Slow Jam Saturday : New Kids On The Block, Valentine Girl
Due to Valentine’s Day, February is sometimes known as the month of love. I wanted to try something unique for every Slow Jam Saturday this month by featuring every song and having the word Valentine in the title. First is the sentimental bop “Valentine Girl” from New Kids on The Block.
Leah McKendrick delivers an enjoyable debut with Scrambled
In-demand writer Leah McKendrick makes a charming directorial debut in Scrambled from Lionsgate. Nellie Robinson is a woman who has always been there for her friends. She’s the quintessential bridesmaid, constantly attending weddings, baby showers, and other events to support those she cares about. However, despite her willingness to help others find love and happiness, Nellie has yet to discover a way to get into the romance department. She’s been on more bad dates than she can count, and she’s starting to feel like time is running out.
Kings From Queens validates there is none higher than RUN DMC
Esteemed documentary filmmaker Kirk Fraser utilizes his talents to give flowers to one of Hip Hop’s iconic groups in Kings From Queens: The RUN DMC Story. The tripartite series presents a narrative previously untold about RUN DMC, arguably the most pivotal rap ensemble in music history. Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell came together on the unassuming streets of Hollis, Queens, before evolving into celebrated bastions of hip-hop culture—a genre once dismissed by critics as merely transitory.
Second Listen Sunday, JC Chasez, Schizophrenic
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I decided to revisit Schizophrenic to date, the only solo album from NSYNC solo member JC Chasez. It’s no secret that JC was the strongest among all the late nineties boy bands when it came to straight singing. In 2002, Chasez initially explored his potential as a solo artist when he collaborated with renowned producer Dallas Austin to record the track “Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love)” for the soundtrack of the movie Drumline. Riding on the wave of its successful single release, Chasez embarked on recording an album he aimed to set apart from NSYNC’s musical domain distinctively.
Slow Jam Saturday : The Jacksons, One More Chance
As fans anxiously await the Antione Fuqua-directed biopic on the King of Pop to hit theaters next year, I wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite ballads in his group’s catalog for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. That particular song is “One More Chance” from the group’s fifteenth studio album and the only one to feature all six brothers, Victory.
Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman star in the tame Miller’s Girl
Writer and director Jade Hallet Bartlett enlists the talents of Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega to navigate her debut in Miller’s Girl from Lionsgate. The film takes place at a college in the Deep South. It introduces us to Cairo Sweet (Jenna Ortega), a talented young writer who spends her days reading and nights hanging out with her best friend, Winnie (Gideon Adlon).
Second Listen Sunday : Billy Ocean, Suddenly
My choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday is a singer who had already been in the music industry for almost a decade before one of his songs dethroned Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” and reached the Number One spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Slow Jam Saturday : Shelia E, Next Time Wipe the Lipstick Off Your Collar
Sheila E. was born into a musical family and gained recognition through her work with George Duke. In 1984, she released her debut album, The Glamorous Life, which quickly became a hit. The album’s title track and follow-up single, “The Belle of St. Mark,” helped Sheila achieve mainstream success
Cult Killer is a murderous waste of time
The film introduces us to Tallini (Antonio Banderas), a renowned private investigator and former Interpol agent on his latest job.
The Kitchen is a solid directorial debut from Daniel Kaluuya
Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya steps behind the camera for the science fiction film The Kitchen from Netflix. In addition to co-directing the film with Kibwe Tavares, Kaluuya also pens the script with Joe Murtagh.
Single Review: Corey Clark, 2nd Chance
Despite being must-see TV for some over the last two decades, I’ve always felt that singing competition shows don’t do justice in promoting R&B singers. Whether it’s The Voice or American Idol, male R&B singers never seem to get the recognition they deserve, and for the most part, they don’t win the show. A case in point is the singer Mac Royals, who was cut from the most recent season of The Voice.
Second Listen Sunday, Stevie Wonder, The Woman in Red Soundtrack
In the summer of 1984, music legend Stevie Wonder had already churned out numerous hits and two classic albums in the form of Songs In The Key Of Life and Hotter Than July. Stevie Wonder still had tons of music left, though, and would soon deliver his second soundtrack album, The Woman in Red, to accompany Gene Wilder’s same tiled film.