Jill Scott on a Lovely Day

Doing a cover can never be an easy feat to imagine, let alone to carry through - especially if the song is one of the most recognised melodies. Add the fact that the song is by one of music’s most blessed sons, whose signature is known to be nothing less than genius.

So when Jill thought of translating Bill Wither’s ‘Lovely Day’ into her own special funk and contemporary quirkiness I wonder if she were labelled impudent, plucky and audacious even. I wonder too what her internal conversations regarding the song were, does she safely keep it in tune with Wither’s rendition or does she create an ode to Withers in a way that resonates and is most authentic to her.

I for one am lost in giving this a label, I respect Withers and Scott both, and although I can sing along with her on this melody, there is no doubt that the original remains my favourite rendition, with its full-bodied soul and the memories it elicits. What are your thoughts?

Bill Withers...

Or Jill Scott?

I’m so blessed…

One of the most beautiful things about ageing (and its grace) is the recognition of life's blessings and all the things that hold certain and stable in its conscious.
Line to tweet: I went to sleep stressed woke up refreshed I'm so blessed yeah yes

Jill, inter-racial dating and CNN

When Jill publicly made known her personal views on inter-racial dating she was labelled many things, the most shocking - a racist.

It's not that her views were foreign to many black women, many of us have had similar discussions with our girls. Instead, I believe that the uproar was about the expectations people have on public figures. Some of these expectations are for the rejection of authenticity and the adoption of political correctiveness... What needs to happen is for more of these discussions to happen so that the offended can get used to the notion of self expression.