|
| |
Rick James Dies as Madonna Does Kabbalah New York Style
7-Aug-2004
Written by: Carolina Taylor
Let's Recap:
I was, I AM a Super Freak! All I have now is the recorded version, because it's originator, Rick James, the Papa of freakin' it in the 1970s, is now gone. Los Angeles Police Department Spokeswoman Sgt. Catherine Plows said that although the exact cause of his death is pending a toxicology report, preliminary results indicate that the 56-year-old Grammy Award winner died of a "preexisting medical condition." Many say he left behind a dark, and sad legacy to share with fans and critics alike. He was the self-proclaimed "king of punk funk", and if you never heard the guy, he was like a cross between Outkast and Lou Bega ... total funk, energy and charisma. James had a long list of soulful sexy R&B hits as well as funky, crazy funk numbers that rocked the Motown world. James has often been credited for the resurrection of Motown Records in the late 70's, early 80's. He debuted in 1978 with the album "Come and Get It," which sold more than one million records. Remember "Mary Jane?" Many a hippie in my mom's era gave call to that song in celebration of hemp paradise. I remember quite vividly though, the 1981 album that made Rick James a household name, and gave the world the funk song that rocketed James to superstar status: "Street Songs," which included my song, "Super Freak." That album sold more than three million copies and set the stage for him as an entertainer. Through the 80's he went on to sing with Smokey Robinson in "Ebony Eyes," and his song "Can't Stop," was featured in the hit movie "Beverly Hills Cop," starring Eddie Murphy. He wrote songs for everyone from the Temptations to the Mary Jane Girls. Remember "U Can't Touch This?" He won a Grammy in 1990 for Best Rhythm and Blues for the sampled version that MC Hammer gave during that song, of "Super Freak." On stage, he was all over the place; in real life, for years, he never came down. In 1993 he was convicted of assaulting two women. The first attack occurred in 1991, when he and his girlfriend bound and burned a young woman with a crack pipe in his home in West Hollywood. He begged for forgiveness, and asked for help for his numerous addictions. The second assault occurred in 1992, this time in a hotel room while he was on bail, where the same couple again restrained and beat another woman, Mary Sauger, who testified that she had gone to his room only for a business meeting, and instead was held against her will and abused for 20 hours. He narrowly escaped a torture charge, thus escaping a life sentence. Again, he pleaded for leniency, and asked the court for treatment for his cocaine/crack addiction. Many feel he got off easy, serving a mere three years in the Folsom State Penitentiary. James, however, always said his years of drug addiction were a haze that haunted him for years. "The biggest mistake I made is that I tried to become my alter ego." He shared echoes of those words many times through his recovering years. He often said he thought he could be it all, crazy stage man and womanizer, and that "the cocaine told me I could." Unfortunately, his life ended up mirroring his wild onstage persona. He tried it all, from drugs to self-destructive lifestyle choices. But friends and family say James appeared to finally be on the upswing. But, like so many talented yet troubled lights that get sucked into the darkness of quick drugs, wealth, sickening power and promised notoriety, he didn't have enough time to go straight this final time. The epitomized Bird On A Wire, James will be freakin' in another dimension, hopefully in one where his humanity and not his cash value will mean more than it did during his career and short-lived life.
Chicken pox delays Christian Slater's British stage debut, as Madonna/Esther/Material girl is doling out the cash (21.6 million) for a Kabbalah primary school (K school for short), where students will be taught "mysticism," "enlightenment," and oh, almost forgot, that silly incidental: grammar. Funny, as hard as it was for me to imagine Madonna in the Holy Land, it is even harder for me to embrace her newfound peace and vision, when this new wave of "enlightenment" has poster children like Britney Spears to herald its purity and power. Then there are role models like Madonna, who still kisses women onstage and has veritable cursing matches with her dancers during rehearsal. I know it's a funny concept, but perhaps if you wish for true "enlightenment" or the "mysticism" of the Kabbalah, you might start studying, reading, or going to a real temple, rather than trying to search for answers in hypocritical icons past their prime of persuasion.
Oprah is deciding to keep her day job for the time being in spite of her billionaire status, extending her original contract for at least another three years (until 2011). 2011 will mark the show's 25th year in syndication. She gave up a lot to start the show back in 1984 in Chicago, and has given as much to the community that continues to support the "Color Purple" star. Oprah is an inspiring example of what you can accomplish with hard work and honest perseverance, but also as a victorious survivor of molestation, who has been a financial and emotional beacon to people across the globe.
From a chain smoking Portuguese transsexual winning Britain's version of this year's Big Brother; to thieves robbing Nicole and Paris Hilton Wednesday night; to R. Kelly dominating the charts once again (after a sabbatical where the rumor mill had a field day with his off stage predilections); to Nicholas Baker's novel "Checkpoint" arguably advocating the assassination of Dubya; it's been another thought-provoking day. I'm not sure yet what thoughts will remain in the morning, but even as today's news starts to sink in and pervade my Twilight Zone haze, I wonder ... is it really worth it?
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
|
|
|
|
