I think that I would lose some sort of Black Woman’s Blog Certification if I didn’t blog about the Soul Train Awards.  I mean — there are certain minimum standards to meet to keep my BWBC standing.

I’m not really going to talk about the awards because, let’s be honest, we watch these shows for the performances, not the awards.

• We will start where the show started—with Erykah Badu. Wow, is she beautiful! I get why the rappers dig her (and dig that she laughed at her reputation with the rappers).  Her best line of the show was her crack on Iggy Azalea—freaking hilarious.

• It was heartwarming to witness the still-present and obvious bond between Tichinia Arnold and Tisha Campbell-Martin. 2 snaps for sista-hood!  Now those two need to come out with an album of duets.  Remember how well they could sing?

• Tyrese isn’t just bringing sexy back, this man is bringing R & B back.  I follow the brother on Instagram and he must also be the hardest working entertainer I know.  He is always doing something to promote his album,  Black Rose.  As a side note: we have to remember that this brotha started in a Coke commercial.  If that ain’t inspiring, I don’t know what is! 

• I just love how the Whip and NaeNae guy (Silento—but ya’ll know that you know him as the Whip and NaeNae guy too) thanked his Auntie for raising him. In our Black families, there is always a generous Aunt or Grandmother stepping in to raise family members when a situation isn’t ideal.  It’s nice that this Auntie got some shine.

• BLACK IS SO BEAUTIFUL as expressed by V. Bozeman. We can be bald and still so feminine, so striking, so lovely.

• Let me just put it out there for the world to know: I have a straight-up woman-crush on Jill Scott.  She is golden to me.  What a gift to be able to see poetry in everything—even the simplest of things.  She inhales the beauty she observes in the world and then creates light.  Don’t you see it too?  That smile—glows.  When she said that she didn’t conform to any standard I wanted to cry because, if we are truly honest, isn’t that exceptionally hard to do?  She listens to her soul, then shares it with us, which is why we relate to her—why our souls react to her.  She makes me want to write more, be more, and liberate that creative, different bird that I have caged for 40 years and let it fly.  I know—I’m gushing.  I told you…

• The humor in the show was so refreshing. There didn’t seem to be this desire to impress, but to express; not a need for one person to show their star power—it was a true family affair.  “Tyrone” coming on stage when Erykah was singing, and the  Unsung episode about Cameo’s Codpiece, was snot out the nose laugh worthy. Fist bump to Beverly Johnson and to Eric Holder for not taking themselves so seriously and joining in on the fun.

• The Soul Cypher (Eddie Levert, Jodeci, Layla, Jasmine Sullivan) was baaaaaad to a hippopotamus’ bone.

• The BabyFace Tribute and Performance reminded me of how fabulous Babyface was / is. He was the soundtrack to my teenage years.  But, awwwww… can we talk about Tevin?  Tevin reminded me of that girl in high school who started sleeping with people far too early and is washed-out by 25.  Maybe starting his career at 12 messed him up because he didn’t seem to have nothing left to give us.  Po’ thang.   Brandy, on the other hand still has it although she was a young star.  I’ve loved Fantasia since she was on American Idol.  I root for her, and used to wonder why she couldn’t seem to crossover.  Now I think that perhaps her voice may be too soulful for the masses, somewhat like Patti Labelle.  Were I Fantasia’s manager, I would connect her with the modern day Michael McDonald (maybe Sam Smith) and produce an equivalent “On My Own.” You feel  me?

• I think Bobby Brown needs to give up the sex symbol thing. When he did the tongue –flicker thing at the Hampton Coliseum 30 years ago, it gave me a tingly feeling.  Last night, I was a little grossed out.  But, I love our folks—30 years of Newport 100s have killed Bobby’s voice so EEEEERbody wasn’t just singing with him—they were singing for him—like we gonna get you through this Bobby!

• Boys to Men —on the other hand is in top shape—a drug PSA right there if I ever saw one. I am so proud of no one throwing their panties on the stage when they sang I’ll Make Love to You— cause them singing was a dirty-draws-situation.

• R. Kelly is like porn: you may like it, but feel guilty for liking it. Is it okay to love the music; but dislike the man?  Is that cool?

I loved this show!  It was us–the soul of who we are –instead of a caricature of us like many shows are.  Don Cornelius once said, “When you come up with a good idea, you don’t have to do a whole lot.  The idea does it for you.”  The music, the talent did it for this show.  It didn’t need anything else.