Dress 19 : You give me Butterflyz

Growing up as I mentioned I loved listening to Whitney and Mariah.  I would listen to Rick Dees and the Weekly Top 40 once a week that was broadcast on Fox FM and it was the top 40 from the USA.  While other kids at school were listening to Nirvana or Silverchair I was listening to Toni Braxton, Monica and Tupac.  I didn’t really see it as different until I changed to my second high school and the cutest boy in class offered to rescue my tape when it was eaten by my Walkman.  He only gave me a look when it was rescued and he saw it was Boyz II Men.

I did listen to all the main pop music that was coming out like Aqua and Britney Spears.  But at the time I was happier discovering people like Destiny’s Child and Mase.  One of those discoveries around that time was Alicia Keys!  I remember paying her album Songs in A Minor for the first time and it felt like I was transported straight to Harlem.  Her voice was so rich and pure it was an amazing album to listen to.

A few times at school the boys would give me a hard time and call me names for listening to RnB and rap.  I discovered one day that they were all listening to the same!  I will admit I did also wear cross colour jeans (no dresses then) and did try to braid my hair in little plaits.  This was also while wearing Billabong and Rip Curl, I was certainly a walking contradiction.

Around that time it seemed that the smaller ethnic groups were drawn to RnB and rap.  I remember going to RnB singing competitions when I was in a duet and all the people introducing themselves as ‘Malaysian Australian’ ‘Chilean Australian’ and then they would look to me and ask ‘So what are you?’.. I’d answer ‘Australian’ and they would ask ‘But what about your parents?’ and again I would answer ‘Australian’.  I was at this time in the minority but as soon as everyone started dancing to Next or Mary J Bleige race or nationality were completely forgotten.  There is even video of me in an RnB group called Tabu where I actually rap TLC (that video will never be seen again!).

Moving to the US you would have thought I was in music heaven.  One moment that makes me smile is driving down an LA freeway with a friend who worked at Disneyland and he was impressed when I could rap the whole of Tupac’s California Love in an Australian accent.  But being there and listening to that music my interest in it started to wear off. It really didn’t fit who I was or give me any sort of reflection of where I was in life.  It was only then that I discovered rock,  music and lyrics that actually meant more to me. 

I will still always have a soft spot for Brandy and dance along to Montel Jordan but now my music heart belongs solely to another genre. 

Day 19 : You give me Butterflyz
Bought: 6 months
Price Range: 10.00
From: H&M New York
What I like about it: I LOVE the colours and the pattern. 
Tag Info: Made in India,H&M, 100 % polyester
Photo Credit: KMcKinnon