I am... not feeling B's cd

Seeing as how music is my mistress I thought it was time for a new album review. I checked out Beyonce's "highly anticipated" new cd. I've read a couple blogs about it and heard people talk about it but, I had to check it out for myself I hear music differently than most. I was a training to be a musician (jazz\classical pianist to be exact) in my teeny bopper days.

The cd overall is mediocre. I'm not a Beyonce fan but I can appreciate anybody's craft when it's on point. I appreciate an artist that is willing to take risks with their sound and is constantly evolving. I'll give B props on that front, her sound has evolved over each of her albums but this one can go back where it came from.

Most people have already heard her first two singles: If I were a Boy and Single Ladies. I like If I were a boy not for its lyrical content but b\c she showcases her range and vocal control in that song. Single Ladies is a cute club banger\get hyped with your girls kind of song. I noticed that after Dreamgirls and having to sing alongside a real soul singer (Jennifer Hudson) B has tried stepping her vocal game up ie: doing more runs in her songs and trying to sound more soulful. But her attempts at the runs seem strained, prime example her song "Hello". B is a soprano and for some reason she doesn't seem to be able to transition easily from singing in an alto range to soprano.

In the song "Ego" she attempted to show us her upper range and sounded bad. She's proven her upper vocal range is a her strong point time and time again (speechless, emotions, dangerously in love live performances even on this new one with Ave Maria) but this released recording of Ego is not a good one. She starts sounding a bit horse and lost while in her upper range.

Again I look for an artist's evolution and risks with sounds and improvement in vocal ability. This is a mediocre production in my eyes. Her song Halo is good vocally but I hate the music it sounds a lot like one of Jordin Spark's crappy tracks. Most of the songs on "I am" sound the same music wise the beats are very similar and follow the same handful of chords. The Sasha Fierce part is an amorphous blob of crap. Sweet Dream is decent, Radio is mediocre but will probably become a club joint in certain places, why the hell was she tryna mimic Lil Wayne's A Mili with that crappy track Diva? Who produced that song? They should be banned from the studio for the next 6 months. Mediocre I give "I am... Sasha Fierce" a C.

This cd will not even make it from iTunes onto my iPod. I kinda want my $ back from iTunes for buying this cornball cd. Before this cd I doubted her ability to play Etta James in her upcoming movie citing that she isn't a soul singer like Etta nor can she transition to and from her soprano and alto range well. I thought maybe she'd prove me wrong on this cd...SIKE! We'll see how she does in this movie.

Don't get mad, Try again

I've been watching the news a lot lately and I notice all the coverage Proposition 8 is getting. No problem, however I've also noticed that the talking heads have constantly pointed out that Blacks and Latinos overwhelmingly voted "Yes" to Prop. 8. They've called it ironic, an oxymoron etc... that Blacks and Latinos would vote for Obama but ban gay marriage.

Point 1- Why are people pointing fingers at who voted against Prop 8? The woman's name escapes my right now but she was a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher election week, she pointed out that those who wanted "No" to Prop 8 didn't spend any time advertising Prop 8 to Latinos and Blacks. In the U.S. we all know marketing is key. With California having a large Latino population (who are usually Catholic or Protestant Christians), those against Prop 8 should have been brave and bold enough to try to reach out this population to help Latinos understand their cause. The same goes for blacks, a good percentage of blacks are active Protestant Christians why weren't any efforts made to reach out to them? Now that you know who voted against your cause that means those who wanted "No" to Prop 8 need to start reaching out to Blacks and Latinos not being angry they didn't vote the way you wanted them to.

Point 2- It is clear that religion particularly Christianity is a huge factor in American politics. Don't believe me... why would every news station refer to the Midwest and some southern states as "the Bible belt". It was a big deal when John McCain became a Baptist a few years back. Look at all the attention Rev. Jeremiah Wright got, and how many voters said they wouldn't vote for Obama b\c he was a Muslim and the "the U.S. has Christian values". Knowing how significant a role religion plays in the U.S. Prop 8 protesters should have fund raised and done better at marketing their cause to religious folks. Take a lesson from the Mormons.

Point 3- This is my biggest point... don't equate being gay with being black. They are two very different struggles. Being gay is defined by an act. Someone can assume you are gay all they want but, you are not in fact gay unless you act on it. Being black just is. There is no act, behavior, type of clothes you wear that makes you more or less black... you just are. You're black when you wake up, walk down the street, no matter how many degrees you have etc...
I'm not saying that if you're gay you should have to be in the closet... do what makes you comfortable. But please stop equating being black and being gay. They are not the same. Is there a box on college applications that asks what's your sexual orientation? On the U.S. census is there a question about your sexual orientation? When you apply for a job do they ask if you're gay straight bi etc...? Were your people taken from a continent and brought here to do manual free labor on the basis of their race\looks? No. So please don't go there. The issue was taken to the people of California and the people voted against your cause. If at first you don't succeed try again. Emancipation, voting rights, and the civil rights act of 65 didn't happen over night. Look at what the Mormons did, look at Massachusetts and Connecticut and follow their model and try your cause again in like 2 years.

Moving Forward

What a historic week it has been. Barack Obama is the President-elect of the United States of America! I still get excited when clips of his victory speech are played, I beam with pride.
Now that Obama is going to be the President we can't sit down, go into hiding, or get content. We must continue to be as politically active and aware as we have been in this election. There is still work to be done. The bar has been raised! We must walk a little straighter and with our heads held high.


Now that the bar has been raised here are some things parents and students can do to make sure the we don't go to sleep on the job. In order to get to the mountaintop we have to keep on keeping on. I have two... let's call them oaths\affirmations\reminders of our roles and responsibilities


Students

I will try my hardest in everything I do.
I will strive for excellence at all times, even if my parents are not pushing me to do so.
I won't mock my peers because they speak English well, nor will I make fun of those who have good grades. I will try to emulate them.
It is cool to read books that are not assigned by my teachers. Not just "hood books".

I will hold myself accountable for my own actions.

I will respect my teachers and take my education serious.
I now know that with education all things are possible.
I will dream bigger. There are no limitations on who I can become.
If I work hard I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.




Parents

I will play an active role in all areas of my child's\children's life
I will check their homework
I will make time to go to Parent teacher conference night\day
I'll encourage my children and nurture their dreams instead of telling them what they can't do
I am not my child's friends which means: I won't buy them inappropriate clothing, smoke any substance with them, drink with them, nor will I be afraid to discipline them because I'm afraid "they won't like me".
I'll set rules and boundaries
The T.V. is not a babysitter neither is Wii ,PS3, a computer or any other electronic device
There are other methods to discipline my kids besides beating them (it's still an option, just not the only option)
I'll read to my young children
I'll teach them to be accountable for their actions
I won't curse at my children, EVER
I will listen to my children
I will be a role model for my children
I'll teach them that if they dream of something and work hard for it they can accomplish it.

Let me know if I missed anything

Read and Internalize this!

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
Its the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
Its the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and hes fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nations promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nations next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy thats coming with us to the White House. And while shes no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what youve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didnt start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generations apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didnt do this just to win an election and I know you didnt do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Americas beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one thats on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. Shes a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldnt vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that shes seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we cant, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when womens voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

I think we all need to read this and internalize it!
I will post more but i'm still taking everything in.
In the meantime, walk a little straighter and with your head held high!!