This Is It (Kenny Loggins not MJ)

I LOVE THIS SONG ...



Family,

First let me begin by saying Jesus does not look like Kenny Loggins and when you see those street vendors with those framed glass pictures of Kenny Loggins tell the vendor this is not what Jesus looks like and see what he says... :-)

Second, I always thought this song was amazing. In the late 70's and into the 80's the musical landscape that traditional radio offered was simply the best.  Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers), Kenny Loggins, Hall & Oates, Bobby Caldwell and others offered us something very special in the way of what became know as Blue Eyed Soul.

Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins were during this post disco era great collaborators. I would love to know what their first meeting was like or what did they hear in one another's music that brought them together.  They co-wrote "What A Fool Believes" which earned Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers a "Song of the Year" Grammy in 1980 and they co-wrote "This Is It" which earned Kenny Loggins a "Best Pop Vocal Performance Male" Grammy 1981. BTW ...you don't have to listen to hard to hear Michael McDonald on the background...I don't know that the song would have been a monster hit without what his signature vocals added...

"This is It" was a favorite for me because I loved the rhythmic nature of the music, it's composition (it was more than a "track").  I loved the emphasis on the chorus. I loved the break in the Piano just before the chorus rung out ...This is it !!! as though Kenny Loggins was really trying to tell us something. The song feels like a wake up call, right ?

Fast forward 30 years and the song more than holds up across today's musical landscape.  It is played in heavy rotation on LA's KTWV the Wave (a format of soul, contemporary jazz, soft rock, adult contemporary...basically anybody over 35 has somewhere to go on their AM/FM dial). As I heard it twice in a span of 3 or 4 days I was given a chance to meditate and reflect on the lyrics. I was immediately taken back to a time when "the living was easy...(or at least easier)", but I also became VERY INSPIRED !!!

Though I am a lover of ALL things 70's most 80's and an all around vintage girl in a modern world, it was more than nostalgia that moved me when I heard the song.  The lyrics...the sermon...came alive.  I am sure the original intention was a love song.  The lyrics seem to suggest that if you ever leave that other dude alone, I am here for you. He sings,  "Let him believe /Or leave him behind /But keep me near in your heart /And know, whatever you do /I'm here by your side." 

But you guys know ART, it stubbornly resists one meaning...one interpretation. There is more than "double entendre", there are a multitude of meanings based on every individual experience. It is up to the listener...every listener to decide. I also believe that Carl Jung was on to something though when referring to our "Collective Unconscious".  I say that because Kenny Loggins' song "This is It" was a huge hit.  It resonated meaningfully enough with consumers who bought the single or the whole album. Either or both went Platinum (at least 1 million sold).

So I share the lyrics and a couple of videos here because this song for me...my meaning...my interpretation is a call to action...to as folks say all the time..."keep doing what you doing !" I realize everyday as Kenny preached in his record, "This is It...The waiting is over ...No room to run ..No way to hide ...No time for wondering why ...It's here ...The moment is now"  ....I truly believe ....THE MOMENT IS NOW !

Thanks Be To God
Danna

"This Is It" 
written by Kenny Loggings & Michael McDonald

There have been times in my life
I've been wondering why
Still somehow I believed
We'd always survive
Now I'm not so sure
You're waiting to hear
One good reason to try
But what more can I say
What's left to provide
You think that maybe it's over
Only if you want it to be
Are you gonna wait for your sign, your
miracle
Stand up and fight
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
Your back's to the corner
This is it
Don't be a fool anymore
This is it
The waiting is over
No room to run
No way to hide
No time for wondering why
It's here
The moment is now
About to decide
Let him believe
Or leave him behind
But keep me near in your heart
And know, whatever you do
I'm here by your side
You said that maybe it's over
Not if you don't want it to be
For once in your life, here's your miracle
Stand up and fight
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
You're going no further
This is it
Until it's over and done
No one can tell you what you know
Who makes the choice of how it goes
It's not up to me this time
You know
There comes a day in every life
This is it
Make no mistake where you are
This is it
You're going no further
This is it
Until it's over and done
This is it
One way or another
This is it
No one can tell what the future holds
This is it
Your back's to the corner
This is it
You make the choice of how it goes
This is it
The waiting is over
This is it
No one can tell what the future holds
This is it
You're going no further

Fences and Progress pt 2

BTW... the blog and both pictures were taken and sent from my phone (a crackberry)...see that ...progress and technology...just mesmerizing !

God's Best
Danna
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Fences and Progress

Jesus Be A Fence !

I am daily amazed and captivated by progress and technology. I am also admittedly a "little" addicted to Facebook. Djdannak's the name...social networking is oft times my game...

This evening as I was attempting to teach a sister in blogging something new, I learned new tricks myself. I was amazed to find out that I could email pictures and other media to my blogspot blog for immediate publishing. To the credit of a lot of networking sites I am on they all give you an address for sending stuff to the site, but I hadn't processed what that meant until tonight.

Oh you mean ....

I have in essence found a new way to share. I am not sure if another way to connect and communicate with my community is actually necessary, but it satisfies what at times feels like the insatiable itch to reach out, touch and talk to my peoples...

I am honestly very excited and giddy even about this avenue to share because it is emailing. I love emailing. I always have. I don't know about anyone else, but emailing makes up for all the snail mail I wrote (and intended to write) that I never got to the mailbox to send. It also makes up for letters that I looked for that didn't come...I can dish procrastination, but I can't always take it...

I still nonethelesslove letter writing. There is a groove and comfort in writing letters. Letter writing opens a space of liberation and safety that springs directly from the heart.

Letter writing whether public or private; personal or political connects the heart to the page (paper or web). It also sharpens my writing axe. From a place of passion I feel free to say whatever it takes to get my point across to a lover, friend or colleague.

At this place of freedom lies the axis of progress and technology
where inspiration roams free and creativity is born...daily

God's Best
Danna

PS:I am also sharing evidence of my turnaround trip to NYC to see Viola and Denzel in "Fences" and this is also to explain the lone picture of the amazing "Fences" marquis...check out me and my friend, Mickey too

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

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From: Danna Kiel <dannakiel@gmail.com>

Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 00:45:23 -0700

To: <dannakiel@att.blackberry.net>

Subject:

--
God's Best
Danna

Vote Kamala Harris Attorney General for the State of California - June 8th, 2010 (Endorsed by the SEIU, Mayor Antonio Villaragosa, The Los Angeles Times and Nancy Pelosi)
Vote Holly J. Mitchell 47th Aseembly District for the State of California - June 8th, 2010 (Endorsed by Karen Bass, Diane Watson and the California State Democratic Party)

Vote Barbara Boxer for for U.S. Senate - June 8th 2010

www.blogtalkradio.com/djdannak

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www.djdannak-changeisnow.blogspot.com

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Family, I have been doing a lot of "doing", "running" and "thinking". I am mastering film-making in my 40's. I have admittedly been in the "game" a minute and am clamping down to package all the skills into a something that is efficient, effective and most of all productive. In fact the goal is to produce High Quality content.

I am currently working on an MFA in Screenwriting. I am continuing to network and build an artistic community of not only fellowship and communion, but of quality and efficient (there's that word again) production. We are building a TEAM !

I am waiting on an edit now and while there are just elements out of my control that have slowed the process, I am pushing to get back on track and finished with this one and move on the next.

I am in constant count of my blessings. My son is healthy, the lights and other needed utilities are on and the key turns in the door. We are not hungry...ever. Many daily negotiate these things and I don't forget that.

I am however standing on God's word for more...I desire through prayer and supplication to build and sustain a career as a filmmaker. Everyday I do something teeny tiny or colossal toward my goal. Fear, worry and anxiety creep in...but in those moments I realize the fear, worry and anxiety are not only NOT my friends, but they are spirits of darkness and Paul had something to say to the folks at Ephesus about it...

Eph 6:10-17 (NIV) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

It is with this full armour that I fiercely protect my family and the dreams that God has given to me that he is bringing to pass. My journey is my journey and I am on the path of success...I also strive to be obedient: the greatest demonstration of our Faith...

I write here what I am trying to keep short and simply say to my team...my friends that are family and the family God bore me into - Be encouraged, as well as, Be of good courage - Deuteronomy 31:6 he tells his chosen people

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I therefore continue "doing", "running" and "thinking", as well as, "writing", "producing" and "directing" ...for these are the things I am called to do. My Dad called me this week and shared that he saw James Cameron (Titanic and Avatar) on a 60 Minutes interview. He said some things that were special so I posted on FB this status....

My Dad has begun in recent years to encourage my journey...he called me this morning to tell me he saw James Cameron interview on 60 minutes who says no matter how small your film..."You are a filmmaker" and to say..."that's what Danna is...'you are a filmmaker' " it meant the world to me (he also said he voted for my 'Ofrah' ...video :-)

As you guys know I auditioned for Oprah and need your support so vote for my audition...like Hezekiah says "I need you to survive"



God's Best
Danna