It’s not every day I do back-to-back entries here on the same subject. But it happens to be the birthday today of the one true Kylie that’s still on top after all these years, so how about a post on some of her hits from way, way back? (Hey, it’s also Throwback Thursday!)
THE song that introduced me to her! I was only a kid, but whoever played the music at my birthday parties and family gatherings back then had pretty good taste because I remember hearing this. (And seeing the old folks at said family gatherings bust their hips to this 😆)
Her early 90s stuff gets so slept on, so I’m more than happy to boost them! Whoever said she never did a track with a rapper has never listened to “Shocked”.
And after seeing a bit of this on her Netflix docuseries, I had to include the full version here! Her and sister Dannii are pretty good here, and I’m always a sucker for campy 80s glamour.
TL;DR version: it’s great, could be longer, but watch it anyway you won’t regret it!
Almost a week ago, “Kylie”–a three-part documentary series detailing the life of pop superstar Kylie Minogue–debuted on Netflix. I didn’t catch it on debut night, or even the day after it debuted because busy. I finally had time to watch the first two parts last Friday, and I just finished the final part yesterday, and what a finale it was.
Today would’ve been the 100th birthday of jazz music legend Miles Davis, and, in honor of his centennial, here are some of my favorite songs of his.
A blueprint.
(a little note: this song gets a mention in my eBook The Playgirl😁)
An underrated track that was influenced during his time in France.
You can probably tell what my favorite album of his is 😄
Bonus clip: here’s Miles performing with the one and only Prince back in the late 80s!
To know that Miles has made songs with other legends like (among others) Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins (who had just passed away, RIP), and Prince in a span of five decades is wild. And while I’m aware Miles was a prick in life, damn if he didn’t produce some amazing cuts I’ve ever heard.
I really was pulling for Meg & Klay to go the distance. For all of her successes, she has also gone through so much hell, and was it too much to ask for her to have a decent man who would treat her right? I’m aware that Klay was a ho (for IG “models”, lmao) during his Warriors days, but I honestly thought he changed when he met Megan. I thought he would be that decent man for her. I was wrong. He’s still a ho, albeit the dumbest ho right now who cannot and will never win another ring, and will never have anyone better than Megan. Talk about a generational fumble. 🤦🏻♀️
Cindy Crawford wearing Gucci, on US Elle magazine, March 1996
I touched on this in a previous entry, but the fashions of Spring 1996 really deserve its own entry! Not only did the runways that season boast color and prints across the board, the consensus seemed to be easygoing, natural, yet chic and modern. This was not fast fashion soaked in muted neutrals and mid quality (at best), nor was it frumpy, dumpy, or cheap-looking. Then again, unlike the past couple of years, 1996 was a pretty good year, if you ask me. (More about this later.) And pretty good times, coupled with an economy on the rise, call for pretty good fashion.
Versace Ready-to-Wear (RTW), Spring 1996
(Amber Valetta was practically the face of spring ’96 fashion!)
Chanel RTW, spring 1996
(Also, Yasmeen Ghauri had THE body for all the clothes then!)
Calvin Klein RTW, spring 1996
Todd Oldham RTW Spring 1996
Versus by Versace, spring 1996
Oscar de la Renta, Spring 1996
Valentino RTW, spring 1996
Ellen Tracy, spring 1996
Gucci RTW, Spring 1996
(This look above, by the way, is something I’ve tried to replicate for reals. I got plenty of black tops; it was trying to find a skirt that looked similar that was a challenge. Why are there so many frilly beige tradwife on the prairie-looking ass maxi skirts around?! Only until I went to a Bloomingdales did I find it–and on clearance! I paid around $25 for a colorful silk (?) A-line skirt that originally went for around $100. No thigh-high slit on the side, but it still works.)
The many geek chic looks of Prada RTW, spring 1996
Prior to spring 1996, there had been retro revivals in the previous collections, from the disco glamour of fall 1994, to Hollywood’s golden age for spring 1995, and 60’s mod style for fall 1995. Though the 90s arrived during the grunge era of the early 90s, I feel like the decade finally found its own glamour that spring.
The colors, the craftsmanship, the effortless chic…simply gorgeous and timeless. Give me all of it!
Note: the ad campaign pics were pulled from this website. Bookmark it if you’re a lover of 90s fashion ads/editorials like me!
I may have saved a life five years ago, but 35 years ago, someone saved mine. It happened 35 years ago this Spring–unsure what exact month but you can’t blame me as I was only 6 when it happened. What I do remember is: I was in the Philippines at some beach resort my family and I were staying at, and I was running around like unrestrained six-year-olds would. I’m not sure what got me into the pool; I don’t recall being pushed or knocked into it. Somehow, I do remember falling down and down, unaware I was sinking into the deep end. And then someone got ahold of me and brought me back up. When I returned to surface, I saw my parents and relatives surrounding me, making sure I was OK. I wasn’t in a state to where I needed to be revived via CPR or go to the hospital, but I was definitely disoriented from it all. And, as far as I know, I didn’t sustain any neurological or health issues from the incident (thankfully).
That someone who saved me from drowning was my cousin. I’ll always be thankful for her, and while I haven’t seen her in almost 30 years, I hope she’s doing well.
All this said, I still have not made the efforts to learn how to swim since then. You’d think my parents would’ve enrolled me in swimming lessons right after that, but nope. (And young me probably would’ve noped out of those swimming lessons then because I was scared of drowning again!) I’d be the girl who would either hang out in the jacuzzi or in the shallow end of the pool while watching others play Marco Polo in the deep end. Other things held me back: weight issues, money issues, lack of time, still scared of drowning…Now, it’s just trying to find some free time in my schedule. I guess I got another goal to achieve by or before I turn 50 (the other goal being having little to no debt): learning how to swim.
Zoot Sims, Joshua Redman, Billie Holiday, Pete Fountain, Fate Marable, Ivie Anderson, Meade Lux Lewis, Mezz Mezzrow, Manzie Johnson, Marcus Roberts, Omer Simeon, Miff Mole, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Freddie Slack, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Teagarden, Max Roach, Paul Celestin, Muggsy Spanier, Boomie Richman, Panama Francis, Abdullah Ibrahim, Piano Red, Champion Jack Dupree, Cow Cow Davenport, Shirley Horn, Cedar Walton, Sweets Edison, Jaki Byard, John Heard, Joy Harjo, Pinetop Smith, Tricky Sam Nanton, Major Holley, Stuff Smith, Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Mr. Cleanhead Vinson, Ruby Braff, Cootie Williams, Cab Calloway, Lockjaw Davis, Chippie Hill, And of course Jelly Roll Morton.
(Gonna be a critic with this one…I would’ve liked to have seen jazz legends like Coltrane, Armstrong, Fitzgerald, or/and Davis mentioned because I don’t know some of the names in that poem. Even Xtina knew who the jazz greats were!)
Happy Passover, Jazz Appreciation Month, and National Poetry Month to all who celebrate!
And last but definitely not least, today’s anniversary girl, Mariah Carey! (born March 27, 1970)
I also learned yesterday would’ve been the birthday of the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (born March 26, 1950). Though I don’t see him as a diva (maybe not in the traditional sense), his artistry cannot be denied! This here remains one of the best love songs of the 70s (maybe ever)…but for some odd reason it also reminds me of 1996’s The Nutty Professor. 😆
