"Tennessee...Take Me To Another Place...": An Interview with Speech of Arrested Development

"Tennessee...Take Me To Another Place...": An Interview with Speech of Arrested Development

By: Jermaine Sain

I was born and raised in the rural West Tennessee town of Whiteville.  I  spent many of my younger years dreaming about the day that I would leave that little town, move to Atlanta, and have a "great life".  And when the song Tennessee from Arrested Development came out, it became my them song....."Take me to another place, take me to another land...." .  When that song came on, it would give me inspiration to just keep holding on because one day, I would leave that town.....Little did I know that the song wasn't really about what I thought.   

Well, it took me many years before I actually moved to Atlanta....I went into the military for 5 years and lived in Texas, for about 5 years thereafter.  Finally in 2008. I moved to Atlanta.  After being in the metro Atlanta area for 8 years, surprisingly, I often miss the memories that I had in my little town of Whiteville.  Today, I realize that I spent most of my years dreaming of getting away, that I didn't take time to appreciate the moment.   

I SAID THAT.....TO LEAD YOU TO THIS 
After years of jamming to Tennessee and desiring to leave Tennessee, I got a chance to sit down with the writer of the song, Todd "Speech" Thomas, on When We Speak.  We got a chance to talk about so much stuff like old music, new music, politics, and even his music school (The Victory Spot).   

Be sure to check out the interview, I believe that it will definitely be a blessing and encouragement to your life. 

AND GUESS WHAT?  WE JUST MADE WHEN WE SPEAK HISTORY!  THIS IS THE FIRST GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTIST TO JOIN ME ON THE SHOW!!!  WE'VE HAD NOMINATED ARTISTS BUT NEVER AN ARTIST THAT HOLDS THE AWARD.....PRAY WITH ME THAT THERE ARE EVEN MORE TO COME! 

MORE ABOUT JERMAINE SAIN

Jermaine Sain is the host/ creator of a talk show called When We Speak.  After exiting the U.S. Army in 2003, as a Medical Sergeant, Jermaine began pursuing a career in music after he auditioned for American Idol in 2005, in Austin, Texas.
In 2008, Jermaine moved to Atlanta where he has had the opportunity to provide backing vocals for Kem (Grammy nominated R&B Singer) Heart (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and Barry Manilow, as well as for companies such as Pink Ribbon Story Foundation and Verizon Wireless. He made his first music video appearance in Kem's Glorify The King.
Jermaine's talk show, When We Speak, caters to entertainment with a close focus on indie music professionals.

YouTube 2: When We Speak TV

YouTube 1: WhenWeSpeak TV

Facebook:  When We Speak TV

Instagram: WhenWeSpeakTV

From The Thoughts of Jermaine Sain: "Up" by Arrested Development

Music is like an emotional picture for me because at any given time, a song can evoke my emotions and paint a picture in my mind.  Have you ever listen to a song and it reminded you of something?
I can listen to music and it's almost like I'm at that particular moment all over again.  But not all music does that, some songs encourage me to keep moving....and everyone that has ever gone after a dream or is currently going after a dream knows that you definitely have to keep yourself encouraged.

That's exactly why I love the song Up by Arrested Development.  Yep that's right Arrested Development!!!  Often when I mention the group to people, they are not aware that Arrested Development is still together and doing music.....but they are, so check out their new album This Was Never Home.  


THE STORY:
 When I first moved to Atlanta, I used to sing in a group and as time went on, the group began to elevate and the gigs got bigger and bigger.  I handled all the online and media promotions of the group and I felt so successful when I found out that my work was the reason that people was finding out who we were.  Then, after I had been with the group for about six years, we disband.  Initially I remember being so hurt considering that I felt that I we had so much potential.  My heart was crushed and I felt that all the work, I had done was totally in vain.  I thought that my success was driven by the success of the group and the breakup totally crushed my enthusiasm.

BACK TO THE MUSIC:
When I hear the song Up by Arrested Development, it actually reminds me of the time I sang with the group, but not in a bad way.  The song says, "....can't go back to where we started. Let's keep it up, oh the only way is up."  Once I heard those lyrics it immediately encouraged me!  I can't go back and change what happened or what could have been in the past but I can keep it up.  My vision doesn't have to die just because one chapter closed....I just got to "keep it up" because the only way from here is "up!"   
This song became such a great encouragement to me, that I decide that myself and some of the previous group members should get together and do a cover.....Hope you like it!!! 

Up by Arrested Development performed by Tongela Renee, Jermaine Sain, Chester Lawrence, Hope Celeste, and K. Caprice