Old School Fridays - Songs With The Word Baby In Them

Hi Everyone! Glad to be back. It has been a while and I really missed blogging, especially my "Old School Friday" friends. Today I chose a double shot from the tempting Temptations, "My Baby" and "Since I Lost My Baby"

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Old School Fridays - Song With The Word Heart In The Title

Well it's Friday once more. I had a really hard time with this theme for some reason; however I came up with the perfect song. Anyone Who Had A Heart, originally performed by Dionne Warwick (unfortunately I could not find the original) and two covers of the song, one by Luther Vandross and the other by Dusty Springfield. I found Ms. Warwick performing the song (sort of) with Cliff Richards dubbed in.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

I got a last minute add!

25 Writers That Influenced Me

Sojourner tagged me! She wants to know twenty-five authors that have influenced me. Here goes in no particular order!

1. Patricia Hill Collins
2. Assata Shakur
3. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
4. Nikki Giovanni
5. Ida B. Wells-Barnett
6. Terri McMillan
7. John Saul
8. George Jackson
9. Angela Y. Davis
10. Joyce A. Ladner
11. Alex Haley
12. Henry Lewis Gates Jr.
13. Alice Walker
14. Gil Scott Heron
15. Langston Hughes
16. Maya Angelou
17. Sonya Sanchez
18. Ntozake Shange
19. W.E.B. Dubois
20. Dorothy Roberts
21. Zora Neal Hurston
22. Randall Robinson
23. Molefi Asante
24. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
25. Lorraine Hansberry

Old School Friday - Songs From Sophomore Year

1972 was a very good year. Check out the player below to find out why. This was a year of classic R & B music. Click here and you will understand the I make this proclamation. This week I am going with James Brown who WAS the 60's and 70's, The Staple Singers, and Al Green.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Idol's Four Panel Jury A Bust?

I have been half-heartedly watching American Idol this year. One reason is that for the most part the talent has been mediocre at best and secondly, I do not understand the necessity for the fourth judge. When I first heard that there would be a new judge on the Idol scene, I will admit that I was curious. I wondered what type of personality the new judge would have and what she would bring to the table as far as judging is concerned.

I was really hoping that it would be someone with an extensive musical background that would be qualified to judge a contest such as this with impartiality and prudence. While the new judge, Kara DioGuardi does have a musical background (songwriter), I find nothing intriguing or exciting about her. Paula Abdul must agree with me because she has publicly stated that the fourth judge slows the show down and interrupts its flow.

Are there any fans of Idol still with the show in the 8th season and if so, what do you think of the addition of the fourth judge?

The Return of South Central

TV ONE is broadcasting eight episodes of the series South Central on Monday, February 23rd at 1:00 AM CST. The series, set in South Central Los Angeles, dealt with the lives of an African American family, the Moseleys, and issues, such as gang violence, drugs, dating, sex, school, and employment. Joan Moseley (Tina Lifford) is a divorced mother, raising three children without any financial assistance from her former husband. The financial situation becomes even more complicated when she is laid off from her job at the neighborhood market. Her children include Andrè (Larenz Tate), Tasha (Tasha Scott) and foster son Deion (Keith Mbulo). Rounding out the casts was Joan’s friends, Dr. Ray McHenry (Ken Page) and Sweets (Paula Kelly).

South Central featured many guest stars including Jennifer Lopez, Shar Jackson, Michael Beach, and Maia Campbell. This show provided a realistic portrayal of urban life and was very popular among critics. In retrospect the series might have been too real airing not long after the Los Angeles riots. I remember one episode that showed Tasha outside in the yard singing under a helicopter (ghetto bird) spotlight. The show aired on Tuesday nights following Roc.

Due to a decline in ratings of the entire night of programming, FOX cancelled all of the shows on that night, which included The Sinbad Show and In Living Color. The cancellation of the series, which had a predominately black cast, prompted Jesse Jackson to call for a boycott of the network for what he called their institutional racism. FOX maintained that the series were low rated and the decision to cancel was not racially motivated. Thanks to TV ONE for bringing back a show that never really had a chance. I found this clip of Tasha Scott and a scene with her acting opposite CCH Pounder is contained here.

Old School Friday - The Jackson Family

Well it's Friday yet again. This is probably my favorite family group of all times (sorry Sylvers and Debarge). We have been inundated with Michael Joe videos over the years, so I decided to go with The group as a whole. one by Jermaine, and one by Janet (sorry Latoya and Rebe).

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Drunken Negro Face Cookies!

Am I the only one to find the idea of a bake good named "Drunken Negro Face Cookies" offensive? I received the below video in an email and it made me angry enough to "chew bricks". The cookies in question were supposedly used to celebrate the Inauguration of President Obama. On that day the cookies were referred to as "Obama Heads". The Greenwich Connecticut baker who sells these cookies does not see why anyone would have a problem with these cookies and that the women (who happen to be Caucasian) who reported the story are overreacting. What do you think? Should all people find this appalling and racist or am I being overly sensitive?

Tyler Perry Wants Ms. Ross

Tyler Perry is by his own admission stalking Diana Ross. According to Perry he want her in a new film he is producing entitled A Jazz Man's Blues. He has been sending flowers, e-mails to people who know her, and talked to the man who walks her dog. The film is set around 1947 and Tyler would like Ms. Ross to bring some of what she brought to Lady Sings The Blues. Tyler confessed that he would love to showcase what a powerful actress she is because we have not seen her in a long time. On a personal note I thought Ms. Ross was good in Double Platinum with Brandy Norwood, but she was especially compelling in Out Of Darkness in which she portrayed a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia. Below is a clip of her portrayal.

Update: Out of Darkness will be showing on TV ONE, February 18th at 12:00 AM CST.

Old School Friday: Everybody Loves The Blues!

Both of my grandmother's had a love for the blues. I remember weekends filled with the sounds of B. B., Bobby 'Blue' Bland and what seemed to be my paternal grandmother's favorite, Lou Rawl's "Tobacco Road". As a child I did not want to hear that mess, I wanted to hear the Miracles, Temptations and the Vandallas, but I digress. Over the years I have gained more knowledge and insight about the genre and yes, a love for the blues! Last week my player did not work correctly, but I am going to try it again. My selections this week are Bobby Bland, Little Willie John and a live performance by Buddy Guy and B. B. King. Enjoy!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

Welcome to Dallas Kwame!

Well according to local new cast in the Dallas area, Kwame Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit, Michigan, has taken a job in the Dallas area. The disgraced former mayor just completed a 99 day stint in jail. According to the Detroit News Kilpatrick still owes the city of Detroit a million dollars, yet he has leased a 3,000 a month, one half acre Southlake rental (an exclusive area outside of Dallas), where his family has been residing since December.

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

In Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, Claireece Precious Jones endures unimaginable hardships in her young life. Abused by her mother, raped by her father, she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. So what better way to learn about her than through her own, halting dialect. Instead of being swallowed by depression, Claireece tries to break from the chains of ignorance by digging deep into her own resources. Push has won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Precious, in addition to her physical problems, lacks even basic self-esteem, and Push is largely about her journey toward normalcy. Things will never be super-awesome for her; the point is that she can learn to cope with life and find a semblance of happiness and self-respect. That feeling of hopefulness, not the awfulness that precedes it, is what you'll take with you when the film is over.

The film has a stellar cast with Monique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, and Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece Precious Jones. Here is a clip from the Sundance Film Festival.

Etta and Beyoncê Feuding?

There is a new feud brewing on the horizon between legendary blues singer, Etta James and Beyoncê (who incidentally recently immortalized Ms. James on film in “Cadillac Records”). Etta, the originator of the classic love song “At Last,” has lashed out at Beyoncê for singing the tune during the first dance of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at last month’s Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. According to reports, Ms. James allegedly quipped at a Seattle concert, “You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain’t my president, he might be yours, he ain’t my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song–she’s going to get her ass whipped. The great Beyoncê. I can’t stand Beyoncê,” she spat. “She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day, singing my song that I’ve been singing forever.”

Oh, oh, it seems that Bey has stepped on yet another legendary divas’ toes. Remember last year when she referred to Tina Turner as the “Queen of Soul”, which prompted Aretha Franklin to fire off a scathing email chastising the up and coming singer. Is Ms. James being sensitive or did Beyoncê over step her boundaries by performing the song at the Inauguration Ball? Or is this all just some sort of attention seeking publicity stunt?

Old School Friday - New Edition Members Songs

I have always enjoyed New Edition since its conception. I had a chance to catch the original five back in the 80's when my son was a boy. What a great show. Anyhow when I started loading up my player for this theme there was just so many ways to go with so many great songs. I just couldn't stop, so I loaded up my player with four songs this time, one by the original group, one by the group sans Bobby Brown and with Johnny Gill and songs by Bobby and Johnny respectively. Enjoy!

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

Old School Fridays - Original Vs Remake

If you know anything about Motown, you know that practically every single was cut on more than one artist, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" comes to mind. Anyhow I am going with two Motown heavyweights this time, the Jackson five covering Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why I Love You, But I Love You". Little Michael definitely gives Stevie a run for the money on this one in my humble opinion.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Mrs. Grapevine

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate, any music genre

2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999

3. No offensive music allowed, please use the edited radio version

4. Post a video of your favorite songs to take us back down memory lane

5. Add your name to the meme so that others can check you out

6. Have fun and don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Click here to join in the fun!

I Wish - An Original Poem By Latisha

For many years I have worked with children and adolescents as a mental health professional. While I am an educator, I also work as a licensed chemical dependency counselor for teenagers from 13 to 18 years of age. The work is challenging, but rewarding and every now and then you come in contact with someone who is really talented. The young lady who wrote this poem is very talented 17 year old and this is only one of many of her offerings. She has allowed me to share this poem with my blogger pals and she would appreciate feedback both good and bad.

I Wish

By the time you get this letter I might be doing better
It's kind of hard trying to survive in all this crazy weather
Everybody wants my number, everybody's calling my name

But in the mist of this I can still hear you say

"Girl walk upright and straighten your life because you don't want one of

those good jobs to pass you by and don't act no fool cause I'll always be

watching you!"

And now that you're gone it stills feels like you're here!

I miss our walks one thing you use to say when things get hard get down on

your knees and pray and then our walks it's just those simple things I miss

We still do all of these but only in my dreams!

At night I pray to god and ask him why can't you still be here with me?

I look up when it's raining I try hard to live life the right way but it'll take

a couple more years for the world to see how I'm trying to stay strong but

barely moving on I know I'll see you again but for right now Rest In Peace!

And when I get to heaven first thing I'll say will be tell me have you seenMaybell Marie Johnson

Find out where you are run into your arms so you can wrap your wings

around me and whisper in my ear well done my child!

Granny I wish you were here to see the things I've done

I wish you were here you'd be so proud of this single loved one

I wish you were here to celebrate with me

I wish you were here!

Written by: Latisha

January 23, 2009

Solid As Barack!

The singing, songwriting team of Ashford and Simpson have taken their early 1980's hit "Solid As A Rock" , reworked it and renamed it "Solid As Barack". A tribute to President Barack Obama, the catchy ode was released digitally on Jan. 20 – the same historic day he was inaugurated as the first African American President of the United States of America. This new version, complete with expanded lyrics for the entire song, is a reverential tribute to Obama.

The hit-making husband and wife team premiered the song on 'Larry King Live' during the inauguration weekend. That's where it was revealed that the demand for the remix has been overwhelming since a recent airing of a version of the song on 'Saturday Night Live,' which was performed by the comedic cast of the series.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2009 Inductees

On October 03, 2008, Malcolm of "Pop Culture Dish" wrote and posted an excellent piece on the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. He speculated about who would and would not get in and who should and should not get in. To read that story click here.

The nominees were Jeff Beck, Chic, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run DMC, War and Bobby Womack. In response to Malcolm's post I mentioned that although I am a huge fan of War, I did not believe they would get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before Bobby Womack. Bobby Womack, who was once a sideman for Sam Cooke, had a very successful solo career, and he is also a native son of Cleveland, which gives him a leg up, so to speak.

I also predicted that Little Anthony and the Imperials and Run DMC would be inducted. I remember Little Anthony and the Imperials being a huge draw, especially for the girls. They were also very entertaining with their dance steps and splits. You know the kind of guy that the girls want to be with and the boys want to be :-) Run DMC influenced a generation of hip hoppers, enough said!

Anyhow, the dust has settled and here are the 2009 inductees; drum roll please!

Performer Inductees:

Jeff Beck
















Little Anthony & the Imperials




















Metallica












Run DMC









Bobby Womack




















Early Influence:

Wanda Jackson

Sideman Category:

Bill Black

DJ Fontana

Spooner Oldham

Of course I am a fan of War and Chic. I spent many a night in the disco during my misspent youth, and while I think that War is deserving, Chic as a group is not. I do have a feeling that down the line Nile Rodgers (Chic's guitar player) will be given consideration. Have a look at the inductees biographies and tell me what do you think about this year's inductees. While you ponder that thought enjoy a medley by Little Anthony & the Imperials.

Inauguration Day!

Inauguration Day has finally arrived! I would like to give a shout out to the new first family and wish them all the best in the next 4 years. It has been a rough couple of years for Barack Obama. His background has been exposed, he was accused of not being a citizen of the United States, being a terrorist, and just plain scandalized. I am so proud of the fact that he and his wife Michelle were able to maintain their grace under a hail storm of fire. These folks have shown a class and style that is incomparable.

I have only one more thing to say about our new Commander-in-Chief. His name is Barack Hussein Obama, not Messiah, Jehovah, Jesus, Allah or The Holy Ghost! The mess this country is in was not made in 4 years and more than likely will not be resolved in one presidential term. Let us stand behind our President, give him the support he will need as he begins this difficult and challenging journey, and wish him Godspeed.

Diversity Ink

Hello Everyone!

How apropos, on the day we celebrate the birth of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a new blog is being launched that will explore the issue of race from the perspectives of several contributors and You! Diversity Ink will include the personal experiences of the contributors along with writings on pop culture, current events, and other topics as they relate to race.

You are all invited to stop on by, kick your shoes off, get comfortable and become ready to take part in discussions that will sometimes be fun, sometimes uncomfortable, but always informative and entertaining. Please add Diversity Ink to your blogroll and we will see you there!