Random Observations: So Much Foolery

Me think's Sarah is auditioning for the VP Position.

1. The media needs to check themselves. Its very obvious you are trying to be messy asking Donald Trump about what he thinks about the lack of diversity at The Academy Awards. First off, Donald Trump has NOTHING to do with the Academy. Is not an actor, producer, director, or an Academy Voter. He is running for President. His focus should be on the Welfare of the nation, not a movie. This is like me instigating an incident in high school to elicit some type of fight or reaction. Do better media. 

2. Jimmy Kimmel, I am disappointed in your Oscar satire you did on your show. It did nothing but perpetuate stereotypes. While I am sure you were just going for funny and it was not meant to offend, it was in bad taste. That skit is not helping the situation at hand. 

3. Sarah Palin, please sit down somewhere. Blaming President Obama for your son's ratchetness and behavior is a new low, even for you. Clearly you saw this and your incoherent endorsement for Donald Trump as an opportunity to try to be relevant again since nobody was talking about you in this year's presidential race. 

4. People who say "I am tired of the race issues." "Why make it a race issue?" or "Here we go again." Believe you me, we are TIRED of the race issues too. We would love to stop talking about race issues too, once people stop being racist and still acting like its 1955. Sorry the conversation is an inconvenience to your perfect day, but you might want to talk to the people who continue to spread hate, discriminate, and are closed minded. Once you can reach them, problem solved. 

5. Stacey Dash, Stacey Dash. So much to say, so little time. I won't go in on you as

#NeverForget Stacey Dash

obviously BET has done that enough for all of us. But I just am wondering how much is Fox News paying you? I hope its at last six figures. Still not enough to sell your soul to the devil but I hope its at least six figures as you will probably never work in Hollywood again. 

6. Julie Delpley, your comments about women in Hollywood are as is bad of timing as Nancy Lee Gran's were. Why is it that people have to downplay our issue with bringing up another one. You could have put them together. Smh..

7. Ice Cube said "We don't make movies for the industry, we do it for the people.!" There you go! Janet Hubert said, "If you are doing this just so you can get a gold statue then you are doing it for the wrong reasons." BOOM 

8. The "Be Like Bill" memes are funny, but let's not overdo it. 

9. Just an FYI, BET and the BET Awards and NAACP Image Awards is not just for African-Americans. For those saying that I encourage you to go to at least Wikipedia and look up past winners, see featured videos, and review and Google. Know what you speak of before you open your mouths. Plus if you knew the history of why these networks and shows were created, you would not be saying this. Think before you speak...

10. The Red Velvet Oreo cookies are simply the best thing I have had in a while. I encourage you to get a few them as they are only seasonal. 

11.  Taraji P. Henson is hosting The Celebration of Gospel on BET and people are throwing shade because she plays Cookie. Remember folks, that is called ACTING. That is not real life. And I assume those throwing the judgmental shade are living sin free? 

"This impresses me so much..", said no one ever.

12. If you are over age 25 posting pictures of naked people, bragging about how much sex you had, getting drunk, smoking weed, how much money you made, and flipping people off you must be self-employed because you must have forgotten people can view your posts including your children. 

13. I bet the Grammy tributes to Natalie Cole, David Bowie, and Glen Frey are going to be phenomenal. Cannot wait to see them. 

14. The Kansas Chiefs had a a great season. Was hoping we could go for another KC team to win a championship this year, but it was not meant to be. Good season Chiefs! 

15. The word "single" is not a dirty word. If you never enjoy your own company or are  not OK with being by yourself. That is a problem. You will always be searching for others to validate and complete you. A relationship is not going to fix your problem. Relationships are great, but when you are not in one,  it should be great too. Don't rush to be in a relationship just because your friends are in one. A relationship is not a new flatscreen television.  Enjoy life, love you then those things will come in time. 

On that note... I am out!! Enjoy your Saturday! Be blessed!

CG2..The Rath of Gil..

Nothing New: Lack of Diversity at Academy Awards

So there has been a lot of controversy over the last few weeks regarding this year’s Academy Award Show and its lack of diversity in the nominees.

Nothing new….

So this year’s Academy Award Show will sadly have no actors or actresses of color nominated in any of the acting, directing, or even picture categories.

Nothing new…

There has been an outcry by some actors and actresses to boycott this year’s award ceremony.

Nothing new…

I am thinking back to 1985 when The Color Purple was nominated for a slew of awards and did not wing a single one that night. Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey all delivered exceptional performances and did not win a single award that evening.

Flash to 1993 and Angela Bassett nominated for her spot on performance as rock legend Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It? Bassett was considered the front-runner especially since she had won The Golden Globe. Bassett Lost to Holly Hunter in what one could argue was not a significant or as powerful for her role in The Piano. 

Rewind to a year earlier when Denzel Washington lost to Al Pacino in Scent of A Woman instead of recognizing his performance in Malcolm X.

Nothing new…

I am extremely disappointed that the movie Straight Outta Compton was overlooked for Best Picture this year. It definitely deserved a nomination. Having had the privilege to attend the world premiere of the movie, I thought it was the best movie I had seen all year and actually the last few years. The cultural and historical impact this movie had on 2015 was huge and cannot be ignored. The movie grossed over 200 million dollars at the box office. It was a global success. The movie did for hip-hop what The Social Network and the Steve Jobs movie did for technology and social media. It showed the cultural and historical impact. So Straight Outta Compton definitely deserved a nomination.

I am frustrated America, we are being overlooked.

Once again…nothing new…

Having said that, let’s focus on Jada Pinkett-Smith who made a video voicing her frustration over the lack of nominations and that she would not be attending the award show. I have respect for Jada, I have been a fan of hers since A Different World. I am not sure however her not attending is going to make many waves with The Academy at this point. 

Flash to a few days later when actress Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made a video that has gone viral in which she basically calls Will and Jada out. She basically says Jada is only boycotting because her husband Will Smith did not receive a nomination for the movie Concussion. Hubert also throws some shade at Smith’s performance saying he did not even deserve the Golden Globe nomination because of “that accent”.  I have to say maybe she should have kept that to herself, that makes her sound bitter. 

While many have said that Ms. Hubert comes off bitter and still reeking of animosity towards Will Smith due to the bad blood that they have for the Fresh Prince drama (Hubert was fired from the show and she blames Smith). I definitely feel like there was some bitterness from Hubert, but I also agree with a lot of what she was saying. Hubert made some very valid points.

1.    Asking fellow actors and actresses to boycott is unfair and a career jeopardizing move.  To be clear however, Jada never called upon other actors and actresses to boycott the show. However, actor/singer Tyrese and rapper 50 Cent did. My problem with that is that 50, Tyrese, and The Smith’s have made millions of dollars and have a production company of their own. They are on the Hollywood A-List and are among the “Hollywood Elite” so them not attending the award show will not really hurt them because they have established themselves already. However, asking up and coming ethnic actors and performers to not attend is career suicide and while actor and singer Tyrese says that people should not be afraid of jeopardizing their careers again its easier to say when you are an established A-List actor.

2.    There are bigger issues to worry about. With all that is going on in Flint, Michigan, the economy, African-Americans being victims of police brutality, the mass shootings, and poverty, how important is a privileged actor not receiving a nomination in the grand scheme of all that is going on in the world. Is this a big deal? Yes, absolutely. Should we address it? Yes, absolutely, but in the grand scheme of things how important is this compared to the other issues?

Whoopi Goldberg said on The View the other day, that she is tired of this conversation. It needs to happen more than just once a year. Instead of boycotting The Academy Awards, boycott the production companies that are not featuring us, not making roles for us. Again, the best way to affect someone through a boycott is to affect him or her financially. We need to be having this conversation all year around. The question should be not “Why are we not getting the nominations, but why are we not getting into the movies that could earn us the nominations? It seems like we get made at Oscar time, the show airs then its over and we move on, only to be angry again the following year.

“You can’t win for roles that are simply not there.” – Viola Davis, actress

Nothing new…

Inevitably, there will be people that disagree with what I am saying and they will agree with Jada that is fine. I will be watching this year’s awards. Tyrese and 50 Cent has asked Chris Rock to step down from hosting this year’s show in solidarity of the lack of nominations. I disagree with this because this is unprofessional. You are asking Chris Rock to jeopardize his career and the future of other African-American hosts? Chris Rock SHOULD host. The Academy is giving him plenty of ammunition. He is going to address the elephant in the room, he is going to go in and go in hard. We need that, let’s let him shake things up.

I do however disagree with comments made by actors Michael Caine and Charlotte Rampling who called out the boycott. Rampling said that the boycott was “Racist against whites” and Caine told African-Americans to be patient. What?? Now Charlotte I need you to get your life with that and speaking on something you know nothing about. Michael Caine asking us to be patient is also disrespectful. It is easy to say when you have received several nominations. Those comments are not helping either. 

I agree that the conversation needs to happen, I agree that changes need to be made, and however how that change occurs is where we start. There has been some progress in the last few days. The Academy Awards president has said that there will be changes and there will be a more diverse voting academy but I caution to say, then what? You have to have movies to vote on? What good will that do if there are not that many African-American movies made? You have to get the movies out there. 

What are the other solutions? What are the other answers?

You can agree, you can disagree, let’s just have the conversation so we can stop saying…

Nothing new…

Sophisticated Lady (She's A Different Lady): Remembering Natalie Cole

I woke up on New Years Day and checked my phone as I always do. I was hoping it was one of those infamous social media hoaxes that have plagued many celebrities over the last few years..

“ Natalie Cole DEAD AT 65.”

Surely that could not be right. Natalie Cole, one of my favorite singers could not be gone. No, not Natalie Cole! I began to search the web. Often times, if it is a hoax there will be no other news but that one article and that is usually a tell tale sign that it is a hoax and all is well in the world.

But alas it was not. As soon as I typed in Natalie Cole the web blew up with reports of her death and the reality set in. The legendary singer was gone. Part of me knew before I typed in her name that it was true but I did not want it to be. I knew that Natalie Cole had been looking frail for almost three years and that something was amiss with her health. Then she had not posted anything on her website or her Twitter account since September which was odd for Cole as she often updated her website with tour updates. Then the news that she had to cancel all of her October through December shows, those were not good signs. Still I had just hoped that she was recovering from whatever “medical procedure” her reps said she was dealing with, and she would emerge healthier, stronger, and ready to step back on the stage.

But she was gone…

The first time I encountered Natalie Cole was in 1977 when I was still in my mother’s womb when

she and her girlfriends saw Ms. Cole in concert in Kansas City at Kemper Arena. Obviously, like the Parliament concert I could not remember anything but I guess you can say I was predisposed to that Natalie Cole sound. After that my first memories of Natalie Cole came in the 80s when she was making her comeback from years of drug abuse and she was in the “Jumpstart My Heart”, “Pink Cadillac”, “I Live For Your Love” phase. Then one day I heard the song “Inseparable” at a wedding and wondered who sang the song. I was about 11 years old. My dad told me it was Natalie Cole and I remember going “The Pink Cadillac Lady?”  "Inseparable" was so soulful and full of passion a far cry from "Pink Cadillac". I had to know what other songs she had as I was too young to remember them when they were out in the 70s. I then started hearing songs like “I’ve Got Love on My Mind”, “Our Love”, and the quintessential “I’m Catching Hell” on KPRS quiet storm and I was hooked on Natalie Cole. My Aunt Ruth had a copy of her Unpredictable album from 1977 and listened to it on my 33 record player over and over especially “I’m Catching Hell” and “I’ve Got Love on My Mind”.  I could not rectify in my mind that this was the same lady that was singing the 80s music which was much more pop.  While i liked her 80's stuff, I was like where was her Arethaesque music from the 70s?

Then of course you had the 90s Natalie, with the Unforgettable album and she became this

international sensation. While I always appreciated the jazz and standard Natalie Cole, I was a “You’re my morning star….shining brightly beside me” and “I’m Catching Hell” fan.I appreciate the success of what Unforgettable...With Love did for her career and the legions of new fans it bought her, but I felt that sometimes it eclipsed her R&B music. One could argue it made people go back and listen to her old stuff for those who had not heard of Natalie Cole.  Of course Natalie needed to do the jazz and make peace with her father's passing and his legacy and what she did with her father's music was incredible. The virtual duet she did with her father was phenomenal and ahead of its time, but I always felt like we needed more of the soulful Natalie as well, but as I got older I appreciated the fact that Natalie was a diverse, and talented lady. You could not put her in a box. Like Aretha Franklin, she could sing it all. Yet I still wished for Natalie to bring back her soulful roots and when I found out she was going to be appearing on Sinbad’s 70’s Jam back in 1996, I got my wish. I was in college and was looking forward to that performance all day. Natalie was going to be doing her 70’s jams. No "Unforgettable", no standards, that night I got the Natalie I missed, and from the reaction that Natalie’s fans were giving her, they missed that gritty soulful Natalie. She nailed it that night starting with "Mr. Melody" and ending with her signature closer “Our Love”. Natalie reigned supreme. She could do it all. But let's not forget Natalie was a superstar in her own right before the 90s. 

After that night, I began to get immersed in Natalie Cole, reading her  old magazine articles in Ebony and Jet. I watched her Behind The Music episode when it premiered back in 1999 on VH1 and really got to understand her and the talent that she has. The reasons behind her very publicized drug use and her victorious defeat against the drug demon. After watching that special, I was even a bigger fan. When I began to collect albums, I had to of course get all of the Natalie Cole classic period albums from 1975’s Inseparable to 1978’s Natalie Live! Of course I had her greatest hits CD but the albums are special. Natalie like Chaka Khan mastered the album cut mainly due to the songwriting team of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy who wrote a majority of her hits but Cole wrote a few as well. Of course we all know the popular hits like "This Will Be", but what do you know about "La Costa", "Peaceful Living", "No Plans For The Future" and "Keeping A Light On"? You really get a deeper understanding of Natalie by listening to her entire albums. As I am writing this, I am listening to the Natalie Live! album and hearing her bring the house down on not just her classics but giving stunning renditions of The Beatles “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, and Janice Joplin’s “Cry Baby”. Natalie was truly the jack-of-all-trades.  Whenever, I go to the beach, I often play "La Costa" one of my favorite songs and I always think of the Thankful (see below)  album that displayed an elegant painting of Natalie which looks like she is walking along the beach singing that very song.  "La Costa" is truly one of Natalie's best performances. It is a brilliant piece co-written by Cole herself.  I often wondered why she did not perform it more even when she was doing jazz and standards as the song would have fit perfectly. It is my second favorite Natalie song (ranking only behind "Inseparable"). 

"Picture yourself on the sea of a setting sun, the salty air and the taste of your lovers hair. Inside you want to fly. Ah yi yi yi yi yi yi."  "La Costa" - Natalie Cole 1977. 

Natalie Cole's Classic Period Albums 

As Natalie Cole was laid to rest today, and I saw the news cover her homegoing service. I was grateful that I could see just a little bit of it, but I also was a little frustrated because I feel that even in death, Natalie Cole’s musical accomplishments and media coverage of the legendary diva, was undersold and I felt that the legendary singer deserved better. Often times, when legendary divas are mentioned we hear the names Aretha, Gladys, Diana, Patti, Chaka, Whitney, Mariah, and Dionne. Often times, Natalie is left off that list. I have seen several Aretha, Patti, Diana and Gladys tributes at award shows over the years, but only one Natalie Cole tribute. I think that is purely unfair.  I mean Natalie slayed in the 70s’ and her musical contributions cannot be ignored. Just listening to this live album after Natalie ending the set with “Be Thankful” the audience is demanding more. Natalie certainly gave Aretha, the biggest diva a run for her money in the late 70s. 

In the short period of five years from 1975 to 1979 Natalie essentially became an overnight sensation. She was a game changer.  The only other soulful singers that had a meteoric rise to the top like that were the late Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey but that was twenty years AFTER Natalie Cole.  In just a period of five years, Natalie Cole: 

·      Won Best New Artist at the 1975 Grammy Awards and won Best R&B Female an award that had been won only by Aretha Franklin for the last 9 years. Natalie Cole (not Gladys, not Chaka, Patti, or Dionne) was able to accomplish that.  To beat Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul" in your first nomination (No shade to Aretha) that is huge. And through that feat, Natalie remained humble. She never wanted to take the title or compete with Aretha Franklin. 

·      From 1975 to 78, Natalie scored five Number 1 R&B singles. The only other diva to do something close to that was Aretha and then Whitney Houston after her. Between 1975 and 1980, Natalie cranked out 6 Gold and 2 Platinum albums. 

Natalie Cole at 1978 American Music Awards (photo provided by Corbis)

·      In 1978, Natalie was one of the few African-American acts to have her network television special. Before Beyoncé, Before Rhianna, captivated audiences with their network specials, Natalie showed her crossover appeal, wowing a diverse audience with her hits “Inseparable”, and “I’ve Got Love on My Mind” as well as duets with Johnny Mathis, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stephen Bishop, and for one of the first times, singing a glowing tribute to her father Nat “King” Cole with Mona Lisa Smile that moved Natalie Cole to tears and brought down the house. The only other soul divas at the time that got offered specials were Diana Ross and Donna Summer. 

·      In 1979 Natalie Cole was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  This is significant because Natalie had only been in the business for only five years so that was unheard of. The eligibility rules from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce are that a celebrity has to be in the industry for five years. However, it normally takes years and years after that for a celebrity to be awarded the star in some cases 30 years. Natalie did it in basically 4 ½ years. Also at the end of 1979, JET magazine named Marvin Gaye and Natalie the "Top Stars of Decade" on Jet's Soul Chart (see picture). That is huge. Natalie had been on the scene for only five short years and was given this honor over her fellow soul contemporaries such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and even Michael Jackson? Natalie Cole was on top in 1979. 

Basically, Natalie Cole kicked ass! 

Yet the media coverage on Natalie Cole even in death has been lackluster to me. As I am seeing the news right now, David Bowie’s death has received massive news coverage and rightfully so but didn’t Natalie deserve the same?  She has paved the way for so many of today’s singers including Mary J. Blige, Ledesi, and Alicia Keys. Who has not been to a wedding and heard the song “Inseparable” or “Our Love as one of the selections?

But enough on that, Natalie in my eyes, you are a superstar. You became a star in your own right. You were not just “Nat King Cole’s daughter” as the media constantly calls you. You were the  singer, songwriter, diva, actress, mother, talented, and THE LEGENDARY Natalie Cole. You are (not were) one of the best.

Rest well Natalie, your music lives on.

As your song goes…” And we’ll have each other…Our Love”

Always a fan,

Chris Gilrath II 

Natalie’s Best: Gilrath’s Favorite Natalie Cole Songs

1.    Inseparable (Inseparable, 1975)

2.    La Costa (Thankful, 1977)

3.    I’ve Got Love on My Mind (Unpredictable, 1977)

4.    Our Love (Thankful, 1977)

5.    I’m Catching Hell [Living Here Alone] (Unpredictable, 1977)

6.    This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (Inseparable, 1975)

7.    Keeping A Light On (Thankful, 1977)

8.    Sophisticated Lady (She’s A Different Lady) (Natalie, 1976)

9.    Good Morning Heartache (Natalie, 1976)

10. Mr. Melody (Natalie, 1976)

11.  Peaceful Living (Unpredictable, 1977)

12.  I Live For Your Love (Everlasting, 1988)

13.  Your Eyes (Unpredictable, 1977)

14.  Unforgettable (Unforgettable with Love, 1991)

15.  I Can’t Say No (Inseparable, 1975)

16.  Annie Mae (Thankful, 1977)

17.  Say You Love Me (Snowfall on the Sahara, 1999)

18.  Mona Lisa Smile (Unforgettable with Love, 1991)

19.  Miss You Like Crazy (Good To Be Back, 1989)

20.  Lovers (Live) (Natalie Live!, 1978)

Click below to see one of Natalie's best and my favorite Natalie Cole performances. 

Natalie Cole: Sinbad's Summer Soul Jam