Music Mania...Beyonce's Haters

I don’t think so many people hate Beyonce as they tire of the thousands to millions of media impressions she generates. From her music, radio, tv ads to interviews to magazine covers, endorsement deals, blogs and gossip websites, Beyonce hasn’t been out of the public eye for one minute. I think she has a wonderful singing voice and range; her music is very commercial but, really inferior to her fabulous singing ability. I feel the same about Mariah Carey. This business make these artists think "image first." The “sex symbol” image and being at the very top is a difficult place to hold on to, especially, when there’s nowhere to go but down. Beyonce is working hard to stay and comfortably transition when her time comes (think Jennifer Lopez, Brandy and Janet Jackson). When Beyonce rose to the top, she was one of the most absolute beautiful women in the industry. But, now we have other very popular singers, who may or may not be as physically beautiful as she, but project their own sense of style and beauty, along with a great fan base, i.e. Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michelle, Jennifer Hudson, Tamia, Ciara, Keyshia Cole and others. There's newcomer Estelle, who may not be considered beautiful by some, I think she's beautiful with a megawatt smile ("Pretty" Video), she’s fastly gaining popularity and has a wonderful style, is original and can really sing! Then we have artists who will be touring and making music whether or not they go gold or platinum and we'll be standing in line for tickets: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Mary J. Blige. Other true, talented and insightful vocalists like Lina, Rachelle Ferrell and Goapele also have a place in the sun.

The "image first" policy is fading as record industry sales continue to decline. We got accustomed to “eye candy” and have access to music 24/7 without even buying it (You Tube and Demand TV). So now, we’re coming back to a place where we’ll be seeing more singers who look good, but can really sing. Beyonce won’t be the novelty she once was in the face of evolution–-change. I thought about this in watching Annie Lennox perform on the 2008 American Music Awards Show and was completely mesmerzied. I almost forgot what it felt like to actually listen to an artist instead of watching them. Beyonce gave a great high energy trademark performance and wowed! I loved the variety of artistry that took center stage that night and hope to see more! Looks aren't everything, they do help and certainly make a difference where success is concerned. Today's top artists have a very difficult job and juggling act.

The number one spot is difficult to manage. Janet Jackson was number one for a long time, but we also had Whitney Houston, Sade and Anita Baker and no one over shadowed the other and they never sold tons of products (endorsements) either, which also added to their shelf life, they left us wanting. They all did their thing and this is where the industry is headed back to and this means there’ll be more opportunities for a variety of entertainers striving to reach the top. Beyonce’s camp generate controversy by keeping her image in competition with other artists, i.e., Ciara and using a very similar song title and theme "Like A Boy"(Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy") or Rihanna, Beyonce coping her edgy look for a magazine cover liken to the "Disturbia" Video and other media. People will automatically make judgments and comparisons and she be deemed the prettest (the standout) and in many cases she is, but this marketing strategy is fading fast. There won’t be one or two top performers, but a selection and many selling gold records will be as profitiable as a select few dominating the airwaves multiplatinum style.

Survival is the name of the game for all of us!

Be original, think for yourself and remember you, too, are a role model…worthy and beautiful with or without a glam squad, a ring on your finger, a Ph.D, a fat bank account or celebrity status…we’re all the same at the end of day…human, loving, deserving of the absolute best, compassionate with unlimited possibilities…WOMAN…MAN…AWESOMELY CREATED!

Alicia

President Elect Obama...What Does it Mean?

Through all of the tears and cheers of joy or even the agony of defeat, we've entered into a historical space of time, unlike any other, yet on the shoulders of many others. I believe this "change" is going to affect all of our lives in some way, especially, since I believe in collective consciousness. We've all suffered through the low disapproval ratings for America from countries around the world. It would be only befitting for us to prosper from a more positive consenus. All eyes is on America and how the first African American President will govern complete with all the hurdles, in-fighting, disappointments and victories is of supreme interest!

This is a pivotal moment in human history and this time belongs to all of us whether we voted for President Elect Obama or not. There's a quantum shift happening in the universe and this experience is an unstoppable force of nature that just had to occur.

I believe Mr. Obama will do a great job because he will be well-advised and this is one of the reasons he beat the GOP (Republican Party) and Clinton machines; he obviously listens well and carefully weighs options. I believe with so many invested in helping Obama's presidency to be successful one while proudly serving their country and public office, terrorists, financial ruin, a depressed economy, a failing healthcare system, poor educational opportunites and loss of jobs will be managed well and viable solutions presented and executed.

It'll take two terms and beyond to bring this country back to solvency and to experience the monumental growth as we've experienced in the past, whether technology companies in Silicon Valley or the Star Bucks Coffee Stores phenomenal. At least, Americans can be hopeful and take pride that it broke from conventional patterns and together we took the leap that is based on hope and public trust, inspiration and basic values, sounds familiar? It's what America means for most of us, regardless of race, religion or creed, a country where one can practice the religion of his or her choice, get an education, work or start a business on many levels. America is not without its blemishes and imperfections, such as, disparities for the rich and poor which dictate one's quality of life, a very poor public educational system for our most vulnerable, the inner cities and rural America suffer generational abject poverty in the wealthiest country in the world, a super power. Our suffering middle-class are becoming extinct and need and deserve a bailout plan, along the many Americans living below the povery line. President Elect Obama won't be able to remedy all of our social ills, retore every human right, obliterate racism, sexism, ageism and all the other isms that plague our society. But, I believe what his administration and legacy accomplishes will greatly improve our current crisis, breed new dynamic leadership, especially, among our youth, mend fences with our global neighbors around the world and lead this country back to being respected and revered and rid us of the imperialistic image we now have.

Give this piece of history, force of nature, destiny its time to unfold and present the gifts for this age. Just as Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, by the late 1950s most homes had television sets and we watched the first man walk on the moon in 1961, IBM is credited for developing the first successful personal computer in 1975 after years of prototypes, Bill Gates believed in his software vision while others moved on, You Tube forever changed our world in 2006 and 2008 we have an African American President and First Family in the White House.

Life.

Mr. President

Simply Incredible...Americans Shine and the World Shares Our Joy!