This has been an awful, awful week for bad news. Today apparently is no exception. I just woke up to learn that R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass has passed away. What a sad way to kick off a Throwback Thursday post. CNN reports that he passed away last night, and details aren’t forthcoming but his death…
Jams
Musical Christmas Wishes, From Me to You
OMG it’s Christmas Eve! It just snuck up on me out of nowhere. I still have presents to pick up, stockings to stuff, and a list of items that were supposed to be on my holiday gift guide (but I ran out of time to write it!). Before we all take a break for the…
New Music From Corrine Bailey Rae
I love her hair. I love her style. And that voice just sweeps me away. Anyone who’s been reading this blog for a while knows how much I love Corrine Bailey Rae. I’ve been rooting for her glorious comeback, and now all of us fans are in for a treat. Her new album, The Sea,…
Sade Is Back!
Regal. Elegant. Sensual and — judging from the cover for her latest single — apparently ageless. Since the Eighties, Sade has been schooling us all on ways to be a timeless beauty icon. Look at that makeup, that jewelry. Absolutely flawless, effortlessly gorgeous. Love me some Sade! She makes her fans yearn for the jewels…
Melanie Fiona – Caribbean, Represent!
Bellas, I am so tardy to the Melanie Fiona party! I’ve been watching this beautiful young singer on the rise, but I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention. All of a sudden, my mind connected the dots. The chick I’d seen on VH1 Soul with Questlove, was the vocalist behind that version of Sam…
A Special Giveaway From Lexus To You
Two giveaways in one week? What am I thinking? Bellas, if you live in Washington DC or nearby, I’ve got a special giveaway for you! But it’s only a one-day thing! And it’s not a car. Lord knows, I wish it could be. Lexux has been hosting some truly fabulous events around the country —…
Fefe’s Back!
When Fefe Dobson burst on the scene back in 2003, rock-loving black girls around the world sat up and took notice. Here was a chick who refused to play by the record label rules. Edgy, cute, funky, and totally unique at the time. She was getting solid airplay on MTV for a minute there, but…
Dear, Sweet Aaliyah – 8 Years Gone
I wrote the following words in 2007, for a post titled simply: I Miss You. “…I never knew Aaliyah, so I can only imagine the heartbreak that her family and friends felt. Feel. Aaliyah’s death hit me harder than Kurt Cobain’s did, and I was a huge grunge music head at that time. But all…
A Little Afrobella Inspiration
Bellas, my love for Nina Simone is no secret — but every so often I’m reminded of her genius. That just happened with this video, and I had to share it with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aQIyz8B7Q So many things about this 1968 performance clip are striking. Her powerful performance, yes. Her energy, yes. But especially – the…
Some Helpful Suggestions for Rock The Bells
Last year I hosted a great Rock The Bells giveaway. And after hosting the giveaway, I went to the Miami show, wrote a big review, and had a ball. I even randomly wound up meeting the ticket winner, who was so overjoyed to win that we took photos together on the lawn. It was a…