Album Review: Christina Aguilera- Lotus

December 12, 2012 hd711 1 Comment

Artist: Christina Aguilera

Album: Lotus

Label: RCA Records/Sony

Welcome back Christina Aguilera! The disappointing 2010 release of Bionic seemed to be a henpecking mechanical soundscape serve petulance like the screeching of Freddy Kruger’s glove consisting of sharp knives touching the surface of a chalkboard.Aguilera goes Back 2 Basics, Stripped from anxieties, laxity, and acute heartbreak that companions #LIFE. This blossomed her into the elegance of a desirable Lotus as the album’s radiant intro suggest: “Songbird, rebirth, unearth creature/Submerge from hurt pain, broken pieces…To the sky I rise/ Spread my wings and fly/ I leave the past behind/ And say goodbye to the scarred child inside/ I sing for freedom and love/ I look at my reflection, embrace the woman I’ve become/ The unbreakable lotus in me, I now set freedom.”

The implied adage to Aguilera’s life on the album after her failed marriage and record sales and box office disappointments is “losing it all to victoriously win.” Aguilera has always been known to be a “Fighter” and “Beautiful” words and criticism from critics and haters won’t bring her down. Instead, she tells them to spin around in “Circles” on her middle finger. Be advised that this lotus, if threatened, can look deceiving despite it’s lush, subtle, and dandyish textured petals. She packs windpipes that towers the atmosphere and her lyrics deeply inscribed with complexity and devise.

The death sentence for provoking this strong woman would be an “Army Of Me” villainously citing, “I found my second wind/ I’ve found my second skin…You thought you watch me fade away/ When you broke me into pieces/ But I gave each piece a name/ One of me is wiser/ One of me is stronger/ One of me is a fighter.” Aguilera incorporates jazz and hip-hop as she did with Back 2 Basics and also masters country music with The Voice featured guest Ceelo Green (“Make The World Move”) and Blake Shelton (“Just A Fool”).

Traditional ballads that made this songbird an invigorating sensation in pop music make the heart of Lotus. The ballad “Sing For Me” is euphonious for luscious lyrics that detail her love for music and her refusal to conformity to current trends, “I stand in believing who I am/ Take shots at my heart but who am I to give up/ Everybody needs a melody to get their souls free/ My stage is the greatest in the world…Cause when I open my mouth my whole heart comes out/ Every tear I wanna cry is satisfied/ I’m sitting ‘til I’m winning, I’ma sing for me.”

Separation is like a torn “Blank Page” from a wedding couple’s scrapbook where love’s pulse no longer beats life- it’s that blank page that can never be patched together. The hurt in her voice and lyrics exacerbates, “And in my own way, regret choices I made/ How do I say I’m sorry/ I was scared, I was unprepared/ Oh, for the things you said/ If I can undo that I hurt you…Draw me a smile/And save me tonight/ I am a blank page, waiting for you to bring me to life/ Paint me a smile/ Let me be your art.”

Lotus is Christina Aguilera’s best masterpiece since 2002s Stripped, a concoction of electro pop funky rhythms and smoothed out soulful ballads. She proves that while all other flowers in the garden of pop music grow frost and depart the spring and summer life due to blistery cold December nights, her petals glitter #LIFE.

-Hector De La Rosa

Twitter: @11journ_list

Ashley Everett Goes Behind the Scenes of “Instagram” Music Video

June 25, 2012 Randy C. Bonds Leave a comment

Everbody’s favorite “Single Ladies” dancer, Ashley Everett, has officially launched her on YouTube Channel under DanceOn. For those who may not know (and I don’t know why you wouldn’t know lol), Ashley is Beyonce’s right hand dancer. She’s been her dance captain for the last few years, and has danced alongside the Queen Bey in countless videos, tours, and other live performances all over the world. Fans are always asking Ashley what it’s like to dance for this person and that person, so she’s giving them just what they want by way of show and tell.

Everett’s page is dedicated to giving fans and viewers behind the scenes access on the sets of music videos she’s working in, as well as her day to day live. In this exclusive video, she goes behind the scenes of the music video for Destorm’s song “Instagram”. Also featured in the video is one of Ashley’s best friends, who is extremely multi-talented himself, Todrick Hall of American Idol’s 10th season. He’s also a huge YouTube sensation after his countless flash mobs and famous “I Wanna Be On Glee” video, which featured Ashley Everett. Check out the video below .

Theater

Ashley Everett: The Journey of Dance

June 19, 2012 Joyce Sparks 2 Comments

Ashley Everett has put motion to a rhythm since the age of three, which is when she took her first dance class. Since then, she has graced the stage with Beyoncé, Tina Turner, Ne-Yo, Usher, Jennifer Lopez and many more; using her creative dance style to WOW audiences worldwide when she hits the stage. She’s performed in countless countries for countless shows, including the MTV Awards, World Music Awards, and even The Grammy Awards. She even danced on the farewell episode of Oprah, which was a dream come true for her.

At the age of 16, Everett took her love for dance to New York, where like many great and legendary dancers, she trained with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. At the age of 17, while completing the program as a senior in high school, she was approached by Beyonce’s choreographer. “I auditioned like everyone else; I was senior in high school. They asked me to do videos which eventually lead to me doing the tour. But, when they asked me to do the video’s they asked, ‘How old are you?’ and I told them 18. My birthday was in April and this was all happening around January but they wanted me to go on tour…I turned 18 right after we went on tour so that happened perfectly.”

After graduation, she planned on attending Julliard to further her dance studies, but the tour that she was on with Beyoncé got extended. Choosing between dancing for Beyoncé and attending Julliard, where she dreamed of going all her life, would be one of the toughest decisions of her life. In the end, however, she chose to continue dancing for Beyoncé and has since been in the forefronts of the megastar’s dance team.

Although Everett has worked with a vast amount of celebrities, many do not know that she is going on her sixth year working with Beyonce’ which she described as a “phenomenal experience” that she is blessed to have done. She explains, “Working with her [Beyoncé] has opened doors to work with so many other people. She [Beyoncé] recently did her first performance, “Revel”, since having her and husband Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s baby, Blue Ivy. “It was one of the best concerts that she [Beyoncé] has ever put on in the least amount of time. We put that show together in about two weeks and it was crazy, it was a phenomenal concert,” says Everett.

Next up for Everett is a campaign for Venus razors, in which Everett is excited for. “It’s Ashley Everett being the face and representing for women. They wanted a well-known dancer who has worked with a lot of people and I don’t see myself like that so it makes me feel special,” says Everett. The campaign is expected to launch at the end of the summer.
As for those who aspire to be dancers, Everett offers up this advice, “I can dance with Beyoncé in heels but I can also do hip-hop too. The key is being versatile and taking classes.” You can keep up with Ashley Everett by following her on Facebook and twitter @AshleyCMEverett.

Tiffany Monique: Driven and Determined Diva

June 18, 2012 Kimberly Carmichael 3 Comments

Tiffany Monique has worked as a background vocalist for Yolanda Adams, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Faith Evans, Jill Scott, Monica, Mary J. Blige, Marsha Ambrosius, Brandy, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, and many more. Who has she not worked with? As an incredible singer, song writer, and background vocalist; Monique is definitely no stranger to singing back up for the top names in the music industry.

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Whitney Houston’s Homegoing Service Program (Photos Inside)

February 21, 2012 Randy C. Bonds Leave a comment

Over 1,500 guests gathered on Saturday, February 18th, 2012, to celebrate the life and homegoing of singer/actress Whitney Houston. Several stars such as Marvin, Bebe and Cece Winans, Kevin Kostner, Tyler Perry, Stevie Wonder, Ray J, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, and Oprah, gathered to share words of wisdom, commemorate her, and even honor her in song. R. Kelly sang the song that he wrote for Houston titled I Look To You, and Kim Burrell rewrote lyrics of A Change Is Gonna Come to make the song befitting for Houston. It was a rather emotional time for all, but a joyous time at the same time as they celebrated the star’s homegoing. Check out the program from the service below. Continue reading →

Whitney Houston’s Obituary

February 17, 2012 Randy C. Bonds 2 Comments

Singing legend, Whitney Houston, died unexpectedly this past weekend on the night before The Grammys. Her funeral is scheduled for this upcoming weekend, and will be an invite only service at the church she grew up in, New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. Marvin Winans will deliver the Eulogy, and the singer’s Godmother, Aretha Franklin, is scheduled to perform a musical selection. Other people that are slated to be on the guest list include her cousin, Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Kevin Kostner, Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Oprah. The service is invite only, and will also begin at 12 noon EST, and will also be broadcast live on television. Her official Obituary was released. Check it out.