DONNA SUMMER - I feel love (1977) HD and HQ

Today we heard the sad news that Donna Summer's cancer has finally caught up with her.. R.I.P.
Although renowned for her incredible music, which was a revolution in itself, I have been very impressed to discover that Donna never took her talent for granted, recognizing it to be a divine gift and using it to inspire others.

We all can all learn from Donna's humble approach and make the most of our gifts. Donna leaves behind a musical legacy which has already been enjoyed by millions around the world... and for that we are very thankful. Life is a journey and so often it is great music that encourages us along the way... Amen!

Jaz McKenzie

Poetry mechanics: A “toolshed” in twenty paragraphs~ PT 1/4 by Louis Casson

This series of articles written for ~IB~ By Louis J. Casson provides some excellent guidelines for those wishing to write & sell poetry. Poetry Mechanics will run for 4 consecutive Wednesdays, 23rd & 30th May, concluding 6th June and we hope it will benefit you. If you have never written a poem, have a go... you can't really go wrong!.

This is not so much a “how to”, with me laying down the rules; simply because there are no fixed rules in poetry. Rather these are my tips, insights and suggestions. My approach is what I would have wished I’d known around ten years ago; when I started publishing my own collections of poems on Amazon Kindle.

1. Digital publishing (Amazon Kindle and others).

• Offers the potential of reaching a wider audience and market than regional or local.

• Be selective; choose only the best poems to include in your book.

• Format; font pitch layout, be consistent throughout.

• Do spell check, but be aware that any grammar or spell checker is for prose – not poetry! Therefore: you have to decide if a word is spelt right or the phrase is right etc. (you may have made up a word, or used slang, dialect)

• I include around 40 poems per book.

• Themes I have sifted into books: Love, Blues, music, general (assorted).


2. What makes a good poem?

• It makes you think, and it has a point to it. Like an argument with a conclusion.

• It has a passion, wrote about something you care about and want to communicate/share with the reader.

• It’s not a “laundry list”; it use some form of syntax, grammar language, metaphors, symbols. That is beyond and above everyday language.

• It has “killer lines” i.e. meaning going beyond, perhaps not making logical or strictly literal sense, yet feeling right to the reader.

• It strikes a chord, stirs the emotions.

• Has freshness in expression.

• A personal style / view come across in the piece.


3. Form, rhythms, rhymes:

Tip: read other poems to know and be aware of the different forms to use or adapt... Chinese and Haiku, for the economy of lines and words used. Love poems, ballads, sonnets, free verse.


4. Poems: “lives” or meanings:-

Like all poetry, because the language is slightly ambiguous, readers have their own interpretations. People will get their own meanings, apart from what you intend when writing – you cannot control this!

• Firstly when the poet writes, the meaning or significance in the authors mind.

• Secondly, when the poem is read by others.

• Thirdly when the poems are read out to others. Here meaning and interpretations, arise from the audience’s emotions, experiences and views.

• There is a possible fourth meaning, with time and a reader reading a generation or so on; the meaning is changed. (lost in translation would be a fifth)


5. What is poetry, as opposed to prose?

Poems have...rhythm, rhyme, elevated language, similes and metaphors.

For more about Louis J. Casson check 'pages'~top of blog.
Here are Louis' links:

• Behance Portfolio: http://www.behance.net/LJCasson

• Blog, http://louisjcasson.blogspot.com

~IB~ are delighted to present Louis' contribution to help inspire you. We would love to receive more poetry and articles on different topics to enrich other people's experiences. If you would like to contribute contact itsbraap@live.co.uk

Ms HOLLYWOOD~ Enticing poem by JAY DIZZLE

~IB~ have previously featured some interesting works by Jaz Dizzle and his latest poem is no exception; telling quite a tale in a very stylish manner! We hope you enjoy.






Ms HOLLYWOOD
Versace Frames with polarized lenses
House of Dereon Pearls
Global express international travelling
A woman on a mission
A woman on a rise
Ms Hollywood you are too Bad
Sexy confident walk that hypnotizes
You are a black widow in disguise
You woo me with your jewels
Tom Ford clothing
Style was named after you
Essence of lust follows you
Sight of rainbow prism's stop the masses
Michael Kors watches that stops time
Ivy League advanced classes
You choose your victims wisely
Yet we can not see your web
Invisible to the game
Yet your time now has passed
Ms Hollywood I was yet a fool
To fall for your shiny things
I lost my soul
I return these things with pride
For I no longer will be a slave on your ride

JAY DIZZLE ©

STAY TUNED~ coming later today~ part 1/4 'Poetry Mechanics,' a series of articles by Louis Casson

If you would like to join our ~IB~ poets send your work to itsbraap@live.co.uk

Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Final - UK version

Well, Britain's Got Talent came to its inevitable conclusion Saturday, and as predicted Ashleigh & dancing dog Pudsey won... a well deserved win too as they did 3 different routines which were highly imaginative & beautifully executed.

As we have already seen 'Pawsome' on ~IB~, today we will listen to Ryan singing a song of his own dedicated to the girl he loves but hadn't told when entering the competition! I regard this song as outstanding and it puts me in mind of great song writers such as Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams and James Morrison... due to the expressive lyrics and simplicity used to express complex emotions.

A contrasting, lively act was the highly talented and original group the Loveable Rogues who reminded the panel of popular band Madness with their fresh distinctive style. There first song, 'Sick of Love' has been running through my head ever since!

Only Boys Aloud were also in the final, an all male Welsh choir who sang in Welsh & whose music made a tremendous impact upon the audience. The choirmaster has done a brilliant job of forming this 100+ strong choir and giving these young lads a real opportunity to make something of themselves and contribute to society.

Besides the singing acts, Saturday's final was highly diverse and even included Aquabatique, a sychronized swimming group who had a tank in the car park!

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable show and definitely proved that Britain's Got Talent!

Jaz McKenzie

~IB~ Baby~ Olympus The Musical... A Race Against Time! ~IB~ Review

All pictures by Avril Jones: www.avriljonesphotography.co.uk

We have been looking forward to this event for quite some time, Olympus Being one of our first ~IB~ Babies and dear to our hearts! For those not in the know, it was originally a piece of musical theatre written by Ian Rae & adapted to a musical by Ian and Chris Chambers who wrote the book. (For full history please check previous blogs.)

I am delighted to say that this musical has exceeded all expectations from the staging- including the medallion style overhead screen used throughout to inform and emphasis events- to the beautiful music, costumes and intricate choreography. The actual set was magnificent and allowed ample room for all 60 actors to grace the stage!

I was particularly impressed by the diverse nature of Ben/the God Zeus’ character, (played by Kevin Hayes,) changing from playful Ben at the rehearsal for the Olympic Games to the stern figure he portrayed as Zeus back in Ancient Greece. Everybody in the cast from Handmaidens to the Greek chorus and Helena’s pupils played their roles extremely well. There were several dual characters cast between modern day personalities and ancient Greeks, Gods or otherwise who were not in the least confusing! I think transition between time zones was extremely well done which helped.

In addition to the powerful Greek Gods we witnessed conflict between the Athenians and Spartans, being taken from one moral dilemma to the next all with the aim of helping the very selfish, ‘ See how I love myself,’ Dimitry Raphael, (Neil O’Gorman,) take stock of his life and gain an inkling of the compassion needed to appreciate his own people... and poor long-suffering wife... just in time for fatherhood it would seem!

The attention to detail was most impressive. The characters were clearly identifiable, Gods wearing illuminated crowns being an excellent touch. Young Homer had a very prominent role and was confidently played, I believe by Simon Perry on this occasion... we are already aware that Christopher Backway is extremely good in the role!

Kudo’s to all the main characters, particularly Jennie Fox and Glyn Williams, (Thetis and Peleus respectively,) who sang some gorgeous yet tricky duets. James Caldwell gave a memorable performance as Nestor and I was pleased to see Vicky Watkins playing the God Hera as it was Vicky who brought Olympus to our attention. There were many children taking part and they all did extremely well, finishing with huge smiles when the show came to an end. For a full list of characters check the Olympus website opposite.

Chris Chambers produced a very deep yet witty script that was both challenging and emotional, making Olympus a thought provoking, contemporary work of art. The cast were very professional and consisted predominantly of passionate amateurs; a reflection resulting from the clear direction of the production team and a great deal of dedication from all concerned.

ABOVE: The Cast of Olympus

On a personal note, I am sorry that this show is having a very limited run and when the flame was placed in public view to open the Olympics I felt like saying, ‘Long Live Olympus... A race against time!’

Jaz McKenzie

When the chips are down... Never give up! Live Life~Love Life WK 20

When the chips are down...Never Give Up!

Life is amazing but there are times when, like a marathon runner, we face the metaphorical wall. We know what we need to do but lack the enthusiasm or motivation to forge ahead and do it. Sometimes we work so hard we burn out so to speak, yet we still need to meet our targets. If we are consumed with passion for a project we can be in danger of devoting too much time to it and burdening ourselves with a guilt complex should we knock off a bit early! There is always more to do and there will always be more to be done but physically we do need to rest.

We have been given something called leisure time, in fact it first appears in the Bible when God made the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. Rest and relaxation are essential for our health, both physical and mental and gives us time to rejuvenate and possibly the rest will enable us to take our thoughts in a new direction.

To give up is to admit defeat so before we take that final step we need to ask ourselves why we are choosing to do so. It might be a lack of resources, in which case we can research other mediums or think of new ways to do things. Sometimes we lack support which can become a physical and mental drain. Striving to achieve a complicated project as an individual will only work for so long and you may need to recruit others to help. Athletes for example, need coaches to keep them motivated and help improve technique if they are to stand a chance of winning a medal: likewise businesses often benefit from multiple input which generates new ideas.

It may be that you feel you have been doing the same thing for too long and not getting anywhere; go back and look at the baby steps that have carried you this far. You have probably come a lot further than you imagined, which is reassuring and maybe you just need to assess the best way forwards. Speaking with people can open your eyes to new possibilities, new avenues or different ways of marketing and through networking you will make new contacts. Good business opportunities occur when people try to find mutually beneficial ways of working together. It might be that the other person benefits more however if there are still benefits for you then do not dismiss the idea out of hand. When people allow feelings into the framework and are over sceptical of motive they could miss out on a good opportunity to take their business to the next level.

There are some things in life that can be left for a while to no detrimental effect. If you have a hobby that you find challenging... knitting, photography or language for instance, these can be returned to and brushed up on at a later date. A short break might be beneficial in coping with frustration.

As with most things in life, there are times when this rule may be broken. Occasionally giving up is the best option, putting down a boring book for instance as there are too many good books in this world just waiting to be read. Everything is a matter for personal judgement, especially where relationships are concerned, but giving up in most situations should not be your first choice as striving for solutions and motivation are better and more rewarding options in the long run contributing to personal growth which helps develop your potential. The best course of action is to take sufficient time to evaluate a situation thoroughly before making any final decisions. Our final words of advice...

When life gets on top of you, take a quick break & re-motivate!!

Jaz McKenzie

SEEKING NEW WRITERS!! If you would like to write an article for ~IB~ contact: itsbraap@live.co.uk

KOFI - Get Real (Soul Mix) PRE-VIEWING NOW ON ~IB~

Big thanks to Christopher Hills for sharing Kofi's upcoming release from Koffe an Kreem Records. If you wish to hear some really kooooool vibes CLICK PLAY!!
Like what you hear? Go to koffeankreem.com and listen to the full length version. Songs will be available for purchase from the 1st June. While you're there you can check out IJ Chris & see the new direction his musical journey is taking. Definitely hot tunes coming from this new record label so stay tuned... Its Braap!

If you would like your music featured on ~IB~ post to our facebook page... link opposite or contact itsbraap@live.co.uk