Category — Fangirl

Around the time of Michael Jackson’s death last year, I was a member of a fan forum. They were discussing his music and a member said she didn’t understand the meaning of “keep up with the french toast/ don’t stop till you get enough.”

I haven’t stopped laughing since, and every time I hear that song, I hear french toast. Dammit.

So much to say. Not enough space, no words are special enough, no sentiment could accurately describe my heart today. I think I have been listening/dancing to Michael Jackson my entire life. I was in love with him throughout most of my preteen years. I even once got in trouble because my mom sent me to the BX  (Base Exchange, like a convenience store on the Air Force Base) to buy some stockings to wear to church. I came home with about 5 magazines with Michael Jackson on the cover. She. was. furious. “You can’t wear Michael Jackson on your legs!”

I remember that his death hit me but not particularly hard until I saw Janet. Until I saw her struggle to compose herself. Until I saw her quiet, reserved voice and saw her lip tremble. At that moment, I remembered the first few hours and days after Joe died. The fog rolls in and sits there for weeks. The news is unbelievable. You think you’re dreaming and seriously cannot wait to wake up. But it’s real. The baby of the family, the most favorite one, the one everyone doted on and paid attention to… was gone. I remember being full of regret and thoughts of  what if I had called him more and what if I had done this or that? It was all for naught. What happened was what happened and what hurts is that you just know, for sure, from the bottom of your heart, that you’ll never see them again. I sat that night and watched Janet try to convey her feelings to the world and… the words would never be enough.

During May, while doing Walk It Out, there was a song that I would skip to when I wanted a good beat and needed a boost of energy. “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” pushed me around another corner. Up another hill. Made me take the long way. Directed me another lap around the building. It became a bit of a mantra, to me. I didn’t want to stop until I had enough.

From time to time, on my drive home, I’ll hear some Michael. As sad as I am that he’s gone, hearing his music on the radio brings a smile to my face. Yes, I am girl in the Camry with Shake Ya Body Down to the Ground or  Beat It blasting from my speakers and car dancing. What’s it to ya?!

I cannot believe it’s been a year. Rest in Peace, Michael. Thank you for sharing your art, your passion, your dreams. Thank you for your legacy. Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life, and influencing so many of the artists that I love. And, finally, thank you for the memories.

It has happened. I have met HotPants Dave and it was faaaabulouuuusss… He is SO sweet and personable and down to earth. He spent a couple of minutes telling us about himself. Dave went to art school and studied illustration. Wanted to work for Disney more than anything, so when he got a job as a visual merchandiser, he thought it would be great but it was really just moving things around and not creating. He worked his way through a few departments at Disney, learning to sculpt and paint and draw outside of his usual genre. He was living in Orlando, working where he could work, until his roomate saw an ad for HGTV’s Design Star and he applied. At the time, it was not announced that it would be a reality show. Designers applied, viewers voted online, easy and subdued.

THEN he found out that Design Star was a reality show, and he had to move to New York for 5 weeks! He went through the process, did his best, thought it’d be a quick and dirty thing, and ended up winning. That, as they say, was all she wrote and we now have his hit TV show Colorsplash which has just filmed it’s 3rd season and was renewed for a 4th!

Dave answered tons of questions on color as the spokesman for Mythic paints. People were encouraged to bring photos and have questions. I love that he took each question seriously and asked a lot of followup questions — what mood are you going for, how much light does the room get, do you want to be brave with color? And he was also honest in that you don’t always need a ColorSplash– if you spend a ton of money on expensive materials, you probably want a classy, muted look, not something bold and bright. I watch HGTV a LOT (for a young person) so I loved hearing his advice and seeing the photos that people brought. Great turn out, the room was full.

Below are some photos and video! You can’t really hear him but who cares? ARMS!!!

Um. I’m sorry, people. I HAVE to tell you about this and I HAVE to be kind of ridiculous about it.

Five years ago I saw the most incredible movie ever, which is saying a lot because I am not huge on movies. I don’t own DVD’s and I don’t really watch movies unless they come on cable. I have a short span of attention and the commercial breaks (plus the amusing profanity voice-overs- What the french, toast?? LOL! ) break movies up into digestible parts for me. And so, I was saying, five years ago, I saw Crash, starring…..a whole buncha awesome people, and one of them became a new favorite of mine- Chris “Ludacris”  Bridges. SIGH.

Since I worked in radio, I knew Ludacris by his music. I didn’t even realize that he was in the movie until I saw him on the screen. You’d never know he was new to acting. I kinda sorta fell in like and have been a Luda Fangirl ever since. I’ve tried to follow his career from a respectable distance, but I do own most if not all of his albums and follow him on Twitter. I’ve eaten at his restaurant Straits Atlanta (if you haven’t gone, GO. Everything I put in my mouth from the pre dinner drank to the champagne sorbet for dessert was to. die. for.) and I follow the work he does with the Ludacris Foundation. Many people don’t know that Luda gives back to his community, hand over fist, all year long. From giving kids haircuts, school supplies and new shoes every year to a Christmas in July celebration he has coming up, Luda loves the kids!

This week is the Atlanta Film Festival, and last night Ludacris hosted a showing of the film Crash and hosted a Q&A after. It. was. spectacular. I own probably 5 DVDs. Crash is one of them (Pride and Prejudice parts 1&2 are the others, and I have an *NSYNC DVD, shut up). LOVE this movie. I’ve seen it about six times now and every time I watch it, I notice something different. The cast is fantastic, the message is great and still so relevant and it also made me LOVE Matt Dillon and Ryan Phillipe… how great were they?? And how did I not notice that the woman that played Dori’s mother was Counselor Troi on Star Trek? GAH.

After the film was the Q&A. First? Dude is fine. FINE FINE FINE! I love that he took his braids out a few years ago. LOVE that he was wearing a suit (I love a man in a suit). I love the sound of his voice. Holy… ugh.

So, a few mins after he started talking, some people moved and sat right in front of me  >_< <— grump face so I couldn’t get more pics. He was handsome and personable and warm, not at all PC, and very gracious. He’s so incredibly humble as well and passionate about the things he does.  (And his new album Battle of the Sexes is available in stores and on iTunes (pluggityplug ) – my fave track is Sexting. SO. MUCH. FUN.)

He talked about what making this movie meant to him– it was really his first foray into a major picture with major stars, and a project that so many people wanted to be a part of. All of the actors took union scale just to be in the film. He told some funny stories about a confrontation with Kevin Bacon and how Samuel L Jackson didn’t know who he was until he presented Luda with an award at the SAG Awards for Crash. Hilarious story!

When he was asked how he felt about his lines in the film, about his character saying, ‘hip hop is just a bunch of mumbling idiots’, he said he strives to be different, to make sure everyone can understand every word that comes out of his mouth, because hip hop is a movement and it’s part of our history. He was also asked if his daughter, Karma, said she wanted to go into music, what would he tell her? He said he would make sure she knew what she was gettng into, whatever she said she wanted to do. When she found out the real picture, the real story, and how much hard work goes into what he does, if she wants to stay in the game, she’s welcome to it. She won’t get his support, though, until she’s run through the crash course and really dug in to find out what it’s all about, whether it’s Clown College or being a Singer or joining the Circus. It should make her happy. Period.

I was SO excited to go, and really nervous that only five people would show and that Luda would bail. Not at all… he was on time and alert and willing to stay and answer questions.  The theater was full and he showed up and I’m SO HAPPY I went! There was an afterparty at his restaurant, but I was sure it would be groupie city, and I didn’t feel like paying for parking, and it was after 10, and there is nothing at Straits but trouble for my diet plan at this stage. Not like I would have been able to sit near him anyway, so it wasn’t worth it to me to go there.

Oh! pictures! They are crappy cameraphone pics, but if I see some good ones online I’ll post them, too.

Random Q- why are movie theaters always so COLD?!  I was wearing a jacket and was SHIVERING. It was ridiculously cold!

Yeah, so. I have about 4 or 5 blog posts writing themselves in my head. At the same time. And each of them are 4 sentences long, which isn’t a blog post. WTF.

You know what that is, though. A blog post of random shit. So here we go. Ready? Okay! (I always wanted to be a cheerleader but the skirts were too short for my bigass and flabby thighs and I am also way uncoordinated, so… I pretend.) [Read more →]

I love these music survey things. I have so much stuff on my iPod that I forgot I a) liked and b) actually added. Oy. Let’s see what we’ve got:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Lollipop (Mika) …Uhm. Well. Lickable…???  I don’t know.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A BOY?
9 to 5  (Dolly Parton) .. Yeah after about 8 hours…. get out.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
The Bad Guys Always Die  (Eminem) ….I don’t know if I’m the bad guy or…..???  But at least Dre is on this track?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Tender Love  (Force MD’s) …If only you knew how funny this was. And how I have no idea who Force MD’s are. A musical troupe of physicians? *shrug*

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
How Can I Fall (Breathe) …Kind of appropriate. I do all my own falling. it’s a skill. I find a new way to fall everyday.  And WOW this song is old!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Cherish  (Kool& The Gang)  …I might be a little egotistical but of my real friends, I’d say this is true. Okay, acquaintances, too.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Captain  (Dave Matthews Band) … I guess so. I’m the strong one. Big Mike is the ‘avoider’.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
True Colors  (Cyndi Lauper) …I love this song. It kind of makes me cry. And it’s actually pretty true. A lot of times I wonder if people are like… really real with me. Is that you, or the you that you want me to see, or know? I’m real. Are you?

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
All I Need  (Jack Wagner) … I just wrote it down.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
River of Dreams (Billy Joel)  …Hm. Not quite GreenEyes but uhm… I could make it work…

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Next Time I Fall (Peter Cetera/ Amy Grant) … Yeah, I’m always talking about the next time I fall in love. Like, all day it’s all I talk about. *rolleyes* But yeah. I’ll know better what to do. Keep my effing mouth shut.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
What Love Is  (Mary J Blige) … I don’t like this meme all of a sudden

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Coming Up (Paul McCartney) …I don’t like anyone but it’d be nice to have someone on deck!

WHAT WILL/DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Bootylicious (Destiny’s Child)  …Uhm. I seriously don’t think anyone can handle this jelly. But OMG how fun would this be for my bridesmaids…. in their frilly ugly fuschia knee length taffeta and glittery open toed sandals…. yeah. Picture it, ya’ll. My Big Fat Bootylicious Wedding. I don’t think you can handle this…

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Every Little Step (BOBBAY!  Bobby Brown) …I was just talking about Mr Brown yesterday. It’d be appropriate.  I’d like to be wearing the little red bike shorts he’s wearing in this video.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
I Wanna Have Some Fun  (Samantha Foxx) … We’re probably not talking about the same kind of fun. *blank stare* Maybe.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Boy from Ipanema (Diana Krall) …Actually if the boy was holding a snake, or he was pushing me out of a plane, I’d be scared.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Nite And Day (Al B Sure) …Yes. I have a prominent unibrow. And…. I feel better having admitted it to the world.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Nothin’ But A Good Time (Poison) … And no more Brett Michael’s Reality Shows

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Take a Chance on Me (ABBA) …I just think this song rocks. And so do my friends.  *dances*

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Bust a Move (Young MC) …HA! I love it. I met Young MC once, back in the day when I was a radio girl. Nice, nice, nice guy. Very intelligent.

Ah, that was fun. *Rewinds to Bootylicious again*

I love that Stevie Nicks is playing guitar on this song. Love love love her! And love the MJ tribute!

Anyone who’s known me for longer than five minutes will tell you that I’m a big fan of two bands: Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews Band. I’ve been a fan of Bon Jovi since I was about……God, I don’t know, TWELVE?!? New Jersey and Slippery When Wet were the anthem of my Jr High and High School years. Just the beginning strains of ‘Never Say Goodbye’ is enough to make me GO BUY a Bic Lighter so I could flip my bic and sway and sing/cry along. Gah. I love them! And Bon Jovi has just gotten so much better with age, evolving and changing with the times. LOVE their new rocky, gravelly, southern sound…grrrooowwwllll…. NUM.

DMB, on the other hand, was an acquired taste. I didn’t like them, at first. At all. Too mellow, too sleepy, I can’t understand a word that one cute guy up front says, he mumbles too much and that guy is playing an electric fiddle. COME ON. So they were a big fat NO, until I got a job working with a guy that… now when I say LOVES, that’s probably a major understatement… but he LOVES DMB. Owns everything they’ve ever thought of recording, goes to every show he can attend, and has for years. A real true-blue honest to goodness fan. One year, our company sent him, me, and one other guy (one of his besties, coincidentally) to a conference in Orlando. MOST fun I’ve ever had at a work conference. The days sucked, cause it’s just traveling from one booth to another, looking at boring things I have no intention of buying or even research when I get back to the office, but the nights? Awesome.

It was in Orlando in the spring, so it was warm. They rented a convertible and since I don’t drink much, I was nominated the Designated Driver. No big, I got to drive a convertible around Orlando and sit with these guys who put the FUN in funny. I was told I am the funnest non-drinker ever. At some point over the weekend, I was inducted into the DMB fandom. Love those guys. [Read more →]

It’s a MUSIC Edition! ( I always answer in the comments)

iTunes Five

1. What song do you play the most?
2. What song do you play the least?
3. What’s the last song you added?
4. What’s your favorite playlist?
5. What kind of iPod (or MP3 player) do you have?

I just saw this commercial. It is of the good.

1. Luda is growing facial hair. gggggrrrrrooooooowwwwwwwwllllllll…

2. I missed Luda on Jimmy Fallon.

3. DAAAAAAAAMN Luda is short.

And actually, Jimmy is….. Yeah I’ll be nice tonight.

I need to go to bed.

Dear Majic 107.5,

First things first. MAJIC? Seriously? What doesn’t Magic Johnson own, and did you think you would just slide that right by us by changing the ‘g’ to a ‘j’? Clever.*

Secondly, your format is Urban AC. Urban Adult Contemporary. GOSPEL is not Urban AC. If I wanted to hear everyone’s mass choir sing ‘Jesus is Real’, I would go home and listen to my mom’s iPod.

Please to be playing some Kool & The Gang followed by MotownPhilly and Doin Da Butt. And if you could fit in some Skee-lo, I will get OUT of the car and dance. “I wish I was a little bit taller/ I wish I was a baller/ I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her” Good stuff, man. Play it!

Thanks.

* I’ve no proof that Magic owns the station. He just owns everything else, so. *shrug*. In an unrelated matter, he’s doing radio commercials for H&R Block. Interesting. The connection between NBA and Tax filing is just… so natural.