SHE WRITES - Lánre

Late last year when I went to my local guitar shop with the hope of buying an electro acoustic guitar to add to my Blue Vintage acoustic guitar, I was looking for something affordable that plays and sounds really well (I am still a guitar student; I picked up the instrument a year ago.)

The Shop assistant asked what I was looking as he took me round to showing me a selection of guitars within my price range. He took down a natural wood colour one and handed it to me to have a feel and play. As I started to strum & pluck, something caught my attention

The minute I laid my eyes on her, I had to have her.



I gave the guitar in my hands back to the shop assistant and walked straight to this lovely Pink Stagg electro acoustic guitar.... it was offered as a second hand sale and thankfully affordable.

I brought it home and my fiancé (now husband) said, what is this? (Still doesn't understand whyt I would go for pink! ;-o)

After a few rehearsals, I knew she had to be a girl (nothing to do with colour) for one, every gig I have taken her to, she gets all the attention and I get absolutely none. Which is good because then I am able to play with little or no pressure.

Yesterday, I decided to name her. After much thought I decided to follow the African community/family naming tradition by looking to the social network community of FACEBOOK and TWITTER. I declared my status a 'NAME MY PINK GUITAR DAY'

Over the Top (I know) but eh, why not ;)

At around 9PM I 'closed' the voting lines and started to count the entries; below are the submissions.

Barbie
Morenike
Jane
Pink Panther
Pink Lady
Pink drink
Raise your pinky
Lanre
Queen Nefertiti
Angel
Angeli
Twilight
Hot Stuff
Pucksy
Lady
Stella
Oluwatobiloba
Strings attached
Lassie
Jimi Hendrix
Fola
Jewel
Tiffany
Hephzibah
Pink strings
Pink Rock
Plonky
Plinky
Rudolph
Queen
L’Oreal

Thirty one in all!!! my guitar is definitely African, specifically Nigerian. HA! For those who don't know, it is not unusual for Nigerians to have several names. The other day a friend told me she had just been to a naming ceremony and the baby girl had 21 names (YEP! you heard that right 21!)

So, I went through the list above and got rid of names like; Pink strings, Strings attached, Pink Rock, Plonky, Hot stuff, Plinky, Lassie, Rudolph, Pucksy.. just because;
1) the last thing I want on my hands is a bullied guitar and
2) I wanted a name that means something; we are Africans you see and names has to have meanings)

I also got rid of names like L’Oreal, Pink Panther and Twilight because as far as I am concerned, they aren't original enough.

The next to go was Lanre and Jimi Hendrix just because;
1) this guitar already competes with me when it comes to attention so, it won't be taking my names (my middle name is Jimi) and
2) Being named after the Legendry Jimi Hendrix will be too much pressure for my lil' pink guitar to deal with.

After sifting through the lot, I was left with the following names;

Morenike
Queen Nefertiti
Stella
Angel
Fola
Jane
Oluwatobiloba (Tobi for short)

I had seven names to choose from and I just couldn't make up my mind or give a good reason why I would choose one above the other so I reckoned seven is a pretty good number; perfection, for those who are into numerology et al.

I think all seven names describe in one way or another what this pink guitar means to me (it really does) so this is what I'll do.. depending on how we feel on a particular day we may decide to go for all names or one.

SO tonight the 19th of January 2011, my guitar shall be called; Morenike, Fola, Oluwatobiloba, Angel, Stella, Jane, Queen Nefertiti by Stagg



Thanks to everyone who helped name her....

What's in a name you ask; another day, another blog I say!

and....Below is myself and Morenike in action (isn't she gorgeous?)

I came across singer songwriter Regina Skeptor a few days ago. To say I am wowed by her body of work would be an understatement.

First song that caught my attention was 'Call' same song was featured in the movie - The Chronicles of Nania; Prince Caspian

I went straight on to itunes and bought her new album - Live in London (she recorded 23 of her songs at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre) let's just say this album is all I have played for the past few days!

I kept going back to Track 16 'Laughing with' over and over again and each time i listened I come away thinking, why didn't I think of that?

Aren't the words below so true?


No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say, "We've got some bad new, sir"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

My thoughts?

Faith, Confusion, Doubt, Freedom, sincerity, ..... are some of the ingredients of a good song and when you hear it, you know it!