so, i’m most likely only doing this because i’m drunk…..i have always been so guarded but i wanted to give you a sneak peak. ‘black mermaid’ is a special song because i wrote it with jahi sundance, and we wrote it for my sister Cree summer to sing. I tried to write it from her perspective. I never had any intention of recording it myself, but after a lovely drunken night with Chin Injeti, we all rolled back to the studio, i whipped out the guitar and played this song…..Chin said “i don’t give a fuck who this is for, you need to record this song” and though i protested, i eventually caved in….and boy am i glad i did, because this is the song that spurred the rest of the album that i have just spent the last year making. This is the song that started it all. This is my first exercise in simplicity. Pretty much just me and a guitar, piano and upright bowed bass. Very little bells and whistles. And if it weren’t for Chin Injeti, I don’t know if any of it would have ever transpired. I’ll most likely take it down when i wake up, so i hope you enjoy it. I humbly ask that you listen in headphones.
Black Mermaid
i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
’cause i’m a black mermaid
nothing rarer you will find
i am here for you to love me
i’ve been here for all o’ time
and i will wait for you to see me and to understand
that a woman can restore the soul of any broken man
if you can look beyond the waves and just believe in me…..
i am the lighthouse standing strong atop the rocks and sand
’cause i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
and i’ve spent most of my life deep down inside myself
i’ve dreamt about the possibility of someone else
who could see the things i’ve seen and steal away with me
into the darkness we could fade because we know ourselves
and i’m his black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
yeah i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
and i’ve spent most of my life deep down inside myself
i’ve dreamt about the possibility of someone else
who could see the things i’ve seen and steal away with me
into the darkness we could fade because we LOVE ourselves
and i’m his black mermaid
he thinks i’m beautiful
yeah i’m his black mermaid
he thinks i’m beautiful
i am beautiful
(All the dark horses and all the good men,
won’t you come put me back together again?)
i am beautiful.
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He was a lovely man from Eritrea named Salem. He told me he spoke more than 7 languages – including the language of architecture – which yes, is a sort of language. He was the most interesting taxi driver i’ve met in a long time and he showed me his sketch book which was filled with wonderful portraits and mad scribblings of random quotes and information…..anyhoo, we had this amazing discussion about creativity and my favourite Martha Graham quote came up – i read it to him and he was so moved by it he insisted on writing it down. We pulled over and i dictated the quote to him line for line, and as he scribbled away people honked and the meter was still running but i didn’t care. I was so happy to share it with him. This quote was first paraphrased to me by my friend Simon Wilcox, who, unbeknownst to to her, singlehandedly lifted me out of a serious creative slump with her words. The next time i saw it in full was in Greg Well’s studio bathroom, which made me immediately like him.
without furthur ado, Martha Graham on expression and the creative process:
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action,and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost.
The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression.
It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.
You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.
You have to keep open and aware directly to urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.
No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”
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Published at: 02:02 pm - Thursday February 04 2010
I won’t even diminish this performance by using ‘fabulous’, ‘fierce’ or ‘face’.
This is where the lines between drag and performance art begin to blur.
All i know is that when my friend Raven took the stage with this lil number i was electrified.
Bow down b**ches!
You can see Raven in action live as the host of ’showgirls’ every Monday at Micky’s in weho, and if that isn’t enough you can also catch her deliciously casting shade on season 2 of Rupaul’s drag race Mondays at 9/8c on LOGO. They will also be showing the episodes at Micky’s before the live show for the rest of the season.
