I was going to write about a different artist, but I just watched Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” documentary film and so many
old memories came back to my mind. I used to listen her album “My life” every single day when it was released. I was
just starting to follow my dream of having a music career. I had never been to the United States at that time and I
didn’t know about the “dark sides” of America. I was just a pure Japanese girl. You know Japan is such a safe, clean,
beautiful, and faithful country. Even if you are poor, it’s truly a different level of life you can live than in the
United States. Now I have been doing the music business a long time and living in the United States. That’s why I
understand more and feel her words from the “My Life” documentary film. So, let’s speak out about her.
Mary J. Blige was born on January 11, 1971 in the Bronx, New York. She grew up in a dangerous place where there was always violence, alcohol, and drugs around her.
She lost her self-respect and didn’t have anything else except her singing.
She recorded her singing with a karaoke machine, eventually signed with Uptown records in 1992, and released her debut album “What’s the 411?”. The album became a huge success and in 1995, Blidge released her second album “My life”, in which she wrote all of the songs. I think she put all of herself into the album.
Mary J. Blige has won 9 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 6 BET Awards, 9 NAACP Image Awards, 6 Soul Train Music Awards, 10 Billboard Awards, and more.
“Queen Of Hip Hop Soul” is Mary J. Blige’s nickname. But it’s not just a name. It’s really meant to be.
Her songs are always so strong, powerful, deep, and soulful. Sometimes she makes me cry with her voice and heart felt words. Famous songs are “Real Love” (1992), “Be Happy” (1994), “I’m Goin’ Down” (1995), “Love Is All I Need” (1997), “Be without you” (2005), “Just Fine” (2007), “No More Drama” (2001), “Family Affair” (2001) and many more.
I went to see her joint concert in 2007. It was with Carole King and Fergi at the Nippon Budokan in Japan. I was so surprised, wondering why she performed with them as the opening performer…But I know now. It’s not easy to understand “Black-Soul” for Japanese (I am also Japanese but I do understand)…This is so hard to explain but Japanese people don’t really know about the real history of black Americans.
I could tell that so many black women RESPECT Mary J. Blige when I watched “My life”. Her singing is not just singing. I can say her singing is a deep message and real words with notes. She speaks messages with notes. She is always herself with her message. That’s why her music is not just Catchy-Pop sounds.
Now I am living in the United States, so I feel like I want to hear her music again…more… And guess what was happened. We just had the Super Bowl on 2-13-2022 and one of the half time show artists was Mary J. Blige. She had only few minutes to sing but she sang with all of her spirit and soul. I really enjoyed her performance!!!
