How Did We Not Know About This?!

The Roots doing Yacht Rock with Christopher Cross and surprise guest Michael McDonald? Tia and I would've simultaneously spontaneously combusted if we were there. *Sigh* I HATE THAT I AM NOT IN NEW YORK!

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BGLU News-by Toya

Hello all. I know I've been doing a lot of music news lately and not as much personal news and neither has Tia. Tia is in NYC with a busted computer and trying to get her hustle on because of reasons that I am certain she will disclose soon. As for me, it is way too early to start talking about the passing of my grandmother. I may get into some personal stuff soon that has nothing to do with that but for now, I need to take some time. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your encouragement, sympathy and compassionate messages. They have meant a lot. This was my first experience with the death of a close loved one so I really needed support. I love you all very much for that.

Res Makes Second Album Shelved by Geffen Available FOR FREE on Her Website

(Thanks http://www.soulculture.co.uk/ for this heads up)

Epitome of a BGLU, singer Res, announced on her website that her second album "Black.Girls.Rock!" is now available as a free download on her website at http://www.the1res.com/ . She describes it as being a little more singer/songwriter than her debut "How I Do" (if you don't have it, I need you to cop that quick). I took a listen to it today and liked it a lot (I can't wait until Tia gets back on here because I am not really the music reviewer ofnthis site). For more on Res, be sure to check out her site as she has more info about more new music coming soon.

Let's Discuss: John Mayer's "Battle Studies"- by Toya

For where I am in my life, this is the first album by John Mayer that I don't identify with at all and that's a good thing. I'm not fighting with anybody, I'm not fighting with myself, and I have been years from heartbreak *Stops to give the Lord a hand praise*. So maybe that's why I don't love this record like the others. My not relating to this record is not why I don't think that this is a great record though.

Tia and I have always had this theory that the best song on an album is usually around the 6th or 7th track. I'm serious. We had a whole discussion one time where we listed a bunch of albums we loved and noticed that the bomb song on every cd was at track 6 or 7. So when "Assassin" came in around track 6, it was no surprise to me that that was the moment where I actually sat up and took notice. The structure, the vocals, the arrangement for this song is crazy. That was the John Mayer nugget of goodness I was waiting for. While I adore the Beatles-esque "All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye" as well as "Perfectly Lonely", "Do You Know Me?" (does that sound like "Stop This Train" to anyone else?) and "Heartbreak Warfare", I didn't get anymore moments from this album outside of "Assassin". "Continuum" has great moments ("Gravity", "Stop This Train", "Dreaming with a Broken Heart") as do his previous albums. However for me, this record has only one great moment which left me wanting for a lot more after that.

I'm going to sit with this record a little more and see if anything else grows on me. "Who Says" already has. Regardless, I am already anticipating the next record. And who knows? He'll be here in February and a lot of times I have grown to like a song more after I have heard it live. Your thoughts?

BGLU News- by Toya

This. Sucks. : Prescriptives Cosmetics Goes Out of Business

Pour out a little tonight for Prescriptives Cosmetics as it is going out of business. This has been my favorite line since I was allowed to wear makeup at 16. I even worked for them at Macy's as a counter manager for a little bit (yall remember the stories about that crazy lady Gloria that made me develop a twitch?). I am really sad to see them go as I recommend them often. If you are a Prescriptives fan, what are some of your favorite items? My faves are the Super Line Preventor, Moisturizer for Oily Skin, and Magic Powder. All of these products are second to none. Stock up while you can. Oh and make sure to score some brushes. They last a lifetime.

Tia's and my honorary pastor , John Mayer, is holding a Holy Ghost Revival (I mean, have you ever heard "Gravity") tomorrow night at The Beacon Theatre to celebrate the release of his fourth studio album "Battle Studies" which comes out tomorrow. If you can't make it, no worries, Fuse, one of the only music channels that acts as such, will be airing the performance live.

If you haven't heard "Battle Studies" yet, you can check it out for free on Rhapsody. I've been listening to it for about a week but didn't want to discuss it until its official release. I will say this though: "Assassin" live is going to be A PROBLEM. Lord, help.

I...Am So...Scared....- Toya

This is Robin Thicke's new single "Sex Therapy". I am listening to this at my desk and umm...*looks from side to side* IT IS TOO HOT IN THIS OFFICE RIGHT NOW !!!! I am REALLY scared about his next record. If we can't get "Thicke" back then well, this may have to do. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go put on some Fred Hammond so that I may renew my mind...

BGLU Music News

BGLU Approved: Melanie Fiona- Toya

I'd like to give a strong shoutout to http://www.rhapsody.com/ in this recession. Since I have renewed my subscription, I have been able to peep out some artists that I have been curious about. I hate to say it but there aren't too many "album artists" out there anymore; there are only a hand full of artists who I never have to hear a single from for me to buy their CD. Simply good music has been sacrificed for hot tracks and ringtones. *steps down off of soapbox*.

That's why I think Melanie Fiona's new album The Bridge which dropped this past Tuesday is most definitely a keeper. I enjoyed it from beginning to end, especially my fave track "Monday Morning". With a record like this, I can finally forgive her label for letting Adam Rodriguez get killed at the end of her "It Kills Me" video. Check her out this Saturday on BET's Rising Icons 11/10c.

Happy Birthday Tevin Campbell!!!- Toya

What yall know about this jam?

Grandma's Hands- Toya

There is a part of me that is still in shock that she is gone. I miss my friend very, VERY much. I have never felt this kind of grief before but I am doing alright. Thank you so much everyone for your prayers and concern. They have meant so much and has encouraged me to want to be there for people who experience loss. I am not in a place where I can write about this right now because like I said, I am still in shock. I just don't believe that she is not here and won't be here.

"Grandma's hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma's hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands
Used to lift her face and tell her,
"Baby, Grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus hands"
Grandma's hands" - excerpt from "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers

Update

Hey guys. I just wanted to let you know that Toya's grandmother passed away last night. Please send your prayers out to her and the rest of her family.

 

Thanks

Update on My Grandmother- Toya

Tomorrow my brother, mom and aunt are going to Louisiana to go love on my grandmother. The doctors are giving her only a few more days to live. I don't believe it. I don't mean I don't believe them. I mean I don't believe this is happening. I have never ever dealt with the possibility of someone close to me dying. I have been taking note of this process so slowly. There have been so many ups and downs. I have been tired of praying. I sometimes don't know what to think.

I am confident that when she passes away, whenever she passes away, every significant moment to come in my life will feel incomplete without having her here to share with her. I know that this is just a part of life and God has been so merciful with all of us. I am glad that we will all be there together.

Love everyone well.

BGLU News- Toya

As some of you might know, Mia Michaels AKA "Who Toya would be if she were a white woman" has up and left So You Think You Can Dance. *Tear* Seriously, I don't even know if I want to watch it anymore. People.com has the exclusive on why she left and NO, she does not have cancer.

Corinne Bailey Rae is slated to release her new CD "The Sea", her first studio recording following the sudden death of her husband Jason Rae in 2008, early 2010. We sure have missed her. Guardian UK has an exclusive interview with Rae about her upcoming project and dealing with the grief of losing her husband.

Some girlfriends of mine and I went to go see Chris Rock's "Good Hair" last weekend and wait, before I get into this: Can I just say that behind a whole row of us was a whole row of gay white men? Not going to lie, we were all pretty puzzled by that. My friend Christine barely let the closing credits roll up before she turned around to ask "Ok, what in the hell are yall doing here?" I then added, "Are yall hairdressers?" LOL! Not at all taken aback by our nosiness, they said that they saw Chris Rock on Oprah and just had to see this movie. Anyway, it is indeed a MUST see. Child, you will find out somethings about weaves that you DID NOT want to know. This movie contained so much great info about relaxers, men's view on weaves, and to my delight, their was a sub-plot about a hair show in Atlanta. There is nothing I love more than Hot Mess Championships! Take your girls (and not just your black ones) and go support this film.

Maxwell and his pretty wings have four nominations for the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards. That's cool and all but when in the world is Soul Train even on? ANYBODY??? Also leading with nominations are Keri Hilson and Beyonce'. Check out the story at UrbanMecca.Net.

Ok, I don't get paid for this yet so back to work. Feel free to throw in your two cents in our comments...

Jordan Idol Hits Nashville- Toya

No, I am not going but yall can have at it! Today at Hollywood Disco from 4-6 pm on Division Street. If you decide to go don't be surprised that there are poles in this club. It used to be a strip club. I'm sorry, a "Gentlemen's Club". Like any gentlemen were ever in there...

MJ's "This is It"- Toya



I saw This is It last night and while I don't have time to review it completely and understand that a lot of people won't see it until this weekend, I will only say two things until I do a full review:

1. If you are any type of creative person (dancer/singer/musician/director/filmmaker/set designer, etc) or work with any creative people, take your behind to go see this movie. I don't care how you feel about Michael Jackson. If you are in school, you should get extra credit for it. If you are fully employed in your craft, it should be a requirement. This whole movie is a "clinic" on showmanship and professionalism.

2. It is almost safe to assume that I will marry a Michael Jackson impersonator. My obsession is off the hook right now.

More to come...

Wait for You- Toya

Yesterday, I got into my car after church and called my dad who has been in Shreveport, LA for almost a month now since my grandmother went in due to congestive heart failure. A huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders within the past week as she was alert, talking on the phone and breathing on her own. It was the miracle we had prayed for. So when my dad picked up the phone to give me the latest news, I was in complete and utter disbelief.

Hey baby, it doesn't look like Grandmuffa is going to make it, okay?

"Grandmuffa" is one of the many nicknames we have for my grandmother. It came from my not being able to say the word "grandmother" as a baby and it stuck. As long as I can remember, that is how she has signed every Christmas card, birthday card and email. As my dad started to explain why it looked like my grandmother was not going to make it due to fluid building up in her body and other trauma (which we learned later was caused by a heart attack she had in her sleep), I was still stuck on the not gonna make it part. "Wait, what happened?" I interrupted. I honestly thought that he meant that she wasn't going to make it out of the hospital that day. I didn't think that he meant that possibly soon she wasn't going to be with us at all.

I went on to ask him how he was feeling and he was extremely candid with me. As hard as this has been for all of us, there have been some blessings to come out of this storm. I have seen a lot of growth in my father. While his honesty has been heartbreaking for me at times, it has also helped me know how I can support him. I remember when I asked him if he would like for me to pray for him. He paused and then quietly said "Please". I still don't know how I managed to get any words out after that.

As my dad poured out to me what he was feeling, I started to think that the most important thing to me was that he was not mad at God. I feel that God has been so gracious in giving us time to wrap our minds around the possibility of my grandmother not surviving. Some people don't get that chance. I remember when Kanye West's mom died unexpectedly. He was on the other side of the world. I can't imagine getting that kind of news and then having to fly sixteen hours with that weighing on your heart. God has been so good. My father agrees. We talked as if we knew that this might be it as he headed back to the hospital and he asked me if I was okay. "Yeah, I'm alright." "I don't want you to be by yourself. Go find someone to talk to if you need to."he said. I explained to him that I was just about to meet someone for lunch so I wasn't going to be alone. However, I know myself. I hate crying in front of people so there was no way I would be going through with my lunch date. We said our goodbyes and I sat in the car stunned. I text my apologies to my lunch date and asked if we could postpone. She sympathetically agreed and I remained in the car.

As much as I hate to cry in front of people, sometimes I can only cry in front of people. It can take me days to cry about something sometimes. I feared that if I sat there, it may have been an hour before I would let myself cry. I looked up and saw my friend, Jay walking towards his car that was parked directly in back of mine. Looking back I can say that Jay was the perfect person for me to see at that moment. I didn't have to explain anything to him. I didn't have to try and be strong. I just needed to be honest. Without thinking twice, I got out of my car and walked towards him.

"Jay, my grandmother is dying".

He hugged me and I started crying. I hadn't cried about this whole ordeal not one time. I sometimes think that crying shows a lack of belief. I know that's not true but for me, that's just how I try to keep my head up to keep on believing. Sometimes I just refuse to let myself be sad. The strange thing is my body doesn't always feel the same way. So when I finally do cry, it is the harshest, most ugly cry EVER(to me). Hence, why I don't often cry in front of people.

We moved over to the sidewalk and I began to tell him what my dad told me. My dad said that after she had her latest crisis, she told him to not try to revive her if it happened again. She was tired of being in pain and wanted to go on and be with Jesus. I then told Jay something that I thought I would never admit out loud. "You know, this is going to sound awful but I hate this world right now. I really do. It's just not getting better so if she wants to peace out, I don't blame her." I told my grandmother that since she said she was going to make it, I was going to hold her to that. However, if she decided otherwise, I will stand with her just the same. It's just more important to me that she doesn't give up out of fear or out of feeling she is being a burden to anyone. I later talked to my mother who mentioned that outside of birthing my dad and uncle and simple out-patient surgery, my grandmother has never had a hospital stay ever. She has always been healthy and fiercely independent. She has always taken care of everyone else. So having so many people taking care of her is probably something that she is having a very hard time dealing with.

After saying thanks and goodbye to Jay, I went home, climbed into the bed and stared at the ceiling. "You know," I said out loud to God, "that's Your child. Whatever You and Annie decide on is alright with me. Bottom line, you know what's best. Even if she doesn't want to be here, You have the final say. Yall work it out." Of course I want her to be here for all of my life's coming adventures. I want her to be here to laugh at how hilarious my father is going to act when I get married. I want her to be here so we can talk more about our shared appreciation for Adam Rodriguez (who she has far been hip to longer than I have), and other things we can talk on the phone about for hours. As much as I want her here, only God knows about the long run. I have had to do a lot of releasing these past few weeks. Not just with my grandmother but with other people close to me in my life. Sometimes we try to keep people so close to us. When I get to heaven, God is not going to ask me how I managed to keep up with Tia, my parents, my brother, and grandmother; My fears of letting go and letting life happen has no control over anyone. As much as I love my grandmother, she has her own relationship with God. She loves Him and I don't doubt that He not only loves her but is absolutely tickled by her. I am a firm believer that while God loves all of us, He may not like everyone. But Annie? He likes her lots. She's comedy.

Presently, my grandmother is stable and so are we. She is not in pain and for the most part she is comfortable. I didn't think she was going to make it past yesterday but then again, who am I? I have absolutely no idea what God and Grandmuffa have going on. And judging by what my she has shared with my father, something is definitely going on. I am so proud of my grandmother, best girlfriend, hero, and role model. She has always been a model of what a true strong lady does in good times and bad. While we love her so much, God loves her more. Whatever she and God decide, I am grateful either way.

Update on my Grandmother: Praise the Lord!!!! She is off of the ventilator and breathing on her own. Her vitals are good and she is going to start rehabilatation. I am very happy and relieved. I appreciate all of your prayers. Love, Toya

New Music: John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare (Official Music Video)

You know I (Toya) pretty much get behind whatever John Mayer does. I could not WAIT to hear this because I always want to hear what he has to say in his music. It's like getting a new book of poetry from your favorite poet. I really dig this and the video reminds me of old school Dire Straits. *Still listening* Okay the bridge? Yes, Lord. LOVE LOVE LOVE it from the bridge to the end. Can't wait for the album.