Follow Your Heart <3

So as I lie in bed, eating the McDonald's McBreakfast my aunt just brought home, this story comes to mind. I'd like to share it with you guys. (Floetry voice: "Is that alriiiight?")

Yesterday I rehashed my MySpace Music page after a three year hiatus, and I'm excited and curious to see the reception I get. So far.... I haven't gotten any. I guess my "freinds" are tired of me "trying to sing." But that's what BEST FRIENDS are for. My friend Chris, who is a straight shooter, and has told me many a time when I sounded like garbage, liked my latest. That was encouraging, and I'm coming to realize Music is TRULY my PASSION. I don't necessarily want to be in the lime light, I would be perfectly content being simply a song writer or producer, but in order to get my lyrics heard, I would have to sing it first, right? Right.

http://myspace.com/PinkMuzikDC

So I've been downloading instrumentals of groups/artists I like, and freestyling over them. If I played an instrument it would probably be a little more effective, but hey, its just like a rapper creating a mixtape. So I'm going to keep doing me until I get and master my guitar. (Oh, by the way, I ordered a guitar, and its on the way. YAY ME! lol) But I digress...

The story

I've been singing in my church's choir since I was four years old. [Cue "Jesus Loves the Little Children"] I wrote my first song when I was about 10 years old. As I said before, I don't play an instrument, but because I love music, I figured out what keys sounded good in a specific order, and play a simple melody- the tune I was singing to, and proceeded to record it. Rather elaborately too. How you may ask? I recorded the lead vocals on my TalkGirl (yes, the tool Machuli Culkin used on Home Alone 2 to scare away the bad guys) and and recorded my melody and background vocals on my Yak Bak. Bet you don't remember what that is.

A key chain with two buttons: "Say" and "Play"

I then took my mom's recorder for her job and recorded the two devices playing. Thus, my first song.

I did this a couple times. I can't tell you what any of the songs were about. I just remember singing one, spelling my pseudonym: M-I-L-A. (Mila? La-Lauren and Mi-Michelle-- backwards. I told you, I was 10! lol)

Its sad this passion and desire never got nurtured, because no one knew I was doing it. Who knows where I would be if my mom had caught me and helped me develop the skills? Oh, well. What matters is what I do with it now. And I vow to never be stifled again. Hate it or love it, I'm going to sing. I also promise, that once I start a family I will support my kids in whatever they want to do- Science, Art, Sports; the world is theirs!

Ok. That was my mini rant continued from Twitter (because 140 characters are just NOT enough)

Follow your heart. Life is too short to live it the way someone else tells you to. Do what makes you happy.

Until next time,

BobbyPen

peace, peace.

Bald Bigwigs

The idea that "Less is More" has been picking up speed.

Celebrities left and right have been cutting off their locs for trendy looks.

(Was I wrong for this?)

Post-Britney Spears break down; I would give Rihanna the credit for breaking away from the Beyonce carbon copy ideal of beauty and stepping into her own edgy persona with the bob hairstyle back in 2007. Since then we've seen several other celebs take the big chop and opt for the bob with different twists.

Apparently the bob just wasn't short enough for Hollywood, and suddenly hair clippers went flying off the shelves, and barber shops were getting more than they could handle.

I guess since model and Kanye West's trophy vixen, Amber Rose was getting so much attention for revealing her scalp to us and wearing it well, everyone decided to try their hand. Over a month ago we saw singer Cassie shave the side of her long (rather lifeless) mane, and former MTV Vj LaLa do the same-- Interesting, but to each her own.

Maybe two weeks later we get wind that rapper Teyana Taylor and singer Chris Brown have matching HAIR CUTS; three lines cut in the back of a fade. Teyana's variation includes a French Roll with cascading curls over her face-- Again, nice for her. Her budding career is defined by her unique sense of style, and "f*** it!" attitude. This rebellion works for her.


Last Friday pictures surfaced revealing that singer Rihanna has again gone under the knife and shaved the side of her already short cut, giving her a more edgy and punk hair style. [I like Rihanna's rendition the best.]

Sometime this weekend I was informed that Ciara also cut her hair. We don't see any of her scalp, unlike the other cuts, but she still counts as being apart of the trend. She actually reminds me of a Jonas Brother a little bit, but she's still OK in my book.

And today, the cause for this post, pictures came out of singer/actress Solange Knowles' haircut.

She's been getting so much slack for it too. Some people like it, most have said they don't. I've heard jokes like "Now Solange looks like Jay-Z's little brother." Her son "Juelz has more hair than she does." and comedian Lil' Duval's tweets, "Solange round here looking like Reggie miller wit that 'wheelchair Jimmy' tape line up" and "Solange could've been in love right now if didn't cut her like t.o.n.y."

OK, if you have even the slightest sense of humor, you think they're funny. [I do!] But I think it's unfair to mock her decision to cut her hair. Like she has tweeted, she's cut her hair super low twice in her life- once when she was 16 and again when she was pregnant at 18. She's not copying anyone else’s style. She has done what she wanted to do for herself.
I applaud that, as I've recently cut my hair, and been too ashamed to wear it out. I've spread my wings and shed the tracks and braids. I'm all for it. Ladies, let go of conventional thinking. It's 2009! Long hair is no longer the only example of beauty. Take note, but be original.

Until next time,

BobbyPen

Ps. What do you guys think about the trend? How do you feel about Solange's bold move? Leave comments, and feel free to follow me!

Peace, Peace.

21 and Finally... ME

Tonight I was watching Black in America 2 on CNN with my best friend. Despite the fact that I myself am African American and happen to live in America, and have for 21 years, find the series really interesting.

Being the Twitter addict I am, I had my TweetDeck application running and began an interesting discussion with my beloved sister and friend. She had a problem with the statement the young man that attended the predominately white university in Pennsylvania (I forget his name). He explained to Soledad, the reporter for the series, that when he wears fitted baseball caps he doesn't wear them completely on, and tight to his head. He wears it back off of his face and cocked to one side. On campus, one of his peers asked him if he was a "thug" because of his style. His response was, "What? I look like Carlton Banks!!!"

I found this statement a bit comical, but more so accurate. He did slightly resemble Carlton, as he wore a sweater vest over a oxford button up, with the sleeves rolled up. Furthermore, his mother is a high powered attorney, and his father also holds an affluent position; Much like the parents of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's own Carlton Banks.

Alfonso Ribeiro as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Carlton Banks

I gathered from the statement that if he wanted he would rephrase his response to his peer to sound something like this, "I grew up in an environment much like yours. I was accepted into this institution with the same money and connections you have."

My friend and I ended up having a discussion on sterotypes. She didn't think it was necessary for the young man to compare himself to Carlton Banks, and I didn't think it was fair for him to be percieved as a "thug" because his fashion and more importantly ethnicity. My freind said that being a thug doesn't make you stupid. I agree with that. However, I know that that term is not a compliment, and wasn't meant as such.

Giving all this background to finally get to the point:

The young man wanted to be seen simply for who he is.

This is something I am coming to learn how to do. I want to be comfortable in who I am, so that I may be seen for who I am.

I've always been the type of person that wanted to be "in" with every crowd.

I wanted to hang out with the "nerds" because they were really smart and I wanted this academic success to maybe rub off on me. Not to mention the study sessions on lessons I didn't quite grasp the first time. I loved learning new things, and getting a better grasp on those things I already understood.

I wanted to be cool with the "artsy" crowd because they were unique. They march to the beat of their own drum. They don't care for authority or conventionality. They just want to do them. This shows a level of confidence that I was envious of. I loved learning to look at the same thing as the rest of the world, but seeing something different.

And of course, I wanted to hang out with the "popular" people. The girls were always the prettiest, the guys were always the hottest, and they were the best dressed. Who wouldn't want to get invited to all the parties, get the latest in celebrity (and real-life) gossip, and always be up-to-date on what’s "in." I loved that feeling of exclusion and elitism- having something not just anyone can get.

But later I came to realize that it was unfulfilling to have to be three different people at once. It's actually impossible and frustrating after a while. They are three different cliques for a reason- they don't live the same way. The "nerds" are considered lame, even though they tend to be the most successful of the group. We couldn't travel without engineers, we couldn't be healed without medicine, and I wouldn't be able to post this blog without technology. The artists are sometimes to social outcasts, and considered "weird" before "weird" became cool. Yet they provide entertainment and intellectual stimulation for us all, which is a staple of civilization. Where would we be without music, dance, TV/movies, photography, and other mediums of art? And the "popular" people create trends, and give us "regular" people something to aspire to. (Doesn't sound very important in comparison to the other groups now that I think about it, but they tend to get the most focus. Hmmm...)

My friends from DC are probably thinking: Ok Lauren, you're rapping, get to the point please.

Main Point: Everyone is important to society and should be viewed as such. Regardless of differences in interests, social status, or race/ethnicity, each individual should be judged by what they have to offer rather than stereotypes. Be yourself. You are special, and you should embrace that. It took me 21 years to finally get to that point. I've made the decision to stop reaching for something else, and just be content knowing that I can't be put in a box. I fit in any of the above groups on any given day, but none of the titles accurately describe me. They can't possibly accurately describe you either. So break out of that box and be the beautiful and extravagant creation you are.

Peace Peace.

~BobbyPen