To Whitney, With Love

To exhale.

To bow out.

To end a note.

That feeling of emptiness you get when something wonderful comes to an end. 

I never imagined I would be writing this post, but we've lost a national treasure...an icon...a legend; and I've lost a special part of me, a special part of my life. Whitney "Nippy" Elizabeth Houston -- the unprecedented, the incomparable, and one of (if not) THE greatest (female) vocalists of all time. There will never be another.

Style, talent, beauty, and grace; the gold, platinum, and diamond standard for all she represented. A voice so magical; we all wanted to be her. She made her performances seem effortless and fooled many into thinking they could do justice to a "Whitney song." 

Whitney Houston did more than hold a note; she gave it life, filled it with emotion, and told a beautiful story. Oprah Winfrey coined Whitney "The Voice"; as her voice was like magic; fluid, crisp, and multifaceted.  No one could deliver a song like Whitney...she could bend a note like an actress can bend a line. When Whitney sang; you listened...you didn't want to move, you didn't want to breathe. Her audiences respected her vocals and gave most of their thunderous applause only when she paused during a song; often looking out over the audience and smiling. Actress Jenifer Lewis summed it up so perfectly, so beautifully: "When Whitney Houston opens her mouth to sing, she is The 8th Wonder of the World."

In one of her hit songs, she sang 'it would take an eternity to break us; and the chains of Amistad couldn't hold us.' This perfectly describes my adoration and love for Ms. Whitney. Sadly, I never had the honor to meet her, but we're bonded indefinitely through her music and her voice; her talent a permanent pillar of strength and encouragement in life.

Whitney Houston, My Diva: I look to you...I run to you...and I will always love you.

You were loved. You are loved.

Forever and always.  May you rest in peace.

xoxo

"I'm Busy" is Illegal Tender

Maybe it's just another one of my "standards" (and you better have some) things, but I accept Visa, American Express (Black Card accepted with open arms), and on the rare occasion; Mastercard (with proper photo identification). So, tell me...why do people (especially those who try to get up all in my kitchen drooling to lick the batter from my bowl) look at me like I'm stuck-on-stupid when I tell them their "I'm busy" (or some other whack or weak variation of it) excuse is unacceptable?

Chile, bye! Get your life together...and do not come at me with foolishness!

You can only be too bus for so long; it's all about proper and effective time management. More than likely, it would only take a brief moment (you know...an instant) to do whatever you are dreading or to grow a set (as in "confidence") to say what you really should be saying.

No one is too busy to do something they want or need to do. Now, let that sit, marinate, and percolate.

Too busy? Dust yourself off, try again, and come correctly. I'm not having it; period, full stop.

*note: this applies for when "I'm busy" is used far too often and has gone beyond a reasonable length of time. Depending on the circumstances, anything over a week is beyond a reasonable duration of time...in my opinion.

If You Love Someone...Will You Always?

Maybe...just a little bit? Honestly, it's hard to say. I know being "in love" doesn't mean eternal longevity.

Thanks to Facebook (FB) and Whitney Houston, my life is a social-media love song; filled with melody, rhyme, reason, endless resources, and surprisingly useful information and trends. FB has taught me that sometimes you have to let people go (unfriend); and Whitney has taught me how to do it...especially for those personal friendships/relationships that involves more than just the click of your mouse or a tap of your fingertip.

As people, we grow...we evolve...we (ok, most of us) change (hopefully, for the better). With this, the dynamics in our friendships and relationships with our friends, our lovers, and for some the relationships with former "persons of interest." Assess. Evaluate. Remove those connections that have deteriorated beyond repair and no longer hold value for your life....dead-weight-be-gone!  This is why I always say know the difference between "friends" and "friendly." You DO NOT have to be friends with someone to be friendly and being friendly DOES NOT mean you are friends.

When the time comes (and it definitely should come) to end a friendship or a relationship; take the high road and be nice and mature about it; respectful. Don't take the passive, lame, ignorant approach of not returning phone calls, suddenly being too busy (see my rant on the "busy" excuse) for someone...communicate. Lay the cards out on the table; let them know you are ending the friendship and relationship. You can provide a reason as to why if you want or if they ask, but in the least, effectively communicate that the friendship/relationship is over/complete/done wish/null and void/dissolved. Closure is invaluable; and all parties will appreciate and respect it.

Trust me when I say "it feels good." To let someone know your song is over and there will be no more dancing....priceless.

Yes, I leave you with this to help you find your way home....

Why Does The National Anthem Put People On The Attack?

Never before have I seen something (ok, maybe the topics of abortion and homosexuality) put people on the attack as quickly as a performance of The Star Spangled Banner that isn't sung in the "traditional" manner. Side note: as many times as the anthem has been sung and how often we hear it, I'm sure many now consider the traditional arrangement 'boring as hell' and considerably 'overdone.'

Furthermore, it's 2012; practically everyone is trying to stand out from the crowd and make their own mark (or make it bigger and bolder, if they've already made their mark), so why would someone do something that everyone has already been done? That's nothing special and it damn sure isn't hot.

Steven Tyler delivered a rendition at today's AFC Championship (The Hollywood Reporter post); and of course, people were bitching and complaining before he even finished...and you know the song isn't but so long. He goofed on one word, but it easily played into his performance and pretty much went unnoticed. No complaints. The pitchforks came out in droves for his vocal arrangement; it seems as if many (including this person, who only posted because Tyler's performance "wasn't awesome (in a good way)". You know I'm seriously rolling my eyes. Do we honestly have nothing to complain about besides someone not adhering to a vocal arrangement that may or may not fit their vocal style? Steven Tyler is a Rock star; his rendition was as close to traditional as it's going to get...and it wasn't that far off. Anything closer would have been like asking a mime to sing a Mariah Carey arrangement. Yep, that wouldn't have been right, either.

We have other issues to be more concerned and vocal about: declining morals and values in our society, how I'm going to turn my regular-size closet into a walk-in closet, and declining grammar skills ... point in case, this one Steven Tyler critic: "What a disgrace! Why doesn't the NFL get someone who can actually sing it correct, like Reba!" Yes, on that sour note, I am going to begin "shaking my damn head" now, as I prepare to walk away from this piece.

I swear, each majorly televised performance of The Star Spangled Banner brings out the critics and sparks conversations about the "best" performances to date and the "most failed." Seriously, people? Do better!

By now, we should all know good and well that you can't please everyone and people are never satisfied. I definitely know this, but still want people to do better and improve.

Over 20 years later, this is still my favorite performance of The Star Spangled Banner; I think it's the best, too.

MY LIFE IN MUSIC: Soundtrack to Me 2011

Nope, I'm still not singing, but I am grooving, relating, living my life, and loving music as much as ever. Another year behind me, more experiences under my belt, and another edition of My Life in Music --the soundtrack to my life over the past year. Songs that shook my world, played with my emotions, reflected aspects of my personality, contain lyrics that touched my soul, or just made me shout "That is my song!" (over and over, again).

As I always say, to me music is a therapy: it relaxes me, it inspires me, it becomes my voice to express myself when I cannot find the words.

I present to you ....

MY LIFE IN MUSIC: Soundtrack to Me 2011

• Toni Braxton - Why Won't You Love Me
• Fantasia - I'm Doin' Me
• Patti LaBelle - I Can't Make You Love Me
• Toni Braxton - Hands Tied
• Jennifer Hudson - All Dressed in Love
• Adele - Rolling in the Deep
• Usher - Making Love (Into the Night)
• Usher - Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
• Michael Jackson - Behind The Mask
• Kem - Why Would You Stay
• Cee Lo Green - Forget You
• Leona Lewis - I Know Who I Am
• Adele - He Won't Go
• Quiana Parler - Save Your Love For Me
• Terisa Griffin - Wonderful

Put your life to music. What are your tunes?

A Taste of Me: Infusion...Can You Feel Me?

Infusion…Can You Feel Me?

Lay your head upon my chest

                Heal my heart

                Let your energy run through me

Place your lips on mine

                Kiss me softly

                Let your tongue warm me

Put your hands on me

                Touch, tease me

                Please, please me

Look at me; let the power in your eyes hypnotize me

                Your body supports me

                Your heat relaxes me

                Your scent…my aromatherapy

I’ve never felt like this—all day

                Used.

                Dirty.

                Violated.

In a good way!

selection from DISIMPRISON: FREEING MY SOUL, SPEAKING MY HEART (syieve locklair)

A Taste of Me: Monster's Ball

Monster’s Ball

I want to feel your body next to me—

                touching me

                trapping me

Your temperature—warming me

Your mouth and tongue—tasting me, teasing me

Your heart and soul—controlling me

Your lips and finger tips—exploring me

Your arms

Your strength—

                protecting me

I want you to use me, tempt me, satisfy and sex me

Love me…outrageously.

selection from DISIMPRISON: FREEING MY SOUL, SPEAKING MY HEART (syieve locklair)