Queen of the Empire

If someone told me 10 years ago that I'd be watching a series classified as DLSV (suggestive dialogue, coarse language, sexual situations & violence) with a heavy serving of hip-hop (my least fave genre), I'd have said "no way".

Then I saw Cookie Lyon strut out of prison to get her piece of the #empire and I kept tuning in.

Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon leaves prison after 17 years.

While I like "Jamal's" pop sound, it's not the music that makes me a fan. It's actually the story-line. The story of a a hip-hop music mogul who strives to stay on top in the music business - having created an "empire" from mostly foul gain and on the sacrifice of a wife who lovingly and trustingly did some of his "dirty work" for him, gets caught and does 17 years of time, only getting out when she rats on what she knows of the underworld. Now Cookie's back to take what she's owed!

She proves to be a mother who loves her sons dearly and falls back in love with the still bad boy Lucious, now dapperly turned out in expensive suits, living in lavish splendour and dating a sassy debutante nearly half his age. 

The Lyon Family
 

That was season 1. Over the remaining seasons Cookie, known for her loud mouth,

 

Cookie Lyon's fashion style is bold and colourful!

bold fashion choices but excellent ear for sound, soon proves her worth in the music industry eventually clawing her way back onto the executive of Empire.

Cookie gets her seat on the board of executives

 But the real draw for me was Taraji P. Henson herself. I'd seen her work in a couple of Tyler Perry's dramas - The Family That Preys, I Can Do Bad All By Myself for example - and Think Like A Man. So I watched Empire out of curiosity and kept tuning in like millions of fans everywhere to see what new trouble Cookie was causing - and she caused lots. None more so than for a young man to lose his chance in politics, thus earning the eternal ire of his conniving bourgeois mama, played by another female powerhouse of an actress, Phylicia Rashad.

The Grand-dame of the '80s sitcom, Phylicia Rashad, plays the arch enemy of the Queen of the Empire, played by Taraji P. Henson

What really interests me though is Taraji's story of making it against the odds - graduating college as a young, single mother, packing up to go to the other side of the USA to be an actress with that child in tow and well into her 20s.

  Taraji tells her against the odds story

 

Her rise to success was anything but overnight and now as a middle-aged Mom, her career is rising with the Cookie Lyon role and the portrayal in the highly-acclaimed film, Hidden Figures for which she and the entire ensemble received a Screen Actors Guild Award earlier this year.

Receiving the SAG Cast Award for the film "Hidden Figures"

Here's to Taraji P. Henson - a true winner against the odds.  

When mum's the word...

Well, we live in a very dynamic age and there is so much I would like to talk about - but can't as an employee of the state. I was recently reminded that by law, public servants are unable comment openly on matters of policy or administration, unless designated to do so.

Yes, employers like loyalty - and being loyal is highly commendable. Nobody likes a whistle-blower - but then how would all of those corporate abuses have been discovered in the international business environment a few years ago?

Frankly, an individual should be entitled to speak his/her mind (without disclosing state secrets) on matters of concern. No-one agrees with every decision made by the government of the day...or an employer's for that matter. Sometimes one has to sacrifice for the good of the state. Sometimes one disagrees with the approach that an administration is pursuing.  Leaders need to understand it's not a personal attack, and when it is that should not be, so commentators should not make it personal.

So instead of commenting on what I agree or disagree with, I'm showing photos of my Fleurs des Antilles collection from back in 1991/92 - when I dabbled in fashion design. For those who do not know, I am trained in Fashion Design but my interest has always been theatre-costume design for which there is no market in Barbados. So, I was happy to do fashion writing for a time.

I intentionally cropped out most of the models' faces as I have no idea what's become of them over the last 25 years. The only faces shown are two models in my actual graduation collection as that was a matter of public record.

Presenting Fleurs Des Antilles...

The graduation collection

 

Beaded tube dresses and flouncy satin

 

White velvet

Black velvet

Hooray for Hallyu

With a long, boring summer of reality TV and game shows, I decided to turn back to Korean dramas for my summer's entertainment.

K-dramas are mostly PG-13, focusing on how the relationship evolves without couples constantly finding any excuse to jump each other's bones. There is more agape than eros in the lead couples' relationship and that's quite wholesome for modern TV.  The sageuks are action-packed, full of martial arts sword-fighting (the gore takes some getting used to) but that happened in society back then and many of them depict real historical characters and real political intrigue - and there was always political manoeuvering for one faction or other to gain power. So here are the OST (without English subtitles) of three of the historical dramas I found addictive.

My interest in the genre began with the world-wide hit, Jewel in the Palace, which showed nationally. The blood-letting at the start was a turn off and I don't recall viewing the full episode, but ever wanting to watch at least 1 episode of a show, I tuned in for the next episode - and was addicted after that. I was fascinated by her knowledge of the nutritional qualities of different foods. That encouraged me to focus more on the nutrients found in foods, especially fruits, instead of just looking at the food groups. It was a life-changer for me.

Source: CH Respect

Then came my other major fave, Dong Yi, which I dubbed a Josean version of CSI. The cast was great. Han Hyo-Joo was brilliant as the heroine. Ji Jin-Hee (also the male lead in Jewel in the Palace) was superb as King Sukjong. It was the story of the elevation of a servant girl (and all her hair-raising adventures to simply stay alive) from water carrier to concubine and mother of the future Josean King Yeongjo.

Source: petibatyo

The third one, The Princess' Man, is a bittersweet tale of star-crossed love, when two young people from feuding families fall in love. Park Si-Hoo totally owned the character of Kim Seung-Yoo - every moment from cocksure, irresponsible youth to adoring sweetheart willing to marry below his social class for love, before becoming an angry, vengeful vigilante seeking revenge on those who had his father and brother killed. Loved his martial arts skills too! It makes a very emotional connection.

Source: JBSRILANKA

Whether contemporary, fusion or historical, all were great viewing. Many of the actors rocked their roles - Lee Min-Ho as General Choi Young in Faith, was "swaggerific". Although Lee Joon-Gi was ear-marked for the part, but had to take a smaller part due to military obligations, it's inconceivable to think of anyone else in that role. Lee Min-Ho was so good that I can't bear the thought of viewing other critically-acclaimed series in which the elder General Choi is executed! It's my favourite OST too, so enjoy.

Source:1theK

Other memorable portrayals are Lee Jin-Wook as the cool and aloof swash-buckling Crown Prince Sohyeon in a korean version of The Three Musketeers and in Dr. Jin there is Lee Beom-Soo deftly portraying Yi Ha-eun, an apparent drunkard, but with quite an astute mind, who grew up poor outside of the palace in spite of his noble birth and later becomes Prince Regent Gung.

Kudos to the various production companies and studios for these dramas that have created a multi-national following around the world. They've been so entertaining.

Low Blow

Thanks to singer/songwriter Lee on The Bachelorette, I've ceased to watch this year's show. As a black woman, I'm highly offended by his behaviour and very disappointed in the production decisions. For the first time ever an African-American has been chosen as the Bachelorette. She's smart, good-looking and has a great job. So, although the cast is "diverse", most of the men her age or older are white. What does that mean? Her options are limited. She either chooses a white man or none at all. Apparently she chose one of them. It's bad enough that professional African-American women in the USA have a hard time finding a spouse within the race. This season was set up to illustrate the reality of that. As such I find it anti-climatic.

So, that's turn off #1. Then there is the folly of wasting space on a joker called Lucas. I'm sure he's a great guy and there's a lovely woman out there for him somewhere, but Rachel? Putting him into the cast was an insult to viewers' intelligence. But hey, apparently they call the viewers "losers".

If that wasn't bad enough, there was the Demario fiasco. His "girlfriend" let the producers know he ain't supposed to be looking, even before taping may've started and rather than brief Rachel and let her decide if to keep him on or not, they appear to have let him in among the "suitors" and let the girlfriend show up at an event to which an audience was invited to confront him - and potentially embarrass Rachel, who lost no time in giving him the boot. Really? Was that necessary? These are real people with real lives, not melodrama. Then again, art imitates life, doesn't it?

Source: The Bachelorette

So now on to the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Lee. Known to producers for comments that may be considered "racist" and having selected an African-American queen for this year's edition, he's given the option of agreeing to be one of the "suitors". He has no problem agreeing to be on - after all it's bound to be good exposure and he doesn't know how far he'll get with his southern "Yes Ma'am" manners. But then he starts to try riling up the black guys. Yeah, I call it race-baiting. Who does he pick on? A wrestler from Vegas.

Source: The Bachelorette

Wrestlers are known to be tough, not charming. Yet clearly, Kenny is a good man. Not who I'd pick for Rachel but a decent sort who dearly loves his 10-year-old daughter. Here is Lee trying to make the guy look like a jerk with the excuse that they're all there to "one-up" each other - yet he can tell some white cast members he has no problem with them? Exactly who does he have a problem with? Clearly the non-white guys.

So that was it for me. This "loser" has other things to do with her Monday nights than to watch The Bachelorette my dear #teamrachel. I bow out!

  Source: DIVAORIGINALE4

Thank goodness I've discovered Hallyu to keep me busy this summer - and Being Mary Jane is back on BET - although I have some issues with her character's foibles but that's fiction, so I watch it for what it is.

  

One Awesome Weekend

It was a high-octane weekend of worship for Gospelfest 2017. For the first time ever I attended the weekend's events - Signia Financial Laughter & Jazz (Friday), Sol's Ultimate Gospel (Saturday) and the Flow One Awesome Day (Sunday). I was no use to myself the next week - a good thing I was on holiday! The experience was certainly awesome.

I'll begin with Sinach first. She was her usual inimitable self as she ministered song after song with the audience singing along word for word of the power, grace and might of our Lord, the Way-maker, Promise Keeper, Miracle Worker. She really is awesome!

  Credit: Gospelfest Barbados

On Saturday, both Jonathan Nelson and Charles Jenkins were featured. Both ministers brought their different styles to the stage. Although lots of local fans love Charles Jenkins' My God Is Awesome, it was Jonathan Nelson's more recent gospel hit, "I Believe" (Island Medley) that rocked Kensington Oval. We could've been ministered to him all night!

However it the weekend began on Friday night, when comedienne, Small Fire brought the laughter while a wonderful young minister, Jonathan Reynolds brought his own unique musical "flava" to the evening. Even the rain did not send the audience home before he did one more for the road. He can play guitar, freestyle and actually sing live!! He was great!

 Credit: Gospelfest Barbados

Here are a couple of his previously unplugged renditions he treated us to: Christ Representers, Pressure and No Gray.

Credit: JonMcReynoldsVevo

Credit: Entertainment One Nashville

Christ Representers is an oldie and goodie, however it was Limp that first made me a fan of this young music Minister, who's taking the Word to a new generation in a new style. 

Credit: JonMcReynoldsVevo

Most Gracious and Glorious Father, I bring before you Jonathan Mcreynolds and his music ministry. Lord God I ask you to strengthen him, sustain him and empower him to continue to take the message you give him to a new generation. Father God, I pray that no weapon formed against him shall prosper and that he will withstand the many temptations that can distract, discourage and disappoint him on his walk. May he ever remain faithful. In the precious name of Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer, hear this prayer. AMEN.

In Search Of Prince Charming

I recently viewed a documentary on the last 100 days in princess Diana's life. Given the three men with whom she was significantly involved, it prompted me to ponder on the socio-cultural influences on the choice of man a woman falls for.

What's curious is that our generation (we were born in the same decade) so we grow up as teen girls on the same type of paperback romances in which the men are...tall, dark(-haired) and handsome. So no wonder when England's most eligible bachelor pursued her, she ended up married to him. For he was tall, dark-haired and attractive enough (I can't call him handsome). Just look at her blushing at his gallantry.

Our romantic notions were fed by these stories of women who are fair, falling for men who are tanned, have winged eyebrows, chiseled features and usually brooding. Some of these male protagonists were Arab, Mediterranean, rarely light-haired. So her next "love" was found to be Pakistani, Hasnat Khan. Again dark-haired, not pale skinned.

 
Then of course there was the ill-fated summer fling with Dodi al Fayed with its tragic end. What else could a young impressionable girl do then?

Although the new Bachelorette is African-American, most of her suitors are...tall, dark-haired and built like Adonis - like Bryan, the chiropractor  who's of Colombian heritage.
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Even Shondaland's new series, Still Star-Crossed (the story after the death of the Shakespearean play's young lovers), features a fair Juliet and a dark and handsome, Romeo. However, the leading lady and her beau flip the script. This shows times have changed some.

Which leads me to think on the men admired by young girls of today, who're not influenced by paperback novels, but social media and television. What I see here is the influence of the gangsta rapper such as the Hakeem Lyon character played so aptly by Bryshere Y. Gray.

As I look around I see young women stepping out with youngsters wearing their pants almost off their buttocks and the shirt hems don't quite cover the tops of the pants. So thankful I don't have children for the challenge for today's mother therefore is, how to raise girls who'll show wisdom in their choice of mate. Yes, we want our son-in-law to be good-looking, but also responsible and dependable and to dearly love our daughters. For mothers of sons, they want the same attributes in their daughter-in-law.

The fact is that Prince Charming only exists in fairy tales and marriage is very hard work to keep it together. Unfortunately, Princess Diana may not have lived long enough to have the lasting relationship to teach her that lesson. I hope Rachel Lindsay fares better.

Grace Under Pressure

I thought Rachel Lindsay, @TheBachelorette, showed grace under pressure in handling DeMario's deceit. To their credit the men looked shocked, which suggests that they have far more decency in their veins than DeMario has in his entire body. Usually I take the woman's side, but I can imagine why DeMario did what he did.

He's successful. He saw the opportunity to snag an African-American bachelorette, who's stunning, articulate, intelligent, with a good career of her own. He can introduce her to Mom. Lexi?? Well.... (Don't shoot the messenger, I'm old enough to know what mothers like their sons to bring home). 

So, this advice is for Lexi, as I'm also old enough to be a young aunt to the whole lot of 'em. Now I've never watched this reality show or The Bachelor. I'm not into reality TV. Yuck! But I was curious about Rachel's journey as she's the first African-American. However that will apparently be anti-climatic since I think she goes white like all other Bachelorettes. 

But back to Lexi, respect yourself. If the man ain't introducing you to his friends or his family, you're his cuddle buddy as (@BeingMaryJane) puts it - i.e. a good lay. Don't waste your time on that type if you are looking for a lasting relationship no matter the man's race or career. Not surprising DeMario dumped her and Rachel, more power to her, gave him his walking papers. He really was a jerk, no ifs or buts about it.

Still, I can't help wondering if the producers actually knew he wasn't quite single (though in his mind Lexi was not his girlfriend) but sent him in to stir the pot anyway. 

So again props to Lindsay for laying her expectations down to all the men and telling DeMario take a hike. (Even if he comes back to try to get back into her good graces). Now the next chap to go has to be Lucas. So, he's funny and a gal needs a guy with a sense of humour in her life when she has a stressful job but who wants to spend the rest of her life with Peter Pan?

Enough said.