Flawless Friday-Divamom

The Original Drama Queen-LOVE HER.

Today on Oprah with her children/grandchild.

R.I.P. Teena Marie

1956-2010
"I'm a Black artist with White skin.  At the end of the day you have to sing what's in your own soul."

-Teena Marie

All Hail the Queen

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Send prayers up.

UPDATE-In an interview with Wendy Williams, the Queen says rumors of pancreatic cancer are false.

Motown Monday

Kelly Rowland-Awesome Styling.

Happy Anniversary Baby+Mommy and Daddy

54 years ago, Virgie Boyd said "I Do" to Bernard Phifer.

15 years ago, I did the same after 4 years together.
Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad.
Happy Anniversary to my husband-he knows I'll go to the limit:



One More:

Flawless Friday

R.I.P.

1958-2009

Michael Memory I

First of all, if you read the post yesterday, click it again and read my footnote.
Kids will keep you honest!

Anyway, the year is 1984 and I was listening to the six o'clock news.  Renee Poussaint (a DC news anchor) was reading the evening's headlines and top of the list was that tickets for the Jacksons Victory Tour were going on sale the next morning.  Up until that point, news of the concert didn't phase me, but for some reason, I felt a big pull to try to get tickets.  I called my girl ZEN  to see if she wanted to camp out in front of RFK Stadium in DC to get tickets.  She couldn't make it, but that didn't stop me.  I grabbed a lawn chair and hopped in the car.  I was anxious the entire ride down thinking that I would be in a long line that had already formed.

I was totally alone at RFK Stadium!  As the evening wore on, people started coming with food, blankets, and music.  We all looked out for each other for bathroom breaks and the like, but we all knew the coveted prize was going to me!  First in line-front row seats!  And to make it even sweeter, each person was limited to 10 tickets apiece and I only needed 4.  I sold my right to buy for $100, so I made $600 that night.  When the box office opened up the next morning, the television cameras were there and filmed me buying the very first tickets for the Jackson Victory Tour.  I recorded the news later in the day, and I still have the tape somewhere (granted it's on a Beta tape).  Look it up youngin's if you don't know what a Betamax is, or should I say-was. 

 

Details from the concert tomorrow!

One More Time Wednesday

It seems like it was so much going on that my girls got "pushed down" on the roll so i'm putting them back up again. They've paid their dues and worth me paying homage one more time. Let's hope nothing happens today that they have to share. Even if it does, i'll just post a day later.

Supreme Style-These ladies were my fashion icons-total divas.  So glamorous and sophisticated. 

Sigh.

Prince Rogers Nelson

Happy Birthday.

Motown Monday

Supreme Style-These ladies were my fashion icons-total divas.  So glamorous and sophisticated. 

Sigh.

Soulful Sunday:Randy Crawford

This would have been lost in my mind forever had it not been for C.T. who has THE most extensive catalog of music. Thanks for helping me remember this incredible song by Randy Crawford.

Motown Monday

The year is 1969 and this album marked the beginning of a life long love affair with Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.  My sister "let me have" Michael because we were closer in age and she "took" Jermaine because he was older and she thought he was finer.  We loved it all, the moves, the fashions, the afros, the smiles-I mean I Want You Back first came out on 45 and we loved the flip side just as much as the original single.  How cool was it that such a young boy sing so knowingly about the pain of love?  It was called Who's Lovin You and it remains one of my favorites.

Rae-Ripperton Connection

Corrine Bailey Rae performing Closer reminds me of:





Minnie Ripperton.
She died one month after this performance in July 1979 (below) from breast cancer.
Cut for cut-her last album, Minnie, was incredible and the cover was beautiful.
It didn't quite sink in with me that you COULD really die young until Minnie passed away.
She was 31.

 1947-1979

Anyway, when I mentioned that I could hear Minnie in Corrine to C.T.-my go to guy for all musical insight, he sent me this and it confirmed how good my ear really is (smile)-Minnie was an influence.  Enjoy her. 

Memory Lane:

Motown Monday

My first memory of a Motown Song was in 1969,  My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder.

It actually recorded on the Tamla label, the very first label from Motown Corporation.

I remember the girls in our neighborhood would just keep singing over and over:  La la la la la la-La la la la la la......until we finally got past that to learn the words.

Sade Babyfather

Love the colors on this promotional poster and I'm really feeling this cut.

Motown Monday

Ok- back to the blogger profile I guess I might as well fill out.

If I had to name my favorite album, it would be the jewel in Motown's crown:  Songs in the Key of Life. 
Favorite Song:  As.

Released in 1976, the total genius of Stevie Wonder is all through this album, but if you've ever experienced a love so strong you can't even quantify it-Stevie did it for you when he wrote As. Lyrics included below.



"AS"
As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's the cure
You can rest your mind assure
That I'll be loving you always
As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I'll be loving you always

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky---ALWAYS
Until the ocean covers every mountain high---ALWAYS
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea---ALWAYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Did you know that true love asks for nothing
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day
Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I'll be loving you always
As today I know I'm living but tomorrow
Could make me the past but that I mustn't fear
For I'll know deep in my mind
The love of me I've left behind Cause I'll be loving you always

Until the day is night and night becomes the day---ALWAYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away---ALWAYS
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4---ALWAYS
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Did you know that you're loved by somebody?
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left---ALWAYS
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
I'll be loving you forever
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through---ALWAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you---AL~~~~~~WA~~
~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky~~~~~AA~~~~
~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~YS~~ALWAYS

We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet you life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
so make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-great grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky--Loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high--Loving you
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea--Loving you
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream--Be loving you
Until the day is night and night becomes the day--Loving you
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away--Loving you
Until the day that 8x8x8x8 is 4--Loving you
Until the day that is the day that are no more--Loving you
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left--Be loving you
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself--Loving you
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through--Loving you
Until the day that you are me and I am you--
Now ain't that loving you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Ain't that loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
And I've got to say always
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea~~AL~~~WA~~~AYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream-Um AL~~WA~~AYS
Until the day is night and night becomes the day-AL~~~~WA~~AYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away-AL~~WA~~~AA~~~~~
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA
Until the day that is the day that are no more-AA~~~~AA~~AA~~~AYS
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left-AL~~~WA~~~A~~~AA
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself-~~AA~~~AA~~~AA~~~AYS
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through-AL~~~WAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you

Earth Week

I got a bit busy this week and didn't make mention of Earth Day, but I firmly beleive that we all have a responsibility for our "footprints", and need to do (within reason) whatever we can do to help preserve and save the planet for future generations.  So in honor of Earth Day/Week, AND because i'm totally into Motown lately, I give you the master, Marvin Gaye.

The Ecology from his groundbreaking album, What's Going On.

 

Big Decisions

I've had to make a number of huge, life altering decisions lately. I always wonder if i'm doing the right thing or going down the right path. A person never knows how their decisions will put a chain of events in motion for their good or to their detriment. Any decision doesn't just impact you-it could impact your family, and the community around you also. What do you do when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders?

Motown Monday

I started this blog as a project of mine because so much ugly was going on around me.  In order to stay sane, I needed to force myself to concentrate on what I love-God, my family, and the beauty that's all around me (I just heard Maurice White (Earth.Wind.Fire) in my ear).  That being said, I never got into the blogger profiles, etc. that people fill out with a passion however, if I were to enter my favorite movie of all time, it would be courtesy of Motown, Lady Sings the Blues.

I was 11 years old when this movie came out in 1972, and even though  there are movies that I enjoy and watch over and over, nobody can top Miss Ross as Lady Day.  Her portrayal of the brilliant but tragic Billie Holiday still moves me to this day.  My definition of unconditional love comes by way of Billy Dee Williams (I try not to think of Malt Liquor) as Louis McKay.  He was so sexy.  There was nothing and I mean nothing she could do that he didn't forgive (remember the Piano Man scene) and he loved her flaws and all.  I know every single song from the soundtrack, and damn near every word of dialogue.  Richard Pryor was wonderful, I mean the whole cast just stays with me to this day.  Diana Ross was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category.  She lost to Liza Minnelli (Cabaret I think), and I was outraged.  This movie is a masterpiece.

When Billie met Louis-a classic moment (2:58).


Good Morning Heartache-Billie needed a fix.


Original Movie Trailer.

In My Ear: Chrisette Michele

It's not "new" but I just can't get this out of my head.