EARTHA, BABY!!!

The legendary icon Ms. Eartha Kitt left us on Christmas day. She will be greatly missed. She was an ultra modern renaissance woman who crossed the color line, worked and spoke out for human and civil rights for all, was a stage, screen, TV and recording superstar and was a real man-magnet, attracting some of the world's most wealthy and attractive men.

Eartha was far ahead of her time in many ways - she oozed sexuality and sensuality in a time when that was considered improper. It was that raw, unapologetic energy that drew people to her for well over 50 years. Now that is a career, dammit!!! And mother kept that body SNATCHED all those years!!!!!

During her long career, she had more than nine lives thanks to her sold out cabaret act, her Emmy winning TV appearances, her UNFORGETTABLE appearance in Boomerang, her stint as Catwoman (BRILLIANT!) and her brutally honest views on war, homelessness and bad politics. Her truest essence was always put forth at the right moment and those moments kept propelling her forward and deeper into our hearts.

Eartha - you were a one-of-a-kind Lady!!!

THE EPIDEMIC

My sweetheart Tiff just sent out an email talking about the NEW EPIDEMIC - all the kids remaking Beyonce's Single Ladies video. Well, I found another take on this epidemic trend - the fabulous Miss Gwen Verdon. Watch Gwen and her girls turn it OUT - you betta work Miss Gwen:

DIVA DAVANNA

I have truly seen it all. You may remember a post where I described this little girl as the BABY NAOMI, but I had no idea that she has a career modeling!!! Apparently she does children's fashion shows, pageants and she is a member of the House of Jourdan. She is a trophy, prize, crown and title snatcher at age 9!!! She is so adorable and reminds of BABY GIRL from THE BERNIE MAC SHOW. This girl is GENIUS - I LIVE!!!!!!!!!! It is so funny to me to see that a child understands all the little moves, fierceness and attitude (and shade) required to work a runway - but she is a natural born star. What is even better is that on her video comp card, she says that school and church are her 1st priorities - BRAVO LITTLE MAMA!!! Prepare to be served:

IMAN FOR LANCETTI

Excuse my French, but this bitch was posing for her m*therf*cking life, dammit!!! She was feeling it - like she had rent 2 months past due with an eviction notice posted on her door!!!! Love the clothes too - graphic patterns and shapes with feminine touches like scallops, lace, ruffles and flounces - but all ultra modern and sleek. Lotsa fun here.....

SLICE OF MY HEART

These Dreams - Heart

I absolutely loved this song - it brings back memories of American Bandstand on Saturday afternoons (after Soul Train, of course). It makes me think of going to the $1 movie theater with my friends and thinking we were so mature. It makes me think of the FUN we had raking leaves, washing cars and having bake sales to raise money for the school. Honey, Barack would be proud, I was class president - a bit of a community organizer myself!

I went to a 95% white school in the suburbs from grades K - 8, so my tastes and interests varied more than those of my black friends in my neighborhood. I was constantly told that I thought I was white, I thought I was better than other people, I was an oreo, etc, etc, etc. But I loved who I was. I loved being diverse and open and able to be in any crowd. To me, I thought a great song by Heart was as cool as a great song by Atlantic Starr. I love knowledge and to me, even at that age, knowledge was color free.

Girls, sang this song and work that huge hair.......

NEW SLICE

Twenty-three year old Kansas City native Janelle Monae was discovered and launched by Outkast. She is currently signed with Bad Boy Records. I hope they do her justice with some good promotion, because this girl is a star. Interesting sound, downright gorgeous, stylish, a good dancer and extremely individual - let's see where this goes......I think she is MAJOR.

POSTCARDS - FASHION IS MOVEMENT

BEFORE STARS WENT CRAZY

Simply divine.......

OFFICIALLY BACK & SERVIN' THE CHILDREN

Beyonce "I's Married Now" Knowles is back and taking no prisoners. She is serving body, booty, legs and a snatched waist and sister girl means business. Werk the choreography Baby Bey - L.U.V. it!!!

SERVIN' FACE - JUDITH JAMISON

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Give me body!!!

MUPPET DIVAS

ROSS

LIZA

DIVAS BLACK AND WHITE - PUN INTENDED

JUST ADORABLE

How cute?!!?!!? This reminds me so much of one of my closest friends.....TIFF!!!!!!

SANG GIRL!!!

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, one cannot help but be exposed to gospel music. I grew up to the sounds of The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Mattie Moss Clark, Thomas Whitfield and many other greats. Detroit is as known for gospel music as it is for hair, cars and Motown. But one of my absolute favorite gospel singers is from the other music capitol, Atlanta. Miss LaShun Pace - gospel music diva extraordinaire. Her voice reflects all the emotion that I feel. Here she is with a little advice that definitely works:

THE KEEPER OF THE RAINBOW

We all know that Patti Labelle is THE VOICE. That title has been bestowed upon Mariah, Whitney, among others. BUT, NO ONE can come for Miss Patti and her vocals. She was never the recipient of the wealth and the fame of some of her contemporaries, or most of those who came after her, but this is a woman who can take a song, make it her own, and then hold an indefinite lease on said song for decades.

OVER THE RAINBOW is a classic American song made famous by the iconic, legendary Judy Garland. This song is in many ways the embodiment of the American dream and Judy made that dream come to life with her sheer vocal perfection and infusion of controlled emotion. But then came Patti. What Patti added was blazing, raw, unbridled soul and passion. There is a part of each of us that wants to scream, wail, flap our arms and go flying across the stage, unleashing all the pain, hope, frustration and dreams that we keep bottled up all too often. When I see her perform this song, I truly get a glimpse of the rainbow.

This is sheer perfection - the wedged natural bob tucked back on one side, the red lacquer nails, high gloss maroon lips, the oil based 80's shiny makeup, the Bob Mackie/Tony Chase-esque dolman sleeved, dropped waist gown - and that performance. Patti takes you to Oz, Harlem, church, therapy and heaven, all in less than five minutes.