MSM 90s: California Love, GMANE
9/23/26
By Monica Collier
Once upon a time, the classic 90s love song to the Sunshine State morphed into a love song to the Shoals. Yep, it’s true. Seriously, I’m for real. Remember?
It was a hot summer night in August, and we were just steps away from the glorious Tennessee River when the serenade happened. Is it all coming back to you?
I was there with about 700 or so of my Shoals friends and neighbors. Yep, we were gathered together at the Renaissance Shoals simply partaking in some high-quality live music for a good cause when the iconic anthem for the wild wild west became the anthem for Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s, y’all. It was pretty dang phenomenal, too.
Whoa. Y’all, I wasn’t even thinking about it at that time because I was lost in the Shoals love, but this was a crazy jam-packed all-star performance.
Muscle Shoals Meets fam, you do realize we were gifted not one but two GMANE performances during the Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s main show, right? Yes, we must be living right. GMANE – the one and only Godfather of Shoals Hip Hop -- was definitely in the house x 2 that Saturday night back in August. That's right.
For this 2Pac/Dre-infused chart-topper, our cherished Alabama Music Hall of Famer, GMANE, took the stage with Russell Mefford + Anthony "AB" Brooks + the Fiddleworms + Kelvin Holly + those lovely horns AND the Shoals Sisters?! Who had our beloved Shoals Sisters, Marie Lewey and Cindy Walker, shaking it with some “California Love” backing vocals? Not me. Mind blown.
Like I said: This fifth performance of the second set of Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s was an ALL-STAR showcase.
Shake it, baby, shake it.
You saw me breaking my own rule and singing along with this one, right? Yes, I know all the words to "California Love." This song triggers the Emmy Pac that exists deep down in my true soul. If you've seen me in full-on “California Love” mode, then just know you are part of my inner circle. Envision me in my Chucks reminiscing about all the honeys wearin' Sassoon.
Witnessing GMANE leading the perfect Shoals version of “California Love” was a top-ranking highlight of all the MSM shows for me.
This MSM moment was so unique, friends. I know the memory of this perfect “California Love” collab is going to stay with me forever. I love GMANE so much and I love this song so much. Thank you, Fiddleworms.
You know what? MSM knows how to party. Throw it up, y'all, I can't see ya. Wait. Oh yeah, I CAN totally see you, MSM fam. Oh yes, I see y’all – Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Athens, Huntsville – y’all definitely in the house. We keep it rockin’, friends, and we build special needs playgrounds. MSM love.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
