Hello fellow Vox pals.  It's been a while, I know.  Just popping in to say "Hey!" and share some videos.  YouTube is still my television, but I think I'd like the real thing, too.  TVs are definitely not a priority in my life right now, but it would be nice to watch Oprah and Ugly Betty every now and then.

Speaking of "The Real Thing" ... here's Jill!

Jill Scott - The Reel on "The Real Thing" (Part 1)

Jill Scott - The Reel on "The Real Thing" (Part 2)

She sold me, particularly by invoking the legacy of Sarah Vaughan.  Definitely this and Chaka Khan's latest "Funk This" are must haves.  In fact, Kenyon recently mentioned these and some others on his blog, too.  (By the way, I heard that Meshell's new CD has KUDU's dynamic drummer Deantoni Parks all over it.)  And more - Donnie, Ledisi - there's a lot of great music out there.

And while we wait to hear more on the new Labelle project:

Patti Labelle: "Lady Marmalade/Get You Somebody New"

No, Patti probably won't be droppin' it like it's hot in Labelle's next go-round and Sarah might neither be as limber nor as lamé'd as she used to be, but Nona ...

BoldasLIVE: Nona Hendryx on her early influences

BoldasLIVE: Nona Hendryx performs "Transformation"

Nona's career advice to young artists

... wow!  She could easily go toe-to-toe with any of these girls today!  WOW!

Until next time, "Let Me Borrow That Top!"

Let Me Borrow That Top

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Can't stay long very tired and im going to bed. On vacation for the week, so I will be able to post more often.

Got my rental issues cleared up...am teaching high school english at a place in harlem called Bread and Roses Integrated Arts High School. I have two 90 minute 9th grade Literacy classes, and one 12th grade English class.
The kids are interesting to say the least.

Got paid on Friday..and i'm basically broke or close to being broke now. But, im back doing what I pretty much always loved and enjoy doing--teaching.

Will go into more detail later....

Guten Nacht!

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This will be brief since I have to go to bed like NOW...

Had a LOT of drama--i.e. personal, professional and financial...

Financial: was quite broke and behind in rent...like several months behind. Had to go to housing court to stop eviction proceedings. Just when things started to look really bad, i got a last minute miracle in a family member who came up with the money I owed the landlord. So, I paid them on january 23rd. No eviction

Professional: Was unemployed for three months with no consistent income coming in...just when I was about to bottom out, I got a mid year teaching position at a school in harlem. I start tomorrow officially. I get my first paycheck (provided the DOE doesn't eff my paperwork up) february 15th.

Personal: have yet to tell someone I like I'm interested in them...don't want to face rejection or mess up our friendship...he's a great guy. But, I've come to the realization that, right now, I'm not ready to date or be with anyone or allow someone else into my life. I think he knows that..but we still need to talk.

Am planning to really stick to a budget, manage and save my money, start working out, and tell S--- I like him and would like to be more than friends....or just closer friends if he doesnt want me.

Have a good one!

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[Obviously, YouTube is my television.  Enjoy these clips until I get back.  I'll try not to stay away too long.]

French & Saunders "Generation Gap" Sketch

Dame Helen Mirren goes toe to toe with the comedic genius of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders as they poke fun at stereotypical sitcoms.  Hilarity ensues!  Julia Sawalha (who played Saunders' daughter Saffy on Absolutely Fabulous) also joins in for the fun.  Also, check out Jam and Jerusalem, Saunders' first post-AbFab series that features French and Joanna Lumley (AbFab's Patsy) as the oldest woman living in their village.

Sinead O'Connor - You Do Something To Me (Red Hot + Blue)

Sinéad serves up Veronica Lake in this delicious dream sequence directed by John Maybury (who also directed the seminal Nothing Compares 2 U) for Red Hot + Blue, the breakthrough AIDS charity series that reinvisioned much of Cole Porter's remarkably sophisticated body of work (and, on the sly tip, claimed him as something other than strictly heterosexual).

stevie wonder

The musical wonder that is Stevie Wonder and his band pay a visit to Sesame Street.  As a child, I was surrounded by great music.  Seeing Stevie masterfully deliver funk in the guise of this simple childrens' song makes me scratch my head at today's offerings.  I really feel lucky!

Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield - People hold on

House music is what happened when disco became electronic.  Americans consumed house until, like disco, it was deemed too Black and too gay (both meanings are probably applicable with equal alacrity) - then it was flushed.  Racism being the global phenomenon that it is, I guess it's no wonder that the UK would push out more than its share of white female soul singers (Lisa, Helen Terry and my dear friend, the dreadfully underated Billie Ray Martin all come to mind), particularly after the groundbreaking success of Annie Lennox with Eurythmics (and Alison Moyet with Yaz(oo) before her and to Dusty Springfield before her).  Still, this song is a testament to ability of house music to uplift and to nurture the hope that creates change.  Her solo debut hit single All Around The World (her homage to Barry White), even with all its sadness and regret, singlehandedly made me believe that romantic love was possible.

Heatwave-Always & Forever-Musikladen-1976

There are R&B songs about love and then there is Always and Forever (from Too Hot To Handle).  A staple of late-time radio programmers for over 30 years, here's a rare glimpse of it being performed by Heatwave just before the band's peak.  The original lead vocalist Johnnie Wilder, Jr. (who sadly passed away last May) creates this magic moment so dreamily and effortlessly with songwriter Rod Temperton (before his gigantic success with the pop perfection that is Michael Jackson singing Rock With You) weaving him a beautiful background on the organ.

Patti Labelle - "You don't have to say you love me"

And finally, Patti Labelle pays tribute to her dear friend Dusty Springfield.  While I do really like Fantasia, her live performances (particularly after American Idol) don't measure up and point to maybe a bit of media overzealousness in terms of having the chops to back up any legacy to this legend.  Patti comes from a tradition of vocal technique, raw emotion AND performance excellence.  I get the feeling that Fantasia's screaming and growling is supposedly about "keepin' it real" for a younger audience - but Patti is mighty real and has been for 50 years.  Girl, just sing!

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Hard To Be Good Lovemix

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Biker Gylrz

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It's been a while since I have posted here. I'm sorry for that, but so much is going on in my life. Some of you know. But, for the moment, I'm not going to deal with that until I get everything straightened out.

But, I love you ALL..those I know who have pages here/those who glance at my page on occasion/those who may have briefly checked it out...

I LOVE YOU....I don't know  you,but I do draw strength from the fact that there are people who do "check" me out and support me...and I just want to thank you for that.

To those of you who know me offline, pray for me. I will need all of the love, support, good thoughts and cheer you can give me because starting next week, I have to take care of a LOT of things.

You are all in my prayers!

Ryan

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