The As-I-Amber Podcast & BlogCheck out the “Summer Drive” playlist I curated. Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal!
Apple Music users click here:https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/summer-drive/pl.u-gxblMNJFED3lDv
Tidal users click here: https://tidal.com/playlist/823a93fd-5cdc-42f5-9b2f-0dd4b247a676
Spotify users click below:
Beyoncé’s #Homecoming film chronicles the singer’s 2018 Coachella music festival performance. Beyoncé was scheduled to perform at the 2017 Coachella music festival, but was pregnant with twins Rumi and Sir Carter, and had to postpone her performance to 2018. The Coachella music festival held in the California desert was way too expensive for my budget, so I was happy her performance was live-streamed on YouTube to watch for FREE! I was so hyped to be able to see an amazing performance from the comfort and air-conditioned atmosphere of home. I remember April of 2018 setting my alarm to wake me up so I could watch Beyoncè’s highly anticipated Coachella performance on YouTube. As soon as the drum line and band and dancers came out I screamed in excitement! Beyoncé’s epic two-hour 2018 Coachella performance had a live Black drum-line and many other band members, dancers, and even cameos from her husband Jay-Z, her sister Solange, and her Destiny’s Child group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. One of my favorite parts was when Beyoncè and the band swag surfed and danced to O.T. Genesis’ “Everybody Mad”, and oh so much more! As an HBCU graduate and Beyoncè fan, I felt so proud and validated that she paid homage to Black college and band culture during her 2018 Coachella performance and she is financially giving back to HBCU’s!
I remember in high school some questioned my choice and looked down on me when I said I was going to a historically Black school for college. My college experience at Fort Valley State University gave me opportunities to travel the world from NYC to Italy and has helped to shape me into the person I am. I wanted to see more of the behind-the-scenes of Beyoncé’s iconic and legendary performance. I may be biased, but Beyoncé’s work ethic is phenomenal! I’ve been blessed to have seen her in concert four times and she gives her all on stage! Who else can sell out stadiums in seconds, make award-winning albums, make films, have a family, and go on a world tour all within a short time span?!?! With that being said don’t forget to watch ” HOMECOMING” on Netflix and listen to the “Homecoming” album as well as my “As-I-Amber” podcast episode available on Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms.
Many people contemplate what to give up for lent, but do they actually know what they are celebrating and why they are giving up certain pleasures? Traditionally, Catholics and some Christians observe and participate in this season by fasting in remembrance of the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent fasting in the desert while also being tempted by the devil. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Lent is a time to focus on God and be more disciplined in order to further one’s relationship with God. Some people temporarily give up certain foods, social media, and certain words and behaviors. It’s also a time when many Christ followers prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ- – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection. So if you’re participating in Lent what are you giving up?
Here are some examples: (Choose to pick one thing or more if you desire.)
Before Ariana Grande and Tori Kelly became stars our parent’s generation had Teena Marie, and us millennials had Christina Aguilera, but whatever happened to pop and r&b star JoJo?! In 2004, JoJo was only 13-years-old when her debut hit single “Get Out (Leave)” was on the pop charts. JoJo also released songs like ”Baby It’s You” and ”Too Little Too Late” and made appearances in films like “Aqua Marine” and “RV” and released another album, “The High Road” back in 2006.
However, according to a lawsuit filed by JoJo her former label, Blackground Records, ran by the late singer Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Hankerson, would not release another official album. Blackground Records wouldn’t release any of JoJo’s music on streaming sites. The label pretty much “owned” her voice and she wasn’t being treated fairly. JoJo talks more in depth about this in a short documentary on YouTube by Uproxx.
JoJo was released from her contract, but has covered different artists songs like Drake’s “Marvin’s Room, T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It”, SWV’s ”Weak”, and Anita Baker’s ”Caught Up In The Rapture.” JoJo also dropped free mixtapes and EP’s like “Agape”, “Can’t Take That Away from Me”, ”Love Jo, and “Love Jo 2” before being signed to Atlantic Records.
In 2016 JoJo released an album titled “Mad Love” and went on tour. I had an opportunity to go to JoJo’s concert that stopped in Atlanta, Georgia back in April of 2017 at Buckhead Theater and it was awesome. The sold-out standing room only concert’s atmosphere was cozy and full of her diverse day one fans. JoJo’s opening act was rising star singer-songwriter, Stanaj, who sang a few songs and even took pictures with fans.
(Singer-Songwriter, Stanaj and I)
JoJo performed her older hits, cover songs, and newer songs from the ”Mad Love” album. In August 2017, JoJo announced her departure from Atlantic, in conjunction with announcing her new music venture, Clover Music, in a joint deal with Interscope. In April 2018, she announced the Leaks, Covers, & Mixtapes tour, which began in May.
Despite everything, JoJo’s been through in life battling depression and the loss of her father, and the ups and downs of the music industry she’s remained resilient and is still talented. JoJo recently re-recorded her older albums and they’re now available on streaming sites. Check out her Instagram @iamjojo. More recently JoJo and PJ Morton’s “Say So” won a Grammy and her newest album “Good to Know” comes out May 1, 2020. Don’t forget to watch the short JoJo documentary on YouTube below.
This was heavy on my spirit this morning. We all are trying to figure out and live life and do not always have time to see certain people as much as we’d like, but a simple phone call or text can really brighten a person’s day. Communicate with others not just because you want something from them. Listen to what people say and watch their actions or lack thereof. If you’re “the strong friend” you at times need someone to just be there for you for once. Reciprocity is so important! Realize that friendships and communication are a two-way street. It’s not fair to a person to always be there for others, yet when they’re in need or tables turn one isn’t there for them. Friends do not have to agree on everything, but tell one another the truth in love. Some people are friends for a season and others friends for a lifetime. Okay, rant over.😊
#supersoulSunday
#friendships
#proverbs
#friends
#relationships
#friendship
#reciprocity
#thestrongfriend
#browngirlbloggers
The As-I-Amber Podcast & Blog 