Brooklyn does MJ Day
August 30, 2009
So what happens when Spike Lee gives a block party in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in honor of Michael Jackson’s birthday? 10,000+ crazy devoted fans show up to reenact scenes from Beat It, sing at the top of their lungs, share their love for the King of Pop and celebrate his 51st birthday. We know he isn’t laid to rest yet and it’s been weeks since that fateful day we heard of his passing…but in all the tributes, and after several replays of his tunes, it’s clear that at least here in Brooklyn, we will never tire of Michael Jackson.
I was absolutely crushed when I learned of his death. Cried for weeks. I grew up with him. He was older than me, of course, but he was one of the first kids I saw on television. I thought he was magic. Had a voice of an angel. Danced like no one I had ever seen. And I wanted to play in his gigantic afro. There is no one like Michael. There will never be another Michael.
I hear there’s a movement for Brooklyn to celebrate Michael Jackson Day every August 29th. Brooklyn lawmakers are also attempting to get the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station renamed after Michael Jackson. He and Martin Scorsese shot the 16 minute Bad video there. Anyway, pics -
king of t-shirts
michael + pop + glove
MJ styling & profiling
we never can say goodbye
Impersonators, unite!!!
whole lotta people
original Michael Jackson art
Spike Lee, Rosie Perez, Mr. "Black Planet" himself, Joie Lee, Jeffrey Wright & me
birthday hats
Tonight I’m gonna party like its 1984…
August 9, 2009
I thought nothing could duplicate the sheer joy I felt when I first saw Prince & the Revolution, live in concert in 1985…that is until last week’s PURPLE RAIN sing-a-long in Prospect Park in front of a tremendous screen under the moon and stars. There were thousands of us rabid Prince fans…a unique collection of young, old, really old, really really old, hipster, professional, emo, adolescent, and the offspring of those who were actually teenagers in 1984.
No need for karaoke-lyrics and all. We knew all of them. We knew every nuance. Every word. Even the corny dialogue in-between musical numbers. And the most enthusiastic of us was more than happy to belt every word back at the screen, like they wrote the darn script to PURPLE RAIN themselves!
HILARIOUS I tell ya!
Especially witnessing HUNDREDS of people sharing in the purple insanity at the same time.
I’ve often wondered why Hollywood wastes time remaking good old films into schlocky new ones when they could re-release films like PURPLE RAIN and show them in exciting new venues. Believe me, I’m sure many would pay to see films this way, drive-in-movie style, outdoors. And those young kids, they got Prince. They were just as excited as their parents. Prince & PURPLE RAIN certainly holds up, even 25 years later.
Has it been 25 years already? Jeez…
Don't care what we do...
the beautiful ones always smash the picture...
negotiations...
Prince's harlequin romances..
strike curious poses...
sign your name on the dotted line...
there's a brand new dance called 'the bird'
purple rain, purple rain...
c'mon (all you gotta do is) raise your hands
I am something that you'll never comprehend...
Dearly beloved, we were gathered here today 2...
Once in a Lifetime
June 9, 2009
Celebrate Brooklyn kicked off its season of summer concerts with David Byrne last night. He performed my favorite Talking Heads songs (except the one I really wanted him to perform). So, no Psycho Killer (Qu’est Que C’est) for me…oh well…that’s how it goes. Nevertheless, a huge, enthusiastic crowd filled the park to the rim. And just as he finished singing Take Me to the River, the sky opened up and it began to drizzle.
so near and yet so far...
look! a glimpse
fiery byrne
experimental dancing
tutu
experimental office chair dance
more synchronized chair-dancing
check my front...now my back
set over
