RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

It's been fifteen years since actor and musical artist, Vanessa Williams has released new music. She had a thriving pop music career since the late 1980's but had recently decided to put her main focus on acting on the screen and stage. Yet unexpectedly Williams has dropped a new single, "Legs (Keep Dancing)" that is the first from an upcoming album due out later in the year. Inspired by the memoir, "The Legs Are The Last To Go" by the legendary, trailblazing actress, Diahann Carroll, the sixty-one year old Williams decided it was not too late to resume her recording career. The music video for this dance bop displays Williams in fine form, showing off her legs and some impressive, high energy moves. But Williams has not given up on acting as she is set to return to the stage in London's West End, as Miranda Priestly in Elton John's musical adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada".

The alt-r&b duo, Lion Babe, that features vocalist, Jillian Hervey and producer, Lucas Goodman have also just released a new dance track, "So Pretty". This New York based outfit have been blending classic soul and electronic beats since 2012 and with their latest release, "So Pretty" delivers a shimmering house music song about feeling confidently beautiful on the inside and on the outside. For the video, looking and sounding very much like her mother, Vanessa Williams, Hervey is seen strutting around the city looking glamourous and fierce.



Here are a few recent songs that I am enjoying: "Espresso", the latest pop single from actress/singer, Sabrina Carpenter which is her first to reach the top-ten in several countries including the Billboard Hot 100; The song, "Make You Mine" from Madison Beer with the music video inspired by the horror-comedy, "Jennifer's Body"; Tinashe is back with "Nasty" which proclaims that she's looking for a freak and "Magnificent", the most recent song unearthed from the seemingly, unlimited musical vault from the late and highly prolific artist, Prince.









And I just recently watched again "Sweet Charity", the 1969 movie adaptation of the stage musical which was based on the Fellini film, "Nights of Cabiria". And while it does not work entirely for me, what makes the film truly stand out is the direction and choreography of Bob Fosse, making his screen directorial debut. He began first as a chorus dancer in the movies before heading to the Broadway stage, working his magic to become an acclaimed choreographer and later a director. Fosse's success continued as he returned to film, making five features and winning the Best Director Oscar for the musical, "Cabaret" in 1972. Here is the incredible number of "Big Spender" from "Sweet Charity" which features Paula Kelly and Chita Rivera that is a marvel in movement and sound.