Songful Style | “Mama” by Beth Hart & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #285

July 26, 2022 / 36 Comments

We just finished our songful styling for “When Doves Cry” by Prince & The Revolution and now it’s my turn to choose the next song for August’s styling prompt. For this next challenge, I have chosen “Mama” by Beth Hart to honor my deceased mother whose 74th birthday is this Saturday, July 30. This one is for you, Mama!

About Songful Style

Songful Style is a new ageless style challenge series hosted by Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Michelle of My Bijou Life, Marsha of Marsha in the Middle, and Anne of Spy Girl. 

Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit. 

It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.

Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing! 

We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post.

Video Inspiration

There is no official video for this song and I can’t find any other artist performing a cover so here are few live performances by the artist herself. I don’t think anyone could really perform it better than Beth Hart anyway. She brings so much emotional energy to her performances, it has left me awestruck both times I have seen her live.

The Lyrics
“Mama”
Mother may I, I would say
Yes sweet baby take it away
It won't be long, just remember that
Powerful is the woman in you
Stay true
And she'd come to me when fire & water was gone
To caress the empty with a song
Saying why cry for anger that bullets the sky
Just remember I'll remember & mama 
I'll get by...
I know my face seems crazed & wild
But I got her eyes
A mama's child am I
She's blessed with grace & is smooth as a line
And when I shade she helps me shine
And she comes to me when there's nothing I believe
And holds me so high yes I am free
Saying why hold the anger 
It won't let you fly
Just remember I'll remember & mama mama
I'll get by...
Confused by my own illusions
She said that it's only my pride
And even the simplest solutions
Still won't heal my mind
So I'll remember
I'll remember and I'll get by
About the Song and Why I Chose It

Beth Hart is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who was born in Los Angeles, California on January 24, 1972. She began her musical journey at 4 years old playing piano with a focus on classical pieces by Beethoven and Bach. As she matured, she began playing pieces by artists such as Etta James, Otis Redding, and Led Zeppelin. Beth entered the Los Angeles High School for the Performing Arts in 10th grade as a vocal and cello major and soon began singing at open mic nights which led her to performing in the Hollywood club scene at 15 years old.

In 1993, Beth Hart won the Female Vocalist competition on Ed McMahon’s Star Search which she confirms did not land her a record deal because of the stigma attached to performing on that show. After burning through all of the prize money from Star Search, Beth eventually signed with Atlantic Records. She is a skilled musician on multiple instruments including the piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar, and percussion and she is known for her visceral, gritty, dynamic contralto vocals which are often compared to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner.

Beth has struggled with drug addiction and bipolar disorder and has found her peace and sobriety in religion and practicing transcendental meditation. She is married to her road manager, Scott Guetzkow, and they currently reside in Los Angeles.

“Mama” is the 12th track on Beth’s second studio album, Screamin’ for My Supper, from 1999, which is still my favorite Beth Hart album ever. The first time I heard a Beth Hart song was on my college radio station back in 1996 around the time she released her first album Immortal. I always remembered that song being one of her most famous songs, L.A. Song, but it couldn’t have been because that song was not released until 1999. In any event, I was hooked on her music from the first time I heard her. Her first 5 studio albums share her journey in life which seemed to parallel mine and so I related to every single lyric this woman wrote. I have experienced so much healing due to her music and many of her songs have become personal anthems for me at different points in my own journey. I knew that I wanted to feature one of her songs for this series, but struggled to choose just one! 

Next Saturday, July 30, would be my mother’s 74th birthday. She passed away at just 58 years old from colon cancer. I try to bring her into my blog when I can because I know she would get such a kick out of blogging in general! So I chose “Mama” for August’s song to celebrate my own mother. Although I can’t carry tune at all, I used to serenade my mother frequently with this song.

I had the opportunity to meet Beth Hart at a small intimate concert at the Lucille Ball Theater in Jamestown, New York, back in 2009. We had such a special moment together. I immediately became starstruck when I  was introduced to her and I broke down in tears as I choked out the words, “You have no idea how much your music has healed me.” And then she broke down into tears and replied, “You have no idea how much that heals me.” We spent the next few minutes hugging and uplifting one another and it was one of the most special events of my life. I am including a picture of us from that night. 

Album Covers

This song only appears on Beth’s “Screamin’ for My Supper” album so there is only one album cover for inspiration. But you can always look to her awesome personal style for some styling ideas as well.

Image Source (for both images)

Remember that you can use anything related to this song to inspire your outfit. You are not limited to just what I have shared here. Feel free to do your own research if you’d like.

If you want to join us in styling your own look inspired by this song, we will have a link party on Monday, August 29, 2022, where you can share your post. We would love to see your Songful Styles, too. Happy styling! And remember to tell your mama that she is loved!

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Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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