There are lots of ways to wear bangs, from the swoop, to the baby varieties, to the blunt straight-across-the-forehead assortments. So, let's take a trip back to days past, where all sorts of fringe styles — and lots of hairspray — ruled the looks of the moment.
My friend Frank, who's behind the excellent Rappers I Know, has impeccable taste. So when I asked him if he had a celebrity crush, without hesitation, he namechecked Sade. No wonder: at the age of 50, she continues to have one of the silkiest voices and most beautiful faces in music. Born in Nigeria, Helen Folasade Adu moved to England at the age of four. Later, after studying fashion at St. Martin's College, she translated her love of soul artists such as Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye into a singing career.
Her eponymous group enjoyed immense popularity throughout the '80s and early '90s, enjoying hits like "Smooth Operator" and "No Ordinary Love." Her sensual beauty stood out in a sea of highly stylized singers, providing a different version of beauty from the neon-and-teased-bangs trends of the day. Although she's been out of the spotlight for a few years, she's working on a new album, giving Frank (among others) a chance to be inspired by her silken voice and stunning looks once more.
If you've never seen a Sade video, you can change that. Just sashay, Sade, this way.
Music is a very personal thing. What's pleasing to the ears of one person can be nails on a chalkboard to another. Even iPod playlists are like snowflakes: no two alike. But I find that people can be most varied when it comes to what they listen to when they need to be soothed.
The very definition of the word "soothe" is "to tranquilize or calm." Think auditory Xanax. A quick Amazon search of "soothing music" leads to mostly instrumental compilations meant to lull you to sleep. For me, these Enya-eque tunes are more boring than calming.
So, what mellows me? Well, a little Sade goes a long way. Her voice is sensually raspy, and I instantly get transported to whatever perfect-love scenario she's currently crooning about. The Beatles have a similar calming effect. It probably has something to do with growing up listening to their albums, back when I had no adult responsibilities. I asked Bella this question and she says calms the ol' nerves with The Sea and Cake.
What about you? What CD or artists do you listen to when you just want to kick back and relax?
