Music Monday: Shameika's Potential

Hey remember wayyy back in April when we thought, “Of course this thing will be under control by the election, if not the holidays! Of course!” You know, 700 years ago? Anyway, back then one of the things getting me through was Fiona Apple’s new bonkers genius experimental album “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” I simply love it, this primal scream of sonic expression. For me perhaps its most emotionally affecting songs is “Shameika” with its undeniably hopeful refrain “Shameika said I had potential.” And then I shared a story about the Shameika in my own childhood?

Well, kittens, it turns out not only is Fiona’s Shameika real, she’s pretty spectacular. She has so much more than potential, she’s gdamn good. Pitchfork tracked the real Shameika Stepney down, and wrote about her and Fiona’s (virtual, stupid pandemic) reunion all these years later. It’s funny what can bond people, and how small moments can change lives.

Shameika is doing well, sells time shares, and used to have credible music career in the 1990s and early 2000s before leaving the business. And she’s good. Not only does the real Shameika appear (again, virtually) to intro the music video for the eponymous song’s music video, the former schoolmates collaborate on a new song called “Shameika Said” where she raps lead to Fiona’s backing wails. And that song too had more than potential, it’s just damn good. Happy Monday, Kittens.