say what's good to...THIS IS IT

who: Take a wild guess
what: documentary premiere
where: Time Square, New York NY
when: October 28th, 2009

why you should care:

SCENE

Lola: So are you going with me or not?
Me: No I'm done with all of this MJ stuff...I really want to go work out
Lola: No seriously, I think we should go. I think it's, like, a thing.
Me: Ughhhh fine. But I want popcorn...and a hotdog.

END SCENE

...And that's how I found myself at the sneak premiere of "Michael Jackson's This Is It." When I pulled up to the theater (in the pouring rain, mind you) and saw all the glittery fedora-wearing ushers, I was glad Lola pushed me into going (thanks, sis!). When I tell you that the event was star studded, I mean, I walked in and sat next to Rachel Dratch, behind Andy Cohen (who was bopping to the music like it was his job), and in front of Alexander Wang. Russel Simmons was down the aisle and when I walked out Spike Lee and Amy Sedaris were walking with me. It really was one last gathering for all the industry folks to honor the musical genius that was Michael Jackson.

As the light's dimmed and Kenny Ortega, director of the film, came on to say his hello's to everyone watching (the premiere was broadcast in 17 locations simultaneously - Spain, Japan, Los Angeles, Amsterdam to name a few) I didn't know what to expect. Would it be tasteless and exploitative? Long and boring? Well...it was about 20 minutes too long, but definitely not boring and very respectful. For once, we actually got to see the King of Pop in rehearsal action. Phrases like "You gotta let it simmer. Let it bathe in the moonlight," when he felt the band was rushing, or "Lights out, let it burn" (his version of "it's a rap") showed us what a hard working perfectionist MJ really was. While rumors may have swirled about possible illness or drug use, all we saw was a hard-hitting dancer that schooled everyone around him. Full run throughs of "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Thriller", and "Beat It" were unbelievable, but my favorite parts of the evening involved MJ's iconic fashions! Red skinny jeans, gold sequin harem pants, brogues, TWO Balmain jackets (one with a silver studded lapel, the other leather) and animal print shirts. Dude had every piece of clothing I've longed for! Plus the body...he was as skinny as a 15 year old Russian model (gross on him, hot in fashion). Every designer's dream.

As I walked out of the theater, there were mixed reviews. Some thought it needed a good editor and others felt it was just right. We could all agree though, that we were left feeling a little empty. We desperately wanted to go to the actual tour...but knew how that was going to end up. So, all-in-all, while the celebration had a bit of an anti-climactic end...but it definitely wasn't...BAD [womp womp..ha!].

say what's good to...THE BIRDY SONG

HAHAHAHA

say what's good to...GIRL TALK

Me and Jenni of Daily Work It

who: Girl Talk
what: Mash-up DJ
when: October 25th, 2009
where: Pier 94, New York NY

why you should care:

Now, I'm usually not one for live music, my bff Paula will attest to that, but I took in the Girl Talk concert because all I had to do was test drive a Kia car to get two free tickets. Easy peasy and definitely worth it. What Girl Talk (real name Gregg Gillis) does is take small samples from other music (ie: Goodies by Ciara, Pop by N'Sync, Wonderwall by Oasis, and Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve), mash 'em up into one of sixteen tracks on the album and release it. Fifteen different hits in one song - perfect for a chronic car radio station changer like myself. As the NY Times magazine once said, pretty much a lawsuit waiting to happen, but in person, it's a damn fun dance party. I don't know how he does it, but the audience looked like they were having some sort of religious experience. Arms (and other body parts) flailing, clothes coming off, hyper-sweaty dudes...sounds like fun right? Check out this site if you wanna hear it for yourself and take a look at more pictures below.

nice photobomb, chick.

say what's good to...TRACY MORGAN x BARNES & NOBLE

please excuse my crappy photography

Who: Tracy Morgan

What: Reading of "I Am the New Black"

When: October 22, 2009

Where: Barnes & Noble, Union Square

Why you should care:

When I heard Tracy Morgan was giving a talk/reading about his new book “I Am the New Black” I knew this was not to be missed. Would he be drunk? How late would he be? Can he actually read? Well, folks, the answers are no, 10 minutes, and I don’t know because he never actually read from the novel (but I assume yes). What he did do, though, is drop some crazy knowledge on those that were able to get past the fact that he wasn’t performing stand up comedy and actually speaking from his heart. And so friends, I bring you… Tracy Morgan’s Pearls of Wisdom.

On life: “How do you prepare for life? You wake up in the morning and you live”

On Lorne Michaels: “Every Jewish motherfucker has to love one black guy. I’m just glad Lorne Michaels chose me”

On his talent: “I make mistakes. That’s all I got – mistakes. The funny and all that? That’s him [God] working through me”

On his arrival at the pearly gates: “When I get to heaven and I see God and he’s chewing his DoubleMint gum, I just want him to say good job man”

On reality television: “Shows like Real Chance of Love and Flavor of Love have girls acting disposable. Selling their lives for cock…or a clock.”

On his world today: “I’m not a part of the black community and I’m not a part of the white community. I’m a part of the entertainment community. If I go back to my old hood, they’ll rob me. If I go to a white hood, they’ll call the cops!”

On his novel: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m a 40 year old Black man! You think 198 pages is enough to tell my story? This is just the beginning honeychild. This book is my cocoon, but look what happened. I’ve emerged as a beautiful black butterfly”

And finally…

To anyone on the streets: “Slow down man! Take the iPod’s out ya ears and start making eye contact! If you see me say hello…you never know, I might impregnate you!”

say what's good to...QUOTE OF THE DAY

Cindi Leive: Have designers shifted their way of thinking since Michelle Obama or the recession?

Robin Givhan: After spending three weeks looking at runway shows, I have to say I don't necessarily think that designers have shifted their thinking. To see Balmain eighties shoulders and rock-and-roll jeans with chain mail in them doesn't make me think that anything has necessarily shifted because of our First Lady. The fact is that we're all still clinging to this idealized woman. And as much as they love and rave about Michelle Obama, when it comes down to who is that fantasy woman that they are connecting to, pining for, putting their clothes on for a fashion show, she's still five ten, and a size 2, and about 21 on a good day.

-Robin Givhan regarding Michelle Obama at the "Future of Fashion" discussion with Cindy Lieve, EIC of Glamour magazine, Isaac Mizrahi, Ashley Olsen, at the 92Y in (NYmag)

say what's good to...THE LAST CRACK HIPSTER!

I don't think this is what they had in mind

Who: The Last Crack Hipster

What: Character profile

When: October 21, 2009

Where: New York Observer

Why you should care:

Crack – the ever-elusive drug that people are always talking about. Ever wonder what exactly that stuff is? How to make, cook or buy it? Well never fear! Spencer Morgan of the NY Observer hung out with the Last Crack Hipster and his interesting (to say the least) account of said meeting completely breaks it down for us. Apparently, according to the LCH, crack is no longer wack, nor is it “the bogeyman that they [the media] has made it out to be. Instead, it’s the last drug the fuck-the-man, too-cool-for-school, downtown set can claim as their (rather, our) own. Coke and weed are for the yuppies now. Well…that’s certainly one way to look at it. Another, is that it’s a terrible drug that destroys tons of lives, families, and friendships. But hey, that’s just my opinion. What do you think? [NYO via Gawker]

say what's good to...TILDA SWINTON!

who: Tilda Swinton

what: fashion spread

where: Another magazine

when: Spring/Summer 2009

why you should care: People outside of the fashion industry seriously sleep on Tilda Swinton. She's a little...different (her open marriage and all) but I really enjoy how daring she is. Swinton could care less about what people think of her. This is an old spread, but I still haven't been able to take it down from my cube at work. What do you think?