Music is truly MY universal language

 

Growing up in a non-English speaking household, one would think that would be my first language (which for a very brief time was) but in spoken form, my every day language would be English. Umm….let me clarify: American English. The type of English that would probably be in between regular UK English and broken fresh off the boat (FOB) English. 

Though I feel that sometimes even when I do speak, people still don’t understand what I have just said. Yes, sometimes I do feel like the actor Chris Tucker’s Carter character from Rush Hour (New Line Cinema, 1998) when he says, frustratingly, “DO…YOU…UNDERSTAND…THE…WORDS…THAT…ARE…COMING…OUT…OF…MY…MOUTH?!”

Yes, and it’s English. My American English. But, if my spirit could speak let alone connect with anyone, MUSIC would be that language. Though vocally, there is a language barrier, there’s more to this music talk. The fact that not only words can paint a detailed picture of the message, but the instrumental beats and sounds evoke raw unexpressed emotions that have been dormant is just…AMAZING!!!

So…with that, I have compiled a list of MUSICAL artists, shows, and events that I have or would love to attend before the end of the score (pun intended!)

WANT TO SEE                    WILL SEE                    HAVE SEEN

Musicians/Bands

ACDC

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Boyz II Men (1985-present): 2018, Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA

Brian McKnight (1969-present): 2016, The Addition/Yoshi, The Fillmore District, San Francisco, CA

Bruce Springsteen

Bruno Mars (2009-present):  2013,The Moonshine Jungle Tour, HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA

Carlos Santana

Childish Gambino

Chris Brown

Chrissette Michele (1982-present): Maxwell’s BLACKsummer’snight Tour, Sleep Train Pavillion, Concord, CA

Common (1972-present): Maxwell’s BLACKsummer’snight Tour, Sleep Train Pavillion, Concord, CA

DJ Snake

E-40 (1995-present): The Great Xscape Tour, guest performance, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Fleetwood Mac

Foo Fighters

Fugees

Gap Band

George Clinton (Funkadelics)

Gorillaz

Green Day

Harry Connick Jr.

Heptones

Ice Cube

India.Arie

Izzy Bizu

J. Cole

Jamiroquai

Janet Jackson (1966-present): The Unbreakable Tour, SF Bill Graham Civic Center, San Francisco, CA

Jimmy Cliff

Jon Bon Jovi

K-Ci & JoJo

Kanye West

Kendrick Lamar

Kenny G

The Killers

Lauryn Hill (1975-present): The 20th Anniversary of the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA

Lucky Dube (1964-2007): Nightclub, Santa Clara, CA

Mariah Carey

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Monica (1995-present): The Great Xscape Tour, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Maxwell (1973-present): BLACKsummer’snight Tour, Sleep Train Pavillion, Concord, CA

Metallica:

Musiq Soulchild

My Chemical Romance

Nas

New Edition

Nicki Minaj

No Doubt

The O’Jays

O

Phil Collins

Prince (1958-2016): The Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Q

Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Sheila E. (1957-present): Prince’s Welcome 2 America Tour, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Sting

T

U2

V

White Stripes:

Xscape (1992-2018): The Great Xscape Tour, Oracle Area, Oakland, CA

Y

Z

Shows/Musicals

The Lion King (musical): 2015, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, CA

The Prince of Egypt (musical): 2017, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View, CA

Beauty and the Beast (musical): 2008, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, CA

Tchaivosky’s The Nut Cracker (ballet): 2018, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, CA

West Side Story (musical)

Fiddler on the Roof (musical)

Swan Lake (ballet)

Romeo and Juliet (ballet)

Peter Pan (ballet)

Giselle (ballet)

Wicked (musical): 2009, SHN Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Les Miserables (musical)

Hamilton (musical)

Guys and Dolls (musical)

The Wiz (musical)

Events/Festivals

Coachella (CA)

Desert Trip (CA)

Essence Festival (LA)

Lollapallooza (IL)

Bonnaroo (TN)

American Folk Festival (ME)

Burning Man (NV)

Restival (AZ)

Rhythm & Vines (UK, NZ)