I believe Tyler Perry is gay. And on the downlow.

Albums of My Life

I decided to write about the music that has really made a profound presence with me. This is not complete, but it does cover most of what I have encountered that has stuck with me.

Back to Broadway- Barbra Streisand

This was the first Barbra Streisand album I bought, back in 1992. It was erotic and with a flare that was totally captivating. I love particularly the mellow seductiveness of "Speak Low," which is an incredibly sensual rendition of the classic tune from "South Pacific." "Move On," is incredibly moving and brings goosebumps to my skin listening to it. Barbra's delivery here is earth-shattering as she lays out her sorrow song about self-fullfilment and letting go. The melange of Broadway standards that Barbra puts together on this album flow with a sensational ease and make for a breezy, jazz-tempered album that stands out on it own. The two duets on this album are also intoxicating. "Music of the Night," with Michael Crawford and "One Hand/One Heart," with Johnny Mathis are truly classic, each displaying the ease with which Barbra's magnificent and powerful voice blends and flavors the art of duet.

The Broadway Album- Barbra Streisand

The original Broadway Album, released six years before Back to Broadway (both were number one on the charts), I acquired this album after the second one. I was profoundly moved. The way Barbra arranges songs for an album is truly, in a word, exceptional. Each song tells a story or sends a message, and they all fit within a theme or pattern that she has carefully designed for the album. "Putting it Together," really gets into my bones. Opening the album, this song expresses the frustration of being true to one's craft and talent in the face of naysayers and public trends. Art truly isn't easy. "Being Alive,"is absolutely heart-wrenching and touches the soul with its heart-filled request to be taken, to be used, to be loved. Barbra's "Porgy," is definitely a classic rendition and rivals(although doesn't quite reach the level of) Nina Simone's. "Pretty Women/Ladies Who Lunch" is fun, playful, and delicious as it weaves together a stinging blow to the prototypical society woman. This album is definitely important to the Streisnad repertoire and is truly one of the best albums ever produced.

Barbra Streisand Greatest Hits Volume II is truly one of the greatest albums of all time. This album is astoundingly fresh and erotic, especially considering that all of the songs on this album were previously released. The compilation and arrangement of this album are truly what make it powerful andstand as testament to Streisand's ability as an artist. This is a true rock and roll classic and defines Barbra's ingenuity as a rock and roll diva. "Prisoner/ Eyes of Laura Mars," is a primal scream that speaks for itself. With grit and the fire of emotion, Barbra gives this album an intensity that is reached by few albums.

A Star is Born

This album only gets mentioned because of the presence of "Queen Bee," "Everything," "Woman in the Moon," and "With One More Look at You." This album is not a classic like Greatest Hits Volume II, but it does hold its own as a rock and roll album, which is attested to by its status as a quadruple platinum seller.These four songs range from the playful to searing with razor sharp lyrics, earth shattering deliveries, and subtle messages of feminist testimony,individual freedom and integrity. As a soundtrack, "A Star is Born," reaches beyond expectation.

Tapestry

I bought this album when I was just about to graduate from high school. It had a profound effect on me. Tapestry is one of those albums with deep roots that bury themselves down in your soul and plant themselves there. "Home Again" and "Beautiful as You Feel," cut right to the core. "Natural Woman," and "Will You Still Love Me Tommorow," prove that what she pens she can also sing. "Tapestry," is a mesmerizing, magical lyric that weaves together a morose,enchanting tale and evokes the sincerest emotions from the listener. This album is indeed exceptional.

Waiting to Exhale is THE soundtrack that deserves respect as a part of the regular cannon. This album is spiritual medicine and although I completely ignored this album when it first came out, in high school and college I absolutely learned to appreciate both the album and the movie. This album is the Black Woman's testimonial. An offering of balm to the soul. Patti, Aretha, Chaka, Brandy, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston,Mary J. Blige....this album is truly beautiful.

What is going on with Tavis and his show on PBS? I swear. I love Tavis, but he must be a bit out of it with some of the guest he has had recently. This musician that he had on tonight, perhaps he should have let him speak first and then not sing at all.

In regards to the previous post, I mention it only because I found it interesting that there were three shows in succession that touched on homosexuality, or to put it better, made use of borderline homophobic humour in their shows.

Tonight on television, there were three consecutive shows that broached the topic of homosexuality - Living Single, That Seventies Show, and one other one which I cant remember right now. Who comes up with this programming? I can't believe I am watching television these days. I haven't watched tv in ages.

America is now the Nigger. I think there should be more discussions focused around what Cornel West said in regards to that. This country now knows that it is not invincible, and indeed is the new nigger.

What is going on with the NAACP? Well, I will simply state right now that the NAACP needs backbone and integrity. It needs to, as I have just heard a commentator say, pick up the issues that need to be addressed to better the lives of people. Alas, I think George Bush is filthy and should be beaten with a stick for refusing the NAACP's invitation, but alas, I think that the NAACP needs to get a grip, which means stop allowing the Bush administration from defnining the way you operate and what your agenda is. I think this needs to be addressed. Alas, where are the Black Panthers?

I hope China whoops ass. I put my hope and faith in the future of China.

Being involved with Charles has whetted my appetite. I want something beautiful and substantial, interesting, and captivating.

It is absolutely horrid that these people will use the bombings in London to try and foster support for this occupation and disrespect of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. The british need to 1. Get rid of Tony Blair and 2. Withdraw troops from those regions. Alice Walker where are you dear?

The first of offers for teaching positions are coming in! I feel a mix of excitement, nausea, and fear. I need to channel the spirits of Howard Zinn, Angela Davis, and bell hooks! Please be with me along the way! I want nothing but good spirits with me at this time!

Today I am going to write about something that I should and want to, now, address. I had a friendship(which was quite sincere on my part), but which was very much abused. It will never be fitting for anyone to take their frustrations out on me because they have not gotten the job that they wanted. I had sensed a few times a bit of class resentment (along with a bit of white male righteousness) on the part of this person, but simply brushed it aside. However, when his job failed to materialize, it really showed through in one of our last conversations in which he referred to me as being "bougie," among other things which I don't remember. Alas, I dont care how much I may like you, you won't take it out on me when the world doesnt go your way. The dynamics of a lower-middle class white boy trying to reach up and being resentful of middle class Blacks shows a lot, especially how in this country it doesnt matter what your class is, to be white is supposed to mean that you have power, privilege, and legitimacy. Not in my book. And alas, I will lay it out a bit that now this person who has an undergraduate degree in Women's studies (no money) and wants to find a job in computers (ha!) and who will be going to a second-rate graduate school in California with no funding(as much as I don't like Purdue, it is established and I was funded;-) Anyway, there is always something to learn from.

This article

is a link to a story about the space weaponry that the Bush administration is working on. God help us all. They want to take out countries from space now.

This evening, as I passed the barbed wire fence to go to my friend's place, I thought for a second of what it must feel like for a Palestinian passing the Israeli wall. I often wonder about the experience of Homosexuality in Islam. That is definitely something that I would like to learn more about. I wonder if there are any films about it. I do know from talking to F H that it does occur, and he has told me a little bit about how homosexuality exists within the muslim world. I often marveled as well about F H. He still plans to marry and continue in his "duty" despite his love of men. I would love to learn more. I think tonight I did more in terms of queering Islam than I think I know. How beautiful it would be when two men would learn to embracy each other, in love, in the Islamic world. That would be love. That would be beautiful.

Today Sandra Day O'Connor resigned from the Supreme Court. Two things will happen: 1) All hell will break loose and 2). Minorities (especially gay men, whom I don't feel that sorry for-- are going to suffer like hell). Ah well.

I just got through watching the new show that Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown put on television. Lord Help us all. A show about your home life and its all staged....but what Black folks do I know thats gonna put all of there business in the street....I only mention it because I think it is interesting to think about Whitney Houston and what it must be like to be her--a woman who grew up in a privileged, middle class background ( I dont know if Cissy Houston was rich or not, but I know she wasn't broke. Plus, having Dionne Warwick as your cousin and growing up knowing Aretha Franklin and other big names in the music industry means you have got some privilege. I look back at the early days of her career--she started off very afro-centric, yes, but she was in many ways a white girl with color---the image that she was given to portray. "Im saving all my love" "how will I know" crossover pop hits that appealed to white audiences. She only had the ONE album where she had an ethnic hairstyle---after that it was processed all the way. Alas, I will talk about this later.

Stella got her Groove Back

just to find out he's Gay! What the Fuck?!!!

I didn't do much of anything I had planned to do today. Well now I will. This morning Diane Rehms had a wonderful guest on her show, Evans Hopkins. He spoke most wonderfully about his experiences in the Black Panther Party and as a black youth growing up in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. I think he is a very progressive man. He does incredible work around prison reform and the rehabilitation of the formerly convicted. I wonder if he is familiar with Angela Davis. Anyway, I am very supportive and glad that he is on the scene.

I believe I feel I need I can nurture.

Nina Simone: Just Like a Woman

Nobody feels any pain
Tonight as I stand inside the rain
Ev'rybody knows
That Baby's got new clothes
But lately I see her ribbons and her bows
Have fallen from her curls.
She takes just like a woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.

Queen Mary, she's my friend
Yes, I believe I'll go see her again
Nobody has to guess
That Baby can't be blessed
Till she sees finally that she's like all the rest
With her fog, her amphetamine and her pearls.
She takes just like a woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.

It was raining from the first
And I was dying there of thirst
So I came in here
And your long-time curse hurts
But what's worse
Is this pain in here
I can't stay in here
Ain't it clear that--

I just can't fit
Yes, I believe it's time for us to quit
When we meet again
Introduced as friends
Please don't let on that you knew me when
I was hungry and it was your world.
Ah, you fake just like a woman, yes, you do
You make love just like a woman, yes, you do
Then you ache just like a woman
But you break just like a little girl.