Happy Holidays #Nookers! Tis the season for Holiday music. It's FINALLY here! So whose music, new and old, made my must have list? Thankfully, the albums and singles that I've heard have been a blessing to my soul.
There is absolutely no one like the incomparable, late GREAT (and sorely missed) Fairy Godmotherof music: Whitney Houston. The Voice. Enough said. I begin my list with the holiday album of one of the greatest to ever spread holiday cheer using only the souls of cherubs and the passion of Christ. "One Wish - The Holiday Album"[available: here] is truly timeless. May she forever remain perched upon her throne in musical heaven, throwing shade whence so ever the peasants attempt to cover her classics. Amen.
I trust you all wholeheartedly not to judge me so I will admit one of my deepest, darkest secrets to you: I'm lowkey a GLEEK. *wails* Although that Rachel Berry had to be the most nauseating creature on the face of the planet and the story lines were so predictable that it literally made me ill...I can never resist a good musical! Especially with Naya Rivera's (nevermind the fact that she doesn't shower...) sultry amazingness and Amber Riley's robust pipes! It highkey annoyed me that the show focused so heavily on Rachel's annoying ass's career as though she were the only one that mattered. At any rate they have "Glee: TheChristmas Album". But get this. It's not one, not two, not three, but FOUR volumes [available: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4] of Glee-filled holiday debauchery. My heart is singing!
Chillllle...India Arie better give me vocal bliss wrapped up in a side of cardiac arrest. How can this woman be so underrated?!? I'm not understanding the logic behind this foolery. "Christmas With Friends" [available: here] has all the makings of a great album. At any rate, I can't think of any other person I'd prefer to serenade me and dying the most irresistible death of all deaths. Slay me Queen! Did I mention that she has both BrandyANDTori Kellyon the album??? What kind of SLEIGH?!? Listen to a sneak peek below:
IDK what it is about the Pentatonix but I can't seem to stop myself from liking them. I really do love acapella singing (Yes, in spite of 'Pitch Perfect') and their latest Christmas masterpiece "That's Christmas To Me"[available: here] is the typical Pentatonix style fans have grown to love. How can you NOT love acapella though?! They SLAY! And if you don't KNOW who the Pentatonix are then I suggest you *Nicki Minaj voice* "Do your f*cking research!"
I saw my homegirl Martinain 'Motown The Musical' this year and I have been on a Motown kick ever since! The music?!? OMG! I wish I lived in that era. So, of course, I found my way to "A Motown Christmas" [available: here] and it has alllllll of the original greats that I can't live without anymore. *falls out* You HAVEto listen to it. You won't regret it!
Goddammit you Adele impersonator. You will not shatter me in such a malicious fashion whilst showing nothing but contempt for my spiritual reawakening. At this point, all the King's horses and all the King's men can't put me back together again. But why would I want them to? I shall lie here in the afterlife and relish the gift that was bestowed upon my musical alter: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" [available: here]. I accept thee as tribute. Sam Smith is pure genius.
Ariana Grande gave us 4 singles the year before last "Last Christmas" "Love Is Everything" "Snow In California"and "Santa Baby" in a Christmas EP entitled "Christmas Kisses" [available: here] and she slayed them all EFFORTLESSLY. Last year she dropped "Santa Tell Me" and once again we all became well aware that Ariis out to snatch somebody's Christmas crown. This year we received the EP"Christmas & Chill" [available: here]plopped rightinto our laps with 6 tracks and I am content in my assertion that QUEEN ARIANA can never disappoint me. All hail thy diamond and emerald encrusted vocal chords bathed in the blood of Jesus and the tears of flops forgotten. She is EVERYTHING.
Kelly Clarkson's"Wrapped In Red" [available: here] is LIFE in musical form! Kelly better sang her ass off! I've always been a fan and heaven knows as long as she isn't singing live and struggling to hit those "studio only" notes then she has my vote. People need to take a feather out of Ariana's cap. She knows what NOT to do live. I love the mix of pop and rock throughout the album. This is HOW you make covers original!
Destiny's Child's "8 Days of Christmas" [available: here] should most definitely be the blueprint for holiday albums. It has just the right amount of uptempo tracks and ballads while still managing to showcase their vocal ability. A finesse not many have mastered. Clearly. The original songs are a blessing and will serve to make any holiday gathering cheery.
Topping the list as always, I saved the best for last, is Mariah Carey's"Merry Christmas" [available: here], an eclectic blend of classic and original songs which will forever be TIMELESS. Her single"All I Want For Christmas Is You" tops the charts every year, and with good reason. This album is executed flawlessly and will continue to be a staple for the Holiday season ESPECIALLY having celebrated its 20th anniversary just last yeat. Lambs everywhere have a reason to be proud that MOTHA Mariah reigns as the QUEEN of Holiday Music...and music in general.
I enjoyed this trek down holiday music lane, for the most part anyways. What most artists lack is vision and originality. We're over the covers of Christmas songs originally sang by Jesus and Moses. If you're going to make an album full of covers, at least make them your own and try to keep your audience from falling asleep or jumping off a ledge. The slow and somber renditions are NOT what Christmas is all about. Where's the joy? Mariah Carey and Destiny's Childhad the right idea, which is why their albums will always be classics. Everyone else needs to take note and follow suit.
The Honeymoon Tour landed in LA last night and Ariana Grandeperformed in front of yet another packed house filled with adoring fans and celebrities galore. She tore down the house with her setlist of both old and new music as well as a few covers. My favorite cover is that of my late great Fairy GodMOTHA, the incomparable Whitney Houston, "IHave Nothing". Mind you, I've heard QUEEN ARI DEMOLISH this song for the POTUS and FLOTUSand even Patti LaBellewas in the audience catching the holy ghost !
Listen to the beautiful rendition below:
LMAO at this being her go to karaoke track...but we can def see why!
It truly saddens me that the beautiful soul that is the late, great Whitney Houstonleft this cruel world three years ago today on February 11, 2012. What kind of satanic ritual would deprive us of the greatest voice of our generation so soon? And during Black History Month, no less! What white devil orchestrated this national disaster in the Black community?!? Quite frankly, it feels like only yesterday she was on the firm road to recovery, starring in 'Sparkle', and showing the world that despite her trials and tribulations she was still, and always will be, The Voice.
Most singers today pay homage to my Fairy GodMOTHA Whitney, as they should, because who wouldn't aspire to have the vocal prowess of the best to ever do it? Although I can't, in good conscience, say that there is anyone now who can hold a candle to her. Let's be real. She was definitely all vocals, all the time, with no gimmicks to detract from the flaws in her performance. Because she had none. She would stand at that mic (or sit in a chair lol) and snatch the living souls out of every last person in the room and all surrounding areas.
Just last month 'Whitney' the movie [read the review: here] was released on Lifetime, yes them again, they continued making biopics after that Aaliyah(may she rest in Heaven) fiasco [read the review: here]. It didn't offend me quite as much but I most definitely wasn't appreciative of the light in which they showed my Fairy GodMOTHAand I'm fairly certain she was looking down upon us not appreciating that shit either.
We love you, Whitney. Your everlasting shade was as unmatched as your vocals.
Of all the magnanimous accomplishments of the late great Whitney Houston, the greatest by far HAD to be her tumultuous love story with Bobby Brown. Or so I thought once plugged into the Lifetime Biopic: 'Bobby'...I mean 'Whitney'. I was confused as to why the movie was named solely for Whitney when she was the co-star to Bobby's lead? And lest we forget the insinuation that she was Bobby's downfall and he was a wayward angel who'd lost his way. He's redeemed time and time again yet where is Whitney's redemption? She needs to give a holy read to every last one of those fools.
Whitney was an acclaimed singer, loved and adored by so many, yet she couldn't have one decent conversation with another woman that didn't revolve around Bobby?!? I can't even begin to FATHOM why anyone thought this was okay? It has to fail the Bechdel Test that states that two women HAVE to talk about something other than a man...yet it made it to air. But then again, the family was against the film and it made it to air so what's a few broken rules thrown in the mix?
The only saving grace of this picture was the award worthy performance of Yaya DaCosta, whose portrayal of Whitney was spot on, down to the mannerisms during her performances. Little though we saw of her...and speaking of performances...Deborah Cox did the best that she could. I, first and foremost, do appreciate that they found a real singer to sing the songs (Kudos to Yaya for that awesome lip synching job). But love Deb Coxthough I may, she's not Whitney, and the renditions were not my favorite. I would have loved if she tried her best to sing the songs as is. I listened to her ending of "I Will Always Love You" with all those unnecessary ass vocal acrobatics like...
In the grand scheme of horrific biopics churned out shamelessly by Lifetime this wasn't so bad. That being said, I would have appreciated a broader view of Whitney's life and accomplishments, as well as the tragic period leading up to her death. It's as if Angela Bassettsaid, "Well I stopped paying attention to the life of Whitney at this point so let's just stop the movie here." Whatever happened to good old fashioned RESEARCH? IF you want to pay homage and give the respect due in honor and remembrance of a legend then DO THE DAMN WORK! I don't care if you had 20 odd days to film. You should've sought guidance from family, friends, and the damn internet. The summation of greatness all boiled down to'Bobby and Whitney: A Destructive Love Story'. Thanks? Chilllle...Fairy GodMOTHA Whitneyin Heaven like that's my whole story?
Whitney, you are sorely missed and deserve to be honored again, more completely and thoroughly.
Happy Holidays #Nookers! Tis the season for Holiday music. It's FINALLY here! So whose music, new and old, made my must have list? Thankfully, the albums and singles that I've heard have (mostly) been a blessing to my soul.
There is absolutely no one like the incomparable, late GREAT (and sorely missed) Fairy Godmotherof music: Whitney Houston. The Voice. Enough said. I begin my list with the holiday album of one of the greatest to ever spread holiday cheer using only the souls of cherubs and the passion of Christ. "One Wish - The Holiday Album"is truly timeless. May she forever remain perched upon her throne in musical heaven, throwing shade whence so ever the peasants attempt to cover her classics. Amen.
First and foremost, Idina Menzelstole my heart as Queen Elsa. She was on her Beyoncé when she flapped that damn cape a la Kevin Hartand crooned so adoringly, "The cold never bothered me anyway." From henceforth and forevermore she could do no wrong in my eyes. So her new release of "Holiday Wishes"was definitely on my radar. Couple that with her playing the all slaying mother of that nuisance gurl on 'Glee', I've decided I love her. The end.
Chillllle...Leona Lewis better give me vocal bliss wrapped up in a side of cardiac arrest. How can this woman be so underrated?!? I'm not understanding the logic behind this foolery. "Christmas, With Love" has alllll my love. At any rate, I can't think of any other person I'd prefer to have me bleeding love and dying the most irresistible death of all deaths. Slay me Queen!
Toni Braxton's"Snowflakes"is typical Toni THE Braxton. How can you NOT love the sultry amazingness that comes out of her gorgeous throat?! Yeah, that's bae. The writing was superb...At any rate Toni Braxton is far too flawless to be this damn underrated. She SLAYS! And if you didn't KNOWToni has a Christmas album then that's my damn point. GO GET IT!
I do not care that this was some obscure Christmas special from eons past, shot on a low resolution flip phone. You will deal. Why? Because I had an out of body damn experience listening to the sheer brilliance of Deborah Cox's range. She hit em high, hit em low, and everywhere in be-damn-tween. Bless her pregnant heart. And lest we forget the cameo of Mother Patti. Just...wow. The best "O Holy Night"I've ever heard.
Goddammit you Adele impersonator. You will not shatter me in such a malicious fashion whilst showing nothing but contempt for my spiritual reawakening. At this point, all the King's horses and all the King's men can't put me back together again. But why would I want them to? I shall lie here in the afterlife and relish the gift that was bestowed upon my musical alter:"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". I accept thee as tribute. Sam Smith is pure genius.
Ariana Grande gave us 4 singles last year "Last Christmas" "Love Is Everything" "Snow In California"and "Santa Baby" in a Christmas EP entitled "Christmas Kisses" and she slayed them all EFFORTLESSLY. This year she dropped "Santa Tell Me"into our laps and I am content in my assertion that QUEEN ARIANA can never disappoint me. All hail thy diamond and emerald encrusted vocal chords bathed in the blood of Jesus and the tears of flops forgotten. She is EVERYTHING.
Kelly Clarkson's"Wrapped In Red" is LIFE in musical form! Kelly better sang her ass off! I've always been a fan and heaven knows as long as she isn't singing live and struggling to hit those "studio only" notes then she has my vote. People need to take a feather out of Ariana's cap. She knows what NOT to do live. I love the mix of pop and rock throughout the album. This is HOW you make covers original!
Destiny's Child's "8 Days of Christmas" should most definitely be the blueprint for holiday albums. It has just the right amount of uptempo tracks and ballads while still managing to showcase their vocal ability. A finesse not many have mastered. Clearly. The original songs are a blessing and will serve to make any holiday gathering cheery.
Topping the list as always, I saved the best for last, is Mariah Carey's"Merry Christmas", an eclectic blend of classic and original songs which will forever be TIMELESS. Her single"All I Want For Christmas Is You" tops the charts every year, and with good reason. This album is executed flawlessly and will continue to be a staple for the Holiday season ESPECIALLY being its 20th year anniversary. Lambs everywhere have a reason to be proud that MOTHA Mariah reigns as the QUEEN of Holiday Music...and music in general.
I enjoyed this trek down holiday music lane, for the most part anyways. What most artists lack is vision and originality. We're over the covers of Christmas songs originally sang by Jesus and Moses. If you're going to make an album full of covers, at least make them your own and try to keep your audience from falling asleep or jumping off a ledge. The slow and somber renditions are NOT what Christmas is all about. Where's the joy? Mariah Carey and Destiny's Childhad the right idea, which is why their albums will always be classics. Everyone else needs to take note and follow suit.
![[WATCH]: Ariana Grande Pay Homage With "I Have Nothing"](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzsQ4t3Kgt5ZRqV39WLaDZNHojI1SPPTZ17xoflPNCqn7Nq6k4B9RF0QINeO8fmqLVh1GmJ__MzjUL06dqKC5lzJrO7dPsZi0aUDfqNhThZQAFfLNoS76HmMiVujRuRQFi9xy29vozok/s72-c/ari.jpg)
