5 things Pepsi Funk Fest proved about the power of old-school music

The Pepsi Funk Fest was definitely the place to get your fix if you were looking to quench your thirst for the music made in an era where music actually taught you how to cope with life. The show opened up with Jon B who taught us not to listen to what people say simply because “They don’t know.” Followed by SWV, who truly were defined by the acronym of their group’s name, “Sisters With Voices.” Master P preceded their performance breaking up our R&B experience, getting us all riled up for TLC, followed by Babyface and then New Edition took us home and closed out this fabulous Pepsi Funk Festival.

The ladies from SWV taught women to let their guard down and not be afraid to tell the one you love “if you can’t explain why your man knocks you off your feet and open up and say if you are afraid of being alone. It’s OK to still let your man know if he makes you weak at the knees.” That’s a great thing.

1. My first reminder was how the ’90s were part of the time period when women were more supportive of their men and we loved telling them things like “Your the one for me”; not being afraid to let your man know “You’re always on my mind” so he can feel appreciated. One of my favorites was being able to tell that special someone “It’s all about you.” I don’t know what transitioned in music where we had to start letting the men know we can find another one to replace them in a heartbeat.
2. Master P took his street knowledge into the studio and record business. He formed groups and embodied the spirit of grass roots marketing using his street business savvy mind and a set of great music producers to keep the beats popping yet simple, implementing street knowledge into song. However, he wasn’t too hard-core to forget about the ice cream man. I miss the ice cream truck coming through the neighborhood every evening. Even though P brought this memory back, I got this weird feeling we weren’t talking about the same kind of ice cream man.
3. Babyface, Babyface, OMG did Babyface just remind me of like five different boyfriends I had and why we broke up? OK, who am I kidding, I wasn’t old enough to have a boyfriend when Babyface put those songs out, but now I know why women should date men who have jobs because they we could appreciate all the things they want to do for us “as soon as they come home from work.” I also remembered that it was Babyface who penned a lot of music for Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill and why he decided to not keep “My, My My” because nobody puts that Johnny Gill spin on a song and hits those notes like Mr. Johnny Gill.
4. Best of all Babyface reminded me of the true definition of a gentleman who  knows how to express his love to a woman and show her how much he genuinely cares for her. Knowing how to win a woman over like letting her know “you only think of her on two occasions like day and night.” Even though that was a song by The Deele it was a Babyface-inspired group. I miss those days when men truly wanted to court a woman before claiming her as his forever by asking for her hand in marriage. In today’s time #Wheredeydodatat is what the response would be.
5. New Edition reminded me of “Popcorn love” where kids dated and went for ice cream and you spent time talking on the phone, and I’m not sure there was a “telephone man” around that had to patch the calls through but definitely their parents must have explained how it works. These five brothers have been together since a young age and are the epitome of what it means to have a brotherhood that’s like family; and put belief in it being possible that some friends can remain more united over a lifetime with each other, than with their own family.

   

   Overall we were reminded that old-school values can last a lifetime. The best reminder about old-school music and seeing these groups still together and still making money together 30 years later should encourage everyone to follow any dream that rests within their hearts.

   

   Thank you Pepsi, AT&T and founders of the Funk Fest for bringing this concert to fruition and helping dreams become a reality.