From his first performance on “Dancing with the Stars” with his sensational partner, Witney Carson, it was clearly evident that there was a very good chance of the two taking home the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
They were that good. Precision smooth, always in sync, full of creativity, attractively costumed, receptive to constructive criticism from the judges, and thoroughly likable. As the season progressed, the two coming out on top almost seemed like a sure thing. The four finalist couples were all excellent, but Ribeiro and Carson just had that something special that gave them an edge.
Also, Ribeiro, who is 43, is to be commended for consistently keeping up with 21-year-old Carson.
If Alfonso and Witney had not won I, like thousands of other viewers, would have been so disappointed!
From his first performance on “Dancing with the Stars” with his sensational partner, Witney Carson, it was clearly evident that there was a very good chance of the two taking home the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
They were that good. Precision smooth, always in sync, full of creativity, attractively costumed, receptive to constructive criticism from the judges, and thoroughly likable. As the season progressed, the two coming out on top almost seemed like a sure thing. The four finalist couples were all excellent, but Ribeiro and Carson just had that something special that gave them an edge.
Also, Ribeiro, who is 43, is to be commended for consistently keeping up with 21-year-old Carson.
If Alfonso and Witney had not won I, like thousands of other viewers, would have been so disappointed!
SONGS in the key of money? On the season finale of the always exciting and unpredictable “Scandal,” Stevie Wonder’s classic 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life” was discussed and the cover was clearly shown. Product placement on TV shows, in movies, etc. is very big business and we are wondering if that is what that was.
It’s more than possible, especially since Wonder was starting his “Songs in the Key of Life” concert tour at that time.
And speaking of albums, the Queen of Soul’s latest, “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics,” is holding its own in the national R&B Albums Top 10, but is dropping fast on the Pop Albums chart (the Billboard 200).
It debuted at an impressive No. 13, plunged to No. 41 the following week, slipped to No. 69 in its third week, dropped to No. 77 in week four, then nosedived to No. 146 in week five. Considering her stature, that is quite surprising.
But part of the problem was remaking Adele’s signature song, “Rolling in the Deep,” and singing it on national television.
Many people viewed this as an infringement, just as Franklin felt back in the day when Martha & the Vandellas were singing “Respect” and “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” in their act while those songs were at their peak. According to Martha Reeves, Franklin personally, and firmly, asked her to stop singing them.
On a positive note, Erma Franklin, a wonderful and talented lady we miss very much, once said something I will never forget. I said to her, “I met your daughter, Sabrina Owens, at a party last night and she is so beautiful.” Without missing a beat, Erma said, “Look who her mother is!”
THE DRAMA never seems to end for the ladies of En Vogue, who used to be so close. Not long ago that there were all kinds of legal battles regarding use of the name En Vogue. Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis were one side, Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones on the other.
Now the conflict is over “An En Vogue Christmas,” a TV special that aired on the Lifetime network, featuring Ellis, Herron and a new member, Genelle Williams.
Robinson has threatened to sue, and Jones is quite upset too. “They’re calling themselves En Vogue and they’re not,” said Jones. (Well, actually they are since the name is legally theirs.)
But what makes the whole thing even more complicated is that Jones has also lost all desire to work with Robinson again, and even went to far as to publicly refer to her as “looney.”
Wow!
REMEMBER that innovative but very creepy Michael Jackson hologram that was seen on the Billboard Music Awards earlier this year? Well, now there are plans to introduce a Whitney Houston hologram, as soon as the family gives the okay. I don’t want to see it.
People were surprised to see Salt-N-Pepa in a Geico commercial, especially since the premier female rap act disbanded in 1999. Wonder if Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandy “Pepa” Denton and Deidra “Spinderella” Roper have discussed making a new album.
Even though he is a technological wiz in the recording studio, Prince can’t really get with social media. A lot of people 50 and up feel that way (Prince is 56). He even dropped his Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Talented and beautiful actress Taraji P. Henson feels that her years of outstanding accomplishments should put her on the Hollywood “A list,” but thus far that has not happened. “I’m still considered with actresses who have not done half the things I have,” she said with more than a trace of resentment.
There was one more thing I meant to say last week about the very sad Bill Cosby situation: It is way past time for the public and the media to stop putting celebrities on pedestals.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that before they became an established act, the Spinners had a record titled “Itching for My Baby But I Don’t Know Where to Scratch.”
MEMORIES of Marvin Gaye, the early years: “One More Heartache,” “Chained,” “Baby Don’t You Do It,” “Take This Heart of Mine,” “You’re a Wonderful One,” “Pretty Little Baby,” “Ain’t That Peculiar,” “Hitch Hike,” “You,” “Try It Baby,” “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” “Can I Get a Witness?”
BLESSINGS to Vickie Thomas, Andrea Jean Daniels, Montez Miller, Alexis Williams, Rosa Robinson, Al Allen, Devon Daniels, Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow-Tate, Louvain Demps and Wanda Horton.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Coleman Young: “You can’t look forward and backward at the same time.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at [email protected] and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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