A week ago from last Saturday, my son and I went to DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) to see the Broadway traveling cast version of the latest revival of The Wiz. It was GREAT! Honestly, among all the shows this year, this was the only one that had as the razzle-dazzle and talent on both the production side and the performance side I expect from an outstanding Broadway show.

There is lots of great music in that show, so I wanted to use one for my Motivational Music Monday song. The problem is, almost all of the videos you can get on YouTube are from the movie. But I just CAN NOT DEAL with a 35 year old Diana Ross, as great as she is, playing a 16 year old girl. So I don’t want to use videos from the 1978 movie.

I thought I knew a lot about The Wiz, but while working on this post, I learned something new. Most of the songs in The Wiz were composed by Charlie Smalls. But I only just learned that one song, “Everybody Rejoice/Brand New Day” was composed by Luther Vandross! How did I only just come to know that?

So in honor of Luther, I’m including this video of his performance of the song. It’s a little less peppy that the Broadway renditions, but then…most of us are just waking up and may not be up to full Broadway cast mode yet.

But what if we could start each morning with a real understanding that today IS a Brand New Day?

Maybe that could change everything.

Anyway, enjoy!