Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts

08 November 2024

Classic Movies : 'Mahogany' Taught the True Value of Being a Success

"Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with."


That's my takeaway quote from the 1975 film "Mahogany".

Agree or disagree?


There was once a time when Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams were an "item"; for movie couples, that is. They had great onscreen chemistry but never a real-life romance.

They had a romantic relationship in the film Mahogany (1975).  A movie that is memorable for its really nice theme song and great fashion; especially that Bob Mackie rainbow dress Ms. Ross wore in one of the scenes. When it comes to fashion, beauty, and style though, in real life, Ms. Ross was and still is one of the best-dressed women in the entertainment business; onscreen and off. Click through to view a fabulous gown she's wearing in the video for this September 2014 article:

Diana Ross : Still a 'Supreme' Performer



Diana Rossby peterpicture /  /  / ©2018 peterpicture


Nothing much to say about this motion picture that you can't look up on Wikipedia. That quote about success struck a chord with me though.  That's it!  That's my movie review.

Mahogany (1975)

 


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http://mabellonghetti.tumblr.com/post/145188247227/diana-ross-photographed-by-steve-schapiro-1970s

Cool Tumblrs : Movie Reviews Written as Haiku Poems

Found the most amazing entertainment blog! On my list of Cool Tumblrs, this blog ranks Numero Uno!! In fact, this blog is Number One no matter what platform it's published on.  

The publisher writes movie reviews in haiku. 




Takes quickie movie reviews to another level.  Right?  This person should have a segment on one of the entertainment TV shows where they come on at the last minute and recite their movie critique/poem for a new movie release.  It would only take 2 or 3 minutes.


The post archive dates back to 2005.  Even found a few movies that I never heard.  The only thing that could blog even better would be to include foreign films, i.e. not made in America or not made by Americans.


Here is the link to the haiku of a Johnny Depp movie that everybody was raving about.


  Black Mass | Review in Haiku



Note:  The real Whitey Bulger died in jail on October 30, 2018.  Cause of death?  Murder.  YAY! That's all she wrote!

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23 September 2024

Asian-American Legend ~ Bruce Lee (Nov 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973)

God bless the Internet and especially social networks, bloggers, and online writing communities. So there’s this really cool guy – Nathan Bernardo, aka NateB11 – and he is a loyal and devoted martial arts disciple. He knows a lot about MA and writes articles on the topic. Of course, in America, we know that the reason we know about kung fu, karate, and all that stuff is because the one and only Bruce Lee told US it exists and proved it by teaching US how it’s done! 

Bruce Lee departed this world in 1973 leaving behind a legion of adoring fans, some of whom would give birth to future admirers.  Legion!  Some of his fans – like my kids – hadn’t even been born yet!!  To this day, whenever information is published about this legendary martial artist, people just can’t resist taking a peek, to see if it reveals anything more about Mr. Lee that we did not know.

Check out this HUB by NateB311.

16 Interesting Facts About Bruce Lee



“If you truly love life, don't waste time …” by Eduardo Tuma




Bruce Lee – The Evolution of A Master Art Legend by Advance Martial Arts







* *  SIDE NOTE – Home and Garden Design Tip:
If you have ever seen the popular film Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee, then you probably remember the scene where the old British gentleman meets with Mr. Lee in a garden to discuss recruiting him for a mission to catch a bad guy.  Did you know that the design of the garden where they had the meeting was based on principles of feng shui?

13 September 2024

Do You Love Reading Children's Books?

Do you enjoy reading books for children? Not reading children's books to children for their education, entertainment, and enjoyment. But do you - the adult-like reading them?




Several years back, my spouse and I contemplated the idea of writing books for children. We even had ourselves tested to see if we had the necessary skills and aptitude. We were looking for a means of earning income while working from home and caring for our young children and thought this might be a viable solution. The test results were persuasive, so we decided on this path to pursue our financial goals. We will never know if we would have been as successful as the author of the Harry Potter books. After a few manuscript rejections by various publishers, we turned our efforts to more practical, more immediate, income-earning opportunities.

Although no longer interested in writing books for children, I discovered something about myself that I did not know. I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in children's books. Not reading them to my children or to children, but I like reading them for myself. Yes. It's an indulgence.


Many books for children, adolescents or young adults are about 100 to 250 pages and are a quick read. Those marvelous children's picture books with their exquisite illustrations are even shorter reads; about 25 pages, pictures included. But what a wonderful distraction they are from the daily grind of work, housework, grocery shopping, and other mundane chores. They're so adventurous and other-worldly. Reading children's books actually refreshes and energizes me.


During the course of our failed attempt at becoming children's book authors, I found numerous writers in this field that I wish I had been introduced to when I myself was a child. I had never heard of many of them and yet they were award-winning, outstanding, notable, respected authors. Laurence Yep, Katherine Paterson, Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Yolen are four such writers.

So, if you're wondering what would be a guilt-free indulgence to set yourself free from your daily routine for just a few moments, try reading a children's book. Choose books by the authors mentioned above, or if you don't know where to begin, visit Al's Book Club for Kids. Oprah also publishes a Kids' Reading List. Although these lists were created with children in mind, they are perfect for those of us who want to indulge our inner child.



References:

Suggested link: Children who have published books and have made an impact on the world of literature. Click this link to read Literary History: Children Authors. It's fascinating!


Original Source
( NOTE: Full article previously published a YAHOO Voices.  YCN website shut down.  Portions of republished various places around the web. )


Browse books by the authors:
Laurence Yep
Katherine Paterson
Madeleine L'Engle
Jane Yolen

27 May 2024

Movie Review: Flame of Stamboul (1951) (Reblog)

An alternative title for this blog post could be:  "Welcome to the World of Double Oh!"  Check out Double O Section, a blog for reviews of all things espionage like this 1951 movie.

"After the defeat of Germany at the end of WWII (and the end of the Forties spy classics that went with it) and before James Bond came along, most spy movies were simply crime movies with exotic settings. But as the Cold War warmed up, a few managed to subtly buck the trend in the 1950s, in some ways presaging the direction the genre would go in the Sixties, following 007's explosive cinematic debut. Columbia’s B-programmer Flame of Stamboul, directed by Ray Nazarro and starring the future governor of Hawaii Richard Denning, is surprisingly such a film. ..."






This blog's first post is dated October 2006 and is titled simply "List"; "a Top (double-oh) Seven list of people in the world of fictional spies to keep an eye on."  Interesting list.

As of 2023, it appears this amazing blogger is no longer publishing posts. But the content is still online for reading.  Sharing the link below to the latest post.  Posts date back to 2006.



10 May 2024

The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales (Guest Post)

Book Review: The Black Girl in Search of God and Some Lesser Tales by Bernard Shaw


The title piece in this anthology is a parable on the nature of religious belief. When first published in 1932 it caused quite a stir and I wondered whether the intervening 75 years might have rendered it something less of a shocker. I found that, apart from one violation of current political correctness and a few inevitable stylistic issues, the message had lost none of its poignancy and perhaps little of its ability to shock.




"The Black Girl in Search of God" is not a novel or a novella. It is not really a short story either. I choose to describe it as a parable because others have, but equally, it could be classed alongside Plato's symposium as a vehicle for examining a philosophical idea. It's not a discourse, but it could be a meditation, albeit a rather energetic one. The idea in question, of course, is the nature of religious belief.

The Black Girl of the title is only cast as such, I think, to provide Bernard Shaw, the author, with a literary vehicle to convey his otherwise naĂŻve questions about Christianity. To this end, The Black Girl is presented as a "noble savage", and thus a tabula rasa. It is here - and only here - that Shaw violates current correctness. The character could have been cast as a child, but then she could not have threatened to wield her knobkerrie, her weapon, and nor could she have been portrayed as bringing no tradition of her own. We must accept, therefore, that there remains a functionality about the role of this character. She does not represent anything, except her ability to ask the questions she is required to ask.

The Black Girl has been converted to Christianity by a young British woman who has taken delight in amorously jilting a series of vicars. She then becomes a missionary, despite her clearly thin grasp of the subject matter. She is, perhaps, an allegory of colonial expansion. She goes abroad to teach others despite not having achieved fulfillment or knowledge in her own life. It might be important that the teacher and the taught are both women.

When her convert starts asking questions, fundamental questions that the missionary herself has never heard asked, never mind answered, she reverts to invention, not scholarship. Shaw's intention is clear. She invents myth to mystify myth. And this cloak satisfies the curiosity of the average Christian, but not The Black Girl, who thus goes off in search of God.

And, guided by snakes, she finds Him. And not just once, because there is more than one God in the Bible she carries. There is the God of Wrath, who demands the sacrifice of her child. When she cannot comply, He demands she find her father so he can sacrifice her. A good part of the Bible thus disappears from her new-found faith.

She meets an apparent God of Love, but he laughs at Job for being so naively and blindly devout. More of her book blows away.

She meets prophets who, one by one, deliver their different messages, most of which conflict and communicate individual political positions or bigotry rather than personal revelation.

On the way, she belittles Imperial power and male domination. She learns that most "civilized" countries have given up on God and hears a plea that people like her should not be taught things that the mother country no longer believes.

Scientists offer her equally conflicting opinions. They are careful only to describe, never to conclude or interpret. In a way, they are just modern prophets, each with their own interested positions.

There is an amazing episode where a mathematician implores her to consider complex numbers, the square root of minus x, which The Black Girl hears as Myna sex or perhaps its homophone minor sex, and is clearly a reference to feminism. Along with economic power and male dominance, The Black Girl sees guns as the highest achievement of white society. This anticipates the description of colonialism's trinity in Ngugi's Petals of Blood.

Then, in a strange section, an Arab discusses belief with a conjuror. These appear to be a pair of major prophets in thin disguise. But their discussions merely confuse the girl and their words skirt her questions.

And so she meets an Irishman, marries and settles down. She devotes herself to him, their coffee-colored children and the fruits of their garden. Note that she does not devote herself to herself. She projects out, does not analyze within. And in this utterly humanist universe she finds not only personal happiness, but also fulfillment and, with that, answers to her own metaphysical questions that religion per se could not even address.

And so, as the parable closes, we ponder whether the Irishman she marries is Shaw, and whether The Black Girl is the questioning, non-racist, non-sexist, socialist and humanist vision of the future he has personally espoused.

And as for the Lesser Tales, they are generally lesser. Don Giovanni explaining himself was fun and the Death of an Old Revolutionary Hero was prescient of the role of the Socialist Workers' Party adopted in maintaining Margaret Thatcher in power in the 1980s. A great, historical and fundamentally contemporary read.



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Author Bio
Philip Spires
Author of "Mission", an African novel set in Kenya
www.philipspires.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content



09 May 2024

Entertainment: Celebrities: In Memory of: Doris Day (1922 - 2019)

Must say good-bye to "America's girl next door" and Hollywood legend, Doris Day.  She had a major influence on my childhood development.  She charmed me.  That was her appeal.  I think she charmed everyone; publicly and privately.  I loved all of her movies.  No really.  There is not one movie she starred in that I did not like.  


For me, the most memorable movie was the one where she sang "Que sera, sera" and she had to land that airplane: The Man Who Knew Too Much.  It was a departure from her usually light-hearted comedy roles.  That movie was very serious and she played her part quite convincingly.  I have wonderful memories of this fine actress.  

She wasn't included in My Top 10 List of Iconic Female Celebrities' even though she suits the definition for "iconic". It's because she deserves a spotlight all her own.



22 April 2024

Music Entertainment: Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia

Bob Marley is a personality that many people like to write about, including yours truly. There are many things about his lifestyle I did not agree with, but there are lots of things about his music that I like, such as the fact that some, if not most of his song lyrics were based on scriptures. 

Bob Marley (1945 - 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, guitarist, and activist who was a pioneer of reggae music. His music blended elements of ska, rocksteady, and reggae with American soul harmonies, and he became known for his distinctive vocal style and spiritual lyrics. Marley's music increased the visibility of Jamaican music around the world, making him the first international superstar from the Third World and selling more than 20 million records. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and won a Grammy Award.

Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945 in Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica and died on May 11, 1981 in Miami, Florida at the age of 36 from acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). He became a Rastafarian icon and a symbol of peace and unity. In 1957, he moved to Kingston with his mother and formed the group the Wailers with Neville (Bunny Wailer) Livingston, Peter Tosh, Beverley Kelso, and Junior Braithwaite.

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Google AI-Generated Content. Based on these References:

“Bob Marley | Biography, Songs, Albums, Death, & Facts | Britannica.” In Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Marley.‌

Wikipedia Contributors. “Bob Marley.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 16, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley#:~:text=Robert%20Nesta%20Marley%20OM%20(6,with%20a%20sense%20of%20spirituality..

‌“Bob Marley.” YouTube Video. YouTube, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlTDckOOQ2jREOvuCShGbw#:~:text=Jamaican%20singer%2C%20musician%2C%20songwriter%2C,the%20so%2Dcalled%20Third%20World..

‌Hsu, Hua. “Manufacturing Bob Marley.” The New Yorker. The New Yorker, July 17, 2017. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/manufacturing-bob-marley.

‌“Tragic Death of Bob Marley from Toe-Nail Melanoma | Dr. Michael Steppie,” 2024. https://www.dermorlando.com/blog/tragic-death-of-bob-marley-from-toe-nail-melanoma#:~:text=Prior%20to%20his%20diagnosis%20of%20skin%20cancer...&text=Unfortunately%2C%20a%20dark%20lesion%20under,acral%20lentiginous%20melanoma%20(ALM)..

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14 March 2024

Get the Facts or Generate Them

Remember Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, TV detective from a once popular television called Dragnet? If you do, then you also know he is remembered for saying this one line which he always said whenever questioning female witnesses or suspects, in order to solve the crime: “Just the facts, mam.

Just the facts, Ma'am. (n.d.) Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price. (2011). Retrieved July 26 2016 from http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Just+the+facts%2c+Ma%27am


This website is extremely popular so the information presented in this blog post may not be news to many of you. But for those who have never heard of it, check out this site called “Mental Floss”.





Below are two plusses about this site that you might like.

Plus #1) Need ideas for something to write about?

Have a go at the tool they refer to as the “Amazing Fact Generator”.
For example:
FACT! Every film John Cazale appeared in was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Isn't that cool?

So my only question now is: Who is John Cazale ? (O.o) :)


Plus #2) You also have an opportunity to submit a fact to be added to this database. Do you know an amazing fact that you can express in 300 characters? “Suggest a Fact”.








08 March 2024

The Color Blue (The Science, the Psychology, the Humor)

So red is my favorite color. But when you're nobody … nobody cares what colors you like (except close family and friends ). Blue is Jay-Z's favorite color which is important because … he's Jay-Z or Jay Z!! (Used to have a dash, now his name doesn't have a dash.) Here's a question that never occurred to me and bet Jay Z never thought about it either. 

When Did The Color Blue Actually Start To Exist?



Remember the dress that broke the internet? Well, once that went viral, people started talking about colors and the science behind how we perceive the color blue. Kevin Loria went beyond that by trying to figure out the history of our perception of the color blue.




Look up! The sky is blue. Gonna take a wild guess. The color blue is probably the same age as the sky. Click the link for the answer. According to the writer of the article found at cloudhax.com, ancient civilizations did not have a word for the color “blue” in their languages. Interestingly enough, this is the order in which words for colors appeared in human languages : first there was black and white, then red, then yellow and green, and last of all, blue.



That's fascinating.


Not quite convinced the research produced the true findings.

But since it's not a matter I'd care to probe any further … in the words of the wise guy philosopher … Aw! Forget about it!
Content first published on PersonaPaper, April 8, 2015.


The Color Blue: What Does It Mean And Symbolize?

Blue ribbon is in 20th century still a synonym of high quality and is typically given to winners of different competitions, for instance in sport, but also in culinary or at certain fairs. Did you know the most prestigious colleges like Oxford and Cambridge are sometimes called blue brick universities?








27 December 2023

My Worry-Free Philosophy (Humor and Serious Truth)

“Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss, now I've got you in my sight.”

( Lyrics from GoldenEye - http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tinaturner/goldeneye.html )

I love me some Tina Turner. Her being picked to sing a James Bond theme song? So worthy to be chosen to become a member of the same club as Dame Shirley Bassey. She performed this song well, but alas … Revenge is not a part of my worry-free philosophy. 




The advice in the image above (found at glitter-graphics.com) says: “Never go to bed angry. Stay up and plot your revenge.”

Eh! That's great for a joke! But not a route one should take in real life.

 Never go to bed angry. Anger is an emotion that you can fully control. CONTROL IT!! Anger, more often than not, makes you do things you regret for a long long long time.

Say what? Jesus got angry with the money changers in the temple? Yeah well, you're still trying to get to heaven. Don't screw up your chances! Jesus is already there! He can lock the gates!! ☺


Also, don't give me that crap about anger management or you'll make me angry!!  


 Stay up and ... Stay up? WHAT???!!! I get precious little sleep as it is!! You want me to choose between beauty rest versus wrinkles, extra gray hair, and bloodshot eyes? What are my other options?


 Plot my revenge? Plotting is needed when writing a book or a script for a movie. If I have that kind of time to spare and can spend it on plotting, might as well write a book. Why not? I'm wide awake anyway!! You never know. Could be another Harry Potter series.

So the bottom line is: 
Revenge is _______________. In my life, it's a blank and I'm never going to fill it in.



Like to read more of my worry-free philosophy? Click this link: My Worry Free Philosophy You have my assurances that none of the quips and quotes were borrowed from Erma Bombeck.



IN MEMORY OF: Erma Bombeck (1927 – 1996) 
Ms. Bombeck is a beloved American humorist. She was noted for using the vehicle of comedy to aptly and succinctly express practical wisdom and advice encapsulated in witty, terse, hilarious statements.


March is Women's History Month and it seemed fitting to honor her and supply a link to an article which shares some of her selected quotations: http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_erma_bombeck.htm

 

A salute is also due to the Bond goddesses: Tina Turner and Dame Shirley Bassey. My List of the Best Classic James Bond Theme Songs




Photos of Erma Bombeck and Shirley Bassey, Public Domain





(Post First published March 2015.)







29 November 2023

Entertainment: Movies and TV : War Movies From the 60s

Are you a John Wayne fan? If so, I sure hope you will not feel disappointed when I say that I do not share your admiration. I am not a John Wayne fan at all. It sounds un-American, but it’s the truth. I never really liked John Wayne movies, particularly when he portrayed a person in the military because he never served. Some want to imply or hint that he was a draft dodger. I would feel uncomfortable taking it that far. Besides, many think that the roles he played as a person serving in the armed forces of the United States were great for the morale of the real soldiers. So dissing him for not serving would be kind of unfair because boosting the morale of a soldier far away from home is an admirable service and an act of patriotism. At any rate, this article is not about Mr. Wayne. It is about war movies. Read on.


When trying to compile a listing of war movies that left a mark in my memory, since I grew up during the Vietnam era, The Green Berets (1968), made my initial list. However, it was subsequently eliminated.

The Green Berets, which starred John Wayne, is about the war in Vietnam. It was taken off my list because it was difficult to recall any memorable movie quotes.  On the other hand, the words in the theme song were memorable.

Song Lyrics:
“Put silver wings on my son’s chest. These are wings of America’s best. One hundred men will test today. But only three, will wear the green beret.”

The Green Berets (Warner Home Video)


Seven (7) movies did make the cut (by my standards) for memorable military flicks.
“Some people have a sixth sense. He has a sixth, a seventh and an eighth.”
Can you guess which war movie that quote is from?  Answer.

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War, 10-Movie Collection: The Eagle and The Hawk / The Last Outpost / Bengal Brigad / Jet Pilot / Ulzana’s Raid / To Hell and Back / In Enemy Country / Raid on Rommel / Battle Hymn / Wake Island





Military Movies & TV Shows Released 2010 & After ~ Available via Amazon Video






Source:  Webnuggetz.com

01 November 2023

The Heavenly Idol (2023) : Korean Drama Based on a Webtoon

The Heavenly Idol (2023); 12 episodes

This Korean drama series is adapted from a webtoon, titled “Sungseureowoon Idol”, written by Shin Hwa-Jin. The spirit of a loyal and pure high priest who faithfully serves the god in the Other World is switched and he ends up in the body of a Korean idol in a K-pop boy band in modern-day Seoul. Never mind how it happened. How does he get back?

Heavenly Idol
Image credit: Kim Min Kyu Is A Priest-Turned-Idol Whose No. 1 Fan Go Bo Gyeol Becomes His Manager To Save Him In “The Heavenly Idol” | Soompi

Fortunately, in the modern world he still has his divine power, so he can continue to heal people and fight demons. It’s a good thing too because it seems that the devil has also switched and is in the body of a top executive in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the devil is bringing in his minions from the Other World to serve him and to recruit new followers. The high priest meets an idol fan who thinks he is suffering from multiple personality disorder. She determines to help him get medical treatment for his mental health “illness”.

Eventually, she comes to recognize that the man she knows as a K-pop idol is not the same as the man she has befriended. He is not an alternate personality, he really is an entirely different person. She resolves to help him defeat the dark forces that have come over from the Other World, and in the process, falls in love with him. Their relationship gets sort of complicated. Not only are they from two (2) different worlds, but priests are supposed to be celibate. Will evil be defeated and true love find its own way? (Watch on Viki.)

REF:  My Korean Drama Reviews on Quora

08 June 2023

Disney Princesses Meet the 21st Century Teen

Tried to do a quick list of the names of Disney Princesses WITHOUT searching for them on the Internet . Thought I could do it but I failed. Was able to draw at least ten from memory , listed below. After that I started going … UM … the one with red curly hair ??? ... and … Uuuummm … the two sisters in the “Frozen” animated flick … uuuhh … ???




  1. Snow White 
  2. Cinderella 
  3. Sleeping Beauty 
  4. Mulan 
  5. Ariel 
  6. Anastasia 
  7. Rapunzel 
  8. Tiana 
  9. Pochahantas 
  10. Jasmine


Times have sure changed from when I was a little girl. Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty - they were the ones that were role models. Each one of them ended up with the handsome prince, who took them to a beautiful castle home, and lived happily after. 

My youngest daughter is a budding teen, having just turned age 14 last week. Asked her the other day if she had a favorite Disney princess. 

Without skipping a beat, she passionately blurts out: Anastasia, cause she don't need nobody to do nothing for her; and Tiana too, cause she worked!”

Oooookkkkayyy. Let me back away slowly from my little 21st century girl. :)

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[ RE: 21st Century Girl - Willow Smith ~ ~ Link if YT video does not load: https://youtu.be/w5h8MU59Zro ]




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{ P.S. Yes Willow Smith and my daughter are both the same age. But don't be jumping on me about Willow Smith and her wild behavior! I ain't Willow Smith momma and daddy. I'm just sharing a link to her video. }


Wiki List of Disney Princesses
- http://disneyprincess.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Disney_Princesses


Mother Jones | Are Disney Princesses Evil?
- - http://www.motherjones.com/media/2011/01/peggy-orenstein-cinderella-ate-my-daughter



[ Content first appeared on Bubblews, Mar 17, 2015.  That site shut down. ]


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30 May 2023

Harp Music: Sacred, Classical, or Jazz?

The harp is mentioned more often in the Bible than any other musical instrument.

The harp is an earthly instrument with a heavenly sound. It can soothe a troubled soul.


At one time there was a debate about whether or not the harp was solely a religious musical instrument. 

But thanks to breakthrough musicians like Jeff Majors ... 

The question mark is now a period!

Harp music will always be used as religious music, but it is no longer used ONLY FOR religious music.  That's because talented harpists like Jeff Majors use his instrument to play all of the genres:  sacred, classical, jazz, and gospel.

In Jewish history, it is written that when King Saul was tormented, he asked for someone to play the harp for him to calm his spirit. A young harpist named David was recommended. The lad was surely an extraordinarily talented musician because he was often summoned to play for the king to relieve his distress. When David grew up, he succeeded Saul as the second king of ancient Israel. Music continued to be an integral part of his life, and in addition to being an accomplished harpist, he also wrote psalms (songs).

Unfortunately, none of the harp music of King David was preserved, so we can only imagine what those hauntingly beautiful and caressing melodies may have sounded like.

Fortunately, Jeff Majors is a harpist with a great imagination!

He is a uniquely gifted harpist. Possibly the best in this generation!

Jeff Majors followed his dream. Literally. He actually had a dream about playing the harp and decided he would learn. He was taught by the late Alice Coltrane (1937 -2007), jazz pianist and harpist, and the spouse of the legendary John Coltrane (1926 -1967). Once he mastered the instrument, he set out to share his musical gift with others.  On his official website, you can read about his journey: from forming jazz bands to hosting a radio ministry to reaching millions through his television program, “The Gospel of Music with Jeff Majors”.

Along with Alice Coltrane, Mr. Majors credits the late Dorothy Ashby (1930 -1986) with influencing his musical style. The ladies Ashby and Coltrane proved that the classical harp instrument could be easily and effortlessly integrated into jazz compositions. Through collaborative efforts with other artists, he has set to music some of the Psalms written by King David. Many of his admirers know him for his interpretation of Psalm 23, which he performed at the memorial service for Coretta Scott King. 

Majors’ music is categorized as Jazz Contemporary Gospel, and sometimes New Age. If you have not heard of this exceptionally talented musician, then it may come as a surprise to discover that his first album, “Sacred”, was released in 1998. That is correct. He and Hanifah have been around for over a decade. 

  • Hanifah is the name of his harp. ( A female given name: from an Arabic word meaning “true believer” .) 
In 2006, he was invited to perform on the Oprah Winfrey Show.You know what they say. When you make it to Oprah, for sure the world knows you now! You are officially on the map!

So did I learn about Jeff Majors watching Ms. O? No. It was a couple of years ago. I fell asleep one night and my husband stayed up watching the television. I started having a wonderful dream. I won't share my dream. It's private. But when I willed myself to wake up, I heard this gentle soothing melody floating through the air. Curiously I peeked to see what my husband was watching. Jeff Majors was on TV playing the harp. Lucky for me, my husband recorded the program on video tape so we can view it again and again and again.


Two Questions

After discovering Jeff Majors and doing research to learn more, there are only two questions remaining that are unanswered.

* Question 1:  Why no Grammy?

* Question 2:  If you had a harp, what would you name her?



Original source
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