#ConversationStarter: Love Never Felt So Good

Michael Jackson’s posthumous album Xscape was just released Tuesday.

It is an album of tracks, MJ recorded years ago, that producers “contemporized” to give the modern feel while retaining the Jackson-style.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and J-Roc updated eight of Jackson’s completed tracks to form Xscape, released Tuesday. Produced by John McClain (co-executor of the Jackson estate “Love Never Felt So Good” was written in 1983 in a session with Paul Anka and Kathy Wakefield. In 1984, Johnny Mathis released a version. The latest rendition comes as the five-year anniversary of Jackson’s 2009 death approaches on June 25.

One of the artist on the album is Memphis’ Justin Timberlake.

He and MJ duet on “Love Never Felt So Good.”

A day after the album release, a video accompanying the track debuted on the Ellen Show.

The video pays homage to Jackson as JT and the dancers lip-sync and dance to some iconic images from Jackson’s past videos?

Check it out above and chime in what do you think about the video for “Love Never Felt So Good.”

If you’ve heard it, how do you feel about the new album Xscape as a whole?

 

#ConversationStarter: Meet Cory & Topanga’s daughter in #GirlMeetsWorld

(left to right )Cory & Topanga, along with their daughter Riley and her “Shawn Hunter” Maya.

Cory and Topanga Matthews (Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel) are back!

The duo picks up just a little over a decade since viewers last left them only now with a teenager–hence the title “Girl Meets World.”

Disney Channel has flipped the original concept on it’s head.

Mr. Feeny, Amy and Alan (William Daniels, Betsy Randle and William Russ) will also appear in an episode or two.

Check out two familiar 90s faces and their daughter Riley (Rowan Blanchard) below.

Although there is no official premiere date reports say the series will debut this summer.

Are you excited to see Cory and Topanga again?

Who else from the original show would you like to see?

►Read More from US Weekly.

#TalentedTuesday: Vote for Lindsey Planty as the Face of Fabryan.

I want to take a moment to highlight a Memphian today. She is a woman of brains & beauty. Her daily observations on life have kept me laughing for years on social media. Now Lindsey Planty needs your vote.

At the time of this post she’s #22 in the Face of Fabryan contest.

The luxury womenswear and accessories brand will fly the winner to London for a photo shoot. Top 32 ends this Sunday, March 30 at 12:00 PM EST.

So take two seconds to support this young woman follow this link & vote.

➡️http://modellauncher.com/votingbracket/221/8
Much appreciated.

#MusicMonday | @Zendaya Redux.

“Being in control of what I do is the best.”–Zendaya

Zendaya.

Actress. Singer. Dancer. Zendaya.
I’ve said it before (on #TalentedTuesday) I’ll say it again Zendaya is amazing and her voice incredible. She’s a little hip-hop, a little pop, a little R&B, a little 90s—but all Zendaya.

Listen for yourself. Below is the album version and  acoustic version of her song “Replay” from her self-titled album released in September of 2013.

“I’m kind of creating my own music and I’m kind of creating my own zone, my own lane as an artist. I want to do rhythmic pop,” the artist told MTV News.

#ConversationStarter | New Era. New Tonight. Classic Jimmy.

Actor, former “Late Night” host and SNL alum, Jimmy Fallon, made his debut as a new host of The Tonight Show: Starring Jimmy Fallon. Check out some clips below.

From CNN:

How will Fallon fare?

That’s the big question.

For one thing, the late night landscape has changed. The hosts — like Conan O’ Brien and Jimmy Kimmel — skew younger. And with Fallon, NBC hopes the audience will too.

While one-time host Johnny Carson has been the template all future hosts emulated, Fallon says he will fashion his stint after a different host: The original host, Steve Allen.

Conversation Starter:  What did you think about his first night?

Tweet me, leave comments on my Facebook page or tweet me.

#ConversationStarter: Hoopin’ with the FLOTUS.

Check this out:

The Miami Heat and First Lady Michelle Obama team up for a new Let’s Move PSA. Her reaction at the end makes me chuckle; I can’t picture another FLOTUS doing this PSA. Can you? If so who?

Also since it’s a health related  PSA, what gets you moving?  How do you stay health and fit?

#ConversationStarter: “Do What You Love.”

“Do What You Love”–Andrea Valeria

The pop culture boss, who is, Andrea Valeria recently released new vlog called “Do What You Love” and I wanted to share it here.

I couldn’t agree more with the gal who overdoses in pop culture. Why spend life doing something that doesn’t or only makes you somewhat content with life?

Do something that ignites the fire in you and makes you happy that you’re getting out of bed everyday!

Chime In: What makes you happy? Are you doing that thing? If not, why not?

Visit AndreaValeria.com for everything pop.

Follow @itsaPopOD on Twitter too.

Related: TalentedTuesday: It’s A PopOD

#ConversationStarter: Minority Players on #SNL.

Kerry Washinton on SNL.

Saturday Night Live took a jab at itself–with guest host, Kerry Washington in tow–after several SNL cast members and the media began asking why aren’t their any black women on the late night laugh fest which is now in its 39th season.

The opening skit had Washington playing First Lady Michelle Obama, then running out the room to change into Oprah.

According to Melissa Harris-Perry, Washington is the eighth  African-American woman to hold down guest hosting duties.

Series creator Lorne Michaels says finding a black woman for the show is a priority.

From The LA Times:

Michaels said he is focused on finding an African American female cast member for the NBC series, but he did not specify how soon it would happen.

“It’s not like it’s not a priority for us,” Michaels said in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday. “It will happen. I’m sure it will happen.”

Kenan Thompson, a SNL veteran who tells the LA Times he’s tired of putting on drag, puts the lack on black female performers.

BREAKING NEWS: Three Black people are on screen in an #SNL skit right now and none of the men are in a dress!

— Asani Isapoet (@Asani) November 3, 2013

However, there are plenty of black women who have graced comedic television–Debra Wilson and Wanda Sykes to name a few.

So chime in who in the minority would like to see on SNL? And let’s not just limit it to black women as one person on twitter pointed out:

RT @asteelpeach Let’s not make this a strictly Black women casting issues. They have a multiethnic casting issue.

— …guess (@mschantebaby) November 3, 2013

#ConversationStarter: Did This Bus Driver Do All He Could?

Bus driver, John Moody, is under fire for what occurred in the video above.

A 13-year-old boy has two black eyes and broken arm and a bus driver is under fire after three 15-year-olds attacked the teen.

The trio says they went after the 13-year-old because he told administrators they tried to sell him drugs.

As the assault takes place the 64-year-old bus driver pleads with the boys to stop but does not physically step in to stop the altercation.

From CNN.com

As the boy is pummeled, the bus driver John Moody yells at the assailants to leave the boy alone.

He also asks dispatchers to send help.

“You gotta get somebody here quick, quick, quick, quick,” he says. “They’re about to beat this boy to death over here.”

“Please get somebody here quick. There’s still doing it,” he adds. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Moody, 64, says he was too afraid to step in.

“The three boys just jumped on him and started pounding on him. And I did all can,” he told CNN affiliate WFLA. “I was looking. It was like I was in shock. I was petrified.

Now some say the Florida bus driver’s pleas were not enough and that he should have stepped in.

Chime in: Do you think he should have stepped in?

Or considering his age and fear for his own safety it was okay for him not to intervene?

What can be done to ensure violence like this doesn’t happen on school buses?

#ConversationStarter: Preacher’s Wife Responds To Outfit Criticism.

DeVon Franklin with wife and actress, Meagan Good. (image via HipHollywood.com)

Good with the cast of Cousin Skeeter. She played Nina in the 90s sitcom.

Meagan Good is catching heat from some on social media after the preacher’s wife donned a dress with a plunging neckline.

She wore the striking blue ensemble at the BET Awards while presenting the Best Gospel Artist award.

Good, who gained fame in the 90s in the Nickelodeon sitcom Cousin Skeeter, is married to Sony Pictures Executive and Seventh Day Adventist pastor Devon Franklin.

Below is a sample of the reaction on twitter:

Meagan Good know that dress was inappropriate to present a gospel award. Come on now

— Londan Banks (@LondanBanks) July 4, 2013

Feel for Meagan Good after this worldwide dress criticism she has gotten. She had go and defend what she wore. It wasnt even classless dress

— O’YeahCinco (@OhYeahGuy) July 3, 2013

I knew I wasn’t the only one giving Meagan Good the side eye for that dress she wore to the BET Awards! Hmph!
— 6’0 Snob (@RevoltedSoul) July 3, 2013

The star of the NBC drama, Deception, had this to say to her critics:

From The Christian Post:

“I never forgot God was there for a second.. and would never be ashamed of what I’m wearing (in) front of him…,” Good responded to one person on Instagram. “He loves me for exactly who He created me to be despite what anyone else thinks…”

From NewsOne:

I’m not any less holy because the dress I wore -I may not be who people think I should be -but I’m morphing into exactly who God wants me to be.. My excuse is never “I’m going to do me” and I don’t feel that I need to make an excuse or defend or what I wore .. I know I have a responsibility -and I’m working daily to fulfill the full potential of all God has created me to be..

A dialogue was started about my character, integrity, my walk with God and my Husband -simply based on a dress that I wore.., Of course I’m going to have a reaction to people saying negative things… It’s just sad.. Makes me sad not regretful.. My heart and spirit is always open to whatever my Father would want to share with me… And my spirit tells me to be exactly who I authentically am -because that’s what’s going to reach who I was authentically designed to touch.. people like me who are often misunderstood and told their cut of God’s promise -because they don’t look the role …when God doesn’t care about us “looking the role”..he is always cared about bringing us in -and us being whatever we need to be to bring Those left out in ..

Chime in: Was the dress all good? Or do you side with the “social media motherboard” (as NewsOne puts it) who thinks it was too much?

Read More.

The Christian Post.

NewsOne.

The Huffington Post.

HipHollywood.

The YBF.