Inspired

I've been inspired to write again.

I've come to the realization that my life has recently been void of those cathartic experiences needed to help me move along this journey called life.

Translation: I'm back, jack.

And for real this time. I ain't a one-minute man :-)

In the meantime, I'm gonna catch zzzz's...

Stay tuned, ladies & gents...

Music: Dead or Alive (Part One of Two)

They had "Billie Jean."

We have "Tik Tok."

They had "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

We have "Back That Ass Up."

They had "Purple Rain."

We have "Low."

We hear it all the time: "Music just ain't what it used to be." And while the comment may have some validity, I wouldn't contend that it's entirely true.

Our generation does have the propensity to produce classic, timeless music -- and it has. We also have our share of individuals who have made their mark on the music scene by becoming bonafide entertainers. Recently, I had a discussion with a few of my buddies (who will remain anonymous since I didn't get them to authorize their mentioning) regarding the state of music and the artists who will leave a lasting impression on music versus those who are simply radio fodder. Below are some who I believe will be revered for their contribution(s) to the music industry:

• Alicia Keys: Pianist. Humanitarian. Composer. There isn't much Alicia Keys hasn't done, and won't do. The New York-bred songstress emerged on the scene in 2001 with her multi-platinum, 5x Grammy Award-winning debut, "Songs in A Minor," and has since become an R&B luminary. Known for her classic songs that evoke memories of the "good ol' days," Ms. Keys has set herself apart from her contemporaries by exhibiting an unfeigned appreciation for the art of music.

• Beyoncé: As the former front-woman of the biggest girl group of all time, Destiny's Child, Beyoncé Knowles established herself as the consummate entertainer complete with good looks, dangerous curves, an affinity for attempting full-fledged choreography in heels (successfully, of course) and an exceptional voice. While her catchy songs are somewhat ephemeral, Knowles (who adopts the alter-ego "Sasha Fierce" while storming the stage) has solidified herself as the quintessential entertainer of our generation.

• John Mayer: Eight years ago, the world was introduced to John Mayer, a witty, gangly kid decked with a guitar and tongue-in-cheek songs made to convey a few of his coming-of-age stories of heartbreak and discernment. With each album, though, Mayer grew more introspective and began to explore various genres along the way. His most acclaimed album to date, "Continuum" was a collection of neo-blues tracks that exposed an artist with a penchant for refusing to conform.

(This isn't an exclusive list...be on the lookout for more individuals to come...)

Chris Breezy Returns...?

Last night, BET commemorated the 10th anniversary of its annual awards ceremony, aptly titled "the BET Awards." Celebrating achievement in film, music, television and sports, the yearly event has found a home at Hollywood's Shrine Auditorium and has handed the hosting reins to a host of notable individuals including recently ordained Academy Award winner, Mo'Nique, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Jamie Foxx and, most recently, Queen Latifah.

The network hasn't had any trouble assembling A-list presenters and performers in the past, and this year was no exception. Audiences were treated to performances by the timeless Alicia Keys (who, despite being five months pregnant, was a recurring performer), hip-hop prodigy Kanye West as well as budding apprentice, Drake, and eclectic ingénue Janelle Monae.

However, these performances became subordinate to the show-stopping Michael Jackson tribute by R&B crooner Chris Brown, who has yet to truly bounce back from his high-profile vendetta with pop star and then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Performing a medley of the late King of Pop's most popular songs, Brown electrified the audience and, ostensibly, left everything he had onstage. As he approached the final number, "Man in the Mirror," Brown emerged distraught; overwrought with emotions as he struggled to carry the tune.

At this point, his entire demeanor had changed. The mood of the performance had taken a notable one-eighty. The room grew silent.

Had Chris Breezy managed to absolve himself in a matter of seconds just by dropping a few tears? Immediately, the talk of Brown's "comeback" was tossed into the discourse of entertainment. But for every fan, there is a foe and not everyone was sold on the authenticity of Brown's denouement.

This morning, reporters on NBC's "Today Show" maintained that Brown's performance may have been contrived and his manifestation of emotions served only to get him back in the public's good grace. I, personally, feel these emotions were the catharsis of everything that has transpired since the brawl and believe he was completely sincere. If not, someone give this dude an Oscar NOW.

Orchestrated or genuine, there was one facet of the ordeal that cannot be disputed: His raw talent. There are few, if any artists who can truly take command of the stage the way Brown can. If he can iterate this through subsequent performances and pique consumer interest again, I have no doubt that he can ascend to the top of the pop charts.

"I let y'all down before but I won't do it again, I promise," Brown said in a later speech.

Now stop apologizing and let your work speak for itself.

For the Record (Correction Post)

While this blog is simply a medium to convey to readers what's on my mind, I want to refrain from posting anything that is flagrantly wrong or even misleading. In regard to my "Old People" post, it has been brought to my attention that some sites do, in fact, require that you include "www" in the URL.

The starching the pants thing still stands, though.

Old People

We cherish our youth.

With each passing year, we become older and, as morbid as it may sound, inch closer to that big kingdom in the sky (or the fire pit below--I don't know your life). Immortality is fiction and this disconcerts us. As we age, we try to stay ahead of the curb and as we near the end, we merely try to "keep up with the Joneses" and not fall behind the pack. However, if you're doing any of the things below, you're significantly impeding your effort:

• Adding a gratuitous "the" to prefix social networking sites. If you refer to Twitter and Facebook as "THE Facebook" and "THE Twitter," you have no business mentioning them. Deduct points for trying to use youthful lexicon.
• When giving someone the URL of a website, you begin with "www." Presumably, any site on the internet is a part of the world wide web. If you're attempting to show off your technical savvy by stating that you hit up "www.(insert site here)," deduct points.
• Talking on the phone as though you're in a room of wild boars. For the record, phones come with a voice amplifying apparatus, so you don't have to project your voice. Deduct points. Moreover, if you still use a bluetooth...you know the drill.
• Starching your jeans/slacks to the point to where they can practically walk by themselves. You shouldn't even own Sta-Flo, but if you're going to use it, use it sparingly. Oh yeah, deduct double points if you've ever been cut by the seam of your jeans.
• Referring to any casino (regardless of its physical location or design) as "the boat." Deduct triple points because that's just country.
• Writing checks at the grocery store checkout counter. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, as checks function the same as a debit card. You're slowing down the line. Deduct quadruple points.

This list isn't inclusive of everything that makes us "young folk" shake our heads at you. But if you heed my advice and, henceforth, make the necessary adjustments, I assure you that you'll seem that much cooler.

I regret to inform you, though: If you don't know how to send a text message, then you're a hopeless case and any efforts to help you would be futile...

..so enjoy your remaining years!

4 years removed from high school...

...and I'm an anomaly.

I'm 22.

I'm single.

I have my bachelor's degree.

I will begin work on a master's degree in the fall.

Soon, my residence will be New York City.

Now for those who know me, excessive bravado isn't one of my idiosyncrasies, so I list all these things objectively simply because they're fact.

Conversely, many of my former high school cohorts have opted for different paths. As I perused through some of my Facebook friends--a rare occurrence considering the limited amount of time I spend on the site--I realized that quite a few of my classmates of yore have lives that are similar in landscape. Many of them have become--or will soon become--parents. A good deal of them have tied the knot or will be doing so in the foreseeable future. Most still claim Lake Charles as their primary residence.

Not that anything's wrong with any of the things I've just stated.

It's just not what I want...not at the moment, at least.

Throughout our formative years, the maxim "you can do or be anything you want in life" is battered into our brains. We hear "never take 'no' for an answer," "take control of your destiny" and every other quote in the book so often that they cease to be inspirational and are reduced to mere platitude by the time we transition from elementary to middle school.

But as corny as it may sound, i have yet to jettison these seemingly-banal statements; I use them as motivation to conquer the checklist of things I aspire to do before I kick the bucket. That list has been growing exponentially for quite some time, and I intend to accomplish everything on it. Call me a hopeless optimist (almost everyone who really knows me, does), beguiled or even naïve. It's probably true.

The mores of our society have designed an unofficial blueprint that we, as Americans are expected to follow. For most people, these blueprints offer enough structure to establish a moderate level of content.

And for others, they are grounds to declare themselves an anomaly...

I'll take the latter.

Preliminary Grammy Predictions (Part Two of Two)

[This is the second part of my predictions for the 2010 Grammy Award nominations]

"Best New Artist"

[Acts recognized in this category have released material for the first time during the eligibility period or gained notoriety due to a breakthrough album]

-Justin Bieber

-B.o.B.

-The Script

-V.V. Brown

-Owl City

Before getting upset by the omission of Drake, the up-and-coming emcee is ineligible for the award, as he received two nominations last year for his hit, "Best I Ever Had." (strict Grammy rules prohibit any act from being recognized in this category if they've received any prior nominations) Obviously, he would be the artist to beat had he been able to secure the nomination but since he won't be included in the pack, the field is wide open. Commercially, Justin Bieber is the only bonafide breakthrough act of the year, as his debut album opened to sales in excess of 250k its first week. He also has arguably become the first teen pop sensation of the 21st century (following the colossal pop craze of the late 90s), filling a void that has been notably missing for quite sometime. It may seem a bit absurd, but Bieber just might be the one to beat. His competition may include:

• Atlanta-bred B.o.B., whose debut album "The Adventures of Bobby Ray" and first single, "Nothin on U" both managed to reach the top of the charts.
• British ingénue, V.V. Brown, whose "Travelling Like the Light" struck a chord with British consumers and as of late, American audiences (although on a much smaller scale).
• Irish rock band, The Script. Although their debut album was released in 2008, their single "Breakeven" managed to break into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year, solidifying them as an act to keep an eye on.
• Owl City, whose aforementioned "Fireflies" became a number-one hit last fall.

This category would be so much clearer had Drake not disqualified himself due to last year's submissions. Oh well, a little suspense is good, right?

"Album of the Year"

[This award is given to the artist(s), producer, mixers and arrangers of a full-length album]

-"Soldier of Love," Sade

-"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum

-"Mojo," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

-"Brothers," the Black Keys

-"The Blueprint 3," Jay-Z

Before I delve into my analysis, let me say that I really wanted to include Janelle Monae's "The ArchAndroid" in this lineup. Although the album is one of the best reviewed so far this year and is a musical opus, I don't believe NARAS will acknowledge the album in its top category. All disappointment aside, it looks as though Sade is a shoo-in. Following an eight-year hiatus, the act's return was met with glowing reception as--at the time of this publication--"Soldier of Love" stands as the album with the biggest first week sales of 2010 (at 502k copies shifted). "Need You Now" will secure the requisite country spot, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers should be able to slide into the veteran-act slot with their comeback album, "Mojo." The last two predictions are a complete toss-up, but "Brothers" by blues duo the Black Keys has garned universal acclaim from critics (boasting an aggregate score of 81 on the review site, Metacritic), while Jay-Z has yet to make it to make it into this category, despite becoming one of the most prolific artists in music.

PS: Take all these predictions with a grain of salt, and we'll see what actually transpires when the nominations are revealed in December.