it's not right, but it's okay...the whitney tribute

obviously, this is well after the fact.  when whitney houston passed away, i was on vacation.  and when i returned, i was...well, sad and didn't feel like discussing.  i  recognize that we must pay tribute to such a legend and now seems to be the right time.  if you were around in the eighties, you probably can't forget whitney's infectious, groundbreaking pop hits even if you tried.  hit after hit after hit.  the nineties were no different. when i was in sixth grade "i'm your baby tonight' was major.  later on in high school (the latter part of the nineties), mrs. houston reigned supreme with the movie "bodyguard" and it's phenomenal soundtrack.  i know i don't have to go into details.  i'll just mention that "i have nothing" gave me and my teenage angst life.  whitney maintained her spot on the throne with the 'waiting to exhale' movie and soundtrack contributions.  by the time i was in college, she hit us hard with the 'my love is your love' album.  at that point, i recall working in a claire's accessory store in a mall somewhere.  the radio station was always glued to KTU and KTU was devoted to whitney.  it's not right, but it's ok, heartbreak hotel, my love is your love.  once again, hit after heavenly hit.  whitney was always a golden girl.  (check her grammy stats)
i chose to include a picture of her wedding day with purpose.  she loved bobby brown.  she was herself when she was with bobby.  they were together for quite a while.  he was her choice and it seems the media has decided to make him a villain.  i don't buy it.  i won't buy it.  i have good instincts about people.  i don't claim bobby brown is an earth angel, by any means.  but, he has a good heart.  he takes a lot of unwarranted heat and complains very little.  but what is most important is that he chose her and she chose him.  and, it appears it was something special and passionate.  nothing for us to judge.  they moved on.  she's gone.  let it be.  i hope that, overall, whitney enjoyed her life.  she was certainly a blessing in mine.  rest in peace 

besos jenna pearle*

at last...too soon (etta)

paying homage to a spicy, soulful songstess.  she will be missed and appreciated.  so long, etta!

besos jenna pearle*

lost without you- aaliyah

ten years already.  i already spoke on this last year (click aaliyah) so i won't lament here again.  i'll just say her presence is definitely missed. 

besos jenna pearle*

saturday love for michael jackson

reminder: this weekend (saturday), there will be a celebration for michael jackson (king of pop, as if you didn't know).  the annual spike lee production will take place in my childhood stomping ground prospect park in brooklyn, new york.  i'm sure there will be similar gatherings in places all over the country, all over the world.  if there isn't one in your radius, well, maybe you should host one ;)


besos jenna pearle*

some unholy war

still attempting to recover from the amy winehouse news.
  here is a look back at ms. winehouse at passionista place. 

*rip also to all of those young people in norway who were killed without cause.

besos jenna pearle*

r.i.p amy- tears dry on their own

oh my god!  moments ago i just read the devastating news about amy winehouse's passing.  i am so stunned.  it seems like a week ago, i was reading some stupid article predicting her death like so many of our talented artists at the young age of 27.  i was really annoyed by their insensitivity and arrogance...and now this.  this saddens me so much because i was rooting for this girl.  her music has been such a treasure for me and i was desperately awaiting new material.  i particularly appreciated that she did things on her own terms.  i really don't know what else to say right now.  what a tremendous loss!  more info here   :(

 jenna pearle*

the revolution was never televised

very sad to hear about gil scott heron's passing.  he was such a phenomenal, dynamic man.  a poet, an activist, a revolutionary, he will surely be missed.  if you are not familiar with him, you missed out.  but, its not too late.  go check out some of his work when you get a chance.  click the link below for more information at npr.

 jenna pearle*

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/05/27/136731274/gil-scott-heron-poet-and-musician-has-died

missing mike

                                                       
                                                            besos jenna pearle*

remembering mia

i'm a tad late with this, i know, but i wanted to honor the wonderful (plus sized) model mia amber davis.  sadly, she passed away very recently.  this is truly a loss because this woman was an inspiration to so many.  she will definitely be missed.....rip mia.

besos jenna pearle*

saying goodbye (elizabeth taylor)

rest in peace to the superstar legend elizabeth taylor.  everything has been already said numerous times in the press coverage.  the only thing i can add is that this woman knew how to live life to the fullest and on her own terms. 

 besos jenna pearle*

shannon tavares, our little lioness

today is the day we officially say goodbye to shannon tavares, the young talent who played nala from the lion king.  she passed away from leukemia last week.  its just a sad but important story.  read more about it here and find out how you can help others from suffering this same fate.  rest in peace, shannon.  you were loved by many. 
 xoxo  jenna pearle*

down with the kings of queens-run dmc

 

run dmc, the godfathers of rap.  it goes without saying we owe these pioneers so much for helping to bring hip hop music/culture into the mainstream.  they are also credited with showing that rap could be infused with any genre successfully(specifically rock).  i know you remember their hit with aerosmith, "walk this way."  for me and many others, run dmc are considered fashion icons.  all black everything (usually in leather), adidas with huge laces, gigantic gazelle glasses, heavy rope gold chains, bucket kangols and loads of badass attitude...what more could an impressionable lil' hip-hop loving girl in the 80s ask for?  unfortunately, during the earlier part of the decade, we lost the legendary dj, jam master jay.  despite that, these rap rebels remain tough as leather and in our nostalgic hearts forever. here are some essentials you'll need in your wardrobe in order to be down with the kings of queens.  keep an eye out for great accessories and clothing that meets the kings' criteria at http://theposhbrownboutique.bigcartel.com/


besos jenna pearle*

by the way, this artwork (up top) is by the artist, alberto russo.  check out his work when you get a chance, passionistas...

day of rememberance

at this moment, i am wiping away tears as i watch the 9-11 day of rememberance on television. this day gets me everytime. what a surreal moment in time that was. i must admit that since it happened as i finished college and was urgently looking for work (a major turning point in my life), it shook me severely. this is the unstable world i was being thrown into? SCARY! nothing in my life (nothing in the world) was ever the same again. bless all the souls of the departed as well as all the friends and family of those lost. that said, the backlash against muslims is so against what this country is suppose to be about. its against human kindness. i could go on but this not a blog about that. but if in any way i could influence you, i beg that you remember to keep an open mind for all the various people in the world. generalizing and stereotyping is the easy way out and we're better than that.

xo jenna pearle

more than a woman

on august 25th, it was the beginning of the end. at least, it was for me. it was the day that the singer, aaliyah dana haughton, passed away in a plane crash. while that was significant by itself, just a few short weeks later the twin towers would also come crashing down and life (and death) would be forever changed. i won't use this blog as therapy and get too deep with this but i will say that august on was a severe turning point im my life. as for aaliyah, it seems that her good nature and warm heart is indisputable. obviously, her beauty wasn't worthy of words. she served her purpose here and left earth pretty quickly. catchy songs, exceptional dance moves and great personality, aaliyah most definitely rocked our boats.

xoxo jenna pearle*

i bet you remember

mike, today i mourned you. i cried...i smiled...i sang...i remembered the times. thank you for all you've done, mr. michael joseph jackson.

xoxo love always, jenna pearle*

keep ya head up

happy birthday, tupac...it goes without saying that your presence, your voice, your energy are truly missed. i wonder how you would have matured by 39. unfortunately, we'll never know.

xoxo jenna pearle*

black n white

of course you've heard of gary coleman's death by now. i hope he has found his peace now. the next pic is a gorgeous little girl i found a pic of on tobia.tumblr.com.

xoxo jenna pearle*

miss u mike

i really miss michael jackson. i know i've mentioned this before. but anyhow, its going to be a year of his passing on and i'm still appreciating the wonderful, beautiful, talented being he truly was. i came across this pic online and it just struck me how perfect he looked here. i came to terms with whatever his transformation deal was, i think. its amazing what we eventually accept. but seeing this image here...the kinks, the complexion, the features...he was just fine. yes, mike, you are just fine with me, always.

xoxo jenna pearle*

saucy southern belle, rip

i've just recently expressed my dear connection to the saucy, sexy golden girls. therefore, you can imagine my heartbreak upon hearing of rue mclanahan's passing. rue brought sexy back while forcing us to question had it ever really gone. i'm sure by now you've already seen some sort of memoriam montage, informing you of the fulfilling life she led. she was quite the ol' gal. i plan on reading that last book she put out as soon as i get the chance. what saddens me most is that we are only left with one golden girl. that said, long live betty!

missin' rue...

xoxo jenna pearle*