They smile in your face all the time they want to take your place

the backstabbers

https://youtu.be/SBLM0KUERxQ

I want to thank all the is music, SOUL. I was living in the shed under a flat. Not all barns or sheds, were this big. Mine had 28 square meters. 2 parts. Green and orange walls and a disco. The windows were small. Look on the picture. The small windows under each apartment. No water, no toilet, barely heated. We, all 12, 13, 14, 15, lived like gang-members it was the time of the Mau Mau and other ‘famous’ gangs’ in the big cities in the states. In Leiden it was ‘South West’ a new housing estate.

I am not going to tell you what we all did. A large group of boys and girls. Just in the time of Bruce Lee and Kung Fu. So we had knives, wore nunchaku on our legs and fought with it. It was the time were the fight sports grew. We had all nationalities, so discrimination was bar nonsense.

 

More, this is about my gratitude, we had music. The birth of disco, that replaced school. That was the court to fight out all the differences,  in groups with weapons and soul and a heart. 

On the background there was ‘Hair’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, Deep Purple, Beatles, Stones, Van Morrison and all other time related music. Trust me, I knew it. But Soul was the thing.

We were not rich, many talented but very few did anything then live their life. Being good to your parents and friend. Mama and Papa were sacred. Very simple respectful. So what kind of music… SOUL touched my live ever since I was 11. A Little journey

Al Green, Let’s Stay Together

 

 

 

 

The temptations my papa was a rolling stone

I met the Temptations. We stayed in the same hotel in Antwerp I think it was 2007. Amazing. 

Jean Knight – Mr Big Stuff

Timmy Thomas Why can’t we live together

Isaac hayes shaft 1973

 

Aretha Franklin – I say a little prayer

https://youtu.be/KtBbyglq37E

James Brown…. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World 1966

https://youtu.be/7rq9OvaJyRc

Gladys Knight – “Midnight Train to Georgia

 

non soul but with warm heart

The Graduate – Sound of Silence

1967!!!

we cannot forget

The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (1970)

https://youtu.be/VzLzUqdGBNo

 

Hundreds of other songs. SOUL was the essence. What is the essence of soul?

We stood up for each other. Moved, fighting, dancing,  speedskating, football and the disco.

A long list more. There was such a thing as social support. Doors of houses were open.

 

Of course there were fights and trouble left and right. But we fought or talked it out. All my friends were more or less children of my parents, as I was for other parents.

Gratitude and being thankful were key words.

It was unthinkable that you would not greet your parents or friends.

That kind of shitty soulless ego stepped in in our time now. That is why we let our world and existence be ruined by imaginary talents and ego’s . Politicians and big Companies who have no SOUL. 

So listen to soul. Do NOT damage your soul with ungrateful lies. Do NOT believe politicians or journalist who are not involved with warmth and listening to people. They are servants.

You feel and listen, read and repeat SOUL

 

Be Thankful For What You’ve Got – William DeVaughn

https://youtu.be/PkXZA9SIBkU