Hey Mofos!

I have been waiting..and I mean WAITING for this movie since the moment Aretha Franklin, THE QUEEN OF SOUL uttered the words that she wanted Halle Berry.. then Jennifer Hudson to portray her in a biopic. Y'all know y'all remember when Ree Ree said Halle Berry in 2010, then Halle said "nawl sis, I can't do no good singing like you," then Aretha sent a fax that said "chile, you ain't gotta sing, just lip sync!" Ok I have the whole drama mapped out in my mind but you get the point. Then Auntie Retha handpicked Jennifer Hudson to use her mighty voice to portray her in the film "RESPECT." The MGM biopic hits theaters 8/13, but I got a sneak peek. But first, the deets-- the film follows the rise of Aretha Franklin's career from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom. It's the story of a musical icon. 

The film stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Titus Burgess, Kimberly Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, and Mary J. Blige. Ya'll see there are some powerhouse sangers in this film right?

The biopic is directed by Liesl Tommy and the screen play is by Tracy Scott Wilson. 

Peep the trailer:

Now let's get to the movie. I LOVED IT. The film focuses on The Queen of Soul's life from young Aretha (Skye Dakota Turner) dealing with trauma and tragedy (that by the way about had me tearing up in them people's theater) in Detroit in the early 50s to the start of her career as a young 20 something with two kids (Hudson) navigating her own personal demons as she becomes an international star in the 60s and 70s. 

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin and Forest Whitaker as her father C.L. Franklin in RESPECT Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

For me, the film really shined with the vocals. Turner showed out as young Aretha. Hudson sang her face clean off because I loved that she didn't try to sound like Aretha, she allowed Franklin's influence to inspire her sound. Every song brought chills as she evoked the pain and the pride of Aretha's discography. Don't laugh, but I swear fo gawd I thought Hudson also looked like Mary J. Blige from the side in some scenes. I also loved the soundtrack of the 50s and 60s, with my favs Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, I was in my lil old soul element. Every single time, Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin had a scene listening to his vinyl records had me straining my eyeballs to see what other records were laying around. I don't have to tell you this, but Forest, as usual, did his good acting in this movie! 

I learned so much from this movie about Aretha. Including her marriage with Ted White (Marlon Wayans) and chile, the violence, and disrespect of it all. Marlon did a great job playing White as the violent, jealous, husband/insecure ass manager. 

Marlon Wayans stars as Ted White and Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

I really appreciated how the entire story touched on the theme of "Respect" including Aretha taking control of her personal life and her career. Aretha figuring our her arrangement of Otis Redding's "Respect" with her sisters is a fun light hearted moment. Standing up to her father for what she wanted, whew, that did something to my soul, especially when she decided to return to singing gospel on her terms.  The film also tackles civil rights, addiction, and of course religion. 

This is another film that is a must see in a theater to get that concert feel with the surround sound and J-Hud larger than life on the big screen as Auntie Retha. I wish Aretha were here to see the film, but I think she'd be proud of the way her story was told. 

GIVE THIS FILM ALL THE AWARDS!

Let me know what you think if you go see the movie! 

~Meik

What's happening Mofoville..

I am sick and tired and fed up.




Then I turned the TV on and heard this quote:

"Real men treat women with the dignity and respect they deserve" -Prince Harry.

But let's backtrack a bit shall we?

Why are you fed up Meik?

I'm so glad you asked.

WHEN fo gawd on this green earth did it become okay to approach women in such a manner that has happened to me most recently. Sadly, it's been more often than not, from mofos that I know.

"Can we do it?"

Umm... do what and are we 12 years old whispering about what a peen and twat do or....? Say wtf it is you mean!

"I've been thinking about working you out"

I can work out on my dayum own.. what can you possibly offer besides that? Again..say WTF you mean.

"I just want to make you squirt"..

*blink blink blink* Mama if you reading this..... I don't even know what that means!

The list goes on and on.. but my question is this.. What makes it okay for these men to address ME like this? Am I wearing a "Try me as the jump off/ side piece/ rent-a-hoe for the night" invisible advertisement on my forehead? Or is it because I have been blessed with big tittays that mofos ASSume that I'm a dumb bunny that wants to just have sex and that is it?


GAWD ALL I WANT IS A LIL RESPECT.. TELL EM AUNTIE 'RETHA





Anyhoo..whatever the case is..lemme inform you now.. I have a lot more to offer than what is in the cookie jar. Truth be told..the bakery is actually closed until a mofo can prove to be about something other than what's in his pants and what he can do with it. Hell, when you get to be over 30 (and I'm not admitting that I am but I'm just saying..) shouldn't you be looking for more than a hunch session and a snack? Don't diseases n ish scare you? Don't you wanna find something meaningful with one person and build? Granted, maybe that's not where you are in life and you're doomed for friends with benefits prison but hey.. do you!

One thing I will never understand is how men target which chick they are gonna try this mess with and which ones they will actually put forth an effort to get to know. There have been several instances where I can be with a group of friends, and every mofo'n time, I'm the one that gets the sexual advances, while they get asked out on dates to be wined and dined. Maybe it's me? Maybe it's ...eh hell who knows. I guess I'll never know, but I do know I'm tired of being approached, talked to, and disrespected like this. I don't give a dayum if it's the challenge or whatever, but I'm at an age where I'm looking to settle down, and not be someone's jumpoff for the rest of my life. One thing my beloved grandma always told me whenever we discussed my lack of a dating life, "men these days are just out here looking for what they can get from you, they aren't looking to settle down and build anything." Grandma.. I do believe you are right.

Her advice: "You are better off being by yourself if that's the type of men that keep coming around."

I can't help but agree. Besides, real men treat women with the respect and dignity they deserve, so where's my respect and dignity outchea in these streets? What have I done to make it so easy for these men to talk to me out the side of their necks like this? One thing is for sure, I will not accept and will not tolerate the propositions and childish manner that men these days have resorted to speaking to women..or me for that matter. If that means I stay single..so be it, at least I'll have my respect and dignity and will be able to look at myself in the mirror in the morning. (and yes I know this goes both ways with the respect thing but this is MY dayum blog after all.)

Lesson Learned: Stay on the look out for a REAL MAN..and nuk if you buck a mofo in his mouth the next time he says some sideways ish. That is all.

Anyone else have this issue?

Until Later..
Meik..

'Tis that time of year when we reflect on all of the ups and downs, hits and misses, and ish we'd rather just not remember.

I started thinking about it, what song sums up how I feel about this year? Check this out..





YES LAWD TEDDY P! *throws pannies* wayment.. lemme bring it back around to the point of this blog.

The lyrics in the song: Looking back, over the years, I guess I've shedded some tears..

Let's see, I can honestly say this year, while I may not have shed as many tears as before, I reflected alot on the tears that I have shed in the past. What you mean Meik? I'm so glad you asked.. and since I haven't made a list in a while, here goes.. My top 10 lessons learned in 2012:

10. My high school crush, ooooh weeee baby jeezus he is as fine today as he was back then.. but I've learned that fine ain't enough, you have to bring your A game to the table and that means if you can't respect me, then I have ZERO respect for you. Respect is a two way street.

9. It's great to be a cheerleader for folks, but when it becomes draining, it's time to put some distance in between you and them. Besides, we all have our own issues, you can't save yourself if you're too busy trying to help everyone else solve their problems.

8. Online dating ain't for Meik Meik. Read past blogs you'll understand.

7. This particular lesson was a hard one to take... you can't please everyone. For a virgo that is unheard of, that is our quest in life to be so perfect that you can't help but love everything we do.. eh.. don't work that way.

6. In my journey of reconnecting with God (and I'm pretty sure I haven't blogged on this yet, but this will become clearer in 2013) that I have learned a better understanding of ENJOY the process, and not to just ENDURE it. So for example, instead of complaining about this dead end job, you have to take and aborb everything that you can, learn, and apply it to whatever it is you're trying to do and maybe then the door will just open (or I'm not opposed to finding a bull dozer to knock the mofo down but I digress)

5. If you STAY ready, you won't have to GET ready. You never know when opportunity will knock. NETWORKING is key.

4. You can be helpful and look out for folks all you want to, but when you need something, those same folks are often nowhere to be found. It's better to pay attention to the red flags and realize who is only out for self.

3. I can only really depend on me, myself, and I and God.

2. I finally dealt with some ish in the past that was preventing me from moving forward. I can finally say I am truly over King Mofo and thank him for all the ups and downs and sideways roller coasters because without them, I wouldn't be who I am and able to distinguish mofo ish today. *bangs tambourine*

1. I finally learned how to Let GO and Let GOD. AMEN. *the weight on my shoulders was finally lifted this year*

I say all that to say is 2012 wasn't completely a bust, it was a learning experience. There were some definite highlights like getting eyeballed by Joe Jackson, getting to see The Jacksons peform in concert, being able to visit MJ's resting place and saying a final goodbye, to meeting Dennis Edwards from the Temptations and him telling me..well, that's none of y'alls biznass lol, to going to cover my first red carpet event, and making some awesome friends along the way. Writing for Soultrain.com has allowed me to meet/talk to some pretty fab people that have passed their wisdom onto me. I could go on and on about the highlights of my year, but I won't. (at least not now, I have ish to go do LOL)


I pray that you all have a wonderful and prosperous 2013! The Mofo Chronicles has soooo much more in store in 2013 so stay tuned!

So.. What did you learn this year?


Happy New Year!
Meik