By no stretch of the imagination does rapper/producer Kanye West have a monopoly on foolish statements made by celebrities, but if a hall of fame were to be created, he would certainly be among the first inductees.
West’s self-aggrandizing comments, steeped in arrogance and sometimes ignorance, include the following, and he gives new meaning to blowing one’s own horn.
“I am the most impactful artist of our generation.”
“I’m a creative genius. There’s no other way to word it.”
“I am a proud non-reader of books.”
“I will go down in history as the voice of this generation, of this decade.”
“My greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.”
“I wouldn’t even say that I’m a rapper. I’d say I’m more of a messenger.”
“If I was just a fan of music, I would think that I was the number one artist in the world.”
“I liberate minds with my music. That’s more important than liberating a few people from apartheid or whatever.”
PHARRELL WILLIAMS breaking down in tears during a very recent Oprah Winfrey interview was touching because it was obviously sincere and straight from the heart, nothing contrived about it.
Williams is overwhelmed by the worldwide success of his feel-good song “Happy” and the fact that people in large numbers all over the world have been posting videos of themselves on YouTube “happy dancing” just as was seen in his video. (There is cute one featuring kids from the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences.)
Winfrey was right when she said “Happy” is “being used for something greater than yourself.”
SPEAKING of television, the other day I was watching one of Shaun T’s omnipresent dance workout videos, and it occurred to me that the companies that manufacture and promote exercise equipment must cringe every time a Shaun T “Insanity” or “Hip-Hop Abs” infomercial airs.
The companies, dollar signs in their eyes, do their best to get people to buy what they are selling based on the precept that they need to. Mr. Thompson, on the other hand, says the main thing anyone needs is their own body and a good dancercise program.
Shaun T, by the way, is very well compensated for his efforts. We’re talking mega-millions.
By the way, I think he should develop a fun, less strenuous dance program for older people, who probably should never attempt the regular program but want some of the benefits.
MAYA RUDOLPH, talented and high-achieving daughter of the late, great Minnie Riperton and musician/producer Richard Rudolph, is taping a TV pilot titled “The Maya Rudolph Show,” with Raphael Saadiq serving as bandleader. It is scheduled to air May 19 on NBC. If the ratings justify it, NBC will add the show to its lineup.
Rudolph’s television and film credits include “Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaids,” “Rush Hour” and “As Good as it Gets.”
There is serious talk of the long-running, iconic and highly influential TV show “Soul Train” being developed for the Broadway stage. The theatrical rights were acquired by Matthew Weaver, an accomplished stage and film producer.
“Soul Train,” created by Don Cornelius and hosted by the visionary for most of its run, aired from 1971 to 2006.
“The music will be great, the fashions will be great, the ambiance, the vibe,” said Matthews who also cautioned that all of this has to be built around a good story.
Wow, just what we need, another slavery movie. Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, will co-star in the strangely titled “The Good Lord Bird.”
It’s important to know and embrace our history, but I think movies built around slavery have nearly reached the saturation point. I still can’t bring myself to see “12 Years a Slave,” even though it was highly praised and is now available for home rental.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that the Shirelles were the first female vocal group in history to have a No. 1 record on the national Pop charts. The song was “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The year was 1961.
MEMORIES: “O-o-h Child” (the Five Stairsteps), “The Glamorous Life” (Sheila E.), “Never Can Say Goodbye” (Isaac Hayes), “Son of a Preacher Man” (Dusty Springfield), “Vision of Love” (Mariah Carey), “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (Whitney Houston), “Hello” (Lionel Richie), “Shake You Down” (Gregory Abbott), “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to be Right” (Luther Ingram), “I Love Music” (the O’Jays).
BLESSINGS to Eric Merchant, Eddie Allen, Alexis Williams, Barbara Maddox, Ernest Maddox, Georgella Muirhad, Bob Berg, Stephen Singleton, Yukia Winston and Scherrie Payne.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Bob Dylan: “Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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