“Seriously considered it as an option for rock your asana but then retracted last minute for fear of offending the tribe, who might not appreciate its eloquence.”
The “it” in question?
Now, I don’t know what kind of world Andrea lives in, but a world in which one cannot play Ice Cube freely in every situation is one in which the Taliban has already won.
But in MY world, the Taliban has not won!
In this world, Barack Obama jumped out a helicopter from 1,000 feet with no parachute, killed 17 Taliban nutjob guards using the ancient art of shadowboxing, and ripped Osama Bin Laden’s heart from his chest with his bare hands.
Barack Obama did not defend our freedom just to see us give us the very freedom that drove his vengeance.
So, for my country, I give you
Lyrics are in italics. Passionate ranting in regular font. From the start, I should make it clear that I will concentrate on only those lyrics relevant to the practice of yoga. Lots of rappers say lots of stuff.
Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God
I should be able to stop after this one line. Ice Cube's entire purpose in writing this song was to express gratitude. Here, he expresses gratitude for the new born day with a terse eloquence that the Dali Lama himself can appreciate, if not match. Gratitude may not be one of the four brahmavihāras towards which Master Patanjali points us, but gratitude is an extremely important virtue in yoga. If I'm not mistaken, the current sign in the front of the world's greatest yoga studio ever is one word, and it isn't "Shelly" (yet).
That sign says gratitude.
No barking from the dog, no smog
And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog
So what is Ice Cube grateful for? First, he is grateful for a clean environment. We yogis like the environment. You may have seen us driving our hybrids to yoga and eating expensive but pesticide-free organic food. We also like non violence, not just to fellow people but to animals as well. The masters are pretty clear that one fully devoted to yoga will give up meat entirely. Surely the masters would approve of Osage Jackson's refusal to touch that swine.
I got my grub on, but didn't pig out
Moderation. Ice Cube understands that gluttony disrupts equanimity, so he eats only what he needs to sustain himself.
Called up the homies and I'm askin y'all
Which park, are y'all playin basketball?
Physical activity is one of the eight limbs of yoga. Cube understands that a sharp body leads to a sharp mind, which is necessary for the meditation needed to achieve the highest states.
Plus nobody I know got killed in South Central L.A.
Today was a good day
First and foremost, Cube is grateful for life. Every day that you and your peoples all wake up is a good day. It's like Tibetan Buddhism in a Raiders hat and black Wranglers.
The Lakers beat the Supersonics
So a natural body of water defeated a sound only produced by a gas-guzzling, man-made artifice? Again, yogis love nature.
In conclusion, Ice Cube is a Zen prophet for the new era. TWEDP strongly endorses the playing of "Today Was a Good Day," "Black Korea," and other Cube classics in any and all yoga classes.
Now, I don’t know what kind of world Andrea lives in, but a world in which one cannot play Ice Cube freely in every situation is one in which the Taliban has already won.
But in MY world, the Taliban has not won!
In this world, Barack Obama jumped out a helicopter from 1,000 feet with no parachute, killed 17 Taliban nutjob guards using the ancient art of shadowboxing, and ripped Osama Bin Laden’s heart from his chest with his bare hands.
Barack Obama did not defend our freedom just to see us give us the very freedom that drove his vengeance.
So, for my country, I give you
A Spirited Argument To Play Ice Cube’s “Today Was a Good Day” in Yoga Class
Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God
I should be able to stop after this one line. Ice Cube's entire purpose in writing this song was to express gratitude. Here, he expresses gratitude for the new born day with a terse eloquence that the Dali Lama himself can appreciate, if not match. Gratitude may not be one of the four brahmavihāras towards which Master Patanjali points us, but gratitude is an extremely important virtue in yoga. If I'm not mistaken, the current sign in the front of the world's greatest yoga studio ever is one word, and it isn't "Shelly" (yet).
That sign says gratitude.
No barking from the dog, no smog
And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog
So what is Ice Cube grateful for? First, he is grateful for a clean environment. We yogis like the environment. You may have seen us driving our hybrids to yoga and eating expensive but pesticide-free organic food. We also like non violence, not just to fellow people but to animals as well. The masters are pretty clear that one fully devoted to yoga will give up meat entirely. Surely the masters would approve of Osage Jackson's refusal to touch that swine.
I got my grub on, but didn't pig out
Moderation. Ice Cube understands that gluttony disrupts equanimity, so he eats only what he needs to sustain himself.
Called up the homies and I'm askin y'all
Which park, are y'all playin basketball?
Physical activity is one of the eight limbs of yoga. Cube understands that a sharp body leads to a sharp mind, which is necessary for the meditation needed to achieve the highest states.
Plus nobody I know got killed in South Central L.A.
Today was a good day
First and foremost, Cube is grateful for life. Every day that you and your peoples all wake up is a good day. It's like Tibetan Buddhism in a Raiders hat and black Wranglers.
The Lakers beat the Supersonics
So a natural body of water defeated a sound only produced by a gas-guzzling, man-made artifice? Again, yogis love nature.
In conclusion, Ice Cube is a Zen prophet for the new era. TWEDP strongly endorses the playing of "Today Was a Good Day," "Black Korea," and other Cube classics in any and all yoga classes.
And now that we can appropriately discern which day, in point of fact, Mr. Cube was referring to, this becomes, in effect, a rhythmic, thankful history lesson, not unlike the vibe many teachers of peace would have us study and learn.
ReplyDeleteThat is to say January 20, 1992 - National Good Day Day.
ReplyDeleteAu contraire, Ben Sprows! http://deadspin.com/5880881/internet-correction-ice-cubes-good-day-was-actually-november-30-1988
ReplyDelete