Her raspy, soulful voice sent shivers up and down my spine. The rhythmic drumming and sassy trumpets made my heart skip a beat. I died and went to heaven. I can vividly remember the first time I heard Amy Winehouse’s Rehab on the radio. I was in high school, driving along a busy road in my little red car. When that song came on I instantly … Continue reading Soundtrack to your life
“The things you feel most embarassed about are the things most worth doing”, this coming from the man who lead the Torrence Community Dance Group to notoriety with an unforgettable dance sequence in Fatboy Slim’s Praise You music video, which he also directed. “The things you feel most embarassed about are the things most worth doing.” Spike Jonze isn’t just a creative force to be reckoned with, … Continue reading Keeping up with the Jonze.
There is something quite gratifying about being stuck on a plane for a 14-hour flight and it’s not the blockbuster movie marathons or free grog. #whiskeyontherocks For those 14 hours we get to disconnect ourselves from reality; from Facebook news feeds; from work deadlines; from ‘To Do’ lists. Long haul plane rides are like pit stops from the fast lanes that are our lives. In … Continue reading 14
A few weeks ago I visited the church of soul singer Erykah Badu. For Badu, music is her religion – a way to connect with something/someone bigger than herself. Mesmerising the crowd with her charismatic storytelling, you believed she had lived every word she sung. Being in a room with a person who is so creatively and spiritually free was liberating for me, especially as … Continue reading The church of Badu
The Grammy Awards are one of my favourites during the awards season. The Grammys have a lot more entertainment value than your Oscars or Globes, without the sloppiness of the entire MTV awards show portfolio. And what the Grammys lack in the hosting talent department it more than makes up through its highly entertaining artist mash-ups. [Note: If you’re really not that interested in the … Continue reading Granny’s Grammy notes 2014
Missed the 55th Grammy Awards? No sweat, grandma’s got you covered. Bey & Jay enjoying the show (source: IBT) My top 12 highs and lows Taylor Swift (nicknamed T-Swizz by host LL Cool J) opened the show. T-Swizz looked cute in her circus master outfit as she pranced around to that “Never Ever Ever Ever Ever” ending song. Elton John ruined “A-Team”. Poor Ed Sheeran … Continue reading Granny’s Grammy notes 2013
Its slowly creeping up on me. Slowly but surely. At first, I questioned the talent and quality of the latest offering in The Voice franchise, but I have been pleasantly served. As in, “Girrrrl, you got served” *black girl finger click*. I have been an avid viewer since the show’s US debut last year because of how it cleverly differentiates itself from fellow talent contests. … Continue reading Voices in my head
26 October 2011 – Stevie Wonder @ The Star I was ultra-ultra excited about this one. That feeling you get when you think you’re dreaming but you’re not; when your palms get all sweaty and you start to experience mini episodes of heart palpitations. Yeh, that’s how I felt when I got word that I was going to see Stevie in the flesh. Such feelings … Continue reading Stevie.
31 August 2011 – THEOPHILUS & BIG BOI @ OX ARTS FACT. This was a great Wednesday night. I was skeptical at first – I didn’t think strobe lights and synths could mix with rap music. But Theophilus quickly kicked that theory to the curb. And kicked it good he did. Mr. London served a delectable platter of tracks from the effortlessly sexy “Wine and … Continue reading I reminisce…
Fresh from my adventures in the US of A and back into the magical world of full time work, I was inspired, more than ever, to get involved in the arts and culture my city of Sydney had to offer. Plus it would give me something to look forward to when the weekend rolled around. March was strangely a very hip hop-driven month thanks to … Continue reading A hip hopping kind of month
The Adventures of Grandma AL 