Aping Hurrell and Owning It

I recently helped recreate a photo of Rita Hayworth taken by Hurrell. As lovely as the original is, I'm glad for the focus on my face, with body in [fun blocky] shadow. I think we achieved a modest yet adventurous take on old hollywood glamour portraiture.

       photo by Hurrell. 1941.                                                                      photo by peter onys. 2011.    

Muhsinah.

Muhsinah's music is a sound I'd like to make myself.

Goodie, grimey, introspection full of dance.

and ma, she's worse than me for lagging on the phrasing!

www.muhsinah.com

***

***

What's a mistake anyway?

Here's a photo that would never have been taken intentionally, but thank lucky stars and accidents that the shutter closed at the 'wrong' time with the camera on the 'wrong' settings.

Unbridled sunlight.

A toast to love and life.

Charlie Wilson, born in 1953, was the lead singer of The Gap Band. After the breakup of this successful group, Wilson did what so many musicians with inflated and/or bruised egos do -     went on a bender that lasted a couple decades. He has now been sober for 17 years and is back to winning Grammy awards and topping the charts as recently as 2009. 
The list of current, popular musicians who have collaborated with Wilson is... seemingly endless... 
He is a living legend.
I'm not sure why Snoop Dogg and his [real life, highschool sweatheart of a] wife are the stars of this music video, but shit! is it ever endearing.

Here's to love, here's to real life.    

You Got Me.

This song appears on The Roots album, Things Fall Apart, 1999.  Jill Scott (!) co-wrote the song and recorded vocals with The Roots, but MCA Records wanted a bigger star than Scott, which lead to a re-recording with Erykah Badu. The Roots did/do perform live with Scott whenever possible. 


First, the Record Company-sanctioned music video. Which I love.

***

and now a vicious, delicious take on the song. Hey, it's theirs, they can do what they want with it:)

***

Mystic Brew

A Tribe Called Quest has been a long-standing favourite of mine. Electric Relaxation, off the album Midnight Marauders, was written with a three-bar beat loop, which is rare and lovely. (most western pop music cycles in 4 bar loops) 

I've listened to this song countless times,  but I'd never actually watched the video until just now. It's a believably beautiful glimpse of a chilly New York day, and the racy lyrics just serve as dreamscape... thanks Tribe, for giving me something I can sink my teeth into...

Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest

***

Mystic Brew by Ronnie Foster

... the original!

Exorcise in light.

A friend of mine recently took a foundation photography course. We discussed many different photo ideas, then fell promptly to procrastinating. Finally, with deadlines looming, we sketched a story of a tired, hard working, blue collar soul just trying to make it through the day. 
oh wait, that's not a story, that's an autobiography.

I love and hate that this day was captured; it was a low one. (pre: 'long life revelation')






Overwhelmed by emotion, underwhelmed by life. Tired, tense, lost in sadness; I smoked a cigarette.

Thankfully, the photographer allowed me to assume my favorite role, which lies somewhere between muse and artistic director.




One perfect formula for mental and emotional relief is a combination of being outside, observing light and shadow, and helping someone achieve their artistic goals.

With increased focus and a renewed willingness to head back into the battles of life... With sun on head and feet in mud and shadow, let smiles slip through  puffy, tear weary eyes.