Despite the reto pastiche and the Ronnie Spector beehive, this girl is a genuine talent. Which makes her tragic missteps all the more frustrating. In a pop culture where music is churned out like Big Macs, driven by the same hand full of hip hop producers and inter-changable gamines of questionable vocal expertise(Britanny Spears)even in her obvious ode to the old school Ms. Winehouse is refreshingly authentic. And a helluva lot more interesting than any American pop star to break since Lauryn Hill went underground. And if her pain fuels her art, so be it. Let's hope that she can survive it and come back with a CD just as good, if not better, than her previous efforts.

Kudos to Babygrumpus for giving a much deserved shout out to the amazing Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I recently caught a free concert they performed at Amoeba Music in LA. They rocked the joint so hard I made it a point to check out their concert the following night at the El Rey Theater, despite the fact they were sold out! I bought a scalp ticket and it was well worth the extra bucks. Ms. Jones is a force on stage with an energy and vocal expertise remniscent of Tina Turner in her prime! And that band! One of the reasons why I couldn't take Winehouse's "Back To Black" CD off my player months after I first listened to it was because of the Dap Kings instrumental backing. If you don't know this group, do yourself a favor and check out one of the three CDs they have out now. And Amy, if you are reading this, I love you Babygirl, but you can stand to go check out Ms. Jones and take notes. It will only make you a better performer on stage. And maybe, just maybe, that voodoo that she do will help you heal and get your mojo back so that you won't go back to black...AQUALINE

Bill Clinton once jokingly (seriously?) referred to himself, among his African-American constituents as "the first Black president." It was quite the running joke. But then Clinton, charming rascal that he is, felt a kinship among his supporters of color to make such a comment without any fear of reprisal. Who knows what he based this assumption on. But isn't it interesting that now that there looms the possiblity of a genuine "first Black president" he should be so diplomatically opposed to it? What Obama might lack in experience he more than compensates for in the possibilty of renewal. A renewal of hope for this wounded country both internally and internationally. And this is what attracts him to young voters. We've had 16 years of Bushes and Clintons (20 counting the old man) that have included pointless wars, no jobs and blow jobs. It's time for something new. And you can't get any newer that a real "first Black" man in the big White House! So suck it up Billy boy, looks like your false claim as the first BP might be soon coming to an end.

I am fully aware of the comment Ms. Morrison made. I recall reading it. I also recall Bill Clinton taking it and running with it on a televised award show, can't recall what show for what occassion. But it was hosted by Chris Tucker and he was lauding Clinton, as many African Americans tended to do, when Clinton turned to him and said "You know Chris I'm the first Black President." So whereas Ms. Morrison might have metaphorically suggested it, Clinton embraced it. Hell he even moved his offices to Harlem! And to the writer who questioned the renewal of hope that Mr. Obama might bring to this troubled country, think about it. With this country's tarnished reputation in the Middle East and perhaps throughout the entire international community, it would only help if they see something other than a smirking, smug, idiotic white face when dealing with the leader of the free world. That difference alone could make for monumental change in this country's international standing. That change alone could speak volumes...