the cover to The Charisse Collection UNCENSORED DVD was designed to emulate the cover for Michael Jackson NUMBER ONES.
June 2009
Monthly Archive
Sat 27 Jun 2009
Thu 25 Jun 2009
from MTV: one world, one image, one channel
The dam broke with Michael Jackson in 1983. Jackson was a major pop superstar by this point and had just released the album Thriller featuring the song “Billie Jean.” Jackson was a CBS recording artist and CBS executives wanted the video on MTV in order to promote the album. It is rumored that when MTV refused to air the video(claiming that it did not fit their rock format), CBS threatened to pull all of their other artists’ videos off of MTV’s rotation (Kaplan 74). CBS recording artists composed approximately 25% of the videos shown on the network including Pink Floyd and Journey. The tiny network had no option but to air the video, which turned out to be one of the greatest things that ever happened for MTV. This forced breakdown of MTV’s initial narrow structure resulted in the explosion of MTV and Michael Jackson’s solo career. The video propelled Jackson into the homes of millions of Americans and his resulting popularity solidified MTV as a musical force. Since then, MTV has embraced artists of all colors and genres.
Thu 25 Jun 2009
from MTV: one world, one image, one channel
The dam broke with Michael Jackson in 1983. Jackson was a major pop superstar by this point and had just released the album Thriller featuring the song “Billie Jean.” Jackson was a CBS recording artist and CBS executives wanted the video on MTV in order to promote the album. It is rumored that when MTV refused to air the video (claiming that it did not fit their rock format), CBS threatened to pull all of their other artists’ videos off of MTV’s rotation (Kaplan 74). CBS recording artists composed approximately 25% of the videos shown on the network including Pink Floyd and Journey. The tiny network had no other option but to air the video, which turned out to be one of the greatest things that ever happened for MTV. This forced breakdown of MTV’s initial narrow structure resulted in the explosion of MTV and Michael Jackson’s solo career. The video propelled Jackson into the homes of millions of Americans and his resulting popularity solidified MTV as a musical force. Since then, MTV has embraced artists of all colors and genres. The first music video to feature and interracial coulple, Duran Duran’s video “Hungry Like the Wolf,” aired in 1984 and was celebrated by audiences nationwide.
Wed 17 Jun 2009
I’m at home watching the LA Lakers Parade going on now from Staples Center in Downtown LA. Currently leaving to head to the LA Memorial Coliseum adjacent to USC. I opted to skip going to campus for work today. It feels good. I’m not a general active lakers fan, but I will finally admit to being a LA girl. For years I defined myself as “a NY girl living in LA.” But today, after traveling this route daily and sharing the experience with my neighbors, students, and every other LA resident, I think I’m an LA girl.
Mayor Villaragosa is with Kobe!
Fri 12 Jun 2009
this evening i decided to straighten my hair for the first time in 4 years. while working through the knots, i was struck by a very familiar moment…
“damn this girl’s hair.”
i heard my mother’s voice as i sprayed the ends with detangler and ensured that each strand had just the right amount of luster’s pink lotion. it made me think. does michelle obama brush sasha and malia’s hair in the mornings? if so, does that mean that michelle obama’s voice can be heard in the white house cursing their hair? awesome.
yet another reason to love the obamas: they’d make a great sitcom. bill cosby could produce.
