Now anyone that knows me understands that I am a serious fan of Ms. Teena Marie a.k.a. Lady Tee. I have seen Teena Marie up to 3-4 times in a year and will travel to catch one of her shows. I think her music is just timeless and that she is a really great songwriter. Her concerts always have such a huge amount of energy and people stand up singing song after song after song…just groovin!!!! It always amazes me how artists can tour this country and abroad singing songs that they recorded over 20-30 years ago and fans just continue to come out and support.
In regards to live concerts there are a few old skool artists that I would pay to see perform the same classic hits on a yearly basis. That lists includes but is not limited to, Prince(if he toured much), Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Slave, The Isley Brothers and New Edition (not as old skool).
Today my question is simple. I want to hear from you guys. What old skool artist(s) would you pay to see in live concert again and again and again?
BTW, don’t forget to check out TV1’s new season of “Unsung” beginning this Sunday, November 1, 2009. The one and only Teena Marie a.k.a. Lady T will be featured.
“Go take a hike!”–Bustin Loose 1981
“You sho is ugly”–The Color Purple 1985
“Boy, if the army was made up of nothin but soldiers like you, war wouldn’t do nobody no good”–Carmen Jones 1954
“The last hands to touch you in this Earth…was my BLACK hands!”–Roots 1977
“Girl, you look so good someone ought to put you on a plate and sop you up with a biscuit.”–Coming to America 1988
“If I ain’t goin’, nobody’s goin”–Cooley High 1975
“You want my arm to fall off”–Lady Sings the Blues 1972
“Success is nothing…NOTHING!!! Without someone you love to share it with”–Mahogany 1975
“He knew the death seat when he sat down on it”–The Brother from Another Planet 1984
“Am I the meanest? Am I the prettiest? Am I the baddest mofo low down around this town? Who Am I? SHO’NUFF!”–The Last Dragon 1985
“Hair’s like a woman. You treat it good and it treats you good”–Cleopatra Jones 1973
“One brain in this room thinking for two people”–Sparkle 1976
“Can you dig it?”–Superfly 1972
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When Blacks began to hit the big screen in 70’s movies and played roles other than maids, butlers and slaves, it greatly increased the public view of us as sex symbols. Billy Dee Williams, Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Diahann Carroll, Jim Brown, Diana Ross and Richard Roundtree topped that list. Movies such as Superfly, Sheba Baby, Shaft, The Big Score and Take a Hard Ride helped lead the way in roles that shaped Blacks as “sex symbols”.
Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Vivica Fox, Idris Elba, L.L. Cool J and the like have some of the above referenced actors/actresses to thank for setting a trend for Blacks to be viewed as sex symbols.
Take time today and rent some good movies from the 70’s and check out how hot we looked, but don’t get caught up in the fact that most of those actors are 65+…..
Til next time.
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Hey fam–sorry I have been away for bit, but I’m back and ready to get our old skool discussions poppin. I was listening to ”Backspin” a.k.a. old skool hip hop station on XM and was wondering what is everyone’s favorite old skool rap cut. I mean what song do you wait to hear when the old skool rap mix starts at the parties or which one do you hear and just go crazy when it comes on. For many of us we may not hear a song for years but when it’s played we can recite the lyrics word for word.
Personally, I have a few. When I know the D.J. is getting into old skool hip hop, I’m waiting for three songs to spin: “The Show” by Doug E. Fresh/Slick Rick, “Eric B. is President” by Eric B. and Rakim and “My Philosophy” by B.D.P. If it’s a regional thing and I’m in the Philly area it’s “My Parta Town” by the Tuff Crew.
Don’t get me wrong I know there are classics like “Rapper’s Delight” the Sugar Hill Gang; “The Message” Grand Master Flash & Furious 5; “Top Billin” Audio Two and “Paper Thin” by M.C. Lyte and I love to hear and jam to those (and so many others) as well, but I’m stickin to my top three.
What’s your top three family?
We will save greatest rap cut of all time for another post:-)
Hey Fam–I’ve been away for over a week, but I’m back, ready and excited to get our old skool discussions going. Today, I think I’m in more of a serious than playful mood.
Through the years the consumer prices have seen substantial raises. Have you ever sat and considered how much consumer prices have changed over the years? It is ridiculous. Consider the numbers/comparisons below:
Average Cost of:
New Home
1969/$27,900
1979/$71,800
1989/$148,800
1999/$195,800
2009/$239,800
Gallon of Gas
1969/.35
1979/.86
1989/$1.12
1999/$1.17
2009/$2.34
U.S. First Class Stamp
1969/.06
1979/.15
1989/.25
1999/.33
2009/.44
Gallon of Milk
1969/$1.10
1979/$1.62
1989/$2.34
1999/$3.32
2009/$4.50
With all of those changes it is almost sad that the Federal Minimum Wage rate has not seen such growth. In forty years minimum wage has only risen $5.65. In 1969 minimum wage was $1.60 and in 2009 it is $7.25. What does that mean? An hourly minimum wage rate can’t pay for the cost of one gallon of gas, one stamp and a gallon of milk ($7.28). Now who says there is no value to higher education, a good credit score, financial freedom or self owned businesses?????????????? GO FIGURE!!!!!
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It’s funny to watch kids these days act as if they cannot function if they do not have a cable, a computer, Ipod, Gameboy, cell phone, you name it. A few years back my sister gave my niece a book for Christmas. She had to be around 5 or 6 at the time. My niece looked at the book, then asked, “What does it do?” My niece said that it did not talk, make noise or come with a CD or DVD and politely tossed it to the side. WOW, that from a 5 year old!!!
Does anyone remember when kids did not need all of those fancy things? Truth be told many families could not afford all of those things. The same probably holds true today, but our society would rather go broke then to not keep up with the latest trends.
Whether I was playing with my friends on the block or my cousins “Down South”, we always found some way to have fun without anything electronic or costly. What happened to the days of hide-and-go-seek, Red light- Green Light - Stop, Dodge ball, jump rope, tag, neighborhood drill teams, making up dances with your friends?
Did you guys enjoy playing on the block or in the neighborhood as kids?
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I can remember growing up and my parents reminiscing in the basement with their albums and 8 tracks. They did (or my mom did while trying to convince my dad) dances like the mashed potato, the twist and the funky chicken. They couldn’t help but laugh and smile as they shared with my brother and I their good times at school dances or B.Y.O.B. cabarets.
In the 70s we saw dances like the bump, the bus stop, the hustle and “LeFreak” with Chic. Who can forget watching the Soul Train lines or John Travolta dancing in Saturday Night Fever or Staying Alive. In the 80s we welcomed the cabbage patch, the wop, the kid-n-play and don’t forget E.U. and “da butt”. I don’t think the 90s are that old skool, but then again 1990 is almost 20 years gone (man time flies!). In the 90s we saw everyone doing several versions of the electric slide, voguing with Madonna, shakin their rumps with Wrecks-n-Effect and jumping as high as you can to Black Sheep’s ”The Choice is Yours”(….if my train jumps off the track pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!)
Fam–what are some of your favorite old skool dance memories? I can remember my friend April having a slumber party, riding in her dad’s Winnebago to Celebration Station and all the girls were up doing the Pee-Wee Herman when the song came on the radio:-)
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Many of you may have seen episodes from TVone’s first two seasons on the show Unsung. This show highlights music artists that did not quite reach the potential that they should have in their careers. Although many of them have seen success, have timeless music and ridiculous talent, they never hit the big time like people expected. The first season highlighted artists such as Donnie Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman (shot out Philly!) and the Clark Sisters. Season two highlighted artists such as Minnie Riperton, Shalamar and Melba Moore. Season three which is scheduled for the fall will highlight Teena Marie, Bootsy Collins and a few others.
I agree with the notion that “Lady T” is unsung. I am a huge Teena Marie fan so, I was secretly offended at first, but realize that it is somewhat of an honor to be highlighted on the show because they recognize that these artists should have had more success. Teena Marie is still selling out concerts on music she made in the 70’s & 80’s. “Oh la la la” is her only #1 single and she has never won a Grammy, American Music Award or Soul Train award. Additionally, she has never had an album that did more than gold. She is a great writer, virtually writing every song she has recorded. Oh Teena…
I would also add Maze featuring Frankie Beverly…30+ years and not one award and nothing more than gold records. Additionally, with all the great songs they have produced, “Back In Stride Again” is their only #1 song…how is that possible?
Talk to me family–Who do you consider to be an Unsung musical artist?”
Hey fam–I’m keeping it real simple today. What memories, fads, clothes, etc., would you not like to see resurrected? I would like to see the free love of the 60’s stay in the past, although I’m nervous that we may be living in a similar era with advanced repercussions. I would like to see Karl Kani, Cross Colours and jeans tucked inside of three pairs of slouch sucks stay in the past. Ladies…finger waves, french rolls and leisure curls….AWAY!!! I would like Zoot suits and colored shoes to stay in the past (I’m not sure some of my Detroit old schoolers would agree…LOL!). The leather medallions with the African flag or colors…yeah let’s keep those tucked away. We can support Africa but let’s do it in a more fashionable way. What else? How about the terms such as, “bite me” or “my ni**a”"…AWAY! For me personally, memories of my first boyfriend…AWAY! AWAY! AWAY!
Talk to me fam…what can we leave buried in the past, never to rise again?
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Long before the days of Melrose Place, 90210, The Hills or the The O.C., we had Dallas and Dynasty. Who remembers Wednesday nights with the Carrington’s in Colorado or Friday nights in Texas with the Ewings. I loved Dynasty for so many reasons, but seeing a black woman, Diahann Carrolle play wealthy diva, Dominque Deveraux was just the best. Linda Evans character “Krystyle” worked a nerve at times because she was so sensitive and somewhat of a cry baby, but seeing her have those fights with Alexis Carrington (she was a real “witch”) played by Joan Collins showed that she was not as timid as we thought. I remember watching the spin-off show the Colbys with my mom for a bit, but do not have have any significant memories of the show.
Now Dallas, male or female, people seemed to be into this prime time soap opera. I think J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) had a swagger that everyone hated but secretly admired. Not his underhanded behavior, but just the confidence he exuded. Bobby, the younger brother played by Patrick Duffy had the “good boy” image unlike J.R., but his story lines never seemed as interesting as J.R. Who could forget the Who Shot J.R. episode? It sure had my young butt glued to the t.v. We can’t forget other cast members like Linda Gray who played Sue Ellen, did she ever join an A.A. group? Victoria Principal who played Pam, Bobby’s wife or Priscilla Presley (Elvis’s widow) who played Jenna Wade, who in the 21st century we would call Bobby’s character’s “baby mama.” Dallas also had a spin off show called “Knots Landing” and this became a weekly favorite for me as well.
I think both of these shows were great and if they ran in syndication, I would be watching them both. Dallas or Dynasty???? I would not want to choose but if I had to…Dallas would win hands down.
What do you think?
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