Plug of the Day

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Just posted a photo I shot this morning which you can find here other wise, click to see some more of my work.

Cheers!

Pics from MJ's last rehearsal in Staples Centre, California June 25th

Getty Images

Chris Brown to perform at the BET Awards tomorrow - So?!

I have been reading various blogs and articles in regards to the changes in tomorrow's BET Awards to become a three hour show and as a tribute to Michael Jackson.

I totally agree with this. Every single artist who wins an award or performs tomorrow would have been touched and influenced by Michael's tremendous talent and this shows in their own music and performances. The complaints are in regards to the fact that Chris Brown (pictured above performing in 2006 to mark the anniversary of Thriller) will again be performing to pay tribute to his biggest influence.

Why the furore? Yes I know he has been found guilty of a crime. I have spent the past six months reading and talking about this, so the question posed is rhetorical. He pleaded guilty, he accepted responsibility for his actions, has been given punishment. How much longer does the young man need to be punished? Forever?

The likes of R Kelly, Cassidy, Suge Knight, Tupac, Lil Kim and Foxy Brown have all been convited of crimes and have been forgiven, and in some cases, there music sales have increased as a result. What's the difference? Because he hit a woman? I'm guessing this is it.

As much as I am a person who likes to see people be accountable for their actions if they have fallen foul of the Law, I do believe in forgiveness, and I'm not a religious person. And for me I am finding the most judgemental people are those that SHOULD be as they are in fact religious and attend places of worship on a weekly basis.

We will probably never know all the goings on with that relationship, Rhianna apparently wanted to withdraw the charges she filed against him, how do we know if this was because she was also violent in that altercation? Always quick to assume she was battered, does anyone have cold hard facts that this is the case, and she has never raised her hand to him either? I was brought up to be expected to be hit back if I raised my hand to a man, so have never done so. Granted, most men would never hit me, but why is it right for me to hit him and not be hit back? Double standards. Equality of sex goes BOTH ways.

Before you judge, let's remember there are two sides to this story and exercise a degree of intelligence here.

I will be making sure I get myself to somewhere who has Sky (Virgin doesn't have BET) in the future to see the whole show, and will be scanning You Tube Monday for footage and I really do wish CB to take it to the stage and kill it. This aint about Chris.

This is for Mike.

What a week. Fond farewell to two great influences .....

Man I don't even know where to begin. Like you, I have been utterly shocked and stunned at the recent events of the past week.

Already at home depressed with a bad ankle, signed off for what seems like an eternity from work. Actually missing work, then I get the flu. (I'm hearing the swine flu jokes as I type) So by the time Thursday arrives, I'm already at my wits' end.

I hear about the tragic passing of Farrah Fawcett, who was a beautiful woman who finally lost her battle against cancer, which I think was really sad. She was a fighter and I pay the utmost respect to her and her family.

Then there is news on Twitter that TMZ are outside MJ's home as he's been taken ill with a suspected heart attack. My first thoughts for five minutes were "Nah, he'll be okay" it is then reported that he wasn't breathing before the ambulance got to his home, and knowing how these things are with sadly knowing people who have had heart attacks that this did not bode well at all and then realised he may not make it. As an optimist, I am also a realist which does piss people off.

That whole time, I'm trying to talk myself round and think that I'm being overly negative. This doesn't help when the more respected news broadcasters are not giving any information, denying or confirming anything. My heart beats faster as time goes on as the longer you don't hear anything, the worse the outcome usually is.

Then all of a sudden ALL of the broadcasters one by one confirm my suspicion (that word looks wrong?) was correct. And my heart sank. I know many people will think "You didn't even know him" and yes, they are more than correct and right for pulling me up for this, but in my own way, I DID know him. And so did you. I even shed a few tears and do not worry about how that is seen by anyone, as it was right for me.

From as long as I can remember much like a lot of you reading this, I have heard Michael's music. Jackson Five brought the funk. Michael's young voice sounded like a mature man's. So much soul for someone so young who had their whole life ahead of them. Ben always brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat and always will. One day in your life has taken on a whole new meaning now. Blame it on the Boogie is just too good, I was at work recently making my own entertainment to it, with the boys thinking I was crazy, but not caring one iota. Cos I was in the moment.

Everyone has their own dance to I want you Back when it comes on in the shop, bar, or club. Off The Wall was just for me brilliant. I didn't get to listen to the whole album until an early teen, but it is something that I still listen to now and find something new to be in wonder at. Billie Jean is one of my favourite tracks of all time. Period. The birth of the Moonwalk. Nuff said. I remember Trevor McDonald reporting it on the Ten O'Clock news that I was allowed to stay up and watch them show it.
The next few days I tried to master it, and fell over repeatedly trying to get it right. Everyone has a moonwalk story.

Thriller. Learning the dance as a kid. Laughing when MJ's face changed and he looked like a zombie. Every single time. To this day. Doing the dance break at college for our Performing Arts end of year show. My son learning it now as he thinks its one of the best dance routines, ever.

Bad. Now come on. I thought I was bad anytime that tune came on. the face, the attitude, the moves. If you say you didn't then you're a liar. The joke is a couple months ago I used to have a race with lil man and everytime I won, I got to the finishing point, grab my crotch (sorry Mum) thrust then kick my foot before Moonwalking over the finish line. My nine year old suddenly turns into Mike when Bad comes on and he obviously wasn't around in that era. Hello.

Smooth Criminal is another of my all time MJ tracks. *smh* the lean. I don't even have to tell you how groundbreaking that was. And still is. The stairs coming down and him thrusting on it as it fell to the ground. the epic 10 minute video. Another exclusive on Top of the Pops. There was no MTV exclusives in those days. EVERYTHING was premiered on TOTP. My son doesnt even really know about TOTP. Kudos to that show as it was another phenomenon of our generation.

Black or White. Unforgettable rock rifts.

I could spend the next few DAYS going through his catalogue but I'm sure you know all of it and love it equally. My head still cannot get around the wealth of music - some of which is over 30 years old now that it is still fresh and exciting enough that our children are listening and taking on board and LOVING. How can that happen? Its only since growing up that in my teens I learnt the actual words of half of his songs. I put this down to 1. being too excited and into the music I sang like most children do what I thought MJ was singing (lol) and waiting for the 'hee hees' and 'ow's' and 2. his falsetto being at times indescriptive. Raggo. I love the guy, but at times I didn't understand him. (I love you Michael lol)

Am not going to sit her like many people have and spout foolishness about watching this or that show, cos I didn't. I was born in 1980 and those American shows/awards did not air here in the UK. We didn't have any satellite until the 90s. And it was only then that I got to see these things and then catch up on things I missed out as a kid. There was no YouTube, Google et al them times, yuh si mi. Yeah, I'm old but I don't care. I am old enough to have seen the videos and hear the songs on the radio first hand and for that I'm truly grateful.

None of this can truly encapsulate how I feel as loss is indescribable.

I'm just sad. I'm sad that he left unexpectedly, but like all greats no time would be any better. I'm sad that he was such a troubled soul from such an early age. I'm sad that it now transpires Jordy Chandler waited until Michael's passing to come clean about lying all those years ago, toppling that first domino that culminated in the end result of Michael's death late Thursday night. I won't tarnish this blog by saying anymore than that at the moment. I'm most of all sad that you are all sad.

I cannot stand how the likes of 50 Cent had a whole mixtape within hours. Or Diddy and the bag of people on the tribute track had a track down in less than 24 hours. Fine, they aren't making any money but honestly if say Heaven forbid one of your relatives died and someone had say arranged the funeral for you or asked you about funeral arrangements within 24 hours of them passing, what would you do? I felt that strongly about it. Not asking you to agree or disagree with me, this is my opinion.

No matter how much the stars of today deny it, their whole style IS Mike. From the way that they sing right down to their dance routines. There is no getting away from Mike's presence. He shaped the face of popular music forever.

I have decided that I will pick myself up mentally and not be sad anymore. With all his quirks, Michael Joseph Jackson strived for so long to make the world smile and dance, one person at a time. There are people in the depths of a jungle, or in a village in Africa, the amazon, even in a desert. Go and ask them who the King of Pop is and you KNOW they will look back at you and tell you 'Michael Jackson' So continue as you have to turn off the television filled with negativity and turn on your stereos, computers and blast out your tribute to an amazing man who had such a big heart. It was that heart in the end that finally took him. He died of a broken heart.

I wish all of you well at this time and hope that you can come to some coping mechanism. I would love to go somewhere public on his birthday and just dance. What do you think?

You know by now I have one quote I use for everything and I'm gonna bring out out again as I feel it is fitting. "Give light and the darkness will disappear itself."


Farrah please now rest in peace, you are now free of pain and heartache. Much love to your family, friends and fans.

Michael, I truly do hope that you find peace and realise how much you impacted on the lives of millions. Your life was not in vain, and as my son said "your music will live on" You made the World dance, and for that I am eternally grateful.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans. x


www.michaeljackson.com

www.farrahfawcett.us

Work In Progress (WIP)

Literally had this pop in my head and had to note it. Will post complete thing when I'm done.

Sometimes life seems so complicated, but long after the crowds disperse and the laughter faded.
You're dream remains, our love maintained for you - emancipated.

In homage to ..... Mic Assassin

with quotes like:

"Damm she had some Tig ole Bitties !!! Shame about the boat race!! Ya dig" ........ " she was looking all Chiwowa in the face lol"

I had to pay homage to Micz and the person as seen in the New Cross area, and post this.



Couldn't put up Tip Drill as I wanted due to the content, and we're trying to be a little family friendly here. Enjoy.

RE: Song for the Day: Just the way (Playas play)

Can I just say, the likes of him and Tyrese are EXACTLY why I love dark skinned men? That is all.

Song for the Day: Just the way (Playas play)

I was sitting waiting for my train home this morning after the school run, and it came to me: what happened to Alfonzo Hunter? He was such a talented guy, and his album was on rotation constantly in my 4 CD changer. With song like "Blacker the berry" and "Just the Way" with Eric Sermon, I'm sad we don't hear anything from him anymore. Another casualty in the rapid decline of the Record Label in the late 90s early Millennia, making way for a wealth of much less talented and paid artists littering our charts now.

Let's pay homage to Mr Hunter.

Song for the Day: Tupac feat Dr. Dre California Love Pt. 2

Some of you may or may not know, I LOVED and still do the great Tupac Shakur. Today would have been his 38th birthday and to celebrate his life and his impact on others, today is dedicated to him. Love him or hate him - he was a truly talented individual.

Song for the Day: Lapdance

After almost sitting on a really nice guy's lap on the way into London today, this has to be my song for the day. Enjoy!

Song of the Day:TLC: Aint 2 proud to beg

BIG tune. Then and now. RIP Lisa Lopez. x