Sign of The Times. I don’t remember this album until I am in a historically black college and house music is all the rage. Circa 1992, it was not uncommon for me to hear this familiar voice and the strangeness I thought associated with his music “Housequake.” But it was the next song that was filtering out that captivated my imagination about who Prince Rogers Nelson might really be. I liked it so much. What woman doesn’t want this. And even in college we like this. I recently re-discovered why some fans remain in a debate as to which is Prince’s best album or band. Prince himself never seemed to be conflicted about it. He continued to make creative and boundary pushing sounds expressing feeling in a way that die hard fands could appreciate and new lovers of his music could be in awe.

Because the album Sign of the Times holds the gem “Adore.” It made a lot of sense that “The Most Beautiful Girl” would follow in 1994. What is suprising is his belief that an alter ego named Camille needed to be employed. Any neutral listener can realize he employed both female and male energy for tunes such as “If I was Your Girlfriend.” And “I can never Take the place of Your Man.” The sheer passion of “Diamonds and Pearls,” Can make you forget the grammy worthy earlier albums of 1999 and Purple Rain.

With such a vast and diverse catalog, Prince Rogers Nelson more than deserved his flowers. He also left his soul and heart in his music for our listening experience.

I just checked out the new Bob Marley movie One Love. I have a better understanding of him, what he means to his movie and what a rastafarian and the rastafarian religion is. It was a pleasure. I hate that much of the music is not the best known music but it was still pleasant. I love that his arguable most famous is there. I also love that the focus is on a central concert over a vital issue. Check the movie out before it leaves theaters. It is family friendly, an education in cultural, diaspora, and musical history.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I'm going for a blast from the past this winter and reading the first in the Hunger Games series. Its as good as the movies and I love that the writer alludes to everything you eventually see in the movie series. Its very detailed and visual. As a writer, I learn a lot from her. As a reader, you would never need to see a film to love it. Check it out! Did you know that Katniss is not my favorite character? I'm actually an Effie lover. I'm also finding that I am truly not squarely in the corner for the marriage of Katniss and Peeta. Something that never resonated with me.