Ashley, Darren and Megan answer our questions

You may already be aware that Louise and Katlego were booted off So You Think You Can Dance this past Tuesday after they danced for their lives. Things are getting tougher for the contestants.

This week we managed to get some questions answered by 3 of our favourites in the competition. Darren and Megan, who danced trogether, wowed the judges, as well as the viewers last week and booked themselves spaces in this coming Saturday's leg of the competition. Equally impressive was Ashley, also earning a place in the competition for this week. Here is what they had to say:

Darren:

Q: Who do you feel is the greatest threat standing between you and the R250 000 prize?

A: My greatest threat is the individuals that will be selected to perform with me and as a result our fan base and supporters will determine who gets the prize money. So we will really be dancing for our lives and our fan’s votes.

Megan:

Q: How was it working with the late Lebo? Do you think that experience with one of the greatest performers to brace the entertainment industry gives you an advantage in this competition?

A: Absolutely! Lebo had a magnificent power about her when she performed and demanded nothing less from us. Her energy definitely worked through me and I’m blessed to have known such an incredible woman.

Ashley:

Q: You seem at easy each and every week with what you do in the competition, is it something you've always done, dancing?

A: I’ve been dancing since I was 9,but only started taking it seriously in my teens! I’m so glad you say I seem at ease, because I can become extremely nervous and I’m really happy that I don’t look nervous.

Please go to YEAHBO.DOT.NET fore more of the questions these 3 talented dancers answered.

The movie Eagle Eye provides riveting entertainment

I've just come back from watching the new suspense thriller Eagle Eye, headlined by Shia LaBeouf. I actually hadn't seen him in any movie since I watched him do his thing with Tyrese on Transformers. Actually, I did see him on Disturbia and he was great there as well. It seems he is slowly becoming a blockbuster prince as I believe Eagle Eye will become a favourite for many. It has all the qualities of becoming big smash this summer.

You know I stan for movies with black actors so my drawcard for this one was one of my favourite actors, Anthony Mackie. Since he introduced me to his powerful acting alongside the sexy, beautiful and talented Kerry Washington on Spike Lee's She Hate Me, I've been hooked and have tried to catch as many projects he's been in as possible.

I glanced briefly at the story line before I saw the movie, but I had no idea I was in for such an entertaining experience. The spycraft element of the film was more than interesting. The suspense kept you on the edge of your seat, there was never a dull moment. I believe the director did a sterling job of putting together a cohesive body of work that captures the viewer's attention. But what else can you expect with Steven Spielberg's name attached to the project as the executive producer?

See movie trailer below:

Freshyground joins forces with Ozomatli for Diversity Rocks

I have just returned from the press conference that was organised by Universal Music at their offices in Sandton to introduce to the press an L.A. band known as Ozomatli. This group of talented musicians will be joined by Freshlyground in a series of shows dubbed Diversity Rocks to take place here in Mzansi from Friday 03rd until the 6th of October.

According to their biography, their music is described as a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican ragga and Indian raga. Since their music is a fusion of different types, styles and sounds, I posed a question to find out if this was intentional from the very beginning or it's something that developed along they way. One of the members responded, noting that their sound was very organic. He said that at the beginning, nobody could decide as they brought in different sounds from their different backgrounds. He added that their main aim was to make people dance. They then decided out of the jam sessions they used to hold that this was a route to take. He emphasised that through those experiments, their sound got together.

Ozomatli spoke about different topics, amongst others, their support for presidential hopeful Barack Obama; their mindest of not having expectations about South Africa because they would like to form their own opinions about the country after their visit for the first time; their hopes of collaborations with any South African musicians who may be interested; their performance with Hugh Masekela when the legend performed abroad; and the stance they have taken to bring about debate in topics frowned upon or subjects that are taboo and possess a great level of consciousness.

The band, brought here by the U.S. Embassy, will be performing alongside our multi-award winning band Freshlyground at a free outdoor concert at the State Theatre in the Pretoria CBD on Friday, 03 October 2008, then move to Potchefstroom on the 04th of October, where they'll participate in the Aardklop Festival, concluding with a performance at the University Of Free State in Bloemefontein on the 06th of October 2008. Their final performance will tie in nicely with the Macufe Festival which begins later this week as well, so they'll be some nice cross-promotion for them. I wish I could go to any of their show as I have never been introduced to their music before. But if you have time, please go and check them out. From the songs played before the press conference, I can only imagine what they can do live. Oh, by the way, if their music was not hot, Ozomatli wouldn't have 3 Grammy Awards under their belt.

Things are heating up on So You Think You Can Dance

The fourth week of SABC1's dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance was sizzling hot. The competition is getting tougher and the contentants becoming more and more aggresive in their performances. This past weekend's show was filled with fireworks as they all fought to stay in the competition for yet another week.

The highlight for me for this week was Darren and Megan, who did a riveting pantsula routine. Megan is known for her outstanding dancing skills and could have easily pulled off the pantsula dance. Darren on the other hand, was a complete surprise. Maybe not really a surprise, but more of a shock as everybody was bowled over by the display of brilliance in the execution of the township dance genre. My second favourite couple were Ashly and Kim. Their chemistry is wonderful and their fluidity when dancing together shines through.

For a noteworthy mention, I have to praise Bathembu and Marisa for their awesome performance. The fact that they did so well, only dancing together for the first time (after Marisa's partner, Blaze, was booted off last week after his stint at the hospital from an undisclosed sickness) proved that they are true professionals, very flexible and determined to see themselves amongst the top contenders at the end of the competition. My other favourite couple, Elizma and Katlego also did their thing. Despite the judges feeling that Katlego was outshined by Elizma, I thought they were both really good.

Overall, it was a very entertaining show. The dancers and their choreographers deserve all the accolades they get for their respective outstanding jobs. Tune into So You Think You Can Dance results show on SABC1 tomorrow evening at 19:00 to see who was placed in the bottom 3 for this past weekend, who danced for their lives and was saved and who is out of the competition. Otherwise, keep coming back here or visit YEAHBO.DOT.NET to see if we have tickets to give away to the live broadcast of So You Think You Can Cance for this coming weekend, 04th October 2008.

Metro FM takes us down memory lane as they celebrate 22 years On Air

What amazing memories Metro FM gave their listeners yesterday as they featured some of their former DJ's on air during shows co-hosted by Thami Ngubeni, Wilson B. Nkosi, Eddie Zondi and Nothemba Madumo. Apparently Wilson B. Nkosi suggested the idea to Programme Manager Segale Mokgotsi, initially proposing to host his show with both Segale and Bob Mabena. Segale Mokotsi then extended the idea and a wonderful experience was created, in celebration of Metro FM's 22 years of existence.

My personal favourite was Eddie Zondi, co-hosting the show with one of my yesteryear favourite Metro FM DJ's, Grant Shakoane. They combined Zondi's Romantic Repetoire with The GS Connection, a show Grant used to present back in the day. I have very fond memories of that era as I was always entralled by Grant's charisma, music knowledge and taste, as well as his shining personality. Coining phrases like Shubaba Shubabu Doo (I think that's how it went) and The Blacker The Berry, The Sweeter The Juice, amongst others, he was a forced to be reckoned with. It was this very same man who introduced me to the music of a very talented young lady called Taral Hicks, who gave us songs like Silly, a remake of Deniece Williams' song of the same title (I didn't even know it was a remake at the time) and I Wish You Were Here. This young lady did Silly more than justice as she shone on the ballad with her outstanding vocals (she is also an actor, most memorable for her role on the movie Belly). Anyway, another awesome song Grant Shakoane introduced me to was Luther Vandross' It's All About You, which is rarely played on radio. Actually, I think I have only heard it less than 5 times since Grant left Metro FM. His show yesterday just brought back those memories of a young boy in school and reminded me how good things were, including radio.

Metro FM continues their celebrations, including a cash prize giveaway of R900 000 this coming Friday, 03rd October, ending it with a huge Birthday celebration and Metro FM Music Awards nominee announcement party next week. Please tune into Metro FM to get more details on the giveaway and the awards launch event.