Reflections

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Tuesday, 08 August 2006 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

CUBA GOODING, JR.

           
To make matters worse, this movie, intentionally or not, succeeds in making Black people look bad. Macy Gray, in particular, should be holding her head down in shame. To a somewhat lesser extent, so should Mo’Nique.

           
For sure, Gooding has made good movies (“The Fighting Temptations” and “Instinct,” for example) and his acting is always exemplary. But he also has lapses in judgment. (Who could ever forget the embarrassing “Boat Trip”?)

           
Cuba Gooding Jr.’s next movie needs to be very good to make up for “Shadowboxer.”

           


THERE IS something absurd about certain people in the media and elsewhere accusing Beyoncé Knowles of timing the release of her second solo album to “steal the thunder” from fired Destiny Child member LeToya Luckett, whose introductory album (featuring her hit “Torn”) is now in stores. Beyoncé’s album comes out Sept. 5.

           
Release dates are set by other sources. And besides that, Beyoncé is far too established to even think about such tactics. Moreover, Luckett is not competition for Beyoncé. For Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, perhaps, but not Beyoncé.

           
Am I the only one who finds Flava Flav annoying?

           
And speaking of annoying, of the four ladies on the “Girlfriends” television show, the character I have always liked the least is the self-absorbed, I-think-I’m-so-hot Toni Childs, portrayed by Jill Marie Jones. (Toni is actually less hot than the other three.) Jones has decided to leave the show and will not be there when “Girlfriends” returns in the fall. She didn’t even want to do a farewell episode so that the departure of her character could be fully explained.

          
                                     There is a lot of new music scheduled for fall release, including albums by OutKast (“Idlewild”), Justin Timberlake, (“Future Sex/Love Sounds”), Ludacris (“Release Therapy”), Janet Jackson (“20 Years Old”), Sting (“Songs From the Labyrinth”), Diana Krall (“From This Moment On”), Bob Seger (“Face the Promise”) and the aforementioned Beyoncé (“B’Day”).

           
MOST OF you probably remember Chapter 8 (Anita Baker and producer Michael J. Powell were among its members). The Detroit band’s hits, starting in the late ’70s, included “Ready for Your Love,” “I Just Wanna Be Your Girl” and “Give Me a Chance.”

           
We received an e-mail from founding member, producer, manager, writer and studio owner Derek Dirckson. He is looking for new gospel singers for possible recording. Those interested should send a CD or cassette, photo and bio to Backstage Pass, LLC, 16605 Chandler Park Drive, Detroit, MI 48224.

           
The stipulations are that you be free of any contractual obligations (written or oral) and desire to only perform gospel music. No materials will be returned.

           
Dirckson has worked with an array of artists through the years, including Commissioned, the Winans, the Williams Brothers and  Fred Hammond.

           
A SIGN of the sad times we live in: The No. 1 album on the national R&B/Hip-Hop chart at the time of this writing is “Pimpatation” by Pimp C. The titles of some of the other albums on that chart are “Killa Season,” “My Ghetto Report Card,” “The Sound of Revenge,” “Blood Money” and “Gangstress. On the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart we find such gems as “U and Dat,” “I Got My Bitch,” “Hustlin’,” “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy” and “(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me?”

           
Where did we go wrong?

           
Interesting facts found in the New York Times: Although compact discs (CDs) still account for well over 80 percent of recorded music sold, an ever-growing number of teens and young people in the 20 to 24 age range are getting their music electronically (iPods, iTunes, MySpace, songs downloaded from other people’s CDs, etc.). Teens accounted for only 12 percent of CD sales last year, and the 20-24 group accounted for just 13 percent.

           
Well, they don’t have to worry about me because I prefer CDs and hate to have anything — like an iPod, for example — stuck in my ear or hanging around my neck.

           
A Tribe Called Quest’s reunion tour has begun and will make a stop in Detroit on Sept. 1 at Chene Park. Also on the bill: EPMD and Slum Village....The two new members of the Spinners are Frank Washington (in Philippé Wynne’s place) and Spike Bonhart. Interestingly, Washington was recommended by former Temptation Ollie Woodson.

           
Judge Craig Strong, Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, says he would like to have a court TV show, like that of Judge Greg Mathis....Sam Moore, from the famed duo Sam & Dave, has a solo album coming out Aug. 29. Helping him out to add a contemporary touch are Mariah Carey, Fantasia, Jon Bon Jovi and Sting, among others.

           
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW.... that Will Smith can now command $25,000,000 per film.

           
MEMORIES: “The Coldest Days of My Life” (the Chi-Lites), “Woman to Woman” (Shirley Brown), “Reaching for the Sky” (Peabo Bryson), “Crazy” (the Boys), “This Masquerade” (George Benson), “Work With Me, Annie” (Hank Ballard & the Midnighters), “Release Me” (Esther Phillips), “Nite and Day” (Al B. Sure), “Boogie Fever” (the Sylvers), “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (the Temptations).

           
BLESSINGS to Ted Talbert, Dr. Claud Young, Freda Johnson, Delores Wyatt, Claude Young (formerly “the Big Soul Rocker” from WQBH and WJLB), Phyllis Lynn Burns, Rebecca Brown, Marion Logan, Chuck Bennett and Al Allen.  

           
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from an unnamed source: “Don’t waste one second  of your time worrying about anything negative someone says about you if you know they don’t anything care about you anyway.”

           
Let the music play!

           
(Steve Holsey may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)