The little sister, still thinking her brother holds all the answers, asks what songs he believes the group will play. They debate back and forth. "That was a single," the brother reminds, "of course that'll play." "That wasn't one of the popular ones, that won't happen," he does not install hope into his little sister.
Finally they get to the stage. "Clearly Backseat Love is going to happen," the sister observes as she notes the various cars on stage.
I bet you they are going to all come out of the cars and start with Backseat," the brother guesses.
Two agonizing hours later and running from people checking tickets, it a robotic voice comes on, welcoming all listeners to the N.E.R.D. listening party. The. brother and sister go wild.
Just two months ago my brother and I experienced the best N.E.R.D. experience I have experienced. I've listened to their music live three times now, got an autographed signed once, and took one picture with the one and only Chad Hugo.
Seeing as how I have been listening to NERD longer than my students have been living and younger than they are now, I am simply amazed at their new found radio popularity and fresh burst of internet articles. While at the listening party, I noticed the astonishing amount of times they used the N-Word and unusual sound. This did not bother me. They can release a blank song like Pootie Tang and I will still jam that windows down and all the way up. Still, I can't help but wonder if this is all a social experiment.
The first time I remember hearing any member's name was when I was student teaching and Pharrell's Happy grazed every single radio station. I wanted to shank my ears. This man wrote one of the best ass shaking songs of the early 90s Rump Shaker, and sampled my favorite Michael Jackson song to create Love will be right here- Pharrell's not new.
Anyway, back to the listening party. The N-Bomb was exploding all over the place. Yes, I was uncomfortable hearing this but why not enjoy the moment? As I listened to the beautiful sounds, I saw the words float across my face, these words are politically charged and I liked it! When the dancers stepped on stage I looked at my brother and noted, they were dressed militantly. The lyrics confirmed it.
If you look back at any N.E.R.D. CD from the past, if not all three, one member is gracing the cover. This new CD has a white woman with foil grill scrounging her pot hole in a stereotypical way. Appropriation. Or so I see it as. In this album they are taking on political issues such as the disgusting police shooting that are NBD to some.
With the CD coming out tomorrow (and me writing this since last Thursday) I am excited to relisten. My least favorite song was "Don't Don't Do It." We were told the story behind it and for the inspiration, it was too happy. My favorite was "Rollin Them 7s" with the great Andre 3000 (who drew cartoon at Complex Con)- although at the time it sounded like a bunch of adlibbing.
No One Ever Really Dies- We Simply Change Form,
Megan
