NOW…

…that I have written about never giving up (Did I Miss The Revolution?), gotta—or GOT TO write about picking up and moving on after failure. Singer and actor Chris Brown made a horrible mistake last year and people have been trying to crucify him, almost literally, for it ever since. And one of my favorite singers, El DeBarge has had recurring, serious trouble with the law, plus a dependency issue for several years. Neither of these men—brothers, had nothing to lose when they performed on Black Entertainment Television’s 10th Annual Awards show. Absolutely nothing. Still they rocked the house and reminded us—quite passionately, why we loved them in the first place.

For Brown, it was tribute to the Late Michael Jackson (first time I written “late” next to Mike’s name; perhaps my denial is slowly starting to wane…). Though I was a little disappointed that the multi-talented singer could not pack the pain away for a few minutes to at least start and try to make his way through, “Man In The Mirror,” I still had goose bumps watching him. It was amazing. The crowd loved him. Sure, that’s cliché, but there is no other way to phrase it. They were giving him his due—something he had been begging for since February 2009.

I KNOW he would have rocked the song, yet I believe that Mike was there on stage in spirit, giving Chris a magic moment to “be one with the audience,” as MJ himself had probably done on occasion. Brown was so moved by the love that he could not even speak, let alone sing. I look forward to Chris keeping his public promise (not to let anyone down); although, the reason his transgression has been dragged out is because people are looking to judge, hold a grudge and be hypocritical. We all need to mind our damn business, let this young man go back to making a living and entertaining us in the process.



But it was El. I say again, it was El. Eldra to those who know what it’s really all about—“I Like It,” “All This Love,” “Stay With Me,” “Time Will Reveal,” “Love Me In A Special Way,” “A Dream (say what?)” and “Rhythm of the Night.” Mr. DeBarge, “still fine and he can call me any time,” let us know that he had been truly bent, but not broken. Down, but not out; shattered, but now most definitely self-assured. As El turned to face the audience singing “All This Love,” and began the lines, “I’ve had some problems…,” he had a look in his eyes that let us know he was testifying.

And while he performed, “Second Chance” (new cut from forthcoming CD), he had such a confidence about him that the lyrics very well could have said, “I’m back and I’m ready.” His crisp, seductive falsetto voice has not changed a bit; that’s a blessing given that he’s been to prison and the struggled with drugs for quite some time (listen to Whitney’s chops post-rehab…). It may have seemed a little cheesy or degrading that his second performance fell into one of the “Music Matters,” segments. MM is BET’s way of showcasing new artists who have not had much time in the spotlight yet. But in essence, El has got to pay dues all and work his way back into the hearts and souls of folks. And it might be my imagination, but to me, he seemed to enjoy singing in the same category with the “unknowns.”

And did anyone else peep the teeny tiny ironies surrounding El’s return? The fact that Jermaine Jackson was present to introduce Chris Brown, who paid tribute to MJ and that Brown himself was making a comeback of sorts? See, when DeBarge blazed the scene, people sorta-kinda compared the group to the Jackson 5 and sorta-kinda said El was the next MJ (in retrospect, though, I’d have to say, “not so much.”). And that it was Jermaine, in fact, who was already producing the older DeBarges in the group Switch and then introduced the younger DeBarges (Bunny, El, Mark, Randy and James) to Berry Gordy.

Nevertheless, with or without these coincidences, El knows he is ready to do what he does best. I find the whole thing inspiring, and my heart is so full with hope it almost weeps. Everyday folks complain about their lives and what we “go through.” Here is a person who has “been there” and back, yet still able to stand and say, “I can make it.” That’s nothing short of awesome. El almost personifies Donnie McClurkin’s, “We Fall Down.”

Axe.

P.S.: Maxwell, El thanks you for holding it down (and well!); you can take a breather…

Currently Reading: Some of Everthing (SOE) ("spring cleaning")
Currently Listening To: Just letting the iTunes play...

DID I MISS THE REVOLUTION?

Was it televised?

I am simply marveling in the fact that an undecidedly unqualified, not exactly politically desirable candidate has made it to the “championship game,” and that said candidate is Black. Too rich. I am talking about what everyone is talking about: Alvin Greene. The dishonorably discharged unemployed veteran is making headlines for his lackadaisical campaigning in addition to his criminal charges. I guess gone are the days when Blacks have to be twice, or even three times as good as the next (white) man to make it.

I’m not applauding Greene’s criminal record (showing pornography to a 19-year-old college student). Nor am I too pleased with the fact that he did very little campaigning (he missed a couple of scheduled events)—even though he is unemployed (say what?). What I do like is this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that miracles do in fact happen; you see I had given up here recently, sans the Celtics loss to the Lakers and a number of other situations located closer to home than I would like…

Trying not to highlight the brother’s negative issues, but you have to admit, it seems crazy to have this much going against you and still be able to make the cut. It’s almost ridiculous. Still, I am slightly to almost partially inspired. You see if only for a moment in time, Alvin Greene is the reason you never give up—ever. You hang in there and fight the good fight until you are about to pass out. For decades there have been people of color who were clearly better choices for a job, politic office, buy a home—whatever, were turned down, turned out and turned away. Greene proves that sometimes, the underdog does win despite having a really bad case of fleas…

Axe.

Currently Listening To: Huggy Lowdown on the TJMS
Currently Reading: Internet news

BACKWARDS…(AND FORWARD)

Never leave the one you love for the one you like because the one you like may leave you for the one they love... ~Unknown

To quote one of my favorite singers, Anita Baker, “Sometimes we play the fool.” I got played. By WordPress.com. Let me preface this by saying I am not all that HTML, javascript or web savvy, so the “own-ness” is kinda on me. Still, I was drawn in by the flashy templates, sophisticated styles and the fact that friends, and “friends of friends” had WordPress blogs. But alas, almost a month later and I cannot get shit done. In order to change the text you have to download a text package of some sort—and that’s just the beginning of my problems. I went over to WordPress.org which is somehow akin to, but not the same as WordPress.com. And they tell you straight up (in fine print, hidden behind a couple of pages) that if you are not technically inclined, using their website may be difficult (sigh.)

So this is how I wind up BACK at Blogger.com, whom I had sworn off because I felt extremely limited in how I could express myself. I found the templates boring, outdated and severely lacking flexibility, especially with regards to photo and art positioning.

I am sad. I liken this feeling to returning to that old boyfriend I said I would never go back to. You know the one you have outgrown and you assuredly advise, “…it’s not you, it’s me.” While he says nothing as you walk away, the hurt look in his eyes says, “You’ll be back.” And though expressionless, you smugly say to yourself, “Like hell…”

However, in order to “make some things happen,” I gotta do what I gotta do—move back in with the old boyfriend, I mean blog. But I have, as my sister would say, “…an exit strategy in mind.” Feel free to check me, if say, by Labor Day, I have not made the switch and moved on to a bigger and better blog.

Axe

Currently Reading: Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It: Inside Guerrilla Filmmaking by Spike Lee
Currently Listening To: Buddhist Chants