#499: Rufus, Chaka Khan, ‘Ask Rufus’

ABC, 1977

A little background: Rufus was a funk band with Chaka Khan as the lead singer. The band went through many variations since the 1970s. Some fun hot goss about this album is that Chaka Khan was married to a businessman who apparently hated Andre Fischer, the drummer of Rufus. In the middle of a listening session, they got into a fistfight in the bathroom. And then Chaka started fighting Fischer. I want to know which song triggered it and why. Somebody tell me.

My favorite song on this album is Hollywood for OBVIOUS reasons. It has such a creepy good hook and my shoulders love doing a slithery little wave with this. I get why it is one of Chaka’s big hits.

Something to know about me is that this song lives in a very niche space in music that I cannot get enough of. It is the storyline of someone either going to Hollywood or leaving Hollywood. Midnight Train To Georgia and….I am sure there are others but my mind is blank. It feels so American - that cross-country journey full of optimism and motivation. It's those people that genuinely believe their steps have power and they can get somewhere if they just make those moves. I love it. I don’t know if I identify with it, especially after the past 1.5 pandemic years but man it is inspirational. It’s that a “star is born” complex. I love it.

I equally love songs about the return home and the protagonist’s mental struggle wrestling with their ego and the rationality that returning to their loving community might be better both for the ol’ pocketbook and the heart.

In both storylines, there is conviction of choice.

I wish I was more like the man in ‘Hollywood.’ I am constantly struggling between wanting to be near my family versus seeing the world and risking community to achieve my goals. I feel like I often have to choose and it is painful for me to make these choices between comfort and growth. The guy in the Hollywood song doesn’t seem to be conflicted. I wish I had the conviction to be on my way with the same sureness this fellow carries. maybe?

Top songs: Hollywood, Egyptian Song, Earth Song