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The Dom List: Playwright Dominique Morisseau Shares the Music that Keeps Her Going
Music is my muse. Often my co-writer. Definitely my backup for inspiration and encouragement. My teacher - I learn about culture or time period or get my colloquialisms from it. My best friend. My cheerleader when I'm feeling defeated like "Come on girl, you can finish that scene!" And mostly it's my left hand at the keyboard. I've even named some plays inspired from song titles (often, actually).
The following list are songs that were used in my plays, that I listened to as I was writing my plays (esp the Motown and Nina Simone songs - duh), or that pumped me up when I was not only questioning the play I was writing, but my overall purpose in the field of playwriting. My husband is a musician (one of his songs is on this list). I wouldn't escape its pull on me even if I tried.
The Dom List
"Love Hustle" by J. Keys
"Four Women" by Nina Simone
"Electric Lady" by Janelle Monae
"Liberation" by Outkast (ft. Ceelo)
"Misunderstood" by Common (sampled from Nina Simone)
"Brown Book" by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
"I Wish It Would Rain" by the Temptations
"Q.U.E.E.N." by Janelle Monae
"My Baby Loves Me" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
"Everyday People" by Arrested Development
"Jesus Children of America" by Stevie Wonder
"Jesus Children" ft. Lala Hathaway on the Robert Glasper Experiment Album
"1960 What?" by Gregory Porter
"Orange Moon" by Erykah Badu
"You Gotta Be" by Des'ree
