Just My Luck

Self,

Up until now, I haven't won very much in terms of contests, and the likes. Don't get me wrong, I know that I'm blessed in other ways. So I kinda just feel that those unique 1-time random sort of blessings don't come my way because is the universe's way of spreading the blessings around to others.

So imagine my surprise..if not shock, when I learned that I was the appropriate caller to a local radio station here in LA to win a pair of tickets to see Anita Baker at the Nokia Theatre.

I enjoyed myself. Anita sounds GREAT. And considering that I think she actually came on stage a little drunk/high....she sounded fantastic, you know? I mean the look on her face suggested the intoxication...but not her singing. In fact it seemed she sang more clearly that night then I think I have heard her on some of the records.

My one slight disappointment was that for the most part she only did 10 songs. With the help of the band she stretched out the songs to use up time. With such an extensive body of work under her belt, I couldn't see the point in extending songs when there were sooooo many more she could have performed to use the time. Of course she did some of the classics;

"Sweet Love, "Mystery," "Same Ole Love," "You bring me Joy," "Giving You the Best that I Got," "Rapture," "No One in the World," and "Been So Long," Not in that exact order but you get the point. There was one song she did that I didn't recognize, that my friend said was from her most recent project (which I have not heard.)

At this point, I was a bit annoyed with the fact that she had "over" performed these songs (wonderfully) but I still didn't get to hear some of the others that I love and wanted to hear like;
"Lonely," "Love you to the Letter," "I Apologize," "Talk to Me," and "Body and Soul."

I was about to be a bit dissapointed because looking at the clock it was easy to tell that the show would have to be wrapped up soon. However she saved the show for me at least with the finale. The last song of the evening was one of my favorites, "Fairy Tales." And she punched it up a bit by having piano player, George Duke, who opened the show join her on stage along with recording artists, Chante Moore and Tyreese.

As exciting it was to have Chante and Tyreese on the stage...it seems that there weren't expecting to be on stage...and didn't really know the song. I have to say if Chante didn't know the song or just wasn't prepared she is a better musician than Tyeese because she was able to adlib a whole lot better than him. But oh well. I still enjoyed it and thought it was wonderful experience.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh