Vogue Classics

Is this a trip back memory lane? Covers of old issues of Vogue magazine certainly have a classic and inspiring feel. (I'd love to have even one picture of myself so immortalised.) Would you believe that I came across these not in a gallery but along the corridor leading to the restrooms at a shopping centre? Makes you consider your own walls doesn't it? I for one, would love to have these blown up, sitting in frames on my own walls.
 

Chair Art?

This is too beautiful a piece of art to sit on. What do you think?

Mariage pluvieux, mariage heureux

Real love inspires me. Last saturday I went to what was officially my first French wedding and I admit, the best wedding I've ever witnessed. It was pure joy, unpretentious, not weighed down by ritualistic traditions; simply sincere and relaxed. So happy was I that I took a record 310 pictures (Yes, I take pictures when I'm happy).

To begin, I drove with the couple from their house to the Town Hall. When I got to the house, I was quite surprised to see the groom, Patrick, on site, getting dressed beside his lovely bride. I could ony remark "You're getting dressed together!" Nathalie, the bride remarked, "But of course, we can't go there naked." I couldn't help my next comment, "This is not what we see on TV, it doesn't happen like this!"

"Well this is more exciting, you see!" Nathalie assured.

So true! Nathalie's wedding ensemble started with a skirt she bought hurriedly in Syria earlier this year. Her friend Lucie , designer, could not resist its inspiration to create a wedding ensemble (headgear, tunic and inner blouse) that would represent Nathalie's Armenian ethnicity.

Oh, and did I mention that it also rained? All day? Well like the French say about rain on a wedding day: "Marriage pluvieux, marriage heureux". This is one is built to last. Félicitations mes amis, je suis trop contente pour vous.

'Til Shiloh, Me & Buju

"He who seeks knowledge begins with humbleness."

Of late when I'm a bit low in spirits, I find myself turning to the lyrical genious of the Gargamel and getting some real inspiration. 'Til Shiloh, my favourite, I admit; is a classic body of work, proof - I say without any reservation - which gives the artiste every right to class himself with the likes of Marley.

Shiloh, the intro to the album is a soulful, reflective and spiritual acapella:
Strangest feeling I'm feeling but Jah love we will always believe in Though you may think my faith is in vain 'Til Shiloh we chant Rastafari name.

"It's not an easy road", the Jamaican experience, and the artiste knows it, and on 'Til Shiloh Buju makes communion with the experience of his fellow countryman. "Who feels it knows" - economics, bad mind, murderers, political corruption, failed government - he represents them all empathetically from the viewpoint of the common man but with the spiritual optimism that eternally underlines the Jamaican psyche. Crime and violence are unfortunate threats in the Jamaican reality and the savagery does not escape the notice of the artiste. Yet he takes up the mantle of social responsibility and pleads rationality over the savagery asking, "The looting and shooting and the killing on the rampage, when will it cease?" A solution isn't so evident and in 'Til I'm Laid To Rest he underscores the restlessness of Jamaicans about staying on their home island. However, for those drinking the wine of violence, Mr. Buju warns, "Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder!" But, it is my foolish opinion that it is Untold Stories - with that sole guitar and drum and Buju's chanting- that should be our national anthem for how it captures the indomnitable spirit that proves again and again the sole enduring Jamaican resource.

Despite his current woes, Buju is arguably one of the greatest lyricist of all time, an artiste with dynamic talent and nuff style. In his Champion [Remix] the Gargamel makes his own introduction, just in case you've never heard of the likes of him, and he definitely lives his versatility on the album. It's All Over is another of the dancehall bubblers we expect of the originally rude bwoy dancehall artiste. On the original Champion who can resist the suaveness with which he lays the offer "Buju B. would be more than glad to take your hand and take you into the promised land... mi 20ft divan, all you have to do is be true so let's correspond". Sharp, yes, Champion brandishes Jamaican male bravado at its charming best. But the album is not all about male bravado, it is a showcase of the passion, dimensions and complexities of the artiste Buju, a coarsed-voice dancehall rude bwoy who also croons:

"Caught up passionately
in a love rhapsody
I'm like waiting on some honey
But there ain't no queen bee, Everybody a laugh
Some say I'm silly
No infatuation, no love fantasy
Woman you lead my life on a string
I can't take the on and off thing
I'm oh so lonely inside so I sing"

"I could go on and on" about the Gargamel, but in brief, 'Til Shiloh is an investment that will "lotion your feelings with all the positive meanings"; teach you how to skip over hard times, "walk like a champion, talk like a champion" and deal with the strangest feelings that come over us from time to time. Best of all, it reassures single folks that there is that at least one reflective, spiritual and soulful spunk of a charmer willing to rock you all life-long.

P.S.
"We must also bear in mind that international recognition is not the primary determinant of the success of any cultural form. Cultural products are designed primarily for a domestic audience. International success is usually a bonus."- Clyde McKenzie, Jamaica Observer (October 17, 2010)

P.P.S.
Here's the video, Untold Stories.

The Ting LARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever heard of this island called Reunion? In French, La Réunion? Well it's a teeny tiny island floating around in the Indian Ocean, just to the east of Madagascar off the South African coast. It's highlighted in the box on the map above.

Second question: Do you know where Jamaica is in relation to this island called Reunion? It's more than half way around the world isn't it?

Third question: Would you believe that on this dot of an island called Reunion, the people are going crazy over Elephant Man and Gyptian?

Fourth question: Who are Elephant Man and Gyptian?

Big entertainers on the local Jamaican dancehall scene.

Fifth question: What is my point?

THE TING LARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RiseUp Movie Official Trailer

"There is a place on earth where music is not just entertainment... But a way of life."

I can't tell you how very excited I am about the film RiseUp. Finally, a film that honours the efforts of our current music makers in Jamaica. Long live the successes of Marley, the Wailers, Tosh, Cliff and so on, but for crying out loud, the music didn't stop when they exited the stage. As a people we are music children it's what we do, how we live, not just for an era in time, but always. Whether they 'buss' or never to strike it rich, Jamaicans always have a tune to the sound of every mood and it is this which strikes a chord with their local audience. So what, they may never haul the global attention as did Marley, we continue to make music because we make music and that, is honour.

A million thanks to the producers for allowing me to share this with you. One love.

Paper Obsession

I don't know why it amazes me how I tend to accumulate stuff. I mean, everytime I do a big cleaning out, feeling like I've lightened my load, I suddenly find myself with more stuff. Until the other night, a friend pointed out that of course I will have a lot of stuff seeing that I collect handwritten notes and even pizza boxes! Is it so bad that I have a paper obsession? I can't help myself, I swear. I can't resist pretty little papers, nice little paper sacks, handbills, postcards, you name it. One suggestion I've gotten is to frame them. Thinking I might start with these.

These Streets: Tanya Stephens

This weekend, tonight at least, I'll be staying in from the cold, jamming to some old hits I found again from unpacking. Tanya Stephens is still my girl. You remember These Streets? Come on, watch the video and sing along. Couldn't help posting the lyrics below.

You know
I can still remember when it was just me and you
Suddenly it turn you and your crew
Forget everything bout your boo

I wish you woulda treat me like ya glock
I woulda love it if you keep me pon cock

I wish you woulda treat me like ya yacht
Keep me wet while the waves them a rock

Why can't you stay pon me like the corner
And keep your lips pon me like your marijuana

I woulda love it if you treat me like a club
Stay up inna me whole night just a bump'n grind'n rub

Bridge: You don't understand what your woman needs from her man
While you deh pon di streets all the time
Just bear this in mind
Whoa-oa

Chorus: These streets don't love you like I do
You need fi know that
You wanna keep your woman loving you
And you need fi show that
The love we have it take so much effort fi build
You about fi blow that
But just like a played out jersey
You about fi get throw back!

I wish you woulda treat me like a ounce
Me know ya nah leggo that when yuh bounce

You shouldda deh home knock boots like ya timbs
Need fi act older than the size of ya rims

I wish you woulda stay pon me like ya phone man
And never leave the house wit out me like ya crome man

Boy I wish you woulda treat me like ya whips
Your girl's a perfect ten but your benz them only a 5 and a 6

Bridge: You don't understand what your woman needs from her man
While you deh pon di streets all the time
Just bear this in mind

Chorus: These streets don't love you like I do
You need fi know that
You wanna keep your woman loving you
And you need fi show that
The love we have well it take so much effort fi build
You about fi blow that
But just like a played out jersey
You about fi get throw back!

Now the Feds have them case
And they gavel up pound
Me a look fi a familiar face, me nah see none around

When ya call me collect and give me errands fi do
Mi nah see nah hot gal, me nah see none of your crew

Government sieze everything, the Gs everything

And another baller dun take over di spot
A run, trees everything the keys everything
And ten calls a month is all you got

Sayin, now you understand
What I was tryin to say to my man
Why you dey an dere pon the grind, you shoulda bear this in mind

Say di streets dem nah give a damn, bundiddlydung
A just a place where ya peddle pon (need fi know that)

You fall in love with the corner, you can't say me never warn ya (and ya need fi show that)

These streets don't love you like I do

Yuh know these streets don't love you,
And oh these streets can't hug you

These streets don't love you like I do...

Settling In, Again

So I'm back in France, again. Second time around, things are definitely easier. Knowing more of the language helps, a WHOLE lot! And after a year, I have come to really love the rhythm, vibe and pace of Nantes. The city, small but not too small, is just big enough to live modern. I love the fact that pedestrians skip merrily across the tramline without worry, even in the face of oncoming trams; the sound of Bouffay on a friday night, skipping down it's cobblestone streets and alleys, pulling into a Kebab at 1:30AM; protesting french people bringing traffic to halt -- LOVE it all!

Most of all, as I try to get settled again, it's really nice going through the stuff I had packed away for the summer and listening to Queen Ifrica while at it. So this weekend as I struggle with this new season sniffles, I'm getting all nostalgic and reliving my past adventures. As for what plans I have up my sleeves, I'd say: The Rest is Still Unwritten. A lionness is on the rise!

Have a great weekend, tout le monde!

Baby, baby, baby ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ever since I heard that a very close friend of mine is expecting her first child, I've just gone gugu gaga over babies. I'm so excited, I simply can't wait. I'm even becoming a bit mushy reading over at A Cup of Jo's. For the first time in my life, I think I'm finally ready to be an aunt. I'm also soooooo loving the toddlers line by Sun Island. Send on the little reggae babies!!!!

Going Home For Inspiration 5: Nothing Like Caribbean Smiles

There is nothing, absolutely nothing that warms the heart as much as a real caribbean smile.

Sartorialist Ambition ^ ^

I think this country get up is in fact Sartorialist-worthy. Who's with me? Uhmmmmmmmmm.... anyone? Alors, it's the weekend, strike a pose!!!

Going Home For Inspiration 4: All Fruits Ripe!

Going Home for Inspiration 3: Kids in the Bush

Before life got complicated, there was childhood. No bills to pay, no decisions to make about dinner or exercise, career moves and definitely no worries about a supposed Mr. Right and the time of day he would finally stop by. Before busy highways and gated communities, before energy conservation, fatty snacks and obesity, there was the bush.

I grew up in Jamaica without what we now hail as basic conveniences. In my home/yard, there was no electricity, no running water or television. Such were luxuries. Looking back, I may have been a statistic, numbered among the poor. But so what, I was happy, I was free roaming through the bushes, searching out mango walks, harnessing firewook but igniting my imagination through the smells, textures and tastes of a well-scoured countryside.

Maybe for parents, it really was difficult economically and so it was better to trade in such sanctuaries for development and progress.

For me, I'm happy knowing that there is still such a pocket on the island where children can run free and create their own entertainment and happiness instead of waiting wholly on the servings of cable television. And as a grown child, I'm glad there is such an escape.