November 20, 2009, New York, NY– Platinum-recording artist, songwriter and actress, D. Woods, is truly a triple threat entertainer and is one of the entertainment industry’s quickest rising young stars. She became a familiar face on Diddy’s “Making the Band 3” which went on to create the five-member pop/R&B girl group sensation, Danity Kane. Their first self-titled album debuted in late 2006 at #1 on the Billboard charts selling 234,000 units in the first week and was eventually certified Platinum. Danity Kane’s sophomore album “Welcome to the Dollhouse” debuted in 2008 at #1 on the Billboard Charts, making Danity Kane the first female group to have two #1 debuts for their first and second albums. “Welcome To The Dollhouse” sold over 500,000 units and spawned the hit single “Damaged,” which sold over 2 million digital downloads.

Showing her true versatility, D. Woods is no stranger to the silver screen, D. Woods made a cameo in the 2007 box office smash “Stomp the Yard” starring Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown and recently completed filming her next movie, “We Are Family,” which will be in theaters in 2010 and stars actors Monique Coleman, Christian Keyes and Chyna Lane.

On October 14, 2008, in one of MTV’s most-watched episodes, Danity Kane, much to the chagrin of their loyal fans, was disbanded and D. Woods left the group to embark on the next and greatest chapter of her career; as a solo-artist. No longer confined to a group-setting, D. Woods is free to exhibit her creative style and pop sensibilities through her recent distribution deal inked with Bonzi Records/Fontana (Universal Music Group).

D. Woods’ solo debut album, “My Favorite Color,” will be released on April 27, 2010 on her own label, Woodgrane Music, but before its release, she will be giving back to her fans with the release of “The Gray Area Experience” EP, which features new and exclusive material. The first single from the EP will be “Legalize Me” releasing on December 8, 2009, along with a music video to support. Along with the release of “The Gray Area Experience,” D. Woods will also invite her fans to submit their personalized videos for an opportunity to win “A Day With D. Woods” online contest.

“Over the past year, I’ve existed in one of the most awkward situations yet in my life; my own little “Gray Area.” I look forward to what the future has in store for me,” says D. Woods. Visit www.missdwoods.com or www.bonzirecords.com for updates and D. Woods music and news.

courtesy of MAC Media

check out D. Woods video “Legalize Me”

D. Woods – “Legalize Me” (Official Video) from MOTIMEDIA on Vimeo.

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- Shannon and Dawn speak about Danity Kane breakup
• Ifelicious Thoughts- The show stoppin for Danity Kane! MTB4 Season 3 finale
• D. Woods official website- Win a Day with D. Woods
• Myspace- www.myspace.com/yagirldwoods
• Twitter- YaGirlDWoods
• Facebook- D. Woods fan page

This week, I’m taking a more serious turn from my regular Throwback Friday posts in light of Rihanna speaking out about abusive relationship at the hands of Chris Brown.  Also, I have maybe a handful of artists at most that are my absolute favorites and Tracy Chapman is one of them.  It was actually my dad that introduced me to her.  He received a copy of her self titled debut album, released in 1988, on cassette tape and dubbed a copy for me (a real treat in our house growing up) after realizing that I enjoyed listening to it so much.  Again, that’s probably a cassette tape that I still have stored away in a shoebox or one of my cassette tape storage cases (you youngins won’t know anything about that).

Yes, that’s the album that had “Fast Car,” but it also had this song “Behind The Wall” among many others that were full of spirit and meaning.  I was drawn to her soulfulness of her voice.  In general, I am particularly drawn to artists that excel lyrically, vocally connect with the audience to the point where you feel every word, and musically I’m not as picky (hence the fact that I listen to a variety of music genres).  I have every one of her albums, and remember going to see her in concert at Merriweather Post Pavillion with one of my best girlfriends back in high school who shared an equal love for Tracy Chapman’s music.  Back then, it was mostly Tracy and an acoustic guitar.  Simple and beautiful.

To tell you about how much of a fan I became comes with more stories than I have room for in this post and for most of your attention spans.  I mean, I remember being out in San Jose, CA at a record store with my cousin and convincing the store to give me the Tracy Chapman poster they had hanging up on the wall.

Now that I’m a writer, I should try to reach out to Tracy’s people and see if she will grant me an interview.  It would be a dream come true for me.

“Behind The Wall” speaks of domestic violence and is sung a capella.  There was never a video made of the song, and I didn’t see a quality enough live performance of it online to share with you, but in a way, that’s absolutely perfect because this song is more about the message than visual effects.

Rihanna, this one’s for you, girl!  I got yo back.

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- all Throwback Friday Posts
• Tracy Chapman official website- www.tracychapman.com
• Myspace- myspace.com/tracychapman
• Twitter (Tracy Chapman News)- tchapmantour
• About Tracy Chapman- DISCOGRAPHY
• About Tracy Chapman- BIOGRAPHY

Links to related Pierre Lewis Posts

INTERVIEW TEASER- INTRODUCING UK POP SINGER PIERRE LEWIS (exclusive interview coming soon!)

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 1 OF 5) PRE-PREFACE and PREFACE

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 2 OF 5) THERE ONCE WAS A BOY, IDOL VS BRIT’S GOT TALENT, and JUGGLING GENRE

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 3 OF 5) DEBUT ALBUM, MTV, and SHE BANGS

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 5 OF 5) LOOKING FORWARD, FOOTBALL, and EPILOGUE

Sex! …

Ha ha! Got your attention, didn’t I?

So you know you have to answer all the questions that people who find you sexy will want to know.

Are you single? Do you have a girlfriend? Are you looking to date?

“I’m single at the moment. The thing is it’s such a difficult kind of industry to be in. I mean, to be honest it would be great to have a girlfriend because it’s actually a really lonely industry because a lot of friends kind of don’t necessarily understand kind of what you do and what you’re kind of going through, and they think it’s all the high life really. It is, but you do also need some TLC, you know what I mean?”

(laughs) Well, when you go on tour you’ll have all the groupies waiting for you backstage.

“It’s weird that you say that but I did a UK tour and you go out there and do the tours and stuff and then your whole tour management, they try to get you out of the club as quick as possible cause they know what singers are like. They know you’re going to stay there and drink your whiskey so I think all the modern tour management, they are quite clever on that and they get you out as soon as possible so I haven’t really kind of gone down that route.”

Well, we’ll bring you to the US because those rules will go out the window because that does not seem to be the case here. So, you sound typical of many artists that it takes a lot of time. You spend a lot of time in the studio. You spend a lot time promoting your work, so it’s kind of hard to fit in some of the other things. Do you think finding someone to date in the industry might help or just somebody’s who’s just real independent?

“I think so. I mean obviously there’s benefits to both. If they’re independent then they’re kind of free to be with you and spend time with you and stuff, but obviously if they’re in the industry then they can understand, but then also it’s difficult because I’ve seen a few people in the industry in the UK. To constantly see their career and to see their…their relationships and everything else that goes on in their lives and it’s so in your face, really, so it’s difficult, so I think in that respect to kind of date someone that’s normal and not necessarily in the industry is an easier thing.”

Do you believe in love at first sight?

“Um, I believe in lust at first sight, and it develops you know. I don’t think that you can know that you love someone straight away just by looking at them. I think you can know if you’re attracted to someone.”

How do you feel about being viewed as a sex symbol?

“It’s very humbling to be honest. As a young kid you know you look up to stars on TV and you see different artists and stuff, and you think ‘Wow!’ and you know you have your crushes and stuff, and to be kind of held in that regard by a few fans, and stuff, it’s weird and it’s an amazing thing.”

Do you feel shy about the thought or do you embrace the whole sex symbol thing?

“Like I said, it’s humbling…I did a massive school tour here in the UK. You know going out to schools [and talking] about anti-violence…So I met a lot of kids and stuff, and they were screaming… and you really don’t know how you’ll react until lots of screaming kids come up to you and like want your autograph and stuff, and it made me humble, and it made me blush…You kind of go into professional mode…and it’s only when you leave that you start to think ‘Wow, that was crazy!’”

Papa(razzi) Can You Hear Me …

You ready for celebrity life? Paparazzi, tabloids because you guys in the UK are crazy with your tabloids.

“Oh tell me about it. It’s crazy. I actually have already had a bit of an experience with [the tabloids]. I went to school with Kate Middleton who’s Prince William’s girlfriend, and I did an interview with the Mirror newspaper, and they asked me about Kate, and they really pushed me, just really really pushed me, and I said a few things that were a bit cheeky and stuff…that I should have possibly held back.”

Do you feel ready for big time fame? Are you are surrounded by the right people to keep you grounded?

“Basically with all the different people I’ve worked with and all the famous people I’ve met and become friends with them, I’ve always asked the one question ‘How’d you kind of deal with it?’…The most important thing is to have a place that you can get away from it and you can absolutely relax and you can have your family and the people that love you come in and be with you, and I think that’s kind of to have a place that you can have that solidarity and peace and quiet…I think the craziest thing with all these A-List celebrities and they live in a massive mansion right by where the paparazzis hang out and they say ‘Why the paparazzi’s outside my house?’ and I mean, you know, it’s like ‘You put yourself there.’ Do you know what I mean?…It’s very much something that you can control I think and if you’ve got good PR people as well, I think that will help out.”

I don’t know how big of news the whole Chris Brown and Rihanna incident was in the UK, but when you talk of celebs out in the public eye.

“Ya, it was quite big news here and you can see that the all the kind of PR heads and stuff went into crisis mode, didn’t they?”

Television Dreamin’ …

I’m a reality tv buff, and I don’t know if you even watch reality tv, but I was thinking about all the types of things you might do. Would you record a reality tv show about yourself? like your journey?

“I would love to actually. I think it would be a great thing, but I think it’s a bit difficult. I mean you’ve got two sides, the positives and the negatives. I think this industry is really changing. Even just like 10 years ago without the internet and so forth a lot of artists and film stars and stuff, you only saw of them what their publicist put out and they managed to retain a real iconic sort of persona really, and now with the internet and all these documentaries and stuff you really put yourself out there, for good and for bad…[however] if I was offered the opportunity, I think that in this point in my career I think I’d definitely go for it.”

Do you see yourself doing anything other than singing? Maybe acting or something else?

“Definitely, before I wanted to be a singer I actually wanted to be an actor when I was young, actually…I’m a big fan of Elvis Presley which is kind of not cool for a guy my age. It’s kind of a bit of a retro thing. For me he’s a massive icon. I have loads of his films, and they’re kind of cheesy films. They’re kind of musicals and stuff but it’s nice. If there was something fun. I guess, obviously, the equivalent now is kind of like the High School Musicals and stuff like that. It’s almost like a credible and serious kind of musical film.”

continue to Part 5 of interview…

* * *

Links to related Pierre Lewis Posts

INTERVIEW TEASER- INTRODUCING UK POP SINGER PIERRE LEWIS (exclusive interview coming soon!)

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 1 OF 5) PRE-PREFACE and PREFACE

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 2 OF 5) THERE ONCE WAS A BOY, IDOL VS BRIT’S GOT TALENT, and JUGGLING GENRE

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 3 OF 5) DEBUT ALBUM, MTV, and SHE BANGS

PIERRE LEWIS (PART 5 OF 5) LOOKING FORWARD, FOOTBALL, and EPILOGUE

I’M WAITING FOR A PHOTO TO BE RELEASED OF CHRIS BROWN LOOKING LIKE THIS!!!

Before I continue, this month (March) is Women’s History Month.  It’s a time to reflect on all of the accomplishments and advances women have made throughout history.  In this context, I was really hoping that Rihanna was going to come out and take a stand for the benefit of women and girls all over the world, but it does not appear that way.  Let’s just hope, she reaches a healthy place for herself in the short term and hopefully be able to take that stand against violence sometime in the future.

Back to my regularly scheduled program (and, no, Diddy did not invent that phrase young folks)…

You’d have to be under a rock to at least not have heard Chris Brown or Rihanna’s name over the past month, not to mention the horrific admission from Chris Brown that he beat the hell out of Rihanna.  I’ve stood back from it a bit, knowing there are so many people reporting every single move they make.  However, I was upset like many out there (parents or not) that Nickelodeon was keeping Chris Brown on the ballot for the Kids Choice Awards.

Just released from Associated Press is news that Chris Brown has withdrawn his name from the awards show scheduled for March 28, 2009.

I am disappointed in Nickelodeon, however.  Not taking him off the ballot really sends a negative message to children that admitted criminal actions have no consequences.

Is anyone boycotting Nickelodeon as a result of their decision?

Are you glad that Chris Brown’s camp took the initiative to withdraw him from the Kids Choice Awards?

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
winner
Britney Spears, “Piece of Me”

other nominees
Mariah Carey, “Touch My Body”
Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”
Rihanna, “Take A Bow”
Jordin Sparks, “No Air”

* * * * *

BEST MALE VIDEO
winner
Chris Brown, “With You”

other nominees
Flo Rida, “Low”
Lil Wayne, “Lollipop”
T.I., “No Matter What”
Usher, “Love In This Club”

* * * * *

BEST DANCING IN A VIDEO
winner
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”

other nominees
Chris Brown, “Forever”
Danity Kane, “Damaged”
Madonna, “4 Minutes”
Ne Yo, “Closer”

* * * * *

BEST ROCK VIDEO
winner
Linkin Park, “Shadow of the Day”

other nominees
Fall Out Boy, “Beat It”
Foo Fighters, “The Pretender”
Paramore, “Crush Crush Crush”
Slipknot, “Psychosocial”

* * * * *

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
winner
Lil Wayne, “Lollipop”

other nominees
Mary J. Blige, “Just Fine”
Lupe Fiasco, “Superstar”
Flo Rida, “Low”
Kanye West, “Homecoming”

* * * * *

BEST NEW ARTIST
winner
Tokio Hotel, “Ready, Set, Go!”

other nominees
Miley Cyrus, “7 Things”
Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”
Jordin Sparks, “No Air”
Taylor Swift, “Teardrops On My Guitar”

* * * * *

BEST POP VIDEO
winner
Britney Spears, “Piece of Me”

other nominees
Danity Kane, “Damaged”
Jonas Brothers, “Burnin Up”
Panic At The Disco, “Nine in the Afternoon”
Tokio Hotel, “Ready, Set, Go!”

* * * * *

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
winner
Britney Spears, “Piece of Me”

other nominees
Chris Brown, “Forever”
Jonas Brothers, “Burnin’ Up”
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”
The Ting Tings, “Shut Up And Let Me Go”

BEST ART DIRECTION
winner
Gnarls Barkley, “Run”

other nominees
MGMT, “Electric Feel Version 2″
Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”
The White Stripes, “Conquest”

* * * * *

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
winner
Gnarls Barkley, “Run”

other nominees
Adele, “Chasing Pavements”
Chris Brown, “Forever”
Chris Brown, “Kiss Kiss”
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”

* * * * *

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
winner
The White Stripes, “Conquest”

other nominees
Erykah Badu, “Honey”
Death Cab For Cutie, “I Will Possess Your Heart”
Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”

* * * * *

BEST DIRECTION
winner
Erykah Badu, “Honey”

other nominees
Linkin Park, “Shadow Of The Day”
Panic at the Disco, “Nine In The Afternoon”
Pussycat Dolls, “When I Grow Up”
Rihanna, “Take A Bow”

* * * * *

BEST EDITING
winner
Death Cab For Cutie, “I Will Possess Your Heart”

other nominees
Erykah Badu, “Honey”
Ne-Yo, “Closer”
Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”
Weezer, “Pork and Beans”

* * * * *

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
winner
Kanye West feat. T-Pain, “Good Life”

other nominees
Erykah Badu, “Honey”
Coldplay, “Violet Hill”
Missy Elliott, “Ching-A-Ling/Shake Your Pom Pom 3D”
Linkin Park, “Bleed It Out”