Happy Christmas Eve!
Today’s post is an artsy selection of photos in the red just for your visual aMUSEment… 🙂 Also sharing with you, my Christmas single ‘Olugbala’ {Saviour} from the AfroSpire Demo. A free download, a gift from me to you. Have a Merry Christmas and Enjoy the holidays
Images from Pinterest and Google
Brrrrrrrrrrr…
It’s a rainy day in Georgia BUT it’s been snowy for the first time in a long time in the African country of ‘Egypt’. The snow that has blanketed much of the Middle East turned Cairo white on Friday – with local news reports claiming it was Egypt’s capital’s first snowfall in 112 years. Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock, some of the holiest sites for for Jews and Muslims were covered in snow yesterday. Early snow has surprised many Israelis and Palestinians as a blustery storm, dubbed Alexa, brought gusty winds, torrential rains and heavy snowfall to parts of the Middle East. (AP (The Associated Press) .
As you and I know, the main reason why large portions of the continent are hot (tropical or desert) is because large sections fall across the equator, as well as two very large sections that fall within the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. This means (in general) the continent has a very high exposure to sunlight, more so than countries in the northern hemisphere (e.g. Europe) so it’s either hot or dry or wet with rainfall in Africa in general. So this is some shocking NEWS that a part of Africa can not only dream of but see a white Christmas after all… let’s see what explanations environmentalists and scientists will have for this, I daresay, it could be a spiritual earth shift, maybe?.ha!
Click for more photos and Enjoy some music..
Beautifully Dream, Positively Do..
xoxo
Tosinger
Happy Friday…
So Beyoncé shocked the world with a surprise ‘overnight’ iTunes release of a new 14-track self-titled ‘visual’ album (as she calls it) while breaking a few known traditions of the music industry 1. released without promotion 2. you cannot get the singles, you have to get the whole album 3. complete with a video for every song (plus three additional visuals) i.e there are videos already recorded for each of the songs on the album with 0.30 previews on YouTube. 4. The album graphic has no creative element. 5. Physical CDs not available yet…etc. . Who else can pull that of?
One of the tracks of interest ‘Flawless’ includes a surprise guest, a narrative feature from the Nigerian globally acclaimed author/writer “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie” known for her strong and well delievered views. Plus, as observed, mainstream American pop (or not) artists are favoring a lot of African partnerships in recent times, Bey just did a very unique thing with a literal talent rather than a musical one. Hopefully, this intellectual property use is generously compensated ;). Other features are Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, Drake, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland and Blue Ivy herself on “Blue.” This feature is not a review of the album so I guess if you are a Beyoncé fan, you can get it here
11. ***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s TEDxEuston talk, ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ is featured on a song on Beyonce’s new album.
It will be nice to hear a public statement from Chimamanda on how she got involved but until then I guess we will wait. I don’t know what to think of the visual below, artistic maybe?
According to a Fuse report: Explaining why she delivered the full album and accompanying visuals without any prior warning, she noted in her statement: “I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I’m bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.” Well, that’s a sign of creative dreamer or a publicity stunt? What do you think?
Apparently, this was of course, well prepared for in advance, it is what I will call ‘A Planned Surprise’. She will be getting, surely enough, major publicity post release, being a major artist brand. Who says things have to be done according to a norm, it’s time to dream and break the rules, you just might succeed doing that, like Queen B…
Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing…
xoxo
Tosinger
♫ It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas ♫
Thanking God for the gift of his son ‘Jesus, Our Savior’ (‘Our Olugbala’ in Yoruba) as we celebrate another Christmas, we must all remember to focus on the reason for the season – ‘Emmanuel ~God With Us’. Thanking God also for the gift of music and for blessing ‘Yours Sincerely’ with the gift of ‘Voice’. 🙂 I am particularly honored and blessed to be continually recognized over time and afforded diverse platforms of expressions to share my talent. I love Christmas carols. As a teenager, I caroled with groups in my neighborhood and loved every moment of it. I sang with my Grandma in Catholic church choir and also witnessed various cathedral type music concerts. I believe these experiences contribute to my place on a larger stage today.
Afro /African, Folk, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, NeoSoul, Gospel, Reggae,I sing ’em all , well maybe not ‘Hip-Hop’ lol but I will be swimming in a not regularly chartered waters this coming Sunday, on an operatic and classical note 🙂 as I appear as a Guest Soloist on the classic version of a song ‘Ise Oluwa’ which is also on my AfroSpire Demo project here . So if you are based in Atlanta, come out to the Emmanuel Cantata 2013 organized by The Maboush Group. Its a formal dress code event and its FREE with registration here
Hope to see you there. Come see your ‘Dreamer Girl‘ climb some glorious notes 😀
Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing..
xoxo
Tosinger
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!
Hope you all enjoyed your thanksgiving day ( Friends in the US Diaspora) So I did the Essence Photo Challenge for Tuesday’s “Someone you are Thankful for” and Thursday’s “ThanksGiving Dinner Table” on Instagram. Out of the overwhelming multiple entries, my instagram photo made the 1 of 4 Essence fav picks for the ThanksGiving Dinner Table challenge. How cool is that?
Here is the winning photo, menu list under the photo on my Instagram. While you are at it, follow if you will. 🙂
Thank you Essence Magazine!
In other random thoughts, don’t make faces at other peeps’ dogs in parked cars
Ha! Ha!
Watch this
Be Safe,
Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing..
Tosinger
xoxo
Hello Friends…
To those who live in the US, you know what time of the year is. Yep! It’s Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, goes without saying we all know everyday IS a day to be thankful; but here goes the history of Thanksgiving. To everyone in general, well this may serve as a useful info for you especially if you like to be prim and proper in your hospitality/presentation.
Here’s a graphic on how that dinner table is really supposed to be set if you ever wondered what the correct way is. I am guilty of random placement in the past 🙂 . Click to enlarge.
As for the menu, I almost always don’t really do (some things) as the Romans do when I’m in Rome, I tend to do things that the Romans will find intriguing and interesting enough to maybe, copy. In that light, so as to be not much of a rebel, my thanksgiving menu this year will be about 85% a deviation from the norm, I will of course be cooking the proverbial turkey, dodo (fried plantain – my fav), Jollof Rice, sauteed vegetables, tossed salad, rolls, stuffing, pad Thai shrimp, sweet potato casserole, pan roasted brussels sprouts, with sides of spring rolls, meatpies, fruits & pumpkin pie as dessert and/or cheesecake (my fav), and any other spontaneous item that pops up in my head tomorrow {self confessed Queen of Spontaneity } 🙂 . It’s really a simple and intimate one this year. So what’s on your menu?
Above all, I am thankful for you, me & mine and all of God’s blessings..
Thanks for stopping by and Have a Happy and Enjoyable Thanksgiving!
Cheers
Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing…
xoxo
Tosinger
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