Happy New Year! When are you going to Change?

Happy New Year! I know some of you may have been wondering what I have been doing for the last 30 days. Why no inspiring words to kick-off 2012. One of the things I felt that I needed to do was take some time off for some self-relection, and prayer to figure out what direction I wanted the blog to go for 2012.

This might be important for some of you, especially if your life is a constant treadmill, roller coaster. Sometimes you need a little break to figure where you life is going; where you relationship is going.

I believe in empowerment when it comes to marriages and relationships. I would like to see more people get married, especially in the black community. According to a New York Times article (December 10, 2011) 2009 data from the Census Bureau states 70.5 percent of black women in the United States between the ages of 25 and 73.1 percent of black men between the ages of 25 and 29 have never been married.

So this year, I am going to devote a day to my single friends. Empowering them to go on that date, make a personal change in order to move those statistics in a better direction, so Ralph Richard Banks, a Stanford law professor,who wrote, “Is Marriage for White People?” will have a new story to tell.

Another change is I will dedicate a column that will focus on faith in marriage. Marriage takes a certain amount of faith and belief in each other to make it work. So why not write about it.

I hope you like the new changes and let other people know what we are trying to do at Strivetwosucceed. I appreciate all of you that read this blog.

Let’s make it a great 2012.

Coach Keith

The Ultimate Love Song – Men’s Division (Semi-Finals)

We are down to the Final 8 and we have some heavyweight match-ups coming down to the stretch. In the Men’s Division, we may have the potential winner with #1 “Ribbon on the Sky” by Stevie Wonder versus Eric Benet’s “Spend my Life with You.

The power phrase that will help Stevie ride to the finals is stated in this awesome phrase:

Love, we can’t lose with God on our side. We’ll find strength in each tear we cry. From now on it will be you and I And a ribbon in the sky, ribbon in the sky, A ribbon in the sky for our love.

Meanwhile Eric Benet’s lyrics are strong throughout and may eventually wear out Stevie. The essence of his lyrics are captured  in this phrase:

Can I just see you every morning when I open my eyes. Can I just feel your heart beating beside me every night Could we just feel this way together till the end of all time. Can I just spend my life with you.

In the other semi-final #7 Song for You (Donny Hathaway) goes up against #3 Forever, For Always For Love by Luther Vandross. Both unconventional love songs made it on their grit and determination.

Donny Hathaway captures a man who couldn’t outwardly show his love, but when it mattered was able to pull through.

I love you in a place where there’s no space or time. I love you for my life You’re a friend of mine. And when my life is over. Remember when we were together. We we’re alone and I was singing this song to you

While Luther’s song is about a second chance. How many of us don’t need one of those.

He states:

Well if I had the chance to hold you again. I would fill your heart with joy.Make you remember I’m the only one for you, yes I would.Let’s throw the bad memories out. And make this the first day of our.
Forever, For Always, For Love

Get out the vote. The winners will advance to the Final Four.

Coach Keith

The Ultimate Love Song (Round #2)

There were some stunning upsets in the Women’s Division. 4 lower seeds were able to move on in the second round with #16 “At Last” by Etta James knocking off the #1 seed. #3 “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion was able to eek out a win at the last minute. I am sure Titanic #2 played a part in helping that song win.

Well here is Round #2 which includes both the Men’s and Women’s Division. Remember for each poll, you must pick a winner from the top two songs, and a winner from the bottom two songs from each group.

Please share this blog with you fellow Strivers. It’s been fun monitoring the results, but we need more participants to make it even better.

The Ultimate Love Song – Men’s Division Results

In the Men’s Division there were some close races, but in a tournament, it’s not were you are ranked that matters, but being able to survive and advance. With that said..Here are the results from the Men’s Division.

#1 Ribbon in the Sky was really no competition.

#15 Lenny Williams – “Cause I love you”, beat out the heavy favorite Billy Joel…that was a surprise.

#3 Forever, For Always, For Love defeated Van Morrison…it was very close.

#4 Spend my Life with You by Eric Benet won convincingly.

#5 I write a song for you by Earth Wind & Fire.

#11 Climax Blues Band – “I love you” won with a late surge.

#7 Donny Hathaway and #9 Robin Thicke ‘s  “Lost Without You” round out the final 8.

Don’t forget to vote in the women’s division. I am sure those competitions will come down to the wire.

Coach Keith

The Ultimate Love Song – Women’s Division

Welcome to the Ladies Division of the Ultimate Love Song Competition! I have to say that we have some strong competition with Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” in the top spot and Whitney Houston’s title track “Run to You” that saved an entire movie at #2. When Etta James’s ” At Last” is #16 on the list, you know we have some great matchups.

Once again, if you haven’t heard the song before, I would appreciate if you Google it and listen, you might be surprised. Please vote for the song that is competing against the other. Also share this with your friends. Let’s make this bigger than American Idol…LOL

Men’s Division

Welcome to Day One of the Ultimate Love Song Competition! We have some solid choices coming from the Men’s Division and some interesting matchups. If you haven’t heard the song before, I would appreciate if you Google it and listen, you might be surprised. Please vote for the song that is competing against the other. Also share this with your friends. Let’s make this bigger than American Idol…LOL

“The Ultimate Love Song!”

The holidays are over! You have returned gifts you didn’t want and you bought new ones. You brought in 2012 in style, or in your sleep. Now it’s time to focus on the next big thing, American Idol and The Voice. Well not exactly, but those shows are extremely popular beginning in January. The main reason is that as the TV audience, you feel that you have a direct result on the outcome. So in essence you get to take ownership.

StriveTwoSucceed is getting into the act with its own online voting reality show, The Ultimate Love Song. Starting today, I will have 32 contestants vying for the crown of the Ultimate Love Song. This song will be so versatile that you can use it for any occasion, whether it’s for a wedding proposal, to set up a night for the two of you, or as a way to make up.

As the Ryan Seacrest of Love, I have set up the rankings based on my personal favorites, and suggestions from other fans. If you didn’t give me any ideas, you can do it next year. I have 32 selections 16 men and 16 women. I will give a brief summary, or a line from the song that will state its case as being the ultimate Love song. What’s important is that I will need you to listen to the song,or check out the lyrics, then vote.

The online poll will close by Monday in order to present the results on Tuesday’s selection blog, and if you have comments about a particular song, please include. S2S fans please share with your friends via Facebook, or Twitter and let’s just have fun with it.

Here are just some of the contestants vying for the crown.

Norah Jones – Come Away with Me

Eric Benet – Share my Life with You.

Melody Gardot – Baby I’m a Fool

Earth Wind & Fire – I write a song for you

Happy Voting!

Coach Keith