Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Diana Ross BET AWARDS report!!


so...yes! some of you have seen what I saw...THE LADY
IN RED! (the dress in which she sang "He Lives In You"
on Oprah)

I'm on my Mac at home...so, it doesn't do my colors &
fonts, but there's really nothing to add to Lady Ross
holding even THAT AUDIENCE CAPTIVATED! Mind you, the
youth music thing was shoved down our throats...but,
after Robin Thicke slowed it down a bit and made it
all much more LISTENABLE...well, then

Mo'Nique gave it up to "The Boss"...and the video
montage was spellbinding. I was sitting stage
right...whereas Diana and her brood were all stage
left. I could see her from time to time rockin' out
to the young music + rappers. I was SO PLEASED at her
tribute...they really did her right. And having her 5
children + her looking SO YOUTHFUL & EXUBEREANT! It
was very interesting seeing even the so-called
"gangsta rappers" rockin' out to Chaka singing "I'm
Coming Out" - I had to chuckle to myself
thinking...are some of them on the "down low"...?? I
thought Erykah did a phenomenal rendition of "Love
Hangover"...and moving like a young Ross in the big
wig + hoop earrings.

But, to see Ross speaking SO CLEARLY +
CONFIDENTLY...well I am just so fortunate to be a fan
of this woman. I got teary when I heard her give it
up to Mary...as I feel Diana realizes it is much later
in the game now...and to hell with the past. Perhaps
she & Mary can find peace in some way working together
or helping others together. But, hearing her speak
Mary's name...so sisterly and poignantly was CHURCH!

Right after her tribute, I was whisked backstage...and
met up with Ross' publicist whom I had met in NYC. As
I thought, Diana did not do any press...but, climbed
into a waiting limo with her award and scooted on back
to West Hollywood. Her brother Chico was
backstage...with a couple of kids and her 5 had taken
their own forms of transportation and were all making
their way out of the back parking area of The Shrine
Auditorium.

I ended the evening having a nice dinner with my hosts
(some of the inner circle of Stevie Wonder's
entourage) and was regaled with stories of the old
Motown days and encouraged to pursue a couple of my
own ideas about the magic of Liviin', Lovin' &
Givin'...its so nice to know Mama Ross is A-OK!!

I will sleep so comfortably & soundly tonight!

If there's a cure for this...

Think peace.
Be well.

bernard