Teenbeat IV

Well before Christmas I mentioned they'd be a hiatus in the Teenbeat articles and now that's over we're back.
This like most of them is connected to my past in as much as this artist Chaka Khan as part of the soundtrack of my life as I grew up (don't laugh!) with her sounds being on the radio as well as the emergent MuchMusic and MTV television networks.
Born Yvette Marie Stevens in Chicago, Ill. in the late 60's she took the name Chaka from the Yoruba word for 'fire' and following the break up of her marriage to an Indian bass player kept the Khan surname as part of her stage name. Unlike most of her generation, her singing career didn't start via Gospel singing in the Church but more from her listening to Jazz and in 1972 she joined what became Rufus, a R&B band (when R&B had rhythm and blues) who signed to ABC Records recording seven albums as their lead singer.
By 1978 however the lead wanted to a solo career and so signed  to Warner Bros working with producer and arrnager Arif Mardin creating five albums together.
That is where she entered my life though the radio play given to her '45 "I'm Every Woman" where that voice and Arifs arangements hooked me although ther 1981 album with "I Know You I Live You" passed the casual R&B fan.
By 1984 she was back getting column inches with the funk and electro influenced "I Feel For You" complete with turntable scrathing helped by popularity of the previous years "Ain't Nobody" a product of the last contractual release with Rufus followed by the "This Is My Night" and "Eye To Eye" in 1985 which remain favourites of mine from that era.
What makes this complilation "The Essential Chaka Khan" attractive is it overs the whole 1978-1996 period completely so we get to hear tracks like her version of "End Of A Love Affair" (a Billy Holiday number) from the 1988 C.K. album, "Love You All My Lifetime" from 1992's The Woman I Am  as well as tracks from her final Warners album Epithany so providing a great oversight into her  vocal abilities as well as a few raretities.
The sound quality is very good on this disc and as this is a budget double on Music Club Deluxe (UK) is inexpensive making a good introduction to her catalogue.

The New Year 2012 Edition

I usually write an entry on sites and what not around this time of year as kind of reflection on the years events and maybe some clues about where I think I or the site may be headed.
I'm not much good with worms(!) but 353 days ago something pretty big happened and by around 340 days ago the very thing you are reading right now came live.


The scene was "The Meadow" where after a period where other kinds of places just weren't giving me what I wanted, a chance encounter with Prissie gave an hint of a place where I girl like me might belong getting more out of it from where I had been.


It wasn't like a good many places entirely visable for some very good reasons but in the end I placed my trust in Prissie's description, signing up and plucking up enough courage to tell everyone a little bit about what makes me, well me.


That was when I started to learn something about you dear reader as you welcomed me to "The Meadow" around what sort of girl you are, your fashion tastes, interests and so on.


Some of you were using words I wasn't familar with and I guess you weren't familar with mine as B.C to me means a Province in Western Canada not a part of the English Midlands!
It soon became apparent I needed to tell you more about me than a series of jottings ever could and so asked around and looked at some of your sites and having seen LittleKarenMaries place it came to me what this site could be about, not just a all about me site but also a site that shared the LG spirit with readers.


In time this lead to the mention of UK Chat and Sammy who hosts it, which added another dimension because not only was I learning more about you, we were interacting in real time as LG's (apart from a certain Squirrel and a few LB's!) where I'm nearly always dressed in my take of LG cos we're all a bit different.


I described on site the experience of encountering you all as one of the bests gifts I've ever had and I meant it because you all have helped me in ways you may not of realized to freely express my LG self both on line and in everyday life that has made me so happy this year even through the Pawley(tm) days.


So thanks Fellow Meadow people, readers of Sparkle and also thanks to Sammy for IK plus IK Chat and the christmas colouring drawings.
Love Joanne.
P.s. stay tuned folks!

Christmas adventures 2011

Ho ho ho! This wasn't the kind of Christmas entry you would of expected a year back don'tcha think but it says a lot about how I feel about me that it's here
This year was special and I do intend to do a end of year piece and one way in which it is is this Christmas had a little side to it of which the first thing was Theodore who kindly wrote about himself yesterday.
The other crazy thing was my sister in law came on over and both of us were singing and making actions to along to that great rockin' number Wombling Merry Christmas by the Wombles as it was on the local radio station as she arrived! This didn't phaze her partner either.
One thing I missed for long time was a tradition of boxes containing a selection of candy usually chocolate children always have presented to them and this year the Hello Kitty selection box put in an appearance.
As well we had annuals and this year I had the Beano annual a comic I grew up with remaining a barrel full of child like fun I could sit on the floor and read. I like Minnie The Minx and the Bash Street Kids.

The initiated know I love reading not withstanding the difficulties I have with both holding books and also with my reading abilities and so I had this years Jacqueline Wilson annual which apart from having some drawing sections, also has some new short stories to read and I adore her books loads.

After going out to eat, I watched Ratatouille on the tv which was fun as for some reason I'd missed seeing it at the local movie theatre and made a note to get the dvd as anything that funny could help on either rainy days or when I'm not well.

A word from "The Bear"

Hewwo. I'm Theodore the IInd I am. I came into Joanne's life today this magical day called Christmas to add a bit of sparkle into her life as she just loves teddies bears giving the most loveliest hug to us bears.
I was at a bit of a loose end at the bear home when she told a woman she really wanted me for Christmas and you know what? Not once did she peep at me until today! I'm hoping she'll have some great adventures with me.
Regards Theodore II

Christmas edition

Well depending where you live you may have not only your own outdoor Christmas trees but trees that are for everyone.
This tree is ours - a joint venture between the local Council and the wider community here - that was put up and illuminated a few days ago ready for Carolling by. I just love singing carols.
It may be a small thing but it makes people feel happy which is great.


I'd like to say in advance Happy birthday to Kita Sparkles for Monday hoping you have a super time.


I don't know for sure but the may not be a blog update until after Christmas day at the earliest so
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The Nutcracker

The last of the two inspired by posts are for a great story-writer who is into also into games  plus contributes generously to 'the community'  although her partner, being poorly, needs her attention too.
She loves ballet and this one is a favourite of hers and also of mine.


The Nutcracker which is based on the E T A Hoffmann tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King music by Tchaikovsky.
It was originally choreographed by Marius Pepita and Lev Ivanov being premiered at the Mariinsky theatre, St Petersberg and seems to be the most ballet being staged in the UK this Christmas season.
Here are two images from the Northern Ballets' production in 2010

I also see we're getting a few more readers which is great news so if that's you, thanks a bunch!

Christmas adventures

I suppose the first words for this entry was it wasn't planned, honest, it just came to me that there two entries inspired by comments by two people I respect in 'the community' that I felt like making.
I think I'll begin by saying this one is for a person who really has a way with words and isn't afraid to express her convictions, something that at times we all need to do.
Presently, she's doing a series of posts on her blog, Sparkle (link in my favourite sites tab) for advent about various things with a season connection and yesterday's was a story around family get together involving children and a chance gender role play reversal.
Well within my family the cross-dressing element didn't happen as such but it was generally the case that I played along side my female cousins in various games involving teddies, dolls, and super cute animals, leaving my brothers to play with cars or computer games that I had no interest in at all.
Like most of you there was always a bit of a fuss about what to wear which is where the story departs from the normal cos I tended to wear things a like a cherry  blossom print shirt that would pass a blouse really and unisex pastel pink cord pants under which I did wear tights as mommy had put me in them pretty early on. She's full of contradictions and stuff like that like not buying you actual girls attire but then giving you stuff positively girlie to wear!
We'd play pass the parcel which was always fun while the grown ups had a sherry or two being relied upon to keep good order among ourselves that I guess those of you who see me at two forums can probably spot the years of experience at it!
One of the highlights over Christmas was, when I was at my Nan's, Grampa who'd swing me on the swing at the end of his garden something Mommy was terrified of, never letting me at home fearing my poor co-ordination would result in a messy accident but I managed it okay.
Christmas's were always memorable for us never more so for te chance to be a bit more like my inner self.