A website called BuzzFeed News recently featured a story that named what it considers to be the best song of all time for a Soul Train line. The song they chose is “Got to Give it Up,” Marvin Gaye’s 1977 classic that never gets old and has a life of its own.
It’s the ultimate party record, period, so I am in total agreement with BuzzFeed’s choice, but for No. 2 and No. 3 they picked “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire and the O’Jays’ “I Love Music.”
Those are great choices, but yours truly’s No. 2 and No. 3 would be “Doing it to Death” by Fred Wesley & the J.B.’s (prominently featuring James Brown) and “One Nation Under a Groove” by Funkadelic.
BEYONCÉ was lavishly praised by Rolling Stone newspaper regarding her performance at the Video Music Awards (VMAs) and her skills in general.
The writers said she “easily obliterated the 120 that had come before…This was entertainment brilliance…She breathes the rarified air of an elite set of artists who do more than sing and dance flawlessly. They visualize performances on a higher level, too.”
Whitney Houston’s family is still upset over the Lifetime network making a biopic on the late superstar, but there is nothing they can do about it. Permission is not needed for such projects.
But the great Angela Bassett, who is directing the film, is not worried. In fact, she said, “Controversy can be good. It can pique your interest.”
AARON HALL sure makes a fool of himself in that “rant” video that can be seen on YouTube. He comes across as a man totally out of control and/or in the grip of drugs.
Among other things, his mouth is incredibly dirty, he completely disrespects women, and he even spends time bragging about a certain part of his anatomy.
Hall, who just turned 50, should know better. He was nothing like that when I interviewed him in 1992 when he had a No. 1 hit with “Don’t Be Afraid.”
Sheila E. has written an autobiography, titled “The Beat of My Own Drum,” which should be published by the time you read this. It’s hard to believe that the drummer, percussionist and singer is celebrating her 40th year in show business and that the former Prince protégé is now 56 years old.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, who is leaving “The View” after seven seasons on the popular talk show/gabfest, said the early days were rough.
“I didn’t want to take this job,” she said. Exaggerating, she continued, “I didn’t know anything. I grew up in a religion where we weren’t into politics and certain other things. I had to learn. It was very painful. My boss, Barbara Walters, pushed me. I cried in my dressing room for three years, asking myself, why am I at this table?’”
Jennifer Holliday, who starred in the Broadway version of “Dreamgirls,” and Jennifer Hudson, who starred in the movie, have more in common than a first name. Each says the gay community was the first to embrace her and has remained supportive.
Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, for whatever reason has had to deal with more than her share of mean-spirited criticism on the Internet, but summed it up succinctly: “I think cyberbullying is just plain stupid, and the majority of the cyberbullies are not going to say it to your face.”
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Morris Day, Andre Cymone and Prince were once in a band called Grand Central.
MEMORIES: “My Baby” (the Temptations), “I Feel a Song (In My Heart)” (Gladys Knight & the Pips), “Low Rider” (War), “Remember Me” (Diana Ross), “I’m Still in Love With You” (Al Green), “Show and Tell” (Al Wilson), “For the Love of Money” (the O’Jays), “A Little Bit of Soap” (the Jarmels), “Call Me” (Aretha Franklin), “I Wanna Get Next to You” (Rose Royce).
BLESSINGS to Charles Davis, Karen Dumas, JuJuan Taylor, Al Chisholm, Denise Stevenson Cash, Joe Billingslea, Cliff Russell, Sylvester Potts, Carol Smith Dixon and Gary Grier.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Diane Sawyer: “Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
