May17

Donna Summer Dies At 63

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On May 17th the world lost another iconic performer from the music industry. According to The Associated Press Summer died of cancer Thursday morning in Naples, Florida. Her family released a statement saying they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.” Donna Summer passed at the age of 63 after fighting her battle with cancer.

Donna Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, December 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents Andrew and Mary Gaines and was one of seven children.

As of today she recorded a total of 17 albums, including a number of compilations. She was a five time Grammy winner at the time of her death she was working on an upcoming album. In the 1970s Donna Summer became known as The Queen of Disco. Summer gave us hits such as “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.” She was also the first female artist to have back-to-back multi double platinum albums.

Summer’s entertainment background is an interesting one. Moving to New York after high school with a band called Crow that later separated; she performed in a production of Hair which took her to Munich. After finishing her run with Hair, Donna Summer went on to sing background for the 1970s trio Three Dog Night. She later on signed a deal with the European label Groovy Records and recorded her first album Lady of the Night in 1974. This album was released only in Europe. While aboard singing and performing Donna also learned German fluently.

In 1978 Donna Summer appeared in the film “Thank God It’s Friday,” which won the best original song Oscar for “Last Dance.” Summer also appeared in the television sitcom “Family Matters,” playing Steve Urkel’s Aunt Oona in a reoccurring role.

Unknown to some Donna Summer was also an avid and talented painter of abstract art. In 2010, she told Atlantic City Weekly that she sold her first painting for $38,000 and thought, “I may want to stop singing now.” Summer estimated she had sold close to a million dollars of worth of artwork. Her artwork has been shown at the Parkwest Gallery and can be found online.

In regards to her artwork Donna stated, “I paint people from the inside out… from what I see in people… that’s why my paintings are abstract and not well defined… because who can truly know the heart of another person?”

Donna Summer is survived by her husband, musician Bruce Sudano, her three daughters and four grandchildren.

Here’s “Last Dance” my favorite Donna Summer song. I remember standing in the mirror as a little girl and singing my heart out. I also can recall going to the Northland Theatre in St. Louis to see the moving “Thank God It’s Friday”.

Donna thanks for the memories.

~El

May15

Is Brian McKnight Looking For a Comeback?

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Brain McKnight is a sexy and talented balladeer that leaves some women grinning from ear to ear after hearing his melodic songs as he performs on stage. Since coming on the scene in 1992 with the release of his first self-titled album Brian McKnight, McKnight has recorded numerous chart toppers.

Brian McKnight is a multi-talented musician, songwriter, producer and of course a smooth crooner. He plays various instruments such as the piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions and other instruments.

So why did Brian McKnight post himself singing a You Tube video about a woman’s private area? He says that he has thought about recording an adult mix tape so he came up with If You’re Ready to Learn. If You’re Ready to Learn expresses how bad he feels for women that are in unsatisfying relationships.

According to TMZ.com he came up with the video parody in order to kill time. He was healing from surgery on his Achilles tendon. He said “I’ve been home for a month… I’ve got this boot on my foot… I’m having fun because basically I have nothing else to do.

Some of his listeners did not appreciate this move, but apparently the adult entertainment industry thinks differently. Brian McKnight has become a hot commodity adult entertainment. TMZ learned, the singer was asked to perform his new X-rated song at the OSCARS OF PORN … aka the AVN awards.

However, McKnight isn’t in a hurry to jump aboard. “I don’t know what specifically I will do with this track in the future … and I don’t see myself ever performing it live, but I am flattered that people have embraced it and are having as much fun with it as I am.”
Now I’m wondering what happened to Brian writing beautiful love songs. I always said if I could have any artist to sing at my wedding it would be Brian McKnight. Maybe I’ll need him for the honeymoon instead.

Now will this stop me or others from listening to Brian McKnight and no longer buy his music? Did it shut down the careers of Michael Jackson, Chris Brown or R Kelly? Of course not! I still love his music. I’ll just look at this as one of those tracks on the CD that I skip over.

Just as one You Tube viewer questioned, has Brian sung himself right out of a BET Life Time Achievement Award? Who knows only time will tell on that one.

I can see some other R and B artist singing this type of song, but not Brian. Brian if you are desperate for a comeback, even though I never realized that you were ever gone, I would love for you to get back to writing those beautiful songs that you are known for. If you do that you’ll do just fine. Your loyal fans and those that love your music would appreciate it.

May15

Unrepeatable

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I am a precious child of the Universe, unique, unrepeatable, prosperous, wise, and worthy. I choose to love and accept myself unconditionally as my Higher Power does. I choose to love and accept others.

I love this affirmation. The word unrepeatable stuck out in my head. As a matter of fact I wrote this while sitting in the car when I saw this on my cell’s email and I immediately wrote the following:

Unrepeatable

I am unrepeatable
When God made me he broke the mode
There is no one before me and no one to follow

I am unrepeatable
The combo of my mama’s and daddy’s DNA, genes, talent and skills
Even down to their mannerisms makes me who I am

Unrepeatable

I am who I am
Compassionate, sensitive, outspoken and angry at times
I am unrepeatable

Don’t get it twisted
So if you are searching for one like me, a proto type
Then your search is in vain
Because I am what God made me to be

Unrepeatable

May10

Attachment Parenting: When Is It Too Much?

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Today it was reported that Time Magazine has printed a controversial picture of a woman breastfeeding her three year old son, which will be featured in the May 21st issue. Of course when this hit the news Twitter and Face Book posts were blowing up the internet.

I am unsure if people were upset because of the woman simply breastfeeding or the fact that the child was three years old and standing in a chair doing, it as opposed to being an infant.

According to the Associated Press reaction to the Time cover underscored a cultural rift between traditional child rearing and what some have deemed “extreme parenting.” The attachment philosophy encourages mothers to respond to their babies’ every cry and form close bonds with near-constant physical contact through “co-sleeping” (letting them sleep in the bed with parents rather than in cribs) and “baby-wearing” (carrying them on slings instead of pushing them in strollers).

The cover story deals with the ideal of Attachment Parenting. Advocates of Attachment Parenting believe that this parenting style nurtures a very strong connection between the parents and the child, resulting in a child growing up to be a more caring and compassionate adult.

Attachment Parenting is the constant presence of a parent being within reach of a child. This form of parenting has been called extreme parenting by some. While watching a piece on Attachment Parenting months ago on the news I found it very interesting to see parents taking turns holding their children as is they were afraid to let go. Many of these children are breast fed well past the age of four. They also sleep with their parents up to the point of entering school. Proponents of attachment parenting advise that the constant presence of a parent is a positive one.

Dr. Mayim Bialik who plays the nerdy neurobiologist on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” shares her parenting experience in her new book, “Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.”

Attachment parenting is most known for its principle of co-sleeping with your children, but Bialik explains that it’s so much more. She says it’s about addressing the needs of your child in a way that will bond her to you. It’s choosing natural childbirth, breast-feeding, wearing your baby as much as possible in an infant sling or carrier and using gentle discipline when he gets older. It’s not putting him on a feeding and sleeping schedule or using a crib or letting him “cry it out.”

This leaves to question if wearing your child is a good thing and if allowing your children to sleep in a family bed is healthy. Does this really help the child in the long run? Will this take away the child’s ability to become independent? Will it also take away their ability to socialize with others, especially children their own age?
How much is too much when it comes to parenting? Is there a limit? Is there such a thing as too much parenting?

Even though some believe this helps to prevent violence in society as a whole. Can attachment parenting do more harm than good or is this parenting style a better alternative to traditional parenting? I am sure the answer is still left open for debate. When it’s all said and done I suppose parents know what’s best for their child.
For more information visit Attachment Parenting International.

~El

May5

Thought For Today

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I borrowed this from a sister in my writing group the EW.

Thought For Today

“Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of the day quite simply at His disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what He appoints. Never mind about tomorrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful when tomorrow comes to ask Him to take it also.” – Francis Ridley Havergal

~El

May5

Is Beyonce Getting Her GED?

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I upset a few people with this piece over at Thy Black Man. That’s okay. As a writer I want to spark conversation be it drama filled or free.

After reading the comments on the following article I have learned that some people are steadfast to the celebrities that they love.

Read on…

It appears that anything and everything revolving around Beyonce is hot. Everyone wants a part of whatever Beyonce is doing. Rather it’s positive or negative people want to know everything there is to know about the woman Beyoncé.

There was the hushed hushed marriage of her and hubby Jay Z that went under the radar until after the nuptials. Of course there was the surprise announcement at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) of her pregnancy. Then there was the drama surrounding her supposed fake pregnancy and the uproar of Blue Ivy’s name and its connection to the Illuminati.

Beyonce always seems to have her hand in a number of things. She has acted in various movies on screen. Some of her film credits include Cadillac Records, Dream Girls, Obsessed and Austin Power’s Gold Member. Oh and let us not forget Carmen A Hip Hopopera. She was also named People’s Most Beautiful woman of 2012. She’s had a whirlwind of a year and we’re only midway through.

The beginning of this year news spread across the internet that Beyonce would be the topic of a new course offered at Rutgers University. The course Feminist Perspectives: Politicizing Beyoncé focused on Beyonce’s music, videos, and career to explore issues of American race, gender, and sexual politics.

Kevin Allred, the instructor says the course examines the singer’s lyrics and videos in comparison to the writings of Alice Walker and Sojourner Truth. He has also stated, “This isn’t a course about Beyonce’s political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama’s inauguration weekend. She certainly pushes boundaries. While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.”

Apparently Beyonce is not the only one in the family that has been the subject on university campuses. Jay Z was also the topic of a Sociology Class at Georgetown University.

One thing for sure Beyonce is constantly in the news for something and here’s another one she can add to her list. Most recently The New York Association of Black Journalists announced that they will be bestowing a writing award to Beyonce Knowles on May 15th. Beyonce will be rewarded for her article “Eat, Play, Love,” which appeared in Essence in 2011.

This last accolade given to Beyonce has prompted me to address this issue and to no longer ignore it. Last month while reading one of many blogs I came across rumors that Beyonce was seen heading into a building that houses the W. 35th Street Alternative Education Complex in Brooklyn, New York with a binder in her hand. The facility she visited offers GED tests and because of this sighting rumors are running rampant that Beyonce is getting her GED because she never received it. I really can’t say for sure how true this may or may not be, but this is what is being said.

Supposedly Beyonce dropped out high school at 14 or 15 and was receiving help from a tutor. Apparently no one knows for sure. But of course this still got me to thinking. For one I wonder why her parents did not insist that she continue her schooling.

This also leads me to ask if Beyonce really does not have her GED does this make her less of a role model. Does she owe this to the thousands of young girls and women that look up to her? And more importantly does she owe this to Blue Ivy?

Obviously her educational level has had no bearing on her financial and professional success since she is talented and truly blessed to be placed where she is. But the question still lies. If she does not have her GED is she sending the wrong message? Is she saying that it’s okay not to have your GED and that you can still be rich and famous without it?

We know that anything is possible. But realistically what are the chances of that happening?

I enjoy Beyonce as a performer, but I would be even more impressed if she obtained her GED, if the rumors are true. Imagine the impact she would have on young women around the world. She would truly show that girls rule the world.

~El