Alicia Keys

Filthy Friday

michelleleighwrites 3 Comments

Although it’s been about 5 years since a Justin Timberlake album, we still had a lot of music from him 2 summers ago, when he did the soundtrack album for DreamWorks “Trolls,” where he also starred as “Branch,” and released the mega summer anthem “Can’t Stop The Feeling.”

But it’s that time again, my fellow fangirls… Justin Timberlake is back at it again, with a full solo album!

It all started last weekend when his website JustinTimberlake.com just displayed this logo…

tease

Then shortly after he released a trailer introducing his new album…entitled “MAN OF THE WOODS.” It was a very artistic, beautiful, scenic video, with Justin’s voiceover explaining how this album is very personal, inspired by his wife and son, as we see him with them in the video. Something that I feel is very rare for him to do. And at the very end of the trailer it is announced that Justin’s 5th solo studio album will be released February 2nd. 

Along with that announcement came the announcement of the album’s 1st single, “Filthy.”

filthy

“Filthy” was realized along with a video to go with it, at midnight last night-January 5th. 

*Read the lyrics HERE

I have to say upon first listen/first watch I was not completely in love with it. Which you know as a MAJOR JT FANGIRL I was quite heartbroken to admit. But I heard the song for the first time as I watched the video. And I think that’s what threw me, it was too much to take in all at once. I was confused by the song, something felt like it was missing, I kept waiting for a mega chorus that didn’t come. I kept grooving, then stopping, I was unsure if I liked it. 

Kind of like Perez Hilton’s reaction- 

I cracked up so hard watching this, because I was just like same, Perez, same. Except maybe not so vulgar in my dance moves. Haha. 

But then again I was watching this bizarre futuristic robotic performance. The video is basically this tech conference held in Malaysia in 2028, as Justin performs behind the scenes, a Robot takes his place on stage. Like a literal Robot Justin, grinding on Malaysian girls quite vulgarly.  I was so confused. It wasn’t at all what I expected after seeing such a rustic, woodsy, man living off the land trailer.  

Had I just listened to the song on it’s own, I think I would have had a different first reaction. However, as I gave it a second listen it began to grow on me. And I started to vibe with it. In other words, I’ve been jamming to it all day! 🙂 I feel like I had the same experience with Sexy Back when it first came out, it was so produced and you could barely hear his true vocals and it wasn’t something I was used to. But after a while it grew on me, and it became a song I love and that album became an album that I loved and that broke records! So I figured I had to give this one a minute to sink in. And it has. And I’m so glad. Because trust me, no fangirl ever wants to admit they don’t like bae’s music. But honestly speaking, I just can’t vibe with that music video. It’s too futuristic, Steve Jobs on crack for me. Lol. Artistic, Sure. Different, Absolutely. So I guess that’s enough…for now. 😉

Timberlake has since released his album artwork along with his track list…

album artwork

track list

Timberlake enlisted long time friends and partners; Timbaland and Pharrell Williams (the Neptunes) for this album. That in itself should tell you this album is going to be a force to be reckoned with!

The track list looks like it fits much more along the lines of the trailer video, with titles like Flannel, and Livin’ Off The Land. I’m super excited for HERS, I loved all his preludes and interludes on Future/Sex Love Sounds, and I just feel like it’s going to be like this sexy love ballad.

A.K.? Could that be ya girl…Alicia Keys, that would be an incredible collaboration, if I remember correctly pretty sure they were photographed together recently at the Rock In Rio, event…coincidence I think not! 😉 

I googled and looks like I’m right… Read More HERE 

The C.S. stands for country singer Chris Stapleton.

If you noticed in the Filthy artwork he posted to his social media (shown above) it reads “1 of 4,” as quoted in the article linked above…

“The remaining three singles will be released weekly beginning January 18.” 

In other words we’ll be getting weekly singles, until the release of the album, and just two days after the album release, Timberlake will perform the coveted Half Time show at this year’s Super Bowl on Sunday, February 4th! This will be his first time since his  “wardrobe malfunction” incident with Janet Jackson in 2004. I’m just hoping he brings out *N’SYNC, who’s with me?. 😉 No but really, who’s with me?

 

*I do not take credit for any images used.*

 

-<3-

 

 

Alicia Keys- No Makeup Movement

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

I remember hearing something stirring up about Alicia Keys starting up her own #NoMakeupCampaign a while back, and I just now recently saw it in action at the 2016 VMA’s, and can I just say…. SHE. LOOKED. FLAWLESS. RADIANT. BEAUTIFUL. It was inspiring.

GET IT GIRL.

I could have just stopped there and I would have already made my point.

But in typical rambling fashion, you know a michelleleighwrites post is never short. So let’s talk.

After seeing how amazing she looked on that red carpet, I wanted to dive into the story behind this movement. So I found and read a few articles that dug a little deeper.

Articles:

POPSUGAR

YAHOO! NEWS

The most powerful thing I found was Alicia’s essay she penned for Lena Dunham’s online feminist newsletter “LENNY,”  entitled “Time to Uncover.” Her reasons for making such a bold choice stem from her own insecurities. Like many of us women out there, including myself, we have this intense pressure we feel to live up to a standard of beauty that the media inflicts upon us from a very young age. And the older you get, the more serious the impact can feel. I used to rarely ever wear makeup. Other then if it were a holiday or special occasion, I was usually make up free all the way up until my college days. And even then, I didn’t go the whole crazy route that you see makeup artists or beauty guru’s go nowadays. Don’t get be wrong I LOVE watching those videos just as much as the next girl, and I do think makeup can be this incredible artistic expression. But sometimes I just sit back and think “How much stuff are you putting on your face?” Even personally, when I sit down to do my makeup, sure I’m more of a drugstore makeup girl, but sometimes between the concealer, and the foundation and the powder and the primer, by the time I finish, it feels like it took me forever.

Watch Alicia discuss her movement in a radio interview with HOT 97- [@ the 2:05 mark]

 

 

Ever since I started working more regularly, and having to come face to face with more people each day, I’ve started doing a regular simple makeup routine. It doesn’t take too long and I like the outcome. But I’ve felt more of that pressure to have to put makeup on lately. I have started to really feel like I have to cover up my acne scars, blemishes and under eye circles. And I used to never really feel like that. I would just wash my face, moisturize and go. What happened to that? That freedom?

In Alicia’s interview she notes that going makeup free and sporting her bare face for all the world to see has been “a beautiful challenge.” Stating that the movement is about being yourself. She emphasizes that she doesn’t want this to be “taken the wrong way,” it isn’t an anti-makeup campaign it’s just a campaign to encourage women to feel beautiful in their own skin, “to be free, to be who you are, to be yourself.” She also states that she believes in being “perfectly imperfect.”

Alicia’s words-her message, has really resonated within me and I think it’s having an impact on many people. Even though I’ve seen she’s gotten some criticism, I am a complete supporter. Her husband is as well.

Screenshot_2016-08-31-18-57-54swizz-beatz-and-alicia-keys-zoom-eecb7868-fa96-4413-8f17-2a71538efad6[1]

Alicia’s newest video-no makeup-and gorgeous.

Alicia has said that this raw real no makeup movement was inspired by a photographer who was shooting her new album artwork. The photographer wanted to shoot her as is, free of makeup, just from the gym, in a head scarf.

Screenshot_2016-08-31-18-58-54

Further explaining that the realness of her appearance will balance out with the realness in her new album.  I haven’t come across an album release date, but I will certainly be checking up on it, once it’s out!

Do your thang, Alicia. We get it. And we’re here to join. I know I am. Everything I’ve seen about her lately is filled with such beautiful messages, and inspirational good vibes. She seems so centered and happy, even though she admits to still working on things, aren’t we all? There is so much positivity she exudes that it’s beautiful to watch and it inspires. There’s a rich realness there and it’s freakin awesome that she’s from New York too!

 

*I do not take any credit for any music, images, videos used.*

-<3-