Death in a music note?

I just can't relate. Well...sometimes I can and sometimes I can't. What am I talking about? I'm talking about this thing called music that I love so much. I find that I can't just push on the radio and find what I'm searching for. I have to click on my iPod and search...I mean...that's all well and good but I know there was a time when the music that was put out on the air waves was not a whole bunch of jibber jabber. Everyone loved it because they could relate to it...not just because they could rock their hips to some nonsense words over a hot beat.

Now I'm not going to sit here and act like I don't feed into this phase of music but I just feel that musicians need to take a step back, look at their musical roots and...Revamp!

"...Since fifteen in my stilettos been struttin' in this game What's your age? Whats the question they asked when I hit the stage I'm a diva, best believe her, you see her, she getting paid She ain't callin' him to greet her, don't need him, her bed's made..." -- Beyonce

Yes I brought her up...& I'm not going to lie...I absolutely adore Beyonce. No I don't categorize myself as a groupie but I feel she is truly blessed with her God given talent and yes I do feed into the empire she has built for herself.

I am not the only loyal fan Beyonce has though. Beyonce, along with Jill Scott, Chrisette Michelle, Corinne Bailey Ray, Alicia Keys, Usher, Ne-Yo, Jamie Foxx, Jaheim and the like have a huge fan base that jam to their tunes because they literally speak to their fan base. The notes and lyrics mesh together molding a song that is relevant...catchy...but not too...juvenile.

These artists have learned from their predecessors such as Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Ripperton, Josephine Baker, Dorthy Dandridge, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, The Five Heartbeats, Earth Wind and Fire, The Whispers and the like. These artists that I have named have captured their audiences because they evoked an emotion and related to them like no one else could. They did not put out nonsense music just to get their next dollar. They shared their soul through their songs and people knew that and latched onto them.

I feel those artists such as Souljah Boy and the like need to take some advice from artists such as the ones I mentioned. They would be able to captivate their audiences if they were able to relate on a more personal level. I understand that may not be their style and they might just want to get their money quickly with little effort but I think in order to get the feeling of the past to the present this is key.

I can't wait until the thought of quick money is put to the side and embrace the true essence of music there once was.

It's A Love Thang.

Okay so everybody knows that I love love love black romance movies...but *Suprise! Suprise!* ... I have not seen Love Jones...I know it's kind of sad...and honestly, I have no idea why I haven't watched it yet...but I will change that ASAP.

Let’s just switch gears to on movie I have seen...and truly adore…Love and Basketball. The story of these best friends turned lovers took me on a romantic journey that I don't mind going on over and over again. The thought that your childhood romance could grow and mature over time…evolving into this fairytale like ending captivates me...and I don't see any wrong in this. I enjoy wishful thinking.

I think one of the main reasons why so many young black women enjoy movies like Love and Basketball is simply because everybody is on the search for that perfect someone. Then when you've found your someone...some tend to wonder if that is the right someone.

Movies like Love and Basketball relate to single people who may be living in this…fantasy world. You most likely will not grow up with a cutie pie that you play basketball with...sneak in each other's windows...experiment with...get jealous of each other's relationships...etc. etc. but it's a nice idea. And who knows...that just may be how you met your special someone...but the chances of that scenario actually panning out are not that high.

That is why I feel like a good number of people enjoy these types of movies. They relate with a common feeling that everyone shares. Everyone is looking for that special someone. People watch these movies and wish the process of finding love and making it last forever were that easy. People wish they could reunite with their childhood lover, get married and have children and live happily ever after.

It's great that these producers have found their niche. But how long can people continue to send themselves on an emotional rollercoaster...wishing that they could end up like the characters in the movies?

I don't think this epidemic will end anytime soon. And frankly...I don't mind it at all.

Be Blessed.

--Lauren

The Secret Life of Bees

All in all, I enjoyed watching The Secret Life of Bees. The movie evoked many emotions. I shed tears, laughed, felt empathetic and proud all throughout the journey of these particular characters.



I was proud of Jennifer Hudson's character when she stood up to the white men as Dakota Fanning's character and her were running away. I felt Hudson's character's pain as she was being beat up so bad that she had to be placed in the hospital. I was suprised when Fanning's character snuck her out and felt happy when they got out old of the hospital before Fanning's character's father could catch up to them.



The journey to the house where the mother once ran away to was captivating and Jennifer and Dakota's character's tenure there was interesting to watch. I enjoyed watching Alicia Key's character get upset about Queen Latifah's character allowing them to stay. It was sad to watch May's character weep and learn of her story about her twin dying and the way it affected her whole life.



I agree with a previous blogger that stated that it was unpractical for Fanning's character to be able to afford to have a nanny. In addition, I was mad that Fanning's character's love interest took her out to the movies during a time when segregation was still in heavy affect. It showed the black boy as being ignorant to reality. This worked against him and affected May's life so bad that she committed suicide.

I was pleased to see the scene where they were all playing outside with the water hose. I was glad to see when Alicia Key’s character finally accepted Dakota’s character. It was good to see that she could put her aggression to the side for just a moment and let go and have fun. Her character seemed to be too proud. Almost to the point where she lost the person she loved and will soon marry.

The movie was powerful. Tears and laughter engulfed the movie theatre. Viewers seemed to grow attached to these characters, experiencing the pain and laughter at the same moments as the characters in the movie.