Hi, I’m a creative writer. I can write stories, prose, poetry, songs… hey, I even write great copy… I wrote the words and composed the music to a song called "Have You Found Love?” performed by the artist known as Opende. This song is not about anyone I know – living, dead, unborn or yet to be born. This is a sort of disclaimer on my part, for anyone out there who may get any such ideas. OK, shall we proceed…?

Like one of those love notes a guy writes to a girl with no intention of mailing it, since she’s already made a choice that works against him – and since there’s no loyalty left in her to salvage even if he sends the note…

He writes it only to help remember why he let her go when she wanted to, and to give himself a sense of, like “Well, I didn’t just stand there, or take it lying down, I wrote about it!”

The lyrics in the song actually turn the love note on its head, in that he’s not talking to one girl, but two. The first one, and the second one like her – who happens to be the one he really wants, not the first.

You feel me so far? He’s not chasing two girls, and he’s not what we used to call a “playa”, that’s why he stresses in the second line of verse 1 that he too wants “one, just one.”

In the month of February 2009, “Have You Found Love?” will be available for free download here, and at http://www.opende.net

Happy Valentines!

Malaika Reload A playa-correct re-write of the old classic, in street slang Swahili

Swahili (English in brackets)

Malaika, ‘naku chizi, Malaika (Angel, I’m crazy about you, Angel) Malaika, ‘naku chizi, Malaika (Angel, I’m crazy about you, Angel) Kwani ni hanye ‘je (How else should I date) Mlafi mwenzio (Fellow playa?) Tukipatana kama sina do (If we ever meet and perchance I’m broke) Nitakuoa, Malaika (I will still marry you, Angel)

Bado! (Not yet!)

Chapaa, zisi sumbue roho yako (Money? Do not let it worry your heart) Na presha, usiingize keja lako (And pressure, do not take into your house) Kwani tu hanye ‘je (How else should we date) Walafi wenzetu (Our fellow playas?) Tukipatana kama sina do (If we ever meet and perchance I’m broke) Nitakuoa, Malaika (I will still marry you, Angel)

Aaah, niwe na wewe (Aaah to be with you) Niwe na wewe siku zote (Being with you everyday, aaah) Ninatamani nikupate (I really long to get you, oooh) Ninatamani nikuone (I really long to see you) Kazini na nyumbane (At work and at home)

Malaika! (Angel)

Nitakuoa, Malaika (I will still marry you, Angel)

Malaika! (Angel)

Tukipatana kama sina do (If we ever meet and perchance I’m broke) Nitakuoa, Malaika (I will still marry you, Angel)

Hey!

I’ve uploaded a new song for ‘09. It’s called Malaika Reload. Check it out, n when u see it, vote right!

Opende