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“The Photograph” Movie Review

The hour and a half film, “The Photograph”, directed by Stella Meghie, starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, in my opinion, was a cute romantic drama about a journalist and photographer’s daughter. Maybe I’m biased because I went to school for journalism, like taking pictures, and have been a fan of actress-producer, Issa Rae’s work since her YouTube series “The Misadventures of An Awkward Black Girl” to HBO’s “Insecure”, but I liked this movie!

Ultimately you’ll have to watch for yourself because everyone thinks differently and has experienced different things in life. If you’re not a fan of romance or love story films then this movie may not be for you. In media, it’s kind of rare in 2020 to see a love story or romantic film between a young black couple.

As a millennial black woman, it was refreshing to see a young dark-skinned black woman and a young black man navigating love and life without being a dysfunctional “Love & Hip Hop” drama, traumatic “struggle love” stereotype. I usually don’t like the romantic type of movies, but this film was pieced together so beautifully. It was nice to see a darker-skinned black woman be the love interest and not the “sidekick friend” always consoling everyone else and being without a love interest.

It was also nice to see a young black man in a movie that was not an athlete or a criminal. From the song choices curated by musician Robert Glasper, ranging from songs by Anderson Paak and Lucky Daye, to Issa’s flawless skin and makeup I give the film production a 9 out of 10. I wish certain parts were more in-depth, but maybe that’s the purpose of art to make you come up with your own ending. Go check it out for yourself and see the movie trailer below.

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90’s R&B Playlist

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Turning 29…

Today marks my 29th birthday! I share a birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Founders’ Day. Shout out to all the people who have birthdays right before, after, or during major holidays. The last two birthdays I’ve had I’ve taken touristy solo trips, but this year I enjoyed a serene spa treatment instead of a long day in an airport security line.

Chillin’ at the Spa on My Birthday!

Anyway, y’all it hit me that 2020 is not only the beginning of a new decade, but it is the last year of my twenties! I’m a grown-up. It seems like yesterday I was an 18-year-old college freshman with no worries and now I’m an official adult that pays bills, yet still watches Disney, needs a snack, and a nap to function.

I do not feel sad about getting older and wiser and I can’t complain. Turning 29 is an interesting age because it’s not a milestone birthday like turning 16 or 21, but 29 is a year from 30! 30 isn’t “old”, but you’re not that “young” either. I find myself at an in-between age. I don’t want to go to parties with the “college kids” and I do not want to hang with the AARP cardholders at the Charlie Wilson concert. Do you get my drift? Society tells us what we should be doing or accomplishing certain things by a certain time frame. The majority of people in your age bracket are starting families and getting married.

Then in this digital age, it is easy to compare our lives to what others choose to display on social media and we think that we “should” have accomplished certain milestones by a certain age, and if not you’re somehow behind or a failure in life. Yet, I’m here to remind you all that God made you a unique individual. Everyone’s life path is different and it doesn’t make you better than or less than if you achieved or experienced certain things more or less quickly on this journey of life. I’m reminded that I have a lot more of life to live and every day and moment is a gift. So cheers to being 29 and fine and another year older and wiser! The best is yet to come!

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Design of a Decade

Check out the latest episode of my “As-I-Amber” podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & iHeart Radio.
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Ariana Grande’s #SweetenerWorldTour 2019

December of 2019 I attended Ariana Grande’s “Sweetener World Tour” at Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina and I enjoyed myself! Although the pop/R&B singer, Ariana Grande, is in her mid twenties, her fan base is a wide range of ages considering some of her fan base knows her from when she was a child actress on a Nickelodeon children’s TV show to her adult pop star life. There were a lot of preteens with their chaperones, teenagers, and college-age adults there.

Near the t-shirt and merchandise lines in the arena were areas for young people to register to vote. I thought that it was cool that Ariana is using her platform to make sure her fan base is registered to vote in local and national elections using the hashtag #thankunextgen.

At 8:25 pm the lights in the stadium went off and the opening act was the pop/rap duo Social House.

They’ve written songs for various pop stars and performed a couple of songs. After Social House performed there was a break and most of the audience sat in anticipation as a pop and r&b playlist ranging from Whitney Houston to The Backstreet Boys played in the background until it was time for Ariana to hit the stage. At 9:25 pm the antsy crowd went crazy because Ariana finally hit the stage and there was a huge moon lunar eclipse prop behind her and the dancers.

Ariana had her signature ponytail hairstyle and her petite frame was glowing belting out ”An Angel Cried” followed by other songs like ”R.E.M” ”7 Rings”, ”Side to Side”, ”Breathin’”, and other tracks off of her ”Sweetener”, ”Thank U Next”, and ”Dangerous Woman”, “My Everything” and “Yours Truly” albums and since it’s December she performed some songs off of her “Christmas & Chill” mixtape.

I left the show a little early to beat traffic. Overall I enjoyed the almost sold-out show and the visuals. I just wish Ariana would’ve come on stage earlier considering the concert ticket said 8 pm and she didn’t start until almost 9:30 pm. Ariana was energetic and her voice was crisp and her dancers and the band were on point! If you’re interested in more concert details follow the #SweetenerWorldTour hashtag on social media or check out http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Below is a Spotify playlist with some of my favorite Ariana Grande songs. Click here for Apple Music and click here for Tidal.
Categories
Uncategorized

Ariana Grande’s #SweetenerWorldTour

December of 2019 I attended Ariana Grande’s “Sweetener World Tour” at Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina and I enjoyed myself! Although the pop/R&B singer, Ariana Grande, is in her mid twenties, her fan base is a wide range of ages considering some of her fan base knows her from when she was a child actress on a Nickelodeon children’s TV show to her adult pop star life. There were a lot of preteens with their chaperones, teenagers, and college-age adults there.

Near the t-shirt and merchandise lines in the arena were areas for young people to register to vote. I thought that it was cool that Ariana is using her platform to make sure her fan base is registered to vote in local and national elections using the hashtag #thankunextgen.

At 8:25 pm the lights in the stadium went off and the opening act was the pop/rap duo Social House.

They’ve written songs for various pop stars and performed a couple of songs. After Social House performed there was a break and most of the audience sat in anticipation as a pop and r&b playlist ranging from Whitney Houston to The Backstreet Boys played in the background until it was time for Ariana to hit the stage. At 9:25 pm the antsy crowd went crazy because Ariana finally hit the stage and there was a huge moon lunar eclipse prop behind her and the dancers.

Ariana had her signature ponytail hairstyle and her petite frame was glowing belting out ”An Angel Cried” followed by other songs like ”R.E.M” ”7 Rings”, ”Side to Side”, ”Breathin’”, and other tracks off of her ”Sweetener”, ”Thank U Next”, and ”Dangerous Woman”, “My Everything” and “Yours Truly” albums and since it’s December she performed some songs off of her “Christmas & Chill” mixtape.

I left the show a little early to beat traffic. Overall I enjoyed the almost sold-out show and the visuals. I just wish Ariana would’ve come on stage earlier considering the concert ticket said 8 pm and she didn’t start until almost 9:30 pm. Ariana was energetic and her voice was crisp and her dancers and the band were on point! If you’re interested in more concert details follow the #SweetenerWorldTour hashtag on social media or check out http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Below is a Spotify playlist with some of my favorite Ariana Grande songs. Click here for Apple Music and click here for Tidal.