Experiencing KNAAN in Nashville Tennessee
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“IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS HUM FROM A POET WHOSE PULSE FELL DRUM DRUM DRUM!”
K’NAAN began with “In the Beginning” at The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, Tennessee. I was there standing in great anticipation for an artist just a few months ago I had never heard of. I couldn’t hold my excitement back as I tapped my foot on the hardwood floor. I had been waiting two weeks for this night. The stage crew, it seemed like, took forever to set up, but it was all worth it because what came next was one the GREATEST performances! The lights were turned down and a few moments after that K’naan appeared with a drum attached to his hip. I screamed as loud as I could without totally scaring the people around me and raised my hand in the air to the sound of his drum.
K’NAAN rocked the show and for the duration of his performance I had a permanent smile on my face. People swayed and responded by shouting and clapping. The best part was that for every song, he and the band (who were equally wonderful) got the crowd involved. We waived our hands side to side, back and forth and he even got the crowd to sing louder by remarking that we sounded like there were only ten people in the room and that he thought Nashville was a “music town.”
I sang every word like I had been listening to K’naan my entire life. He performed all of my favorites (but you have to admit that there is no favorite song with K’naan. THEY’RE ALL GREAT!) From “Soobax” to “ABC’s” to “Take a Minute” the crowd was feeling the vibe and the whole of Cannery Ballroom were raising their fist for freedom and screaming out LOVE!
AFTER K’naan departed the stage my roommate and I stayed to watch Matisyahu perform. Outside I was still buzzing with excitement but my heart was numb from joy. Next I proceeded to check if K’naan was still in the building and low and behold he was in the next room talking to a group of people! I got to meet the man who inspires me to keep on fighting for what I believe in and helps me renew what I know true Hip-Hop to be. And can you say DOWN TO EARTH AND HUMBLE! It was so very nice to meet him and share my thoughts with him and have him listen with intent and respect.
TO top off his performance K’NAAN performed “Waiving Flag.” One the most encouraging and hopeful songs I’ve ever heard and one of my favorites among all my favorite K’naan songs. Sometimes I would go to sleep humming that song because it would carry my soul on every note and my future in every word. To hear his music is one thing, but to experience it live is another. So to end I ask that no matter where you are, sing this with me. . .
“WHEN I GET OLDER I WILL BE STRONGER, THEY’LL CALL ME FREEDOM, JUST LIKE A WAIVING FLAG”
Thank you K’naan
Jayanni Webster
(Ticket Winner and Supporter)
“IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS HUM FROM A POET WHOSE PULSE FELL DRUM DRUM DRUM!”
K’NAAN began with “In the Beginning” at The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, Tennessee. I was there standing in great anticipation for an artist just a few months ago I had never heard of. I couldn’t hold my excitement back as I tapped my foot on the hardwood floor. I had been waiting two weeks for this night. The stage crew, it seemed like, took forever to set up, but it was all worth it because what came next was one the GREATEST performances! The lights were turned down and a few moments after that K’naan appeared with a drum attached to his hip. I screamed as loud as I could without totally scaring the people around me and raised my hand in the air to the sound of his drum.
K’NAAN rocked the show and for the duration of his performance I had a permanent smile on my face. People swayed and responded by shouting and clapping. The best part was that for every song, he and the band (who were equally wonderful) got the crowd involved. We waived our hands side to side, back and forth and he even got the crowd to sing louder by remarking that we sounded like there were only ten people in the room and that he thought Nashville was a “music town.”
I sang every word like I had been listening to K’naan my entire life. He performed all of my favorites (but you have to admit that there is no favorite song with K’naan. THEY’RE ALL GREAT!) From “Soobax” to “ABC’s” to “Take a Minute” the crowd was feeling the vibe and the whole of Cannery Ballroom were raising their fist for freedom and screaming out LOVE!
AFTER K’naan departed the stage my roommate and I stayed to watch Matisyahu perform. Outside I was still buzzing with excitement but my heart was numb from joy. Next I proceeded to check if K’naan was still in the building and low and behold he was in the next room talking to a group of people! I got to meet the man who inspires me to keep on fighting for what I believe in and helps me renew what I know true Hip-Hop to be. And can you say DOWN TO EARTH AND HUMBLE! It was so very nice to meet him and share my thoughts with him and have him listen with intent and respect.
TO top off his performance K’NAAN performed “Waiving Flag.” One the most encouraging and hopeful songs I’ve ever heard and one of my favorites among all my favorite K’naan songs. Sometimes I would go to sleep humming that song because it would carry my soul on every note and my future in every word. To hear his music is one thing, but to experience it live is another. So to end I ask that no matter where you are, sing this with me. . .
“WHEN I GET OLDER I WILL BE STRONGER, THEY’LL CALL ME FREEDOM, JUST LIKE A WAIVING FLAG”
Thank you K’naan
Jayanni Webster
(Ticket Winner and Supporter)
Comment
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Comment by Jayanni Webster on February 21, 2009 at 3:29am -
K'naan,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I check this site everyday and had no idea you commented on my blog post. Imagine how my face lit up when I saw your name. And yes hopefully we will meet again whether for a live performance or benefit concert (fingers crossed).
Serenity,
I must say, you have got to be one of my favorite people on this site. You have so much positive energy and your comments and blogs are always nice to read. And No you don’t have to cool it down . . . LOL. You’re great! Thanks for your comment.
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Comment by 2Serenity on February 5, 2009 at 7:49am -
Yay! So so happy for you, Jayanni! Excellent blog and your experience will last a life time. I know that *buzz* for real. AHHHHHH. I saw Michael Jackson in 1988 and screamed like I was 4! I was 14 at the time. Now at 35, I gotta cool it, hmm ..maybe not! ROFLMAO. Thank you for allowing me to relive a beautiful moment with you.
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Comment by YoursTruly on February 2, 2009 at 2:51am -
Well you were lovely Jayanni. Both you and your friend were great.
Thank you for the words, what you wrote about the experience was
really touching. And hopefully will see you again in Nashville, be it
jazz for justice or somewhere else.
And Ray, thank you for that considerate thought.
Lots of love everybody.
K'naan
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Comment by Jayanni Webster on December 19, 2008 at 8:25pm
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Thanks Omar and Zeddy. Its great to recieve positive feeback. I hope to share more with you guys in the future.
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Comment by zeddy on December 19, 2008 at 6:40pm -
Thank you Jayanni for sharing.....and your piece was really cool. And i think you are doing amazing things helping the people in africa. God bless and have a blessed day.
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Comment by Maalintas on December 17, 2008 at 7:52am -
Good work man,...I am like number 1 fan in the southern hemisphere and wish i get to see K'naan perform live one day.
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Comment by Jayanni Webster on December 11, 2008 at 10:47am
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Thank You Ray. I know what you mean about petitioning for an artist to do this and that. It is draining so that's why I would never badger K'naan about coming to a particular event. It was just my friend Joe and I talking about how great it would be for him to come to Jazz for Justice. Some of the petitions do sound like demands so I hope that didn't sound like one. I just try and go to his shows and I had to drive 3 ½ hours to Nashville to see him. (it was worth it!)
But Jazz for Justice is a non-profit student and faculty group at my University that promotes healing in Uganda through the power of music. Every year we put on a benefit concert for the Northern Uganda Girls Education Network. This past October it featured Futureman, Jeff Coffin, The Natti Love Joys, Ricky Starr and more. Our friends and directors of the Network, Winnie Lawoko-Olwe and Ms. Bettie came to the concert from Africa and members of our group annually travel to Uganda to visit the school and work with diplomats in the country. We do lots of things to bringing awareness to the conflicts in Africa but those are the main things.
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Comment by Ray on December 11, 2008 at 4:51am -
Hey Jayanni thanks for sharing! I live in Nashville, can't believe I missed the show! What is this Jazz for Justice? K'Naan reads enough of these posts he may just re-visit.
Also on a more critical note but wanting to share with the community - it's easy to want to request our artists (cultural heritage in the making, no?) to play this song, play that show, do this do that for us - cuz we love em so much. I guess it's a form of our appreciation, but I'm sure as an artist that can be draining, especially for the ones who actually DO sing, perform, live from their heart. To live from your heart you have to have a silent space within you where the poetry, love, inspiration is born and regenerated. All our requests can get to a point of being like an invasion in that sacred space. What do ya'll think? Appreciating the art and the artist, is the offering enough, or should we keep on petitioning for more? Thanks, ya'll. Peace be with you.
See you in Cleveland, K.
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Comment by Tanya on December 10, 2008 at 4:18pm -
completely agree
I'm believe in
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Comment by Jayanni Webster on December 10, 2008 at 12:54pm
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Tanya thank you again. . .I'm happy that we can connect through his music. I am very blessed to have had an opportunity to see him perform live and actually meet him. Don't give up hope! I never thought I would ever get a chance to meet him so keep hoping. Sometimes life has a way of surprising you. :)
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