February 12, 2007

This Shirley Liquor Character

I generally don’t get behind boycotts and the likes, but check out this post Jasmyn Cannick has on that Shirley Q. Liquor character.

Here’s my thing with Liquor–he/she/whatever just isn’t funny.  And I’m not trying to say that my definition of what’s funny or what’s decnt should apply to others.  I can readily acknowledge when things that offend my sensibilities are funny.  This ain’t it.  I’m saying that I see no way on Earth this act can be funny unless you just think things in blackface are funny.
And that’s not cool.

So check this out and do with it what you will.  ‘Tis my public service announcement of the day.

February 12, 2007

Why Yes, You Are Getting Old

It just dawned on me that Mary J. Blige’s debut album, the dope-as-all-get-out What’s the 411?, came out 15 years ago.  15!

Now for the interesting part–she’s straight up in the Stevie Wonder category on longevity.  She hasn’t put out a bad record yet–not that many great ones, but no bad–and there’s always heat on her records.

Where should we put her in the pantheon of singers?  She’s no Aretha Franklin, but Aretha’s worst records are a million times worse than the bottom of Mary’s catalog.