PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Nikki (with Joliz)

Hi All,

I had the privilege to have a few brief encounters over the years with the great poet, educator and activist Nikki Giovanni. She passed away last December. If you're interested there are many videos on YouTube about her.

“Mothers” passage sung by Joliz going into the break, Copyright © 1972 by Nikki Giovanni.

So, this is our latest called Nikki.

I saw Nikki Giovanni outside the A train
She was reading a book by Baldwin and whispering the quotes
She had that Harlem quiet
The kind that makes you feel loud, even if you haven’t said a word all day
She looked up at me once
Like she already knew the next ten things I would say
And of course none of that mattered

She wrote poems like switchblades
And carved song verses on subway tiles
With truth tucked in the chorus
Love poems for the revolution and letters to the dead
All written in lipstick and ink
Some folks talk about hope
She talked about survival
Anyone knows there's a difference

“I see the moon
The moon sees me
God bless the moon
And god bless me”

I asked her once, I said Nikki, do you still believe in change
She half smiled and said, “Man, I believe in kids, I believe in rage,
I believe in writing it down so they don’t forget our names.”
“You either speak up or get buried under someone else's story.”
Then she walked into that bookstore on 125th like it was a church
In a way I guess it was a church

I ran into her much later at a reading downtown
Tiny room, bad mic, nobody listening but the ghosts
She read a line about her grandmother’s hands
The room went quiet like it finally remembered what hands are for
The words, not angry, not loud, but like a bullet that only hits the guilty
Truth is a loaded pistol

But Nikki
She’s in the cracks
She’s in the ink smudge
The subway echo
The line you wake up hearing but don’t remember writing
Nikki
She’s still walking this city
Just quiet enough to make the truth sound loud

BIAB Tracks:
2877: Bass, Acoustic, Americana 060
3394: Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm 070
3160: Guitar, Baritone, Electric, Rhythm 060
0841: Guitar, Electric, Gritty, Rhythm 065
0688: Organ, B3, Background 065
2058: MIDI SuperTracks, Strings, Rhythm 085
RealDrums: AmericanaRoots16th
Other Notes:
Bob Mic: Logitech Blue Yeti
Bob Vocals: Logic Pro
Joliz Mic: Audio Technica AT2020USB+
Joliz Vocals: GarageBand
Waves Vocal Rider - All Vocals
Pre-Production: Track Editing GarageBand & Logic Pro
Izotope Nectar 3 Elements for Vocals
Izotope Plasma for Instrument Tracks Processing
Final Track Mix & Master: Logic Pro

As always - thanks for listening!

Bob

Cool, Bob. I'm not familiar with this woman, but I love the introduction by tribute. The talky-singy approach really works especially with the accompanying vocal in the background and the chorus. I love "she looked up at me once
Like she already knew the next ten things I would say". You have such a way with conveying character with your lyrics.

Beth,

That’s very kind. Thanks from both of us.

Bob

WOW, this is special. Subtle and powerful, ya'll crushed, absolutely crushed this. Amazing lyrics and musical backdrop. Was there a mandolin solo? I was too hypnotized to notice.

Only knew peripherally about Nikki, but a few minutes on the web pulled enough of her life together to warrant another WOW! A life well lived.

Ron,

Thanks so much for the kind words. We truly appreciate it.

I actually had a mandolin solo and different arrangement, but it didn't quite work for this song. I've since removed that reference from the notes.

Thanks again!

Bob

Of course the my first listen after time away is Bob Dean's new one. Man, this is so cool with your spoken words with Joliz's magic behind them, then she shines through to punctuate them. Man, you two are one amazing creator of music.

Bob, this is an outstanding song
A fantastic tribute to Nikki
Fantastic backing tracks
IMHO this is your best to date
Loved it

WOW.

What a song. What. A. Song.

Her quotes, and the last two stanzas in particular ... oh wow.

Joliz soars.

You, Bob, are channeling someone like Dylan or someone.

This is EXTRAORDINARY, even by your incredible standards.

One of your very, very, very best. This should be everywhere, on every radio.

I don't know of Ms. Giovanni, but a) I want to hear more, now; and b) what a fitting homage to her.

I love how your voice, Bob, gathers urgency as the song continues. My word.

Hats off, both of you.

Marty,

Glad you are back and recovering! Thanks so much for the kind review. We appreciate it!

Bob