Synopses & Reviews
“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.” —Stevie Wonder, “Sir Duke”
In 2003, young professor Ferentz LaFargue traveled to Paris, where his fiancée, Tricia, declared she wasnt happy with their relationship, ending what he thought was a wonderful engagement. After days of “craying”—“that sorrow-laden blend of crying and praying delivered in perfect pitch by those in mourning”—Ferentz happened upon Stevie Wonders 1976 classic double album Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was a healing, spiritual trip down memory lane, helping him to come to terms with his breakup and reflect on how songs in general have been linked to his life.
In this book, Ferentz invites us to get cozy and listen as he hits PLAY on meaningful tracks from Wonder and others, including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, LL Cool J, Beenie Man, Sheryl Crow, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Black Sabbath. He recalls:
How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith video “Walk This Way” helped to change an adolescent Ferentz from outcast to authority figure
How Michael Jacksons Thriller brought back a traumatic childhood experience
How Kanye Wests “Jesus Walks” speaks to the tension between his Christian beliefs and his need to rip it up in clubs as a hip-hop head
In the tradition of Nick Hornbys Songbook¸ these words paint a portrait of a life framed by sounds, allowing all of us to think about what songs have been key in our own lives.
Synopsis
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. Stevie Wonder, Sir Duke
In 2003, young professor Ferentz LaFargue traveled to Paris, where his fiancee, Tricia, declared she wasn t happy with their relationship, ending what he thought was a wonderful engagement. After days of craying that sorrow-laden blend of crying and praying delivered in perfect pitch by those in mourning Ferentz happened upon Stevie Wonder s 1976 classic double album Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was a healing, spiritual trip down memory lane, helping him to come to terms with his breakup and reflect on how songs in general have been linked to his life.
In this book, Ferentz invites us to get cozy and listen as he hits PLAY on meaningful tracks from Wonder and others, including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, LL Cool J, Beenie Man, Sheryl Crow, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Black Sabbath. He recalls:
How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith video Walk This Way helped to change an adolescent Ferentz from outcast to authority figure
How Michael Jackson s Thriller brought back a traumatic childhood experience
How Kanye West s Jesus Walks speaks to the tension between his Christian beliefs and his need to rip it up in clubs as a hip-hop head
In the tradition of Nick Hornby s Songbook, these words paint a portrait of a life framed by sounds, allowing all of us to think about what songs have been key in our own lives.
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Synopsis
After author Ferentz LaFargue’s emotional breakup with his fiancée, he faced a crossroads, not sure whether to rid himself of their love’s bittersweet reminders or heed nostalgia’s pull. As he pored over their relationship’s remnants, he happened upon Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic
Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was like a trip down memory lane, with particular songs indelibly linked to formative episodes in his life.
In his book, LaFargue invites us to plop down on the floor with him and a pile of records and listen as he drops the needle on meaningful tracks from Wonder and many other artists, including Michael Jackson, Carly Simon, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Black Sabbath, and Fantasia Barrino. He vividly recalls:
·How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith video “Walk This Way” helped to change an adolescent LaFargue from outcast to authority figure.
• How the controversy around the R. Kelly and Michael Jackson sex abuse charges along with the Kelly song "I Wish" brings back a traumatic childhood experience.
·Blissful road trips with his fiancée and how she would overflow with joy when “Isn’t She Lovely” came on.
Published to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the album Songs in the Key of Life, this memoir is a portrait of a life framed by sound. It describes how music formed a man, and allows all of us to think about what songs have been key in our lives.
About the Author
Ferentz LaFargue earned a Ph.D. at Yale University and teaches literature at Eugene Lang College, New School University. He lives in Brooklyn.