RIP Lena Horne

We lost another great one. The world is a better place because you were in it Ms. Horne. Q

Gotta make it

I listened to this song the other day and it spoke to me. I hope it inspires others to know that you can make it no matter what others say. Stay blessed. Q

I lost my mind tonight

I love watching the Olympics. Absolutely, freaking LOOOOVVVE IT!!! Tonight Thomas and I was watching the men's 4 by 1 relay in swimming. I heard how one of the member's on France's team talking about smashing the US. Well the time had finally come and it look like things were not going well for Team USA. In the last few meters, Jason Lezak, the anchor and also the oldest swimmer began to change things. Thomas and I stood up yelling and screaming at the t.v., cheering our guy off. He did it!!! He pulled it off. It was so close that it was faster than a blink but we won. The pic above shows Garrett Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps who were in the relay celebrating after realizing they puled off the upset. I love it!!!! Q

Here is a link for those interested.

What a wonderful surprise!!!

Last week I entered a contest in order to win a copy of the coveted Vogue Italia issue featuring Black models. Upon my return from Vegas, I received an email stating I had won and it was being shipped. I went to bed late last night and was awakened by the sound of the doorbell. Thomas was out so I got the crust out my eyes, looked through the peephole and saw the mailman. I thought it was a gift from a family, friend or one of the girls from the forum. To my surprise it was my issue of Vogue!!! It came just in time for my birthday and it was a great way to start my day!!! Thank you Style Chile for being so generous. Much love. Q

Congratulations to the Celtics

Yes I am a Knicks fan at heart but I have so much respect for Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers. I was in tears right along with them. They deserve it. Congrats to the Celtics, the city of Boston and their fans!!!! Q

Song and video I am loving right now

I had the opportunity to meet Neyo last year after seeing him in concert. I have a lot of respect for the way he handled himself. I was super excited to hear that he was releasing another album this year and the title suits him well. After the "Go On Girl" video, I was hesitant but he didn't disappoint. I love the black and white look of the video. His dancers are on point as usual and his dancing is elaborate but smooth at the same time. Oh and the fact that he is paying homage to MJ just makes me love it even more. Q

Farewell to The Wire

Farewell to The Wire
Current mood: awake

Last night I watched the series finale of The Wire. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen. It touched me in ways no other show ever has or probably ever will. After Season 3, I wondered how they would be able to carry on. The main characters were dead or in jail and I figured it was all over. But they surprised me yet again in Season 4. The new breed of characters especially the young boys touched my heart and soul.

I have been very emotional this past week leading up to the finale. The show brought up so many memories and emotions. Things from my past came to the surface and I was forced to deal with some realities. First I realized how blessed I am to have made it out of the projects in NYC. The characters on the show are people I knew, people I grew up with except their names were different and the setting was Brooklyn instead of Baltimore.

Second, I feel an overwhelming since of sadness and guilt. Although I was able to make it out, there are others who didn't. They are still there, stuck in the mess, or they ended up dead or on drugs. So while most people can just go on with their lives, people are living The Wire everyday. What was it about me that allowed me to escape? Why was I able to climb out of the ashes and not be a lifelong victim? I mourn for all those who are stuck and have no hope. For those who don't know they too can have a better life.

Lastly, I am encouraged, hopeful and determined. I know that it is up to me to help make a difference. I know I can't save everyone but I will do my darndest to be a blessing to someone else. It is my mission to get out of my nice, comfy, safe world and step out on faith and do what God has called me to do. I vow to do all I can to help this generation be better, do better, live better. I won't stand my the side, shake my head and say "that's not my problem." Instead of talking about it, I plan on being about it.

Thank you to all the writers, producers, directors, actors, and everyone who worked on The Wire. Thank you for bringing such a wonderful show to HBO and touching my soul in a special way. RIP The Wire. Q

Jill Scott pics

Raheem Devaughn singing "YOU"



Jill and Band stepping off the stage to "And I heard"


Jill Greeting some of the fans.


Jill clapping and grooving.


I will give a recap later. Q

Album Review: Bac of My Lac- J Holiday

Thanks to Letitia, I decided to start reviewing the albums I have purchased as of late. I wanted to start with J Holiday because this cd is in heavy rotation in my player. Here is the review I wrote for amazon.com:

I was on the look out for J Holiday ever since I saw the "Be with me" video. Then "Bed" was released and I was even more excited. I read about how he wanted to bring R & B back and waited with anticipation. Boy did he deliver. I listened to the album via BET the week prior and I was hooked. This is truly one of those "My Life" type albums where you can just put it in, press play and just sing along.

I was a little disappointed that he had an advisory on his album but thankfully I ordered the clean version via amazon.com. He has a little bit of something for everybody. If you want to dance listen to "Betcha Never Had" and "Come Here". You can also groove to "Ghetto", "Thug Commandments", and "Without You". Then he has those begging down on bended knee, baby I'm begging baby I'm begging, begging baby type joints like "Suffocate", "Fatal", "Fallin" and my favorite, "Pimp in Me". His falsetto in "Pimp in Me" gave me chills!!!

There are also the little things that no one else would notice that make this album great like the guitar in the background of "Bed" and "Fallin" and the background vocals in "Fatal" and "Fallin". You can tell he thought of everything because those little things make a song sound totally different. Overall I am extremely impressed and hope he continues to stick to the formula he used for this album for any future albums minus the cuss words. The cherry on the top is there are no guest appearances on this album which is rare in this day and age. Thanks to J Holiday, I think R & B will be making a comeback!!! Q

Only one more day!!!

Jill Scott's new album comes out tomorrow and I can't wait. I don't know who is more happy, me about getting it or Thomas because he is sick of me counting down the days. Last night he said "yeah 2 more days, man I can't wait until 2 more days get here", lol!!!! Tuesday will be a good day. Q

Trey Songz - Cant Help But Wait - Video Premiere -

I had the privilege of seeing Trey Songz in concert back in July. He performed this song and I loved it the first time I heard it. I love the video and the message because too many women are being used and abused in relationships and they should know they are worth more. His album drops October 2nd. Enjoy Q

The song that is in my head

"Bed" by J Holiday Q

What cd are you listening to?

I am listening to "A Beautiful World" by Robin Thicke. I actually like this one better than the current cd he has out now. This guy was seriously slept on. So what are you listening to? Q

July 11, 2007 Phoenix ,Arizona

So I saw Trey Songz and Ne-yo in concert. I have been recovering from that and putting in a lot of hours with our summer tutoring program and have not been able to post as much.

Here is my recap of the concert and some pics (I'll add them later).

Trey came out and performed mainly new songs but also did about 3 or 4 from his old one. I showed up with a blue shawl and matching flower in my hair. I think it worked because he pointed and sang to me 3 times. Then he came out in the crowd and held my hand. All those little girls began to fight to get next to me because they were wondering why he kept focusing on me. I told one of them it was because I was happily married and he doesn't stand a chance at getting me.

Then Ne-yo came out and his dancers were fierce. When he sang "Do You" during the part that says "if she looks anything like her mother, she's the prettiest thing in this world" he stood right in front of me, kneeled down a little, and pointed at me and sung. Then at one point I focused on his dancers and they waved and winked at me. My friend Veronica was like "darn Q even the dancers like you". After the show we paid to go meet and greet him. They told us we would have a cover signed, but not personalized, and could only take a pic. Well when it was my turn to get to the table, he looked up with this big kool aid smile, shook his head and said "I remember you from the front row". I smiled and laughed. So then I told him that my friend and I drove 7 hours from Albuquerque, and would have to drive 7 back tonight just to see him and that he really needs to come to Albuquerque and to make sure he sings "Go on Girl". He said okay I will remember that. Then he stopped and was like, "you really drove that far" and I said yeah. Then all of a sudden he gets up, walks from around the table, passed his 3 bodyguards and walks up to me and says "you have got to give me a hug for that, that is wonderful". Yall this wasn't a quick type hug. I mean he hugged me and rocked and was said "thank you so much, I really appreciate that". So you know I had the haters looking wondering what I said because he didn't do that for anyone else. Then as we were leaving, he was signing for someone else and he looked up and said "yall have a safe trip back and I hope to see you again". I yelled "just come to Albuquerque"!!!!

So a lot of the girls thought I was their age and was shocked to know I was older. I exchanged numbers with some and they wanted my myspace page so they could keep in contact with me. I told them, it was the flower, I put a spell on it, lol. Q
cy9.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

John Legend, the recap

Now that I have come down a little from my high, I can post about my concert experience. I was soo excited because it is rare that Albuquerque gets quality artists that I actually enjoy like Mr. Legend. When we got there, the weather was a little iffy. I prayed the rain would not fall so I can enjoy the show. At 7:15 I was getting antsy because the show was supposed to start at 7. I was already in panic mode because Veronica pointed out John's piano on stage. It was soon confirmed by another couple in the audience that Corrine Bailey Rae would not be performing. I was okay because I felt that meant Mr. Legend would perform a lot more songs.

At around 7:20 a casino rep came out announcing some of the upcoming shows. Then all of a sudden out came the band and then the background singers. The music started playing and there he was. The crowd got up on their feet and he starts with Maxine's interlude. A few minutes into the set, people start moving so I move up to be closer. I was already in the pit area in the 9th row but I left Thomas holding my purse, and soon my jacket. Although it was a little cool, once I started dancing I was warmed up. As the concert goes on, you can tell some people aren't true fans. When he sings Again and Another Again, I am the only one in the area still standing, singing every single word, and dancing. I know he saw me!!!

When he sang "Slow dance" and asked for a female. I looked back and asked Thomas if I could volunteer. He waved his hands to say go ahead but a female had already been chosen. Then all of a sudden I saw him leaving the stage with his bodyguards in pursuit. He walks right past me and I touched his arm. As I look back he stands on a chair. The chair is directly in front of Thomas who is still sitting. I rush back to beat the crowd to get to my seat yelling "that's my seat, that's my seat". I was able to get close enough to snap the first picture I have posted.

Towards the end I am near the front of the stage dancing, and singing. There were some girls who were a little tipsy and I joked with another lady. She told me she would smack their arms down so I can get my pics. I told her "yeah we can take them, they are tipsy and won't know what hit them". Then I told her "if you take out the guard, I think I can make it to the stage". We laughed.

Then that good old New Mexico wind started to pick up. Mr. Legend announced he would have to end the show soon because of the weather. I heard the opening to "Coming Home" and I got happy. He called over one of the guys in the band and then started playing "So High". I sang at the top of my lungs. I was the only one singing "Don't you wanna go, don't you wanna go, don't you wanna go". I am a true fan and had seen other performances in which he sang that instead of the cd version of So High.

His timing was on point because a few minutes after he left the stage, the wind got really bad, and the rain began to pour. He did all of the songs from the recent album except for about 3 and almost the entire first album. I met some cool couples too. Shout out to Quincy and Nicole, and Joshua and Maria!!! Quincy and Nicole saw him in Phoenix and Robin Thicke opened for him. Nicole claimed Quincy was a fan and she was tagging along like Thomas but I saw her standing up and dancing more than Quincy, lol!!!

I felt like a little kid. I danced, I sang, and I had a blast. My husband enjoyed himself too. He has a lot of respect for Mr. Legend. His voice is a thousand times better live than it is on his albums. He put on a great show without a bunch of fluff, lipsinging and garbage. Just some good ole R and B. You did your thang Mr. Legend!!! Q

John Legend was awesome

I had a blast last night. Here are some pics:








Here is ya girl striking some poses in my concert get up:




I will post a recap later. I am still tired!!! Q

The song I am loving right now.... Go on girl By; Ne-yo

So Ne-yo's album came out and I just had to get it. I loved the first one so I was already a fan. It took me a few days to listen because John Legend is coming next week and we have tickets so I was bumping him in preparation. So yesterday I decided to listen to the entire album. I began on my way home. Then on the way to the gym and back home. This morning I still hadn't listened to the entire album because I live close to everything. Then finally after I dropped the girls off at school, the very last song comes on. It is titled "Go On Girl". I am hooked.

It is about a girl who did him wrong and he is saying I am hurt, but I am cool you can go on. It is one of those songs you would be bumping if you just had to dump a trifling man or woman. Or the kind of song you wish you had when you dumped the trifling man woman. The song you would put on your answering machine, ringtone, or myspace page. The kind of song that gets you hyped, mad, sad and glad all at the same time. Like Heather Headley's "Losing You". I stayed in my van until the entire song finished playing. My friend Ben saw me and said "you were jamming weren't you". I played it all the way to the girl's school to drop off Destiny's snacks for her class. I had it on repeat on the way home. I know the people in the other cars thought I was crazy because I was singing, clapping, gesturing, and dancing while driving.

The part that really stood out to me with this song is a part where he says "I'm too fly to be depressed"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoooooooo yall don't even know how much I love that part. He is a genius, genius I tell you. Yall know he wrote Irreplacable right? Honestly I can't say whether I like the CD or not because I am loving this song just that much. I you guys have a chance to pick it up or have it downloaded please let me know what you think. To you Mr. Ne-yo, I say Go on Boy... In a good way. Q

Hip Hop is Dead and R & B is on life support

Yeah I said and it is true. I remember back in the day loving music. I take that back, I still love music, but only good, quality music. Too bad there isn't that great of a selection in the mainstream. I remember when I had choices. I could look and there were some artists that were too sexual, some were too boring, some were okay, and some were awesome. Nowadays, that is not the case. Everytime I turn on the tv to watch videos I see the same thing, women wearing barely nothing, money being thrown in the air, expensive cars, and jewelry. It all looks like it was cut from the same mold, without any originality. The great artists are pushed to the back or not promoted at all. It is all about the money. Before there was a message, something that uplifted the people. Fortunately for hip hop, it can be resurrected. It will take a lot of work but it is possible.

My poor R and B is barely alive. I remember when singers just "sang". No "fifty-leben" special guest rap artist appearances, no producers shouting their names on songs, no making up words and not making sense. The videos actually went along with the songs. Now the "popular" female singers are almost naked, and crawling around on the ground like a snake gyrating, and moving. The wonderful Tina Turner did it all but she was still able to sing. Most of the artists today dance and then barely get out a couple of out of breath lyrics or will just lip sing. All they sell is sex and try to call that talent. I thank GOD for artists like Jill Scott, Corrine Bailey, Rae, Vivian Green, Heather Headley, and others you may or may not have heard about. They don't get the airplay and promotion like the others, but these women can "sang" on their albums. I have heard great things about their concerts as well. They don't need all the fireworks, dancers, and wardrobe changes just a couple of backup singers, a live band and thier great voices.

It's sad that in order to go platinum you have to take off your clothes or be society's standard of "sexy". The radio stations only play what is popular too so the other artists barely have a chance to make it. I am soo looking forward to seeing John Legend and Corrine Bailey Rae on May 16th. So far the reviews have been great. They are two of the artists that I feel are helping to keep R and B alive. They have great voices, write their music, and play instruments.

I have the Essential Luther Vandross CD. OJ Lima a freelance writer wrote about Luther, his life, and his career. This one part stood out for me and this is something all artists should be able to do:
"I had an amazing experience a few years ago at a festival in Philadelphia. Luther was headlining a stadium show. There were a dozen acts. People were tired, they'd been drinking all day. Around midnight, about the third song in, Luther went into 'A House Is Not A Home.' I'm tlling you- in this stadium of 50 thousand people, you could hear a pin drop. What he sand was incredible. What he didn't sing- the silence between the phrases- was even more unbelievable. You were scared to breathe, you didn't want him to mess up! At the end, those poor people just lost their minds! I talked to hime about and he said, 'Marcus anyone can holler, but getting them to keep quiet...Now that's something.' Luther was something special, R.I.P Mr. Vandross. Q