Do your thang, Miss Solangel!

Miss Solange Knowles in all her fabulosity!

We all know my love for the Knowles’ knows no bounds (phantsi haters!), so even though this here article is ancient in internets years, I still have to give Little Sis her props.  

Solange is one fiesty chick and, although not always on point, her personal style is sick (yes, that rhymes). Her music’s also quite something. Her album, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St Dreams, is a staple at my place.

In her recent interview with Honey magazine, she opens up about her music, love life and her hair. Recently, the weave-a-licious Solange chopped off all her hair, causing quite the furore. She was featured on Oprah, during a story on Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair. Solange – and her weave-free hair – even shot up to Twitter’s number 3 trending topic at some point. This was her reaction:

The first picture of me when I cut it off — I had no idea that there was any photography going on. I was looking like someone taking their kid to school at 7 o’clock in the morning in jeans and a top and no makeup on, no earrings, no nothing. That reaction was very harsh, very negative. I think it was the initial thought of change in someone that freaked everyone out. As a society we equate beauty with the images that have been placed in front of us since we were little kids. Every Disney movie, every fairy tale, every pop star typically has a certain aesthetic and look. I think that anytime we see something different, it freaks us out. The more people warmed up to it, and they saw more images of me with it and dressed up with my earrings and a little something, something on my face, I think then people were more willing to conform and accept it. Now, it’s interesting how the first day I had it, I had nothing but negative, evil, cruel things in my inbox and then yesterday [after Oprah aired] I had 300,000 people saying ‘Oh my God, you looked amazing, so beautiful, and you made us proud.’ People were able to hear my reasoning, which is good and bad because we should be able to just express ourselves.

(Emphasis mine).

The thing I dig most about Solange is that she’s marketed as the ‘outspoken’ Knowles sister (I have no doubt that everything that family does is orchestrated) and she embraces that role with open arms. For more gorgeous pics and quotable quotes, head over to Honey (www.honeymag.com).

You can check out Solo’s Oprah appearance right here:
Youtube clip [Sorry, didn't allow embedding]
Jezebel clip

SAMAs wrap up

So Saturday night was The. Biggest. Night. In. SA. Music. I didn’t go to the event – my scruffy self tends to avoid any highly schleb populated areas like the plague – and I’m actually kicking myself. The regret started on Friday, when I ran into an old friend in Sandton who was heading there. She was last minute outfit shopping [and I kept thinking about my stunning red dress hanging in the wardrobe unworn, patiently waiting for a suitable occasion ... aaargh.. why didn't I RSVP like a good girl?] Anyways, whatevs. I might’ve missed the GALA, but SABC1 hooked us up with a live broadcast.

The true winner on the night was the MC, Trevor Noah. Damn. Dude brung it – he was totally funny, charming, professional, kept the proceedings moving despite some awkward moments. [Not to forget that dude looked seriously smooth *sigh*]. Big ups to him.

The bigger winner was mos def Miss Lira! Well done, lady, you deserve all the blessings. Not only did she scoop 4 awards (Best Female Artist, Album of the Year, Best Adult Contemporary: English and Best Remix), but she’s my pick for the night’s best dressed. A lot of the other so-called ‘starlets’ should bow down, humble themselves and prepare to be schooled by Daveyton’s own Lerato Molapo on all things style related.

She was also involved in one of the night’s funniest moments. During her backstage interview with Siya, he turned to the camera and said “Damn, Arthur, you missed out!”. The look on Lira’s face … OOOwwweeee… priceless! Props to Siya for saying what has been on everyone’s minds since Feel Good hit radio!

The unstoppable Sis Ribs took home something ridic like her 12th SAMA – stop now lady! – and used the stage time to promo her 30th album (and also: ‘Thank Gaaad. Hallelujah!’) … There isn’t a second’s doubt in my mind that she’s sitting on a couple of milli. So, why doesn’t she just get someone to dress her? Thrifty!

Other winners (in those categpries I’ve kept my eye on!):

Best Urban Dance Album: DJ Kent’s Mixing Business with Pleasure: Reloaded  beat out DJ Cleo 

Jackie (far left) looked stunning in her Abigail Betz dress. The others, not so much.

Best Pop Album: English: Jamali – 3rd Base. So happy for them. Their outfits were a bit all over the place. I know some people in cyberspace weren’t feeling it, but I loved Jackie’s Abigail Betz dress… The other two looked a bit too 90s for me.

GI's Mandla and Tumi. Love them, hate that dress!

Best Urban Pop Album: Gang Of Instrumentals – Round 3. Also, another great win. Well done. Cute – acceptance speech. Not cute – Tumi’s too-short dress that she kept pulling down on her way to accept the award. If it’s too short, don’t wear it.

Best Pop Album: African:  Theo Kgosinkwe – I Am. Well-deserved. Is it just me, or does this dude seem super cool?

Best Rock Album: English: Zebra & Giraffe – Collected Memories won in the tightly contested category (Perez, Prime Circle, The Dirty Skirts ould also have been deserving winners)

Best Rap Album: Teargas – Wafa Wafa. I really would’ve preferred Zuluboy (in my opinion, he’s the only 1 in this category who qualifies as a Hip Hop artist). But I’m glad it’s not Tippy Toes.

Best Kwaito Album: Bricks – Stop Nonsense. Am happy about this… And the little frisson (is that the word?) between Brickz and good ol’ Cleo. Oooweee! Beef. Halala!

Best Duo/Group: what a hectic category. Soweto Gospel Choir took it home (obvs. There’s no way we’re gonna let a group win a Grammy and then NOT give them a SAMA), but the other nominess (340ml, Bala Brothers, GoldFish, Joyous Celebration) were strong contenders.

Best Male Artist: Abdullah Ibrahim – Senzo

MTN Record of The Year: Rhythmic Elements – 2 By 2. Sure, Cleo came through strong (he won on downloads for Hands Up), but I just knew this was gonna be it! I actually dig this song so much..

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners: Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Anton Goosen. Well done to these two, but I think the collabo was a big mistake! SAMAs, sometimes it doesn’t pay to get creative!?!?!?

Best Rock Album: Afrikaans: Van Coke Kartel – Waaksaam & Wakker. Dig these dudes …

Best Alternative Music Album: English: 340ml – Sorry For The Delay. Yay! No xenophobe, but strictly speaking, none of these dudes are Saffas, right…? Regardless: call me, Tiago!

Best R&B/Neo-Soul Album: Bryce Anderson – Undescribable. Who?

Best Dance Album: GoldFish – Perceptions of Pacha. Yay! These guys are amazing live and I’m so happy for them.

So those are the music award winners… let’s assess the style losers.

 To be quite frank, not too many schlebs held it down in the style stakes this year. I can give props only to Lira, DJ Sbu and DJ Cleo (he even thanked Fabiani). The rest of the bold names who graced my TV screens had me sweating in my sleep. Do they just have no style? No stylists? Are they so desperate for headlines they resort to becoming ‘Fashion Don’ts’? What’s really hood, Egoliwood?

The blogosphere has been going mad about Bonang’s Diamond Face Couture dress. Whether you love it or hate it (I’m a bit ‘meh’ about it), the main issue is her legs. She’s young, she’s attractive, but some ask whether she should really be wearing something that short with those pins? [can't seem to find a good pic anywhere, but you can catch her outfit in the vid below]

Khanyi flanked by her Gay-Tourage

The second offender is Khanyi Mbau. Khanyi, Khanyi, Khanyi… Where to begin? What was that … thing … you wore? The Yellow/ Blue monstrosity is not where it’s at. If we’re to believe you (and ignore the newspaper reports that your hubby’s no longer rolling in it and defaulting on car payments), you have all the resources in the world to look superfab. Why, then, do you continue to look like a Vegas Showgirl? Also, whatever diet you’re on, stop it. Now. You’re wasting away.

It seems as though Diamond Face Couture was on a losing streak. Habitual risk-taker Uyanda Mbuli (who Sowetan calls a ‘fashion icon’), wore this. No words.

And then there was Kelly. Simply Kelly. The hair, the make-up, the 90s matric dance dress…  She claims [see vid below] that there was a malfunction with her dress and this was her last minute replacement… But surely she could’ve kitted herself out a bit better? We’ve seen her look better (and worse!) before, right?

 

Too much to talk about! Now onto the weird shenanigans and gossip roundup…

- Lekgoa/ Snotkop was the strangest comeback kid ever!

- How did the SAMAs convince KK and Khanyi to present together? It’s well known that they can’t stand the sight of each other?

- What was up with Miss Teen flirting with Hlomla onstage – strange!

- Did Sbu really dirty dance with Bonang at the afterparty… And did they leave together (read about it here)?

- Ishmael and Puff .. what’s really hood? Must SA always be the last hope for has beens?

 

 

Here’s a little video, courtesy of The Times Online, on what some of these icons of SA pop culture (psshhh!) clothed themselves in…

Pics via.

Jeannie D and Janez getting smoochie

My, my, my… what do we have here? Apparently, this is how Janez (Top Billing) consoled colleague Jeannie D at the J&B Met after her caddish boyfriend (or is that ex?) cheated on her one too many times!

This is just some of the juicy goss and pics you’ll find at the newest addition to South Africa’s celebo-blogosphere, Snaparazzi.

Snaparazzi is a partner site to TVSA.com - the blog and info hub for all things TV – and also has a social networking and blog component.

So, if you want the latest info on your latest celebs – and the pictures to prove it – head over to Snaparrazi. And celebs, no getting up to dirt – you’re being watched!

Pic from Snaparazzi.

‘And f**k all the haters!’

Elle UK

… Now, now, Gwynnie, that’s no way for a woman to speak…

Gwyneth Paltrow covers March’s Elle UK in a rather - um -  interesting ensemble (ok, I’m just not feeling it!) and she gets very real when talking about people’s misconceptions, Internet gossip and her vices:

On drinking: ‘I love good red wine. White wine is nice, too. I don’t like lager, but I like stout – I love Guinness. I never get drunk to the point of throwing up or anything. But I get very warm and talkative.’

On smoking: ‘Man, I wish smoking didn’t kill you, I’d be smoking right now. I miss it. The last cigarette I smoked was the day I found out I was pregnant with Apple. I had to sit down and smoke one final cigarette. It’s such a beautiful thing. I’m so pissed off it gives you cancer. But then, once you have children, if you’ve witnessed a death like I did with my father, you just can’t. I’d never want to put them through what I went through. So I don’t do it. But I’ve decided that when I’m about 70 I’m going to start smoking again. Why not? I can’t wait!’

Gossip blogs: ‘I saw this blog of people writing horrible things about me. And, you know, for a second you lose perspective and your ego is so wounded. You think, how could people hate me or hate my intentions or what I’m trying to do? I’m a good person and I’m trying to put good things into the world.’

On just being Gwyneth: ‘I am who I am. I can’t pretend to be somebody who makes £15,000 a year. That would be completely inauthentic. I know what my intention [with her email newsletter Goop] is – and if it makes one person’s life better, then it’s worth it. And f**k the haters!’