This Week ABC aired “Oprah The Next Chapter” a special on which Barbara Walters sat down for an in depth Interview with the media mogul herself Oprah Winfrey. The special detailed on Oprah’s life after the lights go down and the audience disappear from the most watched talk show on American television “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. For 25 years Oprah has been in the homes of over 6million viewers each day, but now Oprah has taken the well over due step of owning her “Own” television network. In reality who could create their own network of quality television out of their own pocket but Oprah?
The idea of owning her own network grew while having a conversation with her long time partner Stedman Graham about the state of quality programming particularly talk shows. Stedman then suggested she create her own net work, but at the time Oprah caste out the idea as ridiculous.Now 15 years later those ridiculous ideas have come into formation in a joint venture with the president of the Discovery Network David Zaslay to create OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network .The feeling of failure something that most people would never remotely think would enter the mind of a woman that seems to sore an everything she puts her stamp on and reportedly earning over a million dollars a day.The pressure of delivering on her aim of producing mind full television is a prospect that admittedly has kept Oprah awake at night.With such a legacy behind her she expects as much of herself as the public has come too.
Production has already started on programs for the network with In-depth documentaries, realities shows, a series that follows Oprah in her daily life, the search for the next big talk show host and one of the most interesting shows Master Class a show that focuses on the minds of the leading thought leaders. From the previews, Master Class is really set to expand your way of thinking further than the box that we see.I believe if you have one seedling of inspiration, as long as the mind is exposed there are no longer any limits and there are no boundaries.
It is always interesting to see an interview between two journalists because there is nowhere to hide.Oprah has always said that Barbra Walters is one of the journalists she studied when starting her career almost 30 years ago. In this trusted environment Oprah also opened up about her charity work, personal life. Including the first graduate class of “The Oprah School For Girls” in South Africa and the joy of watching them search for University in the United States.
Oprah also touched on the persistent talks about her best friend of 30 years Gayle King and the basis of their relationship, saying that if they were in a romantic relationship she would have no reason to hide. On her controversial decision not to marry her long term partner Stedman she said that the huge expectations of being in a marriage would be too much for them , and if they had gotten married they would have divorced by now.She has never once regretted her choice not to have children because she didn’t want to be face with a child that one day to turn to her and said “Mum you neglected me for your career”. The most notable point of the interview was when Barbra asked Oprah about the abuse during her child hood that she openly talks about.She details going to school every day in the 5th grade worrying whether she was going to have a baby or not. That was a heart sinking moment for me because when a person is exposed to that experience as a child that is something you have to carry for life and the effects never go away.
I am excited about these new ventures Oprah will be bringing to television. OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Network is set to debut 2011
Quote of the day:
“Just Keep On Using Me Until You Use Me Up, That’s What I Say To God All The Time”
“I love this and I live it” Melanie Fiona truly lives up to her statement with the passion of her fiery stage presence and no hold soulfull warm vocals. The magic of Melanie’s live performances is her natural ability to capture each audience member from the moment she enters the stage and releases that first note. An undivided commitment to each lyric creates an atmosphere of emotional exchange with the audience in each one of her songs with a journey of emotional highs and lows.
Melanie gave a high energy performance in the intimate setting of the Luminaire, on the London stop of her European tour.
As Melanie belts out on of her signature songs “It Kills Me” it’s clear why she displays such confidence in her stage presence and also has a Grammy Nomination in her back pocket, she has the vocal ability to back it up! With an industry full of studio voices it’s a rarity to hear a singer who out does their studio cut to take the song to another level.
Melanie debut a brand new song called “Gone and Never Coming Back” from her new album, ‘The MF Life’ to be released early 2011. This new song flows in the vein of her new style of music Stadium Soul “I coined the sound stadium soul because its bigger, Its soul music but it is big. It’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards”. This song shows the growth in Melanie musically over the past two years, making her stamp on creating her own individual instantly recognisable style. While maintaining the quality of the lyrics, the freedom in her music bridges into The MF Life.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Melanie after the shows to talk; “The MF Life” and everything that comes with it, sleep sold separately.
While switching from her 5 inch stilettos into a comfortable pair of army style boots I asked Melanie how she has grown a reputation in her live shows that keeps familiar faces in her audiences.
“I would like to believe that they are enjoying my live show, because I put a lot of energy, emotion and physical thought into shows. I always base my music on emotion and I feel people feel that emotion when they listen to the music. It’s really important for me to capture each emotion on each song. Certain songs are happy, certain songs are sad, certain songs are angry and aggressive, I want people to go though the range of emotions with me, I think it’s an experience of release, it’s an exchange. I just hope that they keep loving it and each time they come and they enjoy it because I make the music for the people”
Melanie’s style of music is noticeably inspired by classic soul artist’s and her Guyanese heritage, with the album cover of The Bridge reminiscent of classic vinyl work from Diana Ross and Roberta Flack I asked her ideas on how she wanted her next album The MF Life to be presented visually.
“The Bridge I kept very universal, I kept it black and white I didn’t want people to see anything else other then music. This is now a little bit more introspective a little more personal. I certainly want people to see more colour and growth in my music I want them too see the growth in my eyes in everything in the words in my feelings. The visual is very important to me I want them to always get to know me a little bit better. The MF Life like I said out there in the show is a life style; it is the ups and downs that I go through so I’m going to show a lot of contrast, positives and negatives happy sad and by looking at the art work I want them to feel that okay I know what Melanie Fiona is trying to convey right now”
While listening to The Bridge it’s clear that the doors were left open creatively, in the many different sounds, genres and feelings Melanie could choose any direction with her next album.
“The direction I’m going with The MF Life, it’s bigger it’s better. Its growth really; it’s my growth personally as a performer, as a singer, a writer. It is really important for people to see that and feel that through the music. That was the thing about doing too many diverse sounds on the bridge it did allow me to go anywhere I wanted too and that album took me around the world. It allowed me to perform in huge stadiums large venues and tours with Alicia Keys and Kanye West. I kinda coined the sound stadium soul because it’s bigger, its soul music but it is big. So it’s the biggest drums, loudest electric guitar, liveist keyboards. You know making it that rockingist stadium soul that is just undeniable and just should be played in big concert arenas.”
I love being able to see and touch my fans in the intimate shows, but there is something very powerful and moving about being able to capture and keep the attention of 15 thousand people up high and low you see the cameras flashing. The people coming in and out and for them to stop and listen, it’s really quite an accomplishment. I’m still learning. I’m taking the experiences and learning all the time until I headline my own large venue tours.
Melanie gave me exclusive details on new material with Stephen Marley, and being part of a host of female singers coming together on one album to tribute Nina Simone
I did some really great things; we did some writing I got some tracks from him, I also wrote and did a song with him for his album. I did a compilation he’s putting together, that’s a Nina Simone tribute it’s really great, I’m waiting to find out when it’s releasing. It’s going to be a completion of female singer’s tributing Nina Simone, I covered one of my favourite Nina Simone songs. I hope that it makes the album
Which One?
Don’t explain (Melanie sings) I love it, so I hope it all works out
Melanie’s works with Andrea Martin have been her highest charting songs with tracks “It Kills Me” and “Give it to me right” their collaboration in the studio has proven to be a winning creative relationship that provided Melanie with her already signature tracks. Will they be creating music again for The MF Life?
“Of Course! GT massive for life Andria Martin is like my musical soul mate. I’ve never found a producer writer that I’ve connected with so freely that it’s like a blind relationship so that whether I’m there or not she will create from my prospective. When we’re are together we finish each other’s sentences she brings the best out in me, gives me the freedom to say what I want to do and help me tailor that to become even bigger and better. She’s the greatest teacher as well, and she’s written so many classics (Sings En Vogue - Don't Let Go) She’s Amazing”
So we’re talking about The MF Life?What is a day in the life of Melanie Fiona, ‘sleep till noon’?
O my gosh, I wish. I day in the life of Melanie Fiona right now I’ll tell you it is being on a European tour. Coming from LA, from a 12 hour rehearsal in Atlanta, flying across the ocean to Romania finishing a show at 3am going to a hotel then being picked up at 5am, flying to Albania doing a show being jetlagged, not being able to fall asleep till 7am, coming to London having meetings. Having your shorts fall apart before you have a show, having to go to north London Islington to have a tailor fix it before your show then putting on your shorts and the zipper brakes. Not going to sleep till 6am, having to get up at 9am then having a big label meeting tomorrow to play your new album having to be fresh and be excited then put on a 90min show for your fans. It’s an interesting life.
‘How do you keep up with it all? I remember that your were sick before an Alicia Keys show you were opening’
O I was so sick, it will catch up with you it always does. Truly I think I run off excitement and adrenaline for the most part. I live for this and I love it, I can sit and dwell on all the messed up shit that happens and makes it difficult, or I can keep going and jump over the hurdles and I can still do what I love, that’s how I look at it.
‘How do you maintain your voice that growling schedule?’
I pray to God every night, and thank full he pulls though for me. Sleep is really key for my voice it’s a muscle your vocal cords I’m singing, I’m performing and I’m recording all the time. I’m very grateful that it stays strong and some days it’s harder than others especially since I have a raspy voice. Raspy voices go very very fast especially with lack of sleep.
I asked Melanie how she felt about the mechanical trend of creating a star and the exposure these “singers” are getting; compared to an artist whose talent is natural. Who study their craft and the music is of a much higher quality but still don’t get the support from the executives, this is a singer’s game after all.
“I really think that the music industry has changed alot, the goals that the music industry has. It’s become more about business than the music. Some people are here strictly for money some people are here for fame. There are some people that live eat sleep sacrifice their whole life for this. Sometimes it becomes about everything else but the music, because it’s easier, it’s an easier route to get a pretty girl or a good looking guy off the street. They may not have the talent, but there is someone that wants to manipulate that person into creating a star. I really think a star is born, I think that created and manufactured stars, they fall every fast and it’s a sad thing but it’s a reality. I think that its important people are now exercising better judgment. I hope they have seen the people that have gotten called, out the people that have embarrassed themselves, the people who have said they have one thing then haven’t cut it, the people who have said that they were one thing and they were another. It’s up to the people to be objective and to really open their eyes and ears to everything that's out there. If you’re only focus on one type of artist and one type of music you’re only going to choose the best out of that. If you only listen to garbage you’re going to choose the best of the garbage. If you open yourself up and look around and see what other things are going on, you’re going to see and hear a whole other bunch of music, if you open your ears. So it’s up to the people so I feel it is the media’s responsibility to give the people everything and let them decide instead of plotting them with ABC.”
Exactly a lot of music people put out because it sounds good right now they don’t take into account of how it will sustain the long run
“You see that’s the thing you know some artist want to get in and get out quickly, I actually want a career.”
In creating a career for themselves artist particularly women fall into the stereotypical role and compromise their talent, give in to the pressure of an oversexed image to gain notoriety. A pressure a Melanie is adamant not to give in to.
“I just look around a see everybody doing it and think why would I want to be like everybody ells when I can just be different? So I figured channel other ways to be different, channel other ways to show sex appeal through beauty and intelligence and talent.”
At 19 Melanie decided she knew what she wanted. She put University on hold to pursue her singing career. Not before considering going down career paths of business, social work and medical research until a teacher said “You have too much personality to be sitting in a lab counting shit all day you’re destined for bigger things”. So at 21 she decided to take the passion for her music and chase the dream. She drove half way across Canada then flew to LA .
“What was I like when I was 19, O my gosh. I was excited, I was learning alot about myself I learned a lot about passion at 19 because that’s when I knew I was going to go for it. I put school on hold at 19 I decided I was going to pursue music I was going to work three jobs and I was going to drive across the country then fly to LA and do what I gotta do. At 19 I started my path, I really came into myself. I graduated high school and I was like okay I can go to university. There were a few things I wanted to do, I wanted to do medical research and my science teacher told me ironically. That I had too much personality to be sitting in a lab sorting shit all day so he said don’t do it.He said don’t do it and I said really no why? Your destined for bigger things. Then I thought I’ll try business, you know business is practical it goes with everything and my economics teacher was like really seriously you want to do business. I went to my social works teacher and said maybe I’ll do social work and the social worker at school said you’ll take people’s problems home.Then I said well if I’m destined to do bigger things and I care about the emotions of people then I guess I’ll have to do what I’m destined to do music.
Hard work, commitment and quality of her music has paid off. Melanie, 27 has two Grammy Nominations and recently won a Soul Train award for Best New Artist. How does she feel about receiving well deserve recognition?
“Thank you, it felt really good. I hope it felt exactly how it looked because I watched it and cracked up at myself. I was so shocked and really not expecting to win. My parents were there they surprised me they didn’t tell me they were coming and I didn’t see them until I got back to my seat was really over whelmed.”
Her love for music was sparked listening to her parent’s record collection of great vocalist like Sam Cook, Aretha and Whitney, as well as listening to her father’s band and singing while they practiced.
“My parents are the greatest support system I have they don’t miss a thing I do. My parents have flown in missed special occasions sacrificed money, and time health to be there for me, at all my major events I’m very lucky to have that. They are the proudest.”
Okay so some fire questions now
Prince or Michael Jackson?
O Jesus, Michael Jackson sorry Prince I love you but Michael.
First piece of music you ever brought?
Brandy her first album.
We are in a vinyl shop, what are you looking for?
Sam Cook I’m looking for Sam Cook
Holding up the wall or dancing like nobodies watching?
Oh no I’m in the middle of the floor, depends if I’ve had a couple drinks.
If you could tell your 15 year old self something, what would you say?
I would tell her you’re going to get your heart broken and you’re going to break some hearts.
You said you worked three jobs what was your first job?
My first job was a paper round, I rode around the neighbourhood with my best friend Ashley at the time and we threw papers around, and that lasted for all of 2 weeks. Then I started babysitting and my first real job I worked in the mall in retail. I when to work at this retail shop to I could get all the cloths for 50% off and I hooked up so many people at Christmas time, my brother got his girlfriend at the time, a whole wardrobe for 50% off.
So we have talked about your On day what’s your ideal Off day?
I would sleep I would get a message, I would eat a great meal
What are you eating, your favourite West Indian Dish?
Oww, my favourite West Indian Dish that’s a tough one, it would have to be my Mum’s curried shrimp roti home made from scratch amazing shout to my Mum
Can you cook it?
Absolutely not. I’m terrible at cooking especially West Indian food, because my mum is the Don of that I can’t even mess with her. I would eat a good meal I would have dessert, I would be surrounded with people that love me and that I love.Catch a movies maybe just really chill out and do nothing, I know that sounds lazy sometimes you don’t want to do a damn thing. Sometimes you just want to lay there and not think about anything or your phone ringing just being in your own space. That would be nice. Being in foreign places is nice but it’s hard you don’t feel quite at home, so yea stay in my pyjamas all day.
If you could have dinner with 3 people dead or alive who would they be?
Bob Marley, Ghandi and I would love to meet with Lauryn Hill
Show me the purple heart, what does the purple heart mean?
Purple Heart is fading I should probably get it touched up but I kind of like it faded now. It represents many things for me it represents a turning point in my life, from being new and fresh gaining a lot of experience. Being in love and not being in love, from being broken hearted and being stronger. Making a conscious decision to remind myself that I can really do anything and to be this strong. I did this at a time when I really felt I had earned it. If I could describe what I had been through at that time where I felt I’d over come and where I thought I was going.It’s a purple heart of courage, purple heart of strength and I wanted it to be seen on my mic hand I wanted people to see it and be inspired every time. I wear my heart on my sleeve which can get me into trouble some times, but I’ll get though it with my purple heart again.
What are the goals you wish to achieve in the next 5 and 10 years?
5 year plan, still making music maybe a couple of Grammys
10 year plan, I’ll have a family I will be married, I’ll be a mother and I’ll still be a worldwide singer
What do you want people to take away from your music?
Real life experience and I want them to know that we go though the same things
Her all or nothing attitude towards the stage, focus on the longevity of her career and raw talent proves Melanie Fiona is here to stay her while building the anticipation towards her next full album release in 2011.
