THE TEA: ROU-VIEWED 8.1.08
Me’shell N’Don’tchall Go
SO me and Roule decided to venture into an alternate circuit of the city – we had a different dose of music appreciation down at Blender Theatre last night..
We went to see Berlin-born cult fave Me’Shell NdegeOcello (ne Michelle Lynn Johnson, aka Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur) or whomever she is now and can you say sorely dissappointed?
First off, Blender is totally a rave joint – two stage prop bars flank the stage and act as a buffer between the cheesy auditorium-style stadium seats and the standing area. Once you have a few ‘drinks’ (I use this word liberally as you will think you’re having a refreshing glass of juice as opposed to Juice and..) you can grab a seat (be sure to sit on the sides because the stage is partially obscured for the middle seats due to the sound and light pit strategically placed right in front of them, shout out to the space designers) and prepare to be audio-assaulted until the first act appears.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate ALL TYPES OF MUSIC – or at least I did until last night.. something about a man droning on and on over what sounded like a cazoo on acid was not what I anticipated as a warm-up to Me’shell. It actually made me feel as if I was starring in a B-grade horror flick about to be hacked to death.
And imagine after all this, Me’shell was still not on!
And when she DID show up, in a big white t-shirt, farmer john jeans and chinese shoes…I was too sleepy to notice..nevermind the fact that she did NONE of the songs I know.
Not-stalgia, K
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Black in America: The Black Woman & Family
Aired on CNN last night, hosted by Soledad O’Brien.. family, I was sadly disappointed.
While I applaud the attempt at a groundbreaking documentary featuring all things us, I not only felt unrepresented, I also felt as if they were focusing on the sunny side of the street and not digging deeply into what essentially plagues our race, or expose the challenges of ‘subsisting while black’ in this country.
The project feels too safe, too rehearsed – Soledad has yet to take off the blinders and reveal who we are, our wants, dreams and desires; and how did this segment focus on women? Some of the vignettes did not even featurewomen, let alone concentrate on our quest for the American Dream, or what black women equate to achieving just that. I will say that I appreciated some of the appalling (but not premiere’d) statistics utilized but, from the comfort of their living room, has White America really been given a wake-up call as to what our lives consist of, or even black americans that live like their white counterparts, with their heads in the clouds? Where was the bird’s eye view I and the majority of my peers were hoping to see revealed of our own existence? Regrettably, the network website features better take-aways, tools and follow-up threads than the actual program.
I would have to rate this diet tea – it is lite on realistic content and emotional substance – I cannot help but to wonder whether or not it would have come across as more substantive had it been hosted by more of a heavyweight african american?..
Tune in tonight for part two, where the focus turns to black men, alledgedly – I may, may not.
Still awaiting proper representation, L
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I’m scared.
Below is RIHANNA’S new video “Disturbia” off her “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” cd. Disturbing it certainly is.
I love the concept – all dark and spooky – and Ri Ri fits the part lovely! This video reminds me of something our heavy metal-ers do, ya know?? LOVE IT!!! don’t think I’m too big on the actual song though – probably have to stop by Club Runway in NY and let them play it – see how it makes me move. Anyway, you know I love some Ri-Ri!! A + on this vid kid… Can’t wait for her acting debut – you know it’s coming!
Rated Ice Tea because this is quite chilly.
~Roule
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This little lady is going to make mega moves (hopefully) – her voice is so blues’d-out – heavy like Nina but sexy like Lauren – so many things I love about this song and singer!
Not a fan of the Puffy-Producer-Pop-In, Missy, but alright.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1184434196/bctid1657741031
Definitely Red Zinger!
Groovin’, L
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L, I can’t even get into the song because this chicks body is making me sick to my stomach…
Below is Keri Hilson’s new jam and first solo video – we know her from that “the way I are” song with Timbaland and that “scream” song with Timbaland and Nicole Scherzinger(booo). Anyway, this young songstress is finally ready to hold her own – I do like this video – except for that hand dance she does – Oh, and the chorus, that “Energy, Energy, Energy part- hated it!!!! But her body is ridic and she is a pretty little so and so. Annnd her opening outfit in the gym is reminiscent of one of my fave random pics of Halle Berry – make sure you compare!
I’m gonna make this tea a hot toddy!!! 4′Sho!
~Roule
I’m actually pretty disgusted by this corny pop-fluff, with a hardbody thrown in to divert your attention from how awful the song is.
Or perhaps I doused my DIETER’S Tea with Haterade?
Thx Rou, nice to give me the goal of a 19 year’s old body – that’s what friends are for, right?
Doin’ the gym bunny bounce, L
HA! And you know thisssss maan!!! But L now that I’ve closed my eyes and listened – it is a pretty sucky song! LMAO!!!!
~Roule
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Lately, all I can find are white girl songs that I like (not YOU Heidi) ..is this so bad? Am I channeling my inner Carrie?
Don’t know but here’s another one! Wholesome, simple, apple pie’esque Sara Bareilles has my vote today -
Such a finger snapper, toe tapper in an older Natalie Merchant, not so angry Alanis sort of way.. I like it.
Simplified, L
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ROUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!
You must see Hancock, good grief.
You know how my little must see every action packed superhero or animated movie the very nano-second its released, right? Ok, so we go to the Loews on the UWS with all the other politically incorrect families and guess what??
I loved it!
Starts off kinda slow, kinda corny, the requisite small kid spitting expletives in an attempt to be cute, WIll Smith as a supposed bad/good guy who you really want to hate and think that maybe you might all the way through but then..
The movie takes off and you are absolutely spellbound – stellar job with the casting, Mr. Berg. Jason Bateman maintains his family ties adorable factor but older, Charlize Theron is yuck then oh yeah! And Will? Will is just..bravo, sir – you remain un-typecast to this day.
The twists and turns are fast and furious and through the enitre movie you don’t know if you want to white-knuckle the chair, bite your lip, laugh your ass off or cry.
Any movie that keeps me guessing is superb – I hate always being right.
Keepin it Reel, L
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Oh my goodness!!!!! I LOVE this new song by Ryan Leslie titled ‘Addiction’ and apparently, so does he chile!! Below is a video of Ryan Leslie supposedly ‘making the track’. He is so souped up – and dressed up – for this to be in this basement looking studio and he’s allegedly grindin’ till the wee hours of the A.M.
Did you see the part where he’s at the keyboards and he starts popping back and forth between them??? That part CRACKS ME UP!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!! Then, THEN he runs into this makeshift booth with a mic and acts as if he’s singing live!!!!! I just can’t believe how funny this is to me… I’m crying. Ryan, very nice song – but relax on the home movie… aiiight???
I rate this Herbal Tea cuz he musta been high!!!!
LMAO!
~ROULE
ROU.FREAKIN.LE – is he SERIOUS?
Ryan, seriously? – this is just the making of this song? You just came up with that hard-ass pop dance while engineering this track? Dressed in flawless black, not an S-Curl out of place until 5AM?
More like ginseng energy tea chile because he is all over the damn place.
Sir that is too much energy to just be practicing – love the song, hate the phony.
Simmer, L
LAY!!!!! Look what I found!!! These kids have you beat Ryan!!!! To the GROUND homeboy!!!! LOL
~Roule
OMG, kudos to these kids for showing him out on his own home video – they are more believable than that trainwreck of a video sham!!! How cute is that boy lip-sync’ing – Roule really handled her handle finding this vid – the comparison is priceless. They spent nothing and made a more credible version than the actual artist pretending to spend nothing – WTF?!
Amazed, L
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Perhaps I should head on down to Florida where everyday is Bring Your Gun To Work Day (shout out to the Supreme Court for giving all red necks the right to bear arms and bring them to work but leave them in the car..) so that I can shoot myself if I hear this single online one more time.
Not to be outdone by all of the other talentless reality show celebs, Heidi Montag has started her own record label to release her single “Fashion” where her first line reminds her of her first name – Heidi!
Uuuum, Heid? You didn’t get the clue when no one would sign you if their life depended on it? Did Spencer perform another jedi mind trick on you and convince you to start your own because “those big bad record execs don’t know what they’re talking about”?
Heidi, this single is horrid, like nails on a chalkboard, regurgitated whale fat for an appetizer, acid wash skinny jeans type horrid.
Please go back to Montana or Omaha or wherever you came from and stick to bible study.
I just can’t, L
L!! THIS CRAP IS THE LIVER-WORST!!!!!! LMAO!! WHERE’D YOU FIND THIS HORROR STORY SUNG TO MUSIC??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HEIDI!!! C’MON NOW !
THIS IS DEFINITELY GREEN TEA CUZ IT GIVES ME DIARRHEA!!! LOL
~ROULE
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Surprisingly enough, I positively adore this song! Who knew?!
My poor little Jessica, fast becoming the white Halle Berry of love (well, not anymore but you know what I mean) she – to me – put her all into this song, just expressing her little heart out.
Nevermind the fact that your social life is a wreck, your sister came out and usurped your throne, got better plastic surgery, a baby and a husband – you’re finally channeling your pain, Mary J/Keshia Cole style.
Get em girl!
Lovin It, L
Lay, this song is quite old but it’s cute. This came out right after her divvy from Nick… I’m thinking by now she has given up music and taken on the dating profession. Next…
~Roule
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Dear God. Rou, have you seen/heard Solange’s newest project?
LUKEWARM TEA
See, ok, here’s the thing. If you LISTEN to it, without actually watching the video, it will grow on you – like a wart or underarm boil, without you even realizing it – shudder…
But if you WATCH it..nother story dog.
This little dity is all over the place visually – first you’re bombarded with a ‘Supreme-Like’ montage over go-go dancing and it kinda works with her little two step and destiny look alike background singers. But then you’re so caught up in WTF land trying to figure out how her confessions of being different and not doing what good girls do has anything to do with deciding he (he who??) is the one, that you totally miss the scenes leading up to her stiff dancing in too high stilettos, bad beyonce-like wigs and breathy voiceovers; all ending in some galactic version of the incredibly tall and awkward sister who gets the average looking joe leftovers from her mega-celeb sister. I watched it a few times and it never got any better.
Daddy Dearest at it again.
Strictly for your listening pleasure, “I Decided” to serve this in the luke-warm tea cup, you can’t even microwave heat into this – sorry Sol, you’re still adorable with Hella baby making genes!
Peace, L
Not really vernacular but not drinkable either… unless you like your fashion tips/noteworthy news/gossip/chic~chat in Big, Heaping Spoonfuls! This is where we’ll throw down on all things current, politicize, mentally maneuver and just plain sound off.
