manual 66 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: God with us, And around this time of year, when 67 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: I'm dozing off, I can kind of still hear her. 68 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: I like that song. Oh, I like the sounds of 69 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: my neighborhood. They got great songs too, the sound of 70 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: pasole and inebriated, theos and chenthde blasting to the wee 71 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: hours of the night. Listen on't call the popo. Just 72 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: go get you a plate. Trust me, you're invited. Go 73 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: sing along. You're gonna get some of the words wrong. 74 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: It's cool. They family, felise. Now he died, You got it. 75 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: Trade them some to my list for that mac and cheese. 76 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: Well maybe not the mac and cheese, but something of 77 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: equal value. Ask him about the bread with the little 78 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 1: baby Jesus in it, and the song that go with 79 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: it it low key slaps. Then gone back across the street, 80 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: throw on some Kirk Franklin and cut the rug. Let 81 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: the spirit get into your spirit. Now behold the lamb, 82 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: the reason for the season, raining down melodies. Okay, huh, 83 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: I guess I do like Christmas music. It just depends 84 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: on the song