SHE DID THAT!!!!! After years of waiting (not so patiently), Tamar Braxton has finally released her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Love And War.
Tamar has been ready to record and release this album for a long time and has been worrying her manager-husband Vince about it in the process. He has always said to her that it has to be right before they released it and he was right.
Tamar has been having a busy year already: she gave birth to her first child, Logan, in June in the middle of celebrating the success of her first single, "Love and War". The couple also filmed the ups and downs of promoting the album while pregnant for the second season of their reality show, Tamar and Vince.
All that waiting has paid off for Tamar as she has delivered a high-quality R&B album. We all know she can sing (as can all her sisters) but this is a great album for her to make a breakout performance as an artist.
Even though I am a "Tamartian" and could not wait to hear the album, I was objective in listening for this review. However, I enjoyed the album, which talks about the ups and downs of relationships, in it's entirety. These are some of my FAV tracks:
"Hot Sugar"- This is my #1 JAM from the album...it just makes you feel sexy for your man! I have been waiting to hear this song fully since she recorded and performed it on last season of Tamar and Vince. I'm glad that it made the album and I hope she chooses it for her next single."
"Sound of Love"- This is the love song of the album, and by love I mean love-making! This slow jam will set the mood for anyone.
"Prettiest Girl"- This is a great song where she sings about how great her man is to her and I'm sure it's about Vince. This is how every girl (including myself) wants to be treated by her man: to feel like the "prettiest girl in the world".
"All The Way Home"- After a big fight with her man, she jumps in her car to get away but can't help but think about him so she turns around to make up.
"Where It Hurts"- In this song, she sings to her love that she wants to make the pain of his past relationship go away and that she isn't going anywhere.
I'm happy for Tamar as she is finally seeing the success, both personally and professionally, that she has been talking about wanting all these years. Watch Tamar and Vince Thursdays at 9pm on WEtv and check out the video for Tamar's second single, "The One" below:
One thing is clear about last night's episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life: DMX need SERIOUS help.
He needs help not just with a lingering drug problem but with all of the physical, psychological and emotional effects in his life that have stemmed from years of drug use.
In the interview with Iyanla Vanzant, he shares vivid stories from his childhood that seem to trigger rage and emotion in him. I'm not sure if it was drug-induced but he seemed to express himself in a way that was vulnerable and showed his true hurt.
The messed up thing about the whole situation is that he doesn't even know the effects of his actions on others or think that they are wrong. He knows what has happened to them, what he's done to them but he doesn't know WHY they hurt and doesn't want to listen. He does not once take responsibility for his actions and that is the saddest part
Vanzant uncovered a deep cycle of pain and hurt in the lives of not only DMX but his parents, his grandmother, his wife and his children that is rooted in loneliness and not feeling loved. He has felt it in his life and as a result has made everyone in his life feel that way.
It's painfully obvious his persona in the public is true and that it's not an act. He's aggressive, controlling, and has seriously demons that fame and fortune have only made worse. He has estranged relationship with his mother, his wife Tashera, and his children, especially his oldest son Xavier. When Xavier tried to talk to him with Vanzant's help, DMX tried to control the conversation and didn't want to hear what his son had to say.
I will give DMX one thing: this situation is NOT ALL his fault. Of course, it is mostly his fault but it is also YEARS of YES people who continuously hindered him instead of helping him with his problems. As a celebrity, he was probably used to getting whatever he wanted and not having any consequences. Yes, he has been to jail but he said that he liked the structure of prison.
That's why I think that he needs a REAL intervention without cameras. He needs to go to a facility with medical professionals to help him in a DETOX program. Maybe when his mind clears of
I usually put videos on my post but I won't this time because I don't think it will help the situation. I offer my support to DMX but I also feel that he has to take responsibility for all of the pain that he's caused and want to receive help for his problems. Only time will tell if he will...
Since her audition here in Charlotte, Candice Glover has been a contender to win the 12th season of American Idol.
But after last night's performances of Dionne Warwick's "Don't Make Me Over" and especially The Cure's "Lovesong" to end the show, it is clear that she is above and beyond the other contestants vocally and in terms of artistry.
Song choice is a critical on a show like this but I think that Candice has made great choices to fit her style and that she could make her own. She has elements of jazz, soul, and blues in her voice, even when she sings a Rolling Stones song. She has a way of making ANY song that she sings sound like it's current.
Her vocal runs are always amazing, she can hit both high notes and low ones, and the arrangements that she comes up with compliment her style perfectly. I really hope that the American Idol viewers and voters see that she is a complete artist that has an AMAZING career ahead of her.
She completely smashed one of my FAVORITE songs, "I Who Have Nothing" a couple weeks ago and people compare her to Jennifer Hudson, but I think that she has an artistry all her own. Jennifer is a powerhouse singer and so is Candice, but I think that you can feel the emotion and feeling in Candice's voice more. Maybe she will win and be the revenge for Jennifer's early Idol departure.
I will go so far as to say that if Candice does NOT win or even make it to the final two, then this should be the last season because it needs to be CANCELLED! I have been watching this show since the very beginning and I know that it is a popularity contest based on the votes of the viewers. Everyone is entitled to vote for their favorite person (and Candice is DEFINITELY mine), but at the end of the day it is a SINGING competition and Candice is the BEST singer.
Of course some of the other singers are good and will have careers in their respective genres (country, rock, etc.) but Candice is the only one who can pull off many different styles of music. So far during the top 10, she has sang the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, and The Cure, which is a pretty eclectic range of artists and genres.
Just watch her performance of "Lovesong" from last night. I have watched it like 1,000xs already:
As I've said before, I have always been a fan of Beyonce's...WAY back to the original Destiny's Child days. However, I have always been equally critical of her when, as a fan, I didn't like something she did musically.
Just when Beyonce' was starting to reel me back in, she does something to cast me back into the water. Beyonce' recently released a new song called "Bow Down/I Been On" where she took a unnecessary dig at her "haters":
I know when you were little girls...
You dreamt of being in my world...
Don’t forget it , don’t forget it...
Respect that, bow down bitches
Beyonce' usually takes the high road and doesn't answer to criticism in such a negative way, which is why I want to believe that this song was not 100% her idea. She didn't have to do this in a mean and spiteful way because after her SuperBowl performance and SOLD-OUT upcoming tour, it's OBVIOUS that she still has "it" and we still want it. However, she should have continued to let her career speak for itself.
First of all, I happen to be a BIG advocate for women's empowerment and sisterhood, which is why I was put off by Beyonce's tone of "telling off her haters". This is a problem with black women where we "hate" on each other instead of supporting each other. I admit that I was one of the people who wanted her to sit down, have a baby and "get a life" (so to speak), not because I wanted to be her or was jealous of her success but because I cared about her personal life.
I've always wanted her to open up and share her life with me as a fan and when she never did, it turned me off. Beyonce' has been around for 15 years and has never been this open with us. Hmmmmm....I wonder why (new album and tour coming perhaps)? I don't believe in the Illuminati but I do find it interesting that she now wants us to "bow down" to her after she was brought up and raised in church...she KNOWS better.
Let me just say this: No matter how critical I am about her, I will not "bow down" to Beyonce' or any other celebrity because I serve the MOST HIGH GOD who commands "You shall have NO other gods before Me". Amen and HALLELUJAH to THAT!!!!!
Beyonce' was singing a different tune just last month in her HBO documentary, Life is But a Dream, where she actually came across with a women's empowerment message:
"It’s difficult being a woman. It’s so much pressure, and we need that support sometimes. We’re all going through our problems, but we all have the same insecurities and we all have the same abilities and we all need each other. Women have a responsibility to look out for other women.”
I was happy to hear her say this because she has such an unyielding fan base and people would take to that message as well because "Beyonce said it". However, how can you push that message while calling other women bitches and telling us to "bow down"?????
I miss the "independent woman", "single ladies", "survivor" type Beyonce' of old. This new Beyonce'...this media-crazed, needy for attention, everywhere-you-look Beyonce is getting old...and FAST!!!!! Maybe she should go back and listen to her words from "Survivor":
I'm not goin' blast you on the radio(I'm better than that), I'm not goin' lie on you and your family (I'm better than that), I'm not goin' hate on you in the magazines ('m better than that), I'm not goin' compromise my Christianity(I'm better than that), You know I'm not goin' diss you on the internet, 'Cause my mama taught me better than that
The term "blue-eyed soul" has come to describe Justin Timberlake quite perfectly. Since being in the hit boy band of the late 90's and early 2000's 'NSYNC, he has really made his own lane that combines soul, R&B and pop.
I have been a fan of Justin's since *NSYNC and have follow his entire solo music career. I have CD's of both Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds so I am familiar with his sound. I didn't want to jump right into his new stuff saying I LOVED it if I really didn't.
This album keeps with his signature sound but takes it somewhere else that I was happy to go. Timberlake has always been soulful but this album is in OVERDRIVE...it's like nothing else on the radio right now or like anything I've heard in a while.
Yes, it's different but every artist should be a little different creatively after 7 years. This album takes you to several different genres of music; from R&B to dance, old school to even futuristic. Timberlake is the hot guy right now; he's fresh off a great Grammy performance and ratings smash of a hosting and performing gig at Saturday Night Live. I have somewhat patiently waited 7 years for new music fromhim and he did NOT disappoint.
The 20/20 Experience of course included distinctive musical genius of Timbaland, which it is easy to tell by now but hey...if it isn't broke then don't fix it right? I listened to the whole album straight through at least twice before I realized it. I was just grooving to the music and didn't need to skip a song at all.
All the songs are 5 minutes or more, and with the tempo changes when he switches it up, it makes it seems like there are more than 10 songs. The first song on the album, "Pusher Love Girl" is like a soul/blues mix where Timberlake compares his love interest to a drug. It's a song for grown folks with a catchy hook to go with it.
The first single is "Suit and Tie" feat. Jay-Z, which took me a little bit to get into. However, it has grown on me and it's a great song to dance to. My FAV song from the album is "Don't' Hold the Wall" which kind of hypnotizes me with its musicality. Other songs like "Strawberry Bubblegum", "Tunnel Vision", "That Girl", "Let the Groove Get In", "Mirrors", and "Blue Ocean Floor" round out the album and really make it a cohesive project that spans several .
Way to keep us waiting JT, but at least you came through (as I knew you would)!
Last night, NBC aired an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit that was supposedly depicting the 2009 incident between Chris Brown and Rihanna. This was by far the WORST episode of SVU...EVER!!!!!
As a SVU fan and a frequent viewer of marathons on USA, I know that they usually take stories straight from the headline but this was a little TOO far.
This episode came on not long after Chris Brown confirmed that he and Rihanna are back together. They even put a disclaimer at the beginning to say that it "does not depict any actual person or event" but who were they trying to fool? It's like the SVU writers didn't even try to bring anything new to the story or try NOT to make it look obvious.
First of all, they played the MESS out of Chris Brown with this "Caleb Bryant" character. From his public apology video to the tattoo he got of Rihanna's face; they didn't even bother to change the character's initials ("CB"). They even made the connection between witnessing his mother being abused and I don't even think that was fair.
Munch even made a comment that this couple "should go on a double date with Chris Brown and Rihanna". There were so many BLATANT connections to Chris Brown and Rihanna that it made NO sense:
Misha was an "island girl" from Bermuda; Rihanna is from Barbados...they couldn't even pick another island that didn't start with a "B" (Jamaica was available)
Misha was close to her grandmother; Rihanna lost her grandmother last year
There was a Jay-Z like character that discovered her; he was killed in the episode by Bryant
There were a MILLION ways that you could have recreated the incident without being so obvious. I don't know if NBC and the SVU writers were trying to send Rihanna fans a message or one directly to her about what might happen to her, they should have just had the Misha character LEAVE him or let her become happy without him.
She could have gotten the courage to leave him, she could have defended herself and killed him when he attacked her on the boat or hit him over the head with a bottle or SOMETHING...they didn't have to KILL her!
Even with killing her, it doesn't help the situation because it could be looked at as foreshadowing and I don't think it's fair to assume that Chris Brown is going to kill Rihanna. This will bring even MORE unnecessary scrutiny to their relationship. This incident was 4 years ago and it's obvious that the two have gotten over it. They are both grown and can make their own decisions about their personal lives.
If I were Chris Brown, I would complain that the episode is defamatory to him because it implies that he will eventually kill Rihanna. If he really is working on himself and his relationship with Rihanna, this episode certainly didn't help.
I'm BAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!! It's been a minute since I did a post & my life has been CrAzY hectic lately but I'm here with a new topic and my same 2¢.
I was excited to hear that VH1 was making a movie about my FAVORITE girl group of all time, TLC. I was also anxious to see who they would cast to play the iconic members, especially my FAV the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.
Sidora could pull off T-Boz with the right hair & clothes.
It was announced that actress/singer Drew Sidora would be playing Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper Lil' Mama would be playing Left Eye and Keke Palmer would play Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas. I happen to think that this was AMAZING casting and you never know what they can do with special effects, hair and makeup.
I knew Drew Sidora from season 1 of "The Game" so I recognized the name when I heard she would be playing T-Boz. I think she can pull off T-Boz's cool and laid-back style with the right hair and clothes.
Palmer can pull of the youthful Chilli.
Keke Palmer is one of my FAVORITE young entertainers out right now. I actually thought of her first to play Chilli because she can sing, dance and is perfect to play the youthful one (who hasn't aged a DAY since the last album).
The only casting choice that people seem to be questioning is Lil' Mama to play Left Eye, but I think that it's because Left Eye has passed and people don't think that Lil' Mama can pull off acting. I happen to think that Lil' Mama gets a bad rap because of her first single "Lip Gloss" and that she has never really been taken seriously (especially after going onstage during a Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performance). However, I do think that she can redeem herself and bring something to this role. She will surprised a lot of people with this one and hopefully it will help her generate interest in her music again.
I think Lil' Mama can pull off Left Eye.
The three say that they are all fans of TLC, which gives me hope that they will do their best in the movie. I also hope that they know that these three women, T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli were three INCREDIBLE personalities and characters in their own right, not to mention together
I have been a fan of TLC since the very beginning in 1992 (I was only 4 years old, mind you). I own the CD of EVERY TLC album, Ooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip, CrazySexyCool, FanMail, and 3D. My very first concert was theirs, when they were on tour with MC Hammer and Boyz II Men. I've followed them until this day, seen the Behind the Music special many times so I know their story. I hope that these three do a great job.
I want to preface this post by saying that I have been a fan of Beyonce' since the beginning and I respect her as a consummate artist and performer.
I do NOT, however, attend the "Church of Beyonce'" nor do I "worship" her in order to call myself a fan.
My initial reaction to the whole thing was that I was not surprised if she was lip-synching. I even gave her props initially on Facebook and Twitter because I thought the performance was subtle and she could have gone MANY different ways with that performance for that Inauguration moment with the whole world watching. There is no doubt that what we heard was Beyonce's voice nor am I questioning if she can really sing.
I guess that my issue was that the performance was widely thought to be the HIGHLIGHT of the entire Inauguration, not the second swearing-in of the first black President. All of the entertainment blogs, shows and even the talk shows led with Beyonce's performance being the best part of the day.
Beyonce' is a PERFORMER so she knew every cadence of the pre-recorded track and faked it to PERFECTION. She looked AMAZING, flailed her arms and even took out the earpiece during the performance as if she were really singing. However, singing for the President should be done LIVE out of respect especially when you are close to him like she and Jay-Z are to Barack and Michelle.
Beyonce' has some of the most devoted and unwavering fans in the music industry but sometimes I think that they make excuses for her as if she can do NO wrong. If I were Beyonce', I would want to be transparent and be open if and when my REAL "fans" tell me when they didn't like a performance.
I understand that Beyonce' is in the middle of a whirlwind comeback, with the Superbowl coming up and the GQ photo shoot. Honestly, I am glad to see her back but I just wanted it to be more authentic. As fans of Beyonce' or any other artist or athlete, we should be able to make comments about their performances because they are public figures and that is what they're paid to do (and chose to do).
The biggest excuse that was made was that the cold weather made her decide to use the pre-recorded track. However, if it was so cold, then why didn't she perform in the fur coat that she walking out wearing? Yes it was around 45 degrees and any artist would be worried about their voice in that weather, but if she would have sang live and not sounded perfect, I would have given her the benefit of the doubt because of it.
It's not that I'm upset that she lip-synced because it's supposedly a "standard industry practice" and because the "Star Spangled Banner" is not the easiest song to sing...I would have just rather have had a more authentic performance for that moment.
It was also brought up that Whitney Houston lip-synched her iconic Superbowl performance back in 1991. I didn't want to bring up Whitney because she died BUT Whitney also did drugs...would it be okay for Beyonce' to do drugs too because Whitney did it? NO!
I even had a falling-out yesterday with a friend over this situation which is absurd because I really didn't take it that seriously. I just wasn't surprised that she did it.
The highly-anticipated first single from WeTV reality star Tamar Braxton was released on iTunes today. "Love and War" is a ballad that was first heard on her hit show Tamar and Vince and I think that it will be a HIT.
One of the plot lines of this season was when Tamar's album would be released. It's been 12 years since her 1st solo album and Tamar makes it known that she's done with "doo-wop-bop-bopping" behind her older sister Toni Braxton and is ready to be a STAR.
I genuinely like Tamar and her show because just like my girl Nene Leakes, she's funny and crazy and says what she means. I was waiting to hear the finished product to this song since I heard it on the show and I think it is a great choice for a single. The lyrics are powerful and will bring her a lot of fans because they will be able to relate:
We stay on the front lines, but we’re still here after the ball drops
We go so hard, we lose control The fire starts, then we explode
When the smoke clears, we dry the tears
Only in love and war
Some of the initial reaction to the song is that it sounds a lot like Toni Braxton, and that the cover for the single resembles her as well. I'm one of the BIGGEST Toni Braxton fans so I know her voice and you can easily tell the difference between them.
First of all, Toni and Tamar are SISTERS so of course they resemble each other, moreso than any of the other Braxton sisters. Secondly, Tamar sang backup for Toni for YEARS and of course she may sound a little like her but you can definitely tell the difference if you really LISTEN.
Listen to Tamar Braxton's first single, "Love and War" below:
Brandy is back after a four-year hiatus with her new album, Two Eleven, which has reached as high as #3 on the Billboard 200 & #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts.
This is somewhat of a new sound for Brandy without losing her signature style of singing. She has a wide range of topics in these songs, from love to break ups to self-esteem.
"Wildest Dreams" is the latest single from the album and the first song on it. It is obviously talking about her relationship with boyfriend Ryan Press & it's great to see and hear her in love again. It's inspiring for all us girls (like myself) who just want someone real to love them for who they are.
Some of my other favorites from the album include "Slower", which instructs a guy to slow down & take his time on a romantic evening. Also, "No Such Thing As Too Late" talks about being in LOVE with someone who is worth it BEFORE you lay with them. It's refreshing to hear this in a song, especially in a genre geared towards "taking clothes off.
"Without You", "Hardly Breathing", & "Scared of Beautiful" are just three more songs that showcase Brandy's vocal ability, which I've always said was one of the best in the industry.
Of course, the first single was "Put It Down" featuring Chris Brown & turned out to be a hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
I'm glad that Brandy is back to singing because as a BIG fan I know she's been through a lot the past few years. I will always support her...She made such hits as "Have You Ever" & "The Boy Is Mine" & don't forget one of the GREATEST show of my childhood...MO to the E to the...MOESHA!!!!
When it comes to music, I don't like to get caught up in all the hype. When I see a lot of people talking about a particular artist or album, I like to wait a while before I give it a serious listen once the hype dies down.
I wasn't that familiar with Frank Ocean, but I can say that I am definitely a fan now. His first album, Channel Orange, was released on July 10th & debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 200.
No surprise that the increased interest in the album was due to Ocean's "coming out" on his Tumblr page, stating that his first love was a man. He didn't say that he was flat-out gay, so I assume that he still likes women based on the conflict that he portrays on the album.
~Elle Shanice~ grade: A-
At first, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a publicity stunt to sell records. However, after thinking about it, I thought that it was great that he picked July 4th to declare his "independence" to be who he is. It takes a lot to do something like that, especially in the homophobic hip-hop industry & I think that it's a good thing.
Gay, straight, bisexual, WHATEVER...good music is good music & this album is GREAT. It has 17 songs that explore a wide range of topics & really showcases Ocean's vocal & writing talent. While his announcement brings some insight into the lyrics & gives a different outlook than otherwise, they are ambiguous to interpretation if you don't read too much into them. Some of my favorite songs include "Thinking Bout You", where Ocean dives straight into his feelings for this person & contemplates being with them & "Super Rich Kids". As soon as I heard the "Benny & the Jets" baseline & "Real Love" bridge, I was in. He depicts the life of privileged youth who have too much money & too little supervision.
The best song on the album is "Pink Matter", which features an always-clever Andre 3000 (my FAV) delivering a FLAWLESS verse. The song portrays the contrast of the female reproductive organ (vagina, p*ssy...whatever you want to call it). He compares it to both cotton candy (soft & sweet) & Majin Buu (a violent pink character from DragonBall Z) to say that it can be both good & evil.
Congratulations to you, Frank Ocean, for not only delivering a GREAT debut album but for living your truth & not being afraid to express yourself.
It's May & you know what that means...A POST A DAY IN MAY!!!!! I will have a blog post for you EVERY DAY this month so STAY TUNED...
It has been reported that Andre 3000 will play the late rock & roll legend Jimi Hendrix in a movie about his life. When I heard about this, I thought that he would be PERFECT for this role because the two have so many similarities.
This could be a BIG role or Andre 3000, who has made a solid jump to acting in movies like "Four Brothers". Just like with Jamie Foxx, who won an Oscar with his spot-on portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray", this could not only e a BREAKOUT part for Andre 3000.
It could also help give insight into the troubled life of Hendrix who died at the age of 27. Not only do Andre 3000 & Jimi Hendrix look alike (just like Jamie Foxx & Ray Charles), but the talent similarities are there as well. Andrew 3000 knows how to play the guitar so that will make it look more real instead of someone pretending.
I look forward to seeing what they do with this movie. Not only is Andre 3000 1/2 of one of my FAV hip hop groups (Outkast) but he is a great actor & not bad to look at either :-)
It's May 1st & you know what that means...A POST A DAY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY!!!!! I will have a blog post for you EVERY DAY this month so STAY TUNED...
Rihanna recently dropped the video for her new single "Where Have You Been" from her latest album, Talk That Talk.
This is one of Rihanna's most edgy and ambitious videos to date, as she was seen swimming in and emerging from swamp-like water, appearing in varied hairstyles (I like the shorter curls) & clothing from different African cultures, and most surprisingly...DANCING!!!!!
Rihanna has never been a good dance in my eyes but maybe she could dance all along. I've always said that ANYONE can learn a few dance steps (true dancers feel the music) but WHOEVER taught her to dance...or just made it look like she could...should win a MEDAL!!!!!
Overall, I think that Rihanna is right on schedule for being on my good side again. She always does something CrAzY to almost lose me as a fan but I frequently play songs from Talk That Talk & this song is at the top of the list.
I find myself struggling to write this blog post, given the sudden and shocking circumstances surrounding the untimely death of one of the greatest recording artists of all time.
Whitney Houston was only 48 years old but was one of the best voices that I have ever heard. She was such a staple at the top of the charts in the 80's and 90's, with a series of consecutive #1 hits that include "Greatest Love of All", "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know". Her vocal range was incomparable and she was such an inspiration to so many other artists that I love. Not only was she one of the best-selling artists of all time, selling hundreds of millions of records, but she was an actress whose movies were few but classic, such as The Bodyguard, The Preacher's Wife, and my personal favorite, Waiting to Exhale. That movie is part of my collection & I was hoping that they could get the orignal four women back together for the sequel :-(
I first heard the news when it popped up on my iPhone's screen via the CNN app and my jaw immediately dropped. There was no news of an illness or that she was even rushed to the hospital. Nothing leading up to her death & nothing to prepare the music world for such a loss, just one day before the 2012 Grammy Awards, of which Houston had won 6.
Despite her personal problems and bouts with drug & alcohol addiction, I always rooted for her and prayed that she could make a comeback. She recently finished the remake of Sparkle, which would have served as the "sparkle" of such a resurgence. I have always said in my blog posts that I don't get concerned with celebrities' personal lives and the same can be said about Whitney Houston. Yes, she had a tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown which may have led to her drug problems. However, what I do know is that her career is one of the greatest in history and that is what we should remember her by.
We all probably have a memory of Whitney and her music. I remember watching The Bodyguard and then being a fanatic of the soundtrack, which included my JAMS "Queen of the Night", "I'm Every Woman" and the epic hit "I Will Always Love You". The impact of such a loss as this outweighs the circumstances, because there will NEVER be a voice like Whitney's. Not Mariah, Beyonce', Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson...NOBODY. Yes, they all come close but the fact that they were all inspired by her makes her legacy that much greater.
Rest in Peace Ms. Whitney Houston
August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012
Below are the videos for my 3 favorite Whitney Houston songs, "I'm Your Baby Tonight" & "All The Man That I Need" and "I'm Every Woman". The first one is a song that I can play at ANY time & has been on repeat in the past 48 hours. The second is the song that I want to sing to my husband at our wedding ("sing" used LOOSELY lol). The last one features my ALL-TIME favorite group TLC.
The new year has brought new engagements to the public eye...and ALL of them are well-deserved in my opinion. I look forward to some BIG weddings in 2012.
First, NBA superstar Lebron James proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson and the first thing that I thought was IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!!
I'm a BIG fan of Lebron's since he got to the NBA and I even had a crush on him for years. When I saw his beautiful girlfriend Savannah for the first time on Oprah a few years ago, I thought that they made a cute couple. I like Savannah & even follow her on Twitter.
I'm glad that he FINALLY proposed to her because I know he has been getting a lot of criticism outside of basketball. With his friends Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony getting married, I'm sure he was feeling a little pressure.
They have two children together and it was just time to take that next step. I'm happy that Savannah got her ring and I hope that Lebron can get a ring of his own. I wish them the best.
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin announced that she was engaged to her longtime partner William Wilkerson. I'm happy for Aretha, who has always been shy about talking about her love life, which is REFRESHING in entertainment.
In the BIGGEST plot twist aka engagement of all, "Love and Hip Hop" star Jim Jones FINALLY proposed to girlfriend of seven years, Chrissy Lampkin. Even though the engagement was on-camera, I'm still happy for these two.
Chrissy is by far my favorite on the show, and I feel that she deserves it the most. She has been with Jim for seven years and they do not have any children, which is RARE because a baby = a paycheck (sad but true), and she puts up with his mess like nothing I have ever seen.
It was obvious on the show that she loves him (she proposed to HIM) but it was clearly taking it's toll on her emotionally. She had to go to Miami to try and take her mind off of it, and that's when Jim surprised her with the proposal. It seems like the trip was just what was needed to get Jim to act right and make the move. He obviously looked up and didn't see Chrissy there and it made him realize that it was time to propose.
Congratulations to all three couples from ~Elle Shanice~...I wish them nothing but the BEST!!!!!
Here is the video from Jim's proposal to Chrissy on "Love and Hip Hop":
First of all, I want to say Happy New Year to all of my new & returning readers!!!!! This will be my 3rd year of blogging & I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you in 2012.
That being said, I'm gonna start off the new year of posts with a (still) touchy subject, with everybody from Oprah to Jay-Z putting their two cents into this Chris Brown/Rihanna conversation.
However, I think that enough time has passed for these two grown people (Rihanna is 23 & Chris is 22) to decide if they want to get back together. Yes, Chris has a "girlfriend" now (I use the term loosely) and Rihanna has been linked to Matt Kemp & Drake among others. However, it is obvious to me that these two do not have each other out of their system.
I have always said that I do not care much about the personal lives of celebrities and I usually only comment on what they do in the public eye. Which is why I say that if they want to get back together, they should be able to no matter what other people think. Although I know that people would not leave it alone if they did (and they may lose fans because of it), I do think that you can't help who you fall in love with. If Chris Brown convinces Rihanna that he has changed and she's willing to move on with him, then they should be able to.
Rumors of a reunion started when they started following each other again on Twitter (which even I know that you should watch what you say on there). They also gave us subtweets that led most people to believe that they were for each other (see right).
They both released albums in 2011 that had songs which point to possible feelings still being there. I actually have both cd's, have listened to them all the way through several times, and my conclusion is that they OBVIOUSLY still have feelings for each other despite the situation.
I wish Chris Brown & Rihanna the best in whatever they decide to do with their relationship. It's their personal business but I hope that they both continue to be at the top of their games musically, because F.A.M.E. and Talk That Talk were two of the best albums of 2011.
Here are just two examples of some lyrics from both Chris Brown & Rihanna's latest albums:
Chris Brown "She Ain't You"
I never wanted us to break upNo not this wayBut you don't understand it girlWhen she touches me, I'm wishing that they were your handsAnd when I'm with her its only 'bout the sexWith you I had a bad romance
Rihanna "Fool In Love"
You’ll see a monster, I see a smile
You say it’s danger and I’m in denial
But somehow I feel so safe right now
So I guess I’m a fool, I’m a fool in love
But I’m willing to stay here and bask in the glory of hisheart
I guess I’m a fool in love but I’m willing to look so stupid
Till I’ve had enough
Here is Rihanna's video for her Talk That Talk first single, "We Found Love", which includes a Chris Brown look-a-like and displays a couple's volatile relationship (sound familiar?). It also features a chilling monologue:
It's like you're screaming, and no one can hear. You almost feel ashamed, that someone could be that important - that without them, you feel like nothing. No one will ever understand how much it hurts. You feel hopeless; like nothing can save you. And when it's over, and it's gone, you almost wish that you could have all that bad stuff back - so that you could have the good.
The jig is up Trey! I mean really...how many sex songs can you make? You do NOT have to be the new R. Kelly...we already have him & even HE isn't being overtly sexual anymore.
The second of two mix-tapes that the he released (the other was a rap one called "Lemmeholdatbeat 2") is full of his somewhat-signature, sexual songs. I was cool with the 1st Anticipation mix-tape (which made me a fan of his), then Ready, his most successful album to date which yielded "I Invented Sex" and equally-racy video. But THEN it was "Passion, Pain & Pleasure" & now this.
Trey has made other songs about other topics, but real R&B does not have to be JUST about sex! Yes, I enjoy songs like "Does He Do It" & "Jupiter Love" but I feel like he's putting himself in a box. Marvin Gaye had "Sexual Healing" & "Let's Get It On" but he also make socially-conscious songs like "Inner City Blues" and "What's Goin' On" to offset that. Even R. Kelly made BLOCKBUSTER collaborations with people like Celine Dion & Ron Isley. He has classics like "I Believe I Can Fly" to go along with "Bump & Grind"
He has a few songs that steer away from that topics and are actually good, like “She Needs Me” and “Top of the World”, which he talks about his hometown and his supporters in Virginia. But just a look at some of these titles lets you know EXACTLY what you’re about to hear: “French Kiss”, “Inside", "Bomb (a.p.)", & "Girl on Girl".
Here's my favorite song from the mixtape, "She Needs Me", which has an old-school, doo-wop feel to it...Check it out:
WOW!!!!! I just have to take a moment and realize that it has been 10 years since the passing of one of the most promising artists of my lifetime, Aaliyah Dana Haughton.
She was SOOOOO underrated as a true singer/dancer/actress combination! We had no IDEA the potential she truly had and how much that we would miss her when she was gone until she was.
Reflecting over the past 10 years has made me realize just how much of a difference she made in such a short time. Still to this day, I cringe a little at the thought of what she could have been if she had not boarded that plane in the Bahamas that day.
She only had 3 albums in her short 22 years of life but each one gave us music that will last longer than our hurt as fans. I think about her every time I watch Romeo Must Die, hear one of her songs on the radio or on my iPod. I watch videos on YouTube to just get another glimpse of the angel that was put here on Earth to bring us joy and make us smile.
I was a fan of hers while she was alive because I'm a 90's music baby and TLC, the Spice Girls & Aaliyah were my LIFE!!!!! I remember growing up that there were two hairstyles that I wanted to get: Scary Spice's twists/curls & Aaliyah's bang over my eye.
What set Aaliyah out from the rest for me was her natural beauty, humble spirit, sweet personality and sincere delivery in her singing. She didn't have to SCREAM or do a lot of riffs and tricks with her voice to make you feel the song...she just SANG it:
How Could The One I Gave My Heart To, Break My Heart So Bad?
How Could The One Who Made Me Happy, Make Me Feel So Sad?
Wont Somebody Tell Me? So I Can Understand.
If You Love Me, How Could You Break This Heart Of Mine?
Tell Me...
I still remember that day when I found out that she had passed. I immediately thought of my childhood friend, Sasha, who was a BIG fan and would ALWAYS be Aaliyah when we played after school. I had just started the 8th grade and went to a private Christian school. I remember coming to class talking about it the next day and actually praying in class for her family.
That 2001-2002 school year proved to be rough for me to say the least, with September 11th happening just weeks later and Lisa "Left Eye"Lopez dying in a car accident days after my 14th birthday. All memories that are set in my mind.
I have always said that if Aaliyah & Selena were alive today that they would be a SUPERSTAR and that they would be better than all of the singers now...including Beyonce'! At the time of her death, Aaliyah was balancing a budding acting career as well as continuing her already successful music one. While I stand by that statement, I will say that there is no way to gage Aaliyah's success today because she is gone. I realize today that it was only after death that I truly developed an deep appreciation for her music.
Rest in Peace "Baby Girl"
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001)
Here is the video for my FAVORITE Aaliyah song...her delivery was powerful & yet sincere...you felt her broken heart as she sang it:
I wasn't completely sold on a Jay-Z/Kanye West collab album when I first heard about it, especially with all of the hype behind it and them keeping it SO much under wraps.
I'm a fan of both rappers but have always like Kanye a little bit more (even though he ALWAYS pushes the envelope). Jay-Z is smart and one of the greatest rappers alive but I feel like he is the one who doesn't know when to leave the party (or does he?).
I gave Watch The Throne a listen today and have to say that while it is not a CLASSIC, it does blend the two well and is a good album overall. While there were way TOO many samples for my taste, I think that it sounds exactly how I would expect an album to sound from these two together.
You get the wordplay and content that both have become famous for (and sometimes infamous) as well as some of Kanye's new sound from both 808's and Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (both of which are on my iPod). I do think that Kanye does better in his parts but Jay-Z holds his own as well.
~Elle Shanice~ grade for Watch The Throne: B+
I was a little put off by some of the song titles but I gave the album an honest listen all the way through in order to give it a fair review. The 1st track, "No Church in the Wild" was one of those songs that I was hesitant to listen to because of its title but I did like the song. The 2nd song is one of my favorites, "Lift Off" and of course features Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce'. Another song that I was wary of because of the title was "N*iggas in Paris" but it is also one of my favorites.
The first single from the album, "Otis" features an Otis Redding sample and was one of the most HYPED songs I've ever heard. You couldn't find it ANYWHERE to even listen to it! Other songs that I liked include "Gotta Have It", "New Day", and "Why I Love You", but my favorite song on the whole album (despite it's title) was "That's My B*tch". Kanye KILLED this song, which is the one that I was convinced that he had surpassed Jay-Z, at least on this album.
In many aspects, I think that this album is Jay-Z's way of rising from his "throne" and passing the reigns to Kanye. I feel like he made the album to show that he still can but to me, Kanye is slowly surpassing him as an artist (if he can just keep his mouth shut).
