Sounds of Blackness - Optimistic LIVE at the Apollo 1994

[@lesliedavis6081]

If we ever needed it before, we need it now. Be optimistic, yall. 🖤

[@kinglewis9551]

I know I do

[@Passion-X]

Still listening in 2023!!!❤

[@Ms.ShellyT.]

Who's still listening in 2024! Black Movitation since I was 19 and for life at 53. Amazing vocal group. God is Real. Let's keep our "head to the sky" ☁️. And be "Optimistic". 👍🏽

[@freddywayne]

Absolutely! This song been speaking to my soul all this week. ❤

[@jcstarhawk7536]

No lipsyncing here just pure vocal talent ❤ back in the day, God I miss the 90s

[@tinaBabe4]

Summer 1991! Yessssss☝🏼🙆🏽‍♀🙌🏼

[@babygirla5717]

Facts just pure talent

[@kip24u]

I'm with you. I miss all that real talent. I know it's still out there. We just need the industry to stop promoting 1 - 3 ppl/groups.

[@efg5000]

PREACH‼No AUTO-TUNE❗🙌

[@Queenofsole100]

The Black National Anthem 2.0. 🎵🎶💯🔥

[@thewhitedoncheadle8345]

everybodies anthem

[@victory5784]

@@thewhitedoncheadle8345it’s for blacks let us have what we created’n

[@audejagger]

Sounds of blackness ❤️

[@averyintelligence]

What's 1.0?

[@patfrazier9285]

​@@averyintelligenceAin't No Stopping Us Now, McFadden and Whitehead is 1.0

[@Swoop2565]

Ann Nesby is truly Unsung ❤

[@paullockwood4872]

Ann is from my hometown, Joliet, Illinois. She is revered there! ❤

[@theinsightfulvisionary0197]

Yes, she is!!!

[@Zoom19Lov]

I still love it !

[@PrinceLemantis]

Who else needed to hear this November 2024

[@kennis.2603]

As a child and even now as an adult this song still gives me chills and encouragement!

[@0091sender]

Play this soon as u wake up❤

[@reggiemckinnon3126]

Ann Nesby ripped it!

[@tiffanyeyoung1800]

How many here miss inspirational music like this? These days you rarely hear any and it's so sad

[@MichaelSmith-np6tf]

When I am feeling down about something, I play this and get back in the game! Love this song!

[@EasyE6666]

I'm male. I just woke up about my life. I am struggling so bad. No one will help just a tiny bit to breath. I heard this song. Tears to my eyes. Can't give up.

[@AnAdorableWombat1]

Please don't give up. I have been there and I know the feeling. I don't know you but I will promise you one thing. Being positive will change your entire life. This is a tough mindset but it works and it has changed my life and I know it can change yours. You got this

[@melodihester5764]

Just believe you didn’t come across this song by accident. Stay strong 💪🏾

[@certifiedclyde1422]

As long as you keep your head to the sky 💪🏾💪🏾

[@EasyE6666]

@AnAdorableWombat1 Thank you. I didn't. I was just about to. I was let go from a job a month ago. The owner choose the cook over a Executive Chef. I was cussed out by his cook. He let me go because the other guy been there longer and had is wife working there. I told him sir your making the wrong choice. Every bit of my soul knew this. I was down to no food. Cell phone off. Gym membership was a balance of 100.00. No money. I got a job offer out of state... Right when I was about to go. Last Tuesday owner called saying his cook never showed up. Please come now. I did. Then Friday he promoted me to Kitchen Manager. Gave me a week's pay in cash. So I could catch up. Now I am on the pay role with a high salary. He even gave my wife two days out the week as server. Now we looking for a apartment. 🥲 Don't ever give up. 👑 💪 Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I needed it.

[@MarcusBarker-fj7ro]

Praying for you brother! Reach out. I dont mind exchanging info to do what i can to bless you

[@tombrady248]

I Love this song so much! Black is so beautiful and always has been and always will be!

[@damon3347]

Amen👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@RobbieBlue]

The beat just feels good high vibration

[@trscott1975]

Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They don’t get enough credit for the songs they helped make in 80s and 90s . This song is awesome and Ann will blow the roof off a building with her strong vocals.

[@KatieForsyth-c5u]

2024 and am lifted up to a beautiful place when I hear and play this tune ..its so soulful amazing never to fade 90s at its best xx

[@Therealadrianallens]

2022 this song still gives so much hope to keep pushing on

[@finefeatheredfriend9240]

That ending was spectacular! Black music was so pure back in the days. I miss the 90s soooo much!!!! 😫😭

[@sujane1984]

YES YOU CAN HAVE THE PRIZE SHE HAS CONVINCED ME IN FULL!!

[@JedaraQueen]

Me too and I wasn't even born in the 90's.❤❤❤❤

[@marvinjgerald6007]

It has nothing to do with the 90’s per se. It’s how the singers were raised and the choices they made resulting in them coming together in harmony. It’s beautiful soul stirring songs from every generation, irrespective of ones overt emotionalism of any one particular great song.

[@finefeatheredfriend9240]

@@marvinjgerald6007 There’s been nothing like this or comes close in mainstream music at least for the past 15 years. Particularly in black music because that’s where the origins are. A positive message meant for all, but really for the struggle in the black community in all aspects of life in America.

[@LundenMaxwell-it4yu]

Everything is trash now days

[@Rahnotrob]

I really needed this today.

[@jrallday]

This so is so beautiful. It's like a prayer.

[@ttee3618]

Ann has one of the best voices of all time!

[@septemberquest6393]

When my sister and her husband died..in the 90s i will never forget this song❤God rest their souls❤

[@DonnellPrince]

This is how you come to the Apollo Theater. Harlem stand up. FBA Stand up we are winning in the struggle towards complete Freedom, Justice, and equality. ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

[@pattidenise8666]

I was today years old when I found out this isn’t Patti LaBelle singing lead 😭😭😭

[@kctaylorsings]

Right. But what's ironic is she cowrote, The Right Kinda Lover for Patti LaBelle with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Gems Album, 1994)

[@susiecarmichael5423]

Not Patti lol

[@mochaqueen_88]

I thought it was Aretha Franklin

[@662chillin]

That's the legendary Ann Nesby

[@papi2134]

Ann Nesby from Rockford IL❤

[@marcusa.fromthebay7514]

This song did so much to lift up the mind, body and soul of a young man who was struggling to provide for his young marriage and his young family. I thank The Creator for delivering it to us all through this wonderful group.

[@jammck1399]

Black power matters

[@marcusa.fromthebay7514]

@jammck1399 Indeed, it does! ✊🏾

[@alacarte5073]

The last soloist, the light skinned lady who sings tenor, is Pat Lacey, one of Luther Vandross bv extraordinaire.

[@certifiedclyde1422]

I could tell by the powerful tone.

[@Petdoc88]

Ann Nesby !! Head & Shoulders above the rest !

[@MrSmoooov]

They is straight JAMMING AND ENJOYING SINGING THIS GREAT MUSIC ❤️❤️

[@_danielle_333]

🥰🙏🏼💫🎶✨This song is everything!!!

[@cedricway7552]

This song right here have or has gotten me through some tough times , been on my play list . That Part ... ..😇

[@chestermijnals6914]

I love how Sounds Of Blackness always came from Afrocentrism

[@ttee3618]

Miss Ann is so effortless and fabulous

[@twoot63]

Ms Ann know she betta sang!! She killin and not even trying..

[@DonnellPrince]

10/2023 Still will get you through anything. I’m 35, and still love this song.

[@yocomdw1274]

This song is always right on time. ❤❤❤

[@jclamour1]

😢❤Beautiful! I pray for us all! The Heavenly Father is a healer!

[@prplrayn4877]

Ok I was digging around the internet trying to find out why the actress on Queen Sugar looked so damn familiar……once I saw her name I was like BOOM! This song played for months in my neighborhood. Her voice is SICKENING❤! When I say it played everywhere I mean everywhere…so powerful and uplifting.👌🏽

[@RealFloridaWater]

I love love love this song and so appreciate this. Thank you for sharing. What the world needs today 💖 more music like this.

[@carolineprest5927]

i have loved this song since it was released. All those years! Today i suddenly realised they are singing about Jesus 😭😭❤️he is always there. It’s amazing

[@captaintruth]

When a people love themselves and have a pure energy to them it transcends any form of social or cultural bounds we know. I'm white with Irish roots (west coast so tanned not ginger haha we have variety too, the original celts spanned to Iberia) and this song gets me fired up from the depths of any battles, brings peace when all I feel chaos and reminds me to stay ... optimistic when all around we've strayed so far from how we should be living. They say frequencies can have energy and effects on the human body. This song is the very best in all of us.

[@user-hf9bl5wd9t]

Thank you to all the Angels who would preach knowledge to the People at Wesr End in Atlanta in the 80s and 90s. I love you.

[@hollywoocdg]

jam and lewis really put this together man

[@arresteddevelopment2158]

PERFECTION 🎉🎉🎉. This song saved my life so many times.

[@djscrutinize6721]

Child hold song throughout my elementary years optimistic was the somg played every event and every award ceremony.forever grateful for this music, and im still listening to them until this day 👏🏽🫴🏽

[@kykyakalakya2348]

They have always been my favorite group!! ❤❤

[@emmanuelkitara-b2e]

god is forever great and we all need optimism in our lives. i hope this message has an impact upon the reader. May god Forever be with you.....!!!

[@rodm.5071]

Ok I see you Ann Nesby.

[@alacarte5073]

Love her adds. Love the Apollo, iconic venue.

[@strauqq1]

What a great song!!!!

[@MYESHIA-DAWN-MATTHEWS]

Loved this I was 12 in 91 when I first heard this love it til this day they rocked it ❤

[@michellebauer6352]

Saw them in concert with luther. Outstanding!

[@alessandrovich]

Спасибо, братцы!

[@akeillewis7515]

Thank you for posting, this live performance brings life to this songs, best version and quality of this live performance i have found 🙏🏾

[@GraciaBelievesthatJesusSaves]

One of my first favorite rythem and bleuse songs that i listened to in my younger years .🙂and i am still looking up to the sky trough the difficult moments ...

[@bdscorpio1]

I would have ran all the way around that venue this sends chills old old school gospel SINGGGGG FAMILY R I Perfect Peace Ms. Cissy Houston you’re with your daughter and granddaughter 🙏🏿🕊️🙏🏿🕊️🙏🏿🕊️

[@raylin5905]

This never gets old

[@clarenceawalker1873]

As long as you can keep your head to the sky you can win🙏.

[@noelcabrera4789]

This gave me goosebumps wow, God is great ❤

[@coldskoolbeatz]

Chills🥶🥶🥶 What a vocal performance👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@kel-melprevail8127]

They all went to Sylvia s for dinner after this performance ...when Sylvia s was good in 94

[@Dii552]

I love this SONG!

[@8amook760]

I loooove this song❤

[@awsho3294]

Damn..they threw down! frfr!

[@twizobuckley]

I swea the sung this like how it's recorded ❤I remember this playing on the radio as a kid in the 90's

[@sharongodfrey3395]

We need it now.

[@frankmcclenton7660]

I really needed to hear this. I love my people thank you so much 💓 💗

[@AJ-gz6qd]

Mrs. Nesby is outstanding.

[@aarondixon460]

Song is beautiful and timeless

[@timothygingras6939]

My brother and sisters that’s 30 years ago in my opinion. If that song don’t lift up your positivness I don’t know what to tell yah Jesus

[@Pistons2024]

The jam 🔥🔥🔥

[@scoopie7478]

Real singing in the 90s. No autotune. Pure vocals

[@jrallday]

It's A Vibe !

[@billysun7119]

Quand les artistes avaient encore de l'allure !

[@knight9k]

Takes me bavk to the early 90's...Great song, good times..🤙🏾

[@yogiman4293]

The message is the message! Amen!

[@shay_lah]

MINNEAPOLIS STAND UP ❤

[@novavision2762]

By the way of Chicago

[@rodneybrown8683]

Awesome indeed ❤️❤

[@liamthompson2604]

Love this song!!

[@leondraejohnson6997]

Man ol man…….this was such a great feeling of a time

[@jalynashley1991]

Beautiful! ❤️🕊️🙌🏾

[@ygkt1339]

Greatest page on the tube

[@frankcohen9201]

I love this song🎉

[@thomaspowell5995]

My go to song 💯🦾

[@andregunts5292]

I love it ✊🏿❤

[@ldycop74]

This really helped me today!❤🙏🏾

[@tinaBabe4]

🙆🏽‍♀🙆🏽‍♀🙆🏽‍♀🙌🏼💛 **I LOVE MY GOD in HEAVEN.. DEEPLY**

[@troyjohnson6317]

You better keep yo head 2 the sky

[@rickjohnson8707]

MORE NOW THAN EVER ! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@KingMD7152]

Within you is where I dwell. Blackness

[@lorenzohatcher9818]

The best song ever made

[@TeamHarlem]

Amen!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@dannyhayden1588]

Musical purity

[@Jumpoutboy11]

Up at 5 am listening

[@kellyt9292]

Higher Learning!

[@PINOYPRIDE909]

Please take me back time☝️🙏👑🕊

[@noahman1234]

Love the quality

[@melodysanger103]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUSICAL DIRECTOR GARY HINES (MAY 20, 2024

[@twoot63]

HBD Maestro!

[@MrSmoooov]

❤❤❤

[@LAMBYAH]

I LOVE MY PEOPLE.

[@bbeboda]

TgotSoul doing Gods work out here lol