Why Twerking Should Be Banned

Ashley Lokken
Central Bureau Chief

    Welcome to the 21st century where women find joy in degrading themselves by shaking their booties up and down, completely exposed for all of society to see. What I don’t understand is, why? Why would women continue to partake in this hideous “dance move” when women are continuously struggling to destroy the patriarchy of the world?

    To me, dance is a form of expression, a passionate way of connecting with oneself. It urges a dancer to be incredibly in tune with his or her body, emotionally and physically. As a result, it builds self-esteem and creates powerful, strong and centered individuals. Twerking seems to do just the opposite. Twerking allows men an open view of a woman’s body leading them to sexual thoughts of desire and control. It proliferates the sexual stereotype of male dominance by using women’s bodies as sex tools. Girls do the actual act of “twerking” while the boy stands and allows himself to be danced on.

    “It began in the 2 Live Crew-dominated Miami Bass scene in the late 1980s or a few years after that in the New Orleans bounce scene,” says Jonathan Anker of HLNTV.

    Twerking is a “simulation of anal sex, or, it seems, an invitation to it,” says Lisa Belkin of the Huffington Post. “Depending who you ask, twerking started in strip clubs, or among prostitutes, or as a sacred tribal rite in Africa, and in addition to the sexual overtones it also has racial ones.”

    Either way, women should think twice about the message they are sending while participating in this public display of humility.

    On top of all of this, what message are we sending to the children? Not too long ago and very publicly, Miley Cyrus (an idol to numerous young people) got up on stage, bent over, and twerked on Robin Thicke’s crotch. This event led twerking to become “mainstream” and “cool” to the young people of society. It has also led young people to believe it is okay to do the same. It is fantastic for a woman to own her sexuality, but to a certain extent. Tween stars like Miley grow up and try so desperately to prove to the world they have done so, but this does nothing except demonstrate sustainable evidence that they’re ill-advised and losing their way as individuals.

    Besides making a woman look bad, the sad truth is twerking could possibly make them feel confident about themselves for all the wrong reasons. Is it absolutely necessary to act provocatively to gain attention? As women twerk, they may feel they are carefree, beautiful, and possibly controlling men by their moves. But in reality, they are only receiving attention because of the sexual spectacle that is exploiting them.

    Twerking is a direct symbol of the patriarchal society we currently live in. The man is in control while the girl does all the work. There is nothing edgy, trendy, or artistic about twerking. This “dance move” is destroying the moral fiber for women across the world. Young women should have more respect for themselves and their bodies especially if they expect to be treated as a man’s “equal”. No woman should feel the need to twerk for any guy. It’s not what we wear or how we gyrate in public that gives us ownership over the things we do with our bodies; it’s our ability to balance sexuality with being a sensible adult that bequeaths us the ultimate power to prove sexuality is not something to be feared, but embraced.

Iggy Azalea's "New Classic" Album Review

Bella Riccitelli
Sports Editor

    While being a female rap artist is considered taboo by many, rapper Iggy Azalea changes the game with her most recent album titled “The New Classic.”

    Varying in sounds and featured artists, Azalea surely outdid herself with her debut album. The CD includes songs with a wide array of themes as well. While some songs provoke wild dance moves, others provoke tears. However, every song on “The New Classic” seems to have at least a small part in it that plays as a reminder of all of the success Azalea has achieved.

    Something that everybody can agree on about Azalea, is that she doesn't present herself as a young, naive girl like most women do in the social media world. She's tough, authoritative, and she won't stop until she gets to the very top. When listening to “The New Classic,” that is something that she demands to be heard about herself.

    The first track on the album, titled "Walk The Line," really sets the mood for most of the remainder of the album. Azalea raps about her new found fame, and lets all of her listeners and haters know that she isn't going anywhere. She intends on remaining where she is in the music industry, even if it is alone.

    "Fancy," the third single released from her debut album, is a huge success, as it was her first song ever to chart on Billboard Top 100 in America. With a song as catchy as "Fancy," Azalea's music video for the song, a remake of the 1995 comedy “Clueless,” will never be forgotten.

    As the first and lead single of the album, "Work" is in my opinion, one of the best songs Azalea has ever written. "Work" focuses on the fact that Azalea spent a long period of time as a young teenager working hard to save money to move to the states. Then, at 16 she moved to the city of Miami without her family and made a living on her own as a rap artist—which is what got her to where she is now.

    Throughout almost every song, she appears to be demanding respect from whoever might be listening. However, every good album must include a couple of heart-felt songs, which “The New Classic” does.

    "Rolex," second to last on the album, really details Azalea's rough split from fellow rap artist A$AP Rocky. Azalea raps about the fall of their relationship, how she tried to make it work while he preferred to let it go, and most of all how she misses the times that they shared. I believe that one of the saddest lines from "Rolex" is, "I got you tatted and you took off before the ink dried off my hands." For obvious reasons, any break up song is sad to hear. Considering that, hearing it from a tough-girl rapper like Azalea only makes it sadder. By the time this song is over, I always feel crestfallen, as if I'm the one who just got out of a relationship with A$AP Rocky.

    Following right after "Rolex" is "Just Askin'." In "Just Askin'," Azalea raps as if she is having a catch-up conversation with her former boyfriend, and she displays just a hint of jealousy. A line from the song to illustrate this is, "What's up in your world? And are you still coolin' with that lame girl?" Also, "You wanted something more than what we had. What's up with her? She ain't all that." Towards the end of the track, what seems to be voicemails left from a female to a male's phone is played. In these voicemails, listeners hear a girl angry and then crying because her former boyfriend has moved on.

    I am so glad that the most emotional songs of the album are placed as the final two. While listening to “The New Classic” from start to finish, listeners hear that Azalea is just trying to live out her dreams. She wants the world to know how she feels about her place in this world, and she plans on never giving up. However, listeners also are given a glimpse into not only her mind, but her heart as well.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Review

Ana Cedeno
North Bureau Chief

     If someone offered you a wish, anything in the world would you do it? What would you be willing to give up for it?

     This is a theme explored in the anime “Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” a short series that takes the magical girl genre in a whole new direction.

     It starts off like a usual shojo anime and has a bit of a slice of life touch to it, as it introduces the main character, eighth grader Madoka Kaname, and her friends. They go through their daily routines and deal with school, boys, and the usual things that girls experience at that age. The anime continues on this vein for most of the first episode, during which we are introduced to the character of Homura Akemi, an aloof transfer student who leaves Madoka vague threats about remaining the same and keeping her life as it is.

     The fantasy element comes in later in the show when Madoka finds a creature called Kyubey, who offers her and her friend Sayaka a contract. The contract grants any wish, but in exchange the girls obtain powers and must become Puella Magica (Magical Girls) and defeat witches, evil creatures who create mayhem and chaos.

     Kyubey explains that “If magical girls are born from wishes, witches are born from curses,” and further explains that it is a magical girl’s job to protect innocent people from the evil of witches.

     Joining the cast are also Mami Tomoe and Kyoko Sakura, both veteran magical girls who react to Madoka and Sayaka making a contract in different ways.

     This leaves the anime set up with the usual formula for a magic girl series—an ensemble of different girls who must use their magic powers for the good of all and defend their city from the evil witches. Seems simple enough. Sounds like a good time, a feel-good happy anime that you might watch with your younger siblings or friends on a lazy summer afternoon.

     It’s exactly in that deception that lies the brilliance of Madoka.

     Although it presents itself for the first few episodes as a feel-good series, it isn’t long before the death and horror hiding behind the pink bows and happy school days tone starts showing through. The first death of the series leaves you staring at the screen with a dreadful realization of what you’re in store for.

     The setting of the death, as well as the buildup, work masterfully to fill the viewer with that well-known, warm fuzzy feeling that comes from a feel-good series before ripping it all away with a swift decapitation scene. That’s just the beginning.

     The characters are put through even more trials and traumas as they learn the hidden horror of what Kyubey’s contract entails and what being a magical girl is really about. As the story progresses, Madoka finds out that Kyubey has been using her and all of the magical girls for his own means. He has also been keeping secret from them the fact that after being used by him, all magical girls become the very witches that they fight. In exchange for their wishes Madoka and the other magical girls have handed over their souls and doomed themselves to die and be reborn as monsters.

     While this anime may sound depressing, it is actually quite brilliant. Madoka Magica does exactly what it sets out to do—to completely deconstruct the Magic Girl genre. It brilliantly succeeds by putting in twists and making it the exact opposite of what you would expect from an anime like it.

     As a shojo, this anime looks and feels like something reminiscent of Card Captor Sakura, while the transformation sequences makes you think of childhood days watching Sailor Moon. It also has a very girly ambience, with one of the characters agonizing over a high school crush.The cutesy art style not only serves to accentuate the innocent, but also the horrific elements of the anime.

     While on the subject of the art style, the fighting scenes deserve special mention. The animation for the scenes has touches of surrealism that appear whenever a witch’s labyrinth is present.

     Although it might not make the witches that scary, at least not to the older audiences, the animation sequences are really incredible and give the scenes with the witches an eerie feel that helps the episodes stand out.

     Although only 12 episodes long, the anime manages to deliver its story at a good pace and wraps it up with a final battle and bittersweet conclusion that keeps to both the fantasy and tragic tones of the series.

     In its 12 episodes, we also get to know the characters fairly well as their backstories are revealed and they are fleshed out through the episodes. Such an example is Homura, who starts off as the antagonist. Throughout the series, Homura goes from being the most distant character to being one of the most empathic characters in the anime. The big reveal of her past and the reason behind her actions is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series.

     The anime was directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and written by Gen Urobuchi, with original character designs by Ume Aoki.

     Overall, “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” is a good watch. It follows the usual paths of a shojo with some plot-twists incorporated into it, that help make it into an anime that truly sticks with you.

Farewell To Cristina Yang

Ashley Lokken

Central Bureau Chief

    As all of us Grey’s fanatics are aware, season 10 is coming to a close and Cristina Yang’s departure is approaching. Cristina Yang has been an extremely important asset to “Grey’s Anatomy” numerous years of success. Her brilliance, dry sense of humor, and overly confident cocky demeanor has graced audiences for a fantastic 10 years. But the exact reason for Sandra Oh’s departure is unknown.

    “It’s been a great privilege to play the character of Cristina Yang on GA and I am both sad and excited to see where this, her final season will take her,” Oh said in a statement to Entertainment Magazine. “It was an emotional and deeply creative decision for me and I feel fully supported by Shonda and the writers. It’s so rare in an actor’s life to be able to explore and grow a character so fully, so completely. I am profoundly grateful to everyone at GA for the opportunity.”

    Lucidly, the decision didn’t come easily for Oh. “Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go,” Oh told The Hollywood Reporter.

    In the most recent episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Cristina makes the crucial decision of determining which sister will receive a new heart, eventually leading to the death of the other sister. The unbearable guilt and grief then takes over Cristina, causing her to state the words: “What’s the point? What’s the point of anything?”

    Taking this into account, one can determine Cristina’s departure from the show will most likely be similar to her real life reasoning for exiting the show. Possibly coming to the conclusion she has done her part in “Grey’s Anatomy,” her duty is done, and she is rightfully ready to retire.

    It may seem as if Oh is not affected personally by this decision, but in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter she shows otherwise.

    “I’ve gone through a lot of therapy over this,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I started thinking about it because I had to prepare myself. I gave myself two years to emotionally let go. At the end of last season, Shonda took me aside and said, ‘What are your thoughts?’ I said, ‘I’m ready.’”

    Oh shared with her co-stars about her upcoming exit at the table read for the show’s 200th episode and stated the decision “doesn’t feel real yet.” She claims Shonda Rhimes has supported her every step of the way. “For the first time, at least for my character, you actually have an endpoint, which in series television you never or very rarely have” Oh proclaims.

    “One of the best days of my life as a writer happened the day Sandra Oh walked in my door to audition and forever changed the course of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ with her brilliant, nuanced portrayal of Cristina Yang,” Rhimes says.

    In retrospect, Cristina Yang has touched the lives of innumerable amounts of Grey’s fanatics, including my own. Yes, her departure from the show is saddening, but we should have the utmost respect for Sandra’s decision and have faith that Shonda Rhimes will continue the success of the show like she has done for an extraordinary 10 years of airing. We will never forget the sensational Cristina Yang.

Concert Tickets Over Everything

Damian Gordon
South Bureau Chief

    Drake came into town and all the girls are losing their minds over it. I went online to see how much his tickets were because I like his music. When the page opened up I saw three zeroes and a one. I had to back up from the computer and clean my glasses. Surely it had to be a mistake or the page just glitched or something. Nope, when I refreshed the website the price was still 1,000 dollars.

    That’s way too much for an hour at most of playing songs currently on someone’s iPod. That’s a roundtrip plane ticket to Japan. That’s 500 dollars times two (for those who are bad at math out there).

    Hey, anyone can spend their money anyway they want, but I am pretty confident that the majority of the audience is having their parents or boyfriend buy the tickets. Some poor guy out there is paying 1,000 dollars for his girl to see another man; that's just a slap in the face right there.

    Pay that buddy you still owe money to or take your lover somewhere more expensive than Burger King. Pay two bums to fight; anything would be a better use of 1,000 dollars than concert tickets.

    If I'm paying that kind of money for tickets, Drake better pay for my dinner, take me to meet Lil Wayne, and his mom. Those kinds of prices are made for screwing people, not entertainment. Drake’s not a politician...yet at least.

    Now, there were cheaper seats in the nose bleeds for around 100 dollars, but even that is still ridiculous, considering that is the price of front seat tickets for most concerts. There are better ways to spend money. And if someone went to this concert, that’s great; I hope they had a fun time, at least.

    With his shows only a quarter filled at some arenas, Kanye West recently found out the hard way that no one was willing to pay that kind of money for his concerts—especially with an album that many fans did not warm up to that well.

    Just take caution with what you buy, because there are probably people who paid 100s for a Ja Rule & Chingy concert 10 years ago and regret that every day now. Remember them? Yeah, neither does anybody else.

The Other Woman

Bella Riccitelli
Sports Editor

    There is nothing funny about finding out that your husband is cheating on you. There is especially nothing funny when his mistress knocks on your front door in a stripper outfit. However, Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton, stars of “The Other Woman,” made that situation into one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

    With previous projects such as “The Notebook” and “My Sister’s Keeper,” it is no surprise that the director of “The Other Woman,” Nick Cassavetes, directed yet another box-office topping film.

     The movie starts with the trendy, firm, and stylish Carly, played by Cameron Diaz, in love with Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), a charming financer. Scenes show the two happily and passionately in love, until suddenly it’s time to meet Carly’s father and Mark spits out an unbelievable excuse about the pipes in his home. When Carly doesn’t believe her boyfriend’s excuse, she takes it upon herself to drive to his home in a skimpy plumber’s outfit only to have the front door answered by Mark’s wife, Kate (Leslie Mann).

    After Carly and Kate meet and talk to each other a couple of times, they become friends and decide that it is their job to take Mark down, rather than just leaving him to suffer alone in life.

    Once the women become comfortable enough with each other, the good parts begin to flow. These two furious women spend most of their time plotting schemes and following Mark around. During one specific outing, they find out there is yet another woman.

    Mark’s young girlfriend, Amber, played by swimsuit model Kate Upton, they are spotted at the beach. When given the chance, the two women approach Amber and inform her about themselves and their situations. After hearing what a sleaze her boyfriend is, Amber joins their team to take Mark down once and for all and teach him a valuable lesson.

    While this was Upton’s first film, she did an incredible job at acting, and it was unnoticeable that she lacks any experience in the industry. In contrast to that, Mann and Diaz’s characters were tear-jerking funny as always. I’ve never seen a movie with Mann in it that I didn’t enjoy, and I’ve never seen a movie with Diaz that did not make me want to be her.

    Types of revenge that the women come up with include estrogen hormones blended into Mark’s morning smoothie and laxatives poured into alcoholic beverages of his while out in public. Then, of course, the big bang: ruining not only his career, but his life as well.

    This movie is hilarious. I haven’t stopped thinking about it and laughing about random scenes since I saw it. Although bits of the movie were quite predictable and other scenes were just too played out or too obvious to be an attempt at comedy, “The Other Woman” ended up being one of the best romantic comedies I have seen.

    These women almost feel like your heroes by the end of the film. Their roles are so strong, funny and sneaky that you even feel as if you want to be their friend, to ride around town with them and crack their good-for-nothing man.

    “The Other Woman” is definitely female friendly. If I were to have a girl’s night out, this movie is the movie I would bring my girlfriends to, in order to guarantee laughs and to bring out strong friendship vibes.

    I strongly suggest “The Other Woman” to anyone who has yet to see it. Go watch it immediately with your best friend, and if you have seen it already, go watch it again.

Two Albums To Keep Your Two Feet Moving

Damian Gordon

Staff Writer

Pharrell Williams: Girl

    Pharrell is on top of the world right now with multiple chart topping songs under his belt. So what better time than now to release his new album Girl to the masses.

    The album is filled with influences from funk and neo soul to even touches of orchestral music. Its diverse selection makes every tune sound distinct from the next one.

    The catchy lead single from the album, “Happy” has been playing on any object that sound comes out in. Someone could go into a cave in the middle of a forest and the birds would probably be chirping that song all day there too.

    Pharrell is the kind of artist where more of him isn’t necessarily better, with over 40 minutes of his singing becoming grating with the opening song” Marilyn Monroe”. The first half is plagued with mediocre songs that make the skip button a very familiar action.

    The bright spot of the first half is the duet with Justin Timberlake called “Brand New”, where Pharrell’s voice actually works. It’s a very rhythmic song that makes you want to dance with Timberlake’s angelic like voice.

    One track that really highlights what’s so bad with the first half is called “Hunter”, making me want even more to put a muzzle on Pharrell with his  irritating falsetto. The song has cringe worthy lyrics like” Duck Dynasty's cool and all, but they got nothin' on a female's call, I’m a hunter, is that a tree is that camouflage? Come get eaten by the damn mirage”.

    Girl is concept album that could have been better executed in certain parts, but has enough saving graces that make it worth a listen.

Foster The People : Supermodel

    Played in Fridays restaurants, Gap commercials and any place that wanted the youth to think they were hip too. Foster The People took the nation by storm with hits like “Pumped Up Kicks”, from their 2011 album Torches.

    One of the best albums of that year with every song automatically catching you the second it played, it’s Supermodel, a deserving successor to their last effort.
an understatement to say they are a unique group. Now here we are in 2014 and the indie pop-rock band has returned with

    The electronically focused sound featured on Foster’s previous outing has taken a backseat for more guitars and a variety of other instruments from different parts of the world. The content has also taken a more aggressive turn at some points, talking about societal problems, personal demons, etc.

    Gone are the tunes that were stuck in your head all day, instead to be replaced with songs barely to be remembered.  At least that’s what I would have said on my first listen, but then something happened…I couldn’t stop listening.

    Supermodel has its own version of “Pumped Up Kicks” with lyrics just as dark, covered up by joyful singing by leader singer Mark Foster. “Best Friend” will have you dancing in a matter seconds, not even realizing that the songs talking about drugged out friends.

    There aren’t really any gripes to be found. That only helps to speak volumes on how much deeper and content filled it is.

    All the elements found in Supermodel succeed in many aspects that come together to make a well-rounded experience. It’s no surprise that Foster The People started a trend many other bands try to emulate, but can’t because originality can’t be copied and manufactured (well expect for the copies of this album flying off shelves).

Simply Liza

Jared Michael Kenwood
Contributing Writer

    After twenty-one years, the Legendary Liza Minnelli returned to the Broward Center For The Performing Arts in FT. Lauderdale, Florida on Feb. 16th. This time kicking off a brand new tour called Simply Liza, A show devoted to songs that have been most requested by her fans. It’s an hour and a half of just Liza, backed by a band of seven men, including the talented Billy Stritch, in a very intimate show.

    One could only feel a wave of exhilaration sweeping over them as the band plays the Overture, anticipation throughout the venue. Then Liza walks out onto the stage, sending the sold-out house into rapturous applause. Dressed in all black, draped with a red scarf around her neck, and looking absolutely stunning, she greets the audience, “Wow! Hi Guys!” And immediately launches into her opening number, “Teach Me Tonight”. A reminiscence of her Radio City days, despite the voice having changed since, she sounds strong and determined to give it her all. Boy, does she deliver.

    Being the daughter of Hollywood’s Greatest Director, Vincente Minnelli, and Legendary Entertainer, Judy Garland, it was only natural that talent would be in Liza’s DNA. Lets not get carried away though because success was something that she had achieved all on her own. For years it has been over emphasized that Liza is the daughter of two famous people, and that paved a way for a show biz career. But for Liza, it only meant that she had to work twice as hard. Minnelli is a star in her own right. In 1965 Liza landed the title role in Flora, The Red Menace, and at 19 years old she was the first young person to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. Not long after was she releasing albums and performing in nightclubs. By 1973, Liza Minnelli reached legendary status, receiving an Oscar for the 1972 film Cabaret and later an Emmy Award for her first television concert, Liza with a “Z”.

    Liza then sits down and goes right into her second number, a beautiful rendition of “Here I’ll Stay”/ “Our Love Is Hear To Stay”, it’s touching lyrics cause Liza to choke up, “I get emotional,” she admits to the Broward audience, who respond with cheers of empathy.

    “Listen, do you mind if I just keep sitting down?” Liza asks the audience, and explains about her injured foot, a consequence resulting from trying to get a handsome man’s attention at the pool. Not even an injured foot could keep her from the stage. Having already sacrificed both knees and hips from a lifetime of extensive dance numbers, what’s a sprained ankle? Nothing seems to stop her.

    The next number she performs is a quaint and rather jaunty number, written especially for her by Fred Ebb and John Kander, “Liza with a “Z”. The song serves as a reminder that its Liza and not Lisa. There is a moment of Minnelli on Minnelli as Liza sings a beautiful song, “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have?” from her Father’s film, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. As she sings the song, she jokingly throws in her own lyric, “What did I have that I don’t have? ‘Balance’ ” The audience roars with laughter.

    The set-list continues with two Charles Aznavour songs, “You’ve Let Yourself Go” and “What Makes A Man a Man”.

    Then comes the beautiful ballad, “Maybe This Time” more famously known from the film Cabaret, she is singing it more beautiful then ever. There is a solo behind the voice, while she sings “Everybody, oh they love a winner, so nobody loved me,” Ross Konikoff on trumpet creates the most lovely bit of music to fill in her phrases. “I love playing big, beautiful solos,” says Konikoff, “ always aspiring to play the way Harry James used to, soaring into the sky with his incredible, emotional sound and style, and the fact that Liza lets me do that is reason alone to love her forever.”

    And love her forever is what her fans will continue to do, and so comes the next song, the title song from the film Cabaret where she can only love her fans in return by reassuring them that when she goes, “I’m NOT going like Elsie.”

    Liza then decides to take a break and hands over the mic to another singing talent on the stage. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it should say, the show is ‘Liza Minnelli with Billy Stritch, my wonderful arranger and composer. Wait until you hear this. Oh Billy, I’m crazy about you.”

    Billy Stritch, a talented singer and pianist, croons “No Moon At All”. Originally recorded in the 1940s by Nat “King” Cole, “No Moon At All” is a perfect song for Stritch’s unique vocals, his ability to scat and play piano. He sings like the singers of the 40s but better and with a modern day twist.

    “It has been in my repertoire for a long time,” says Stritch, explaining why he chose to sing this particular number. “ It’s a great chance for me to scat sing and improvise, and it’s a song that’s not done by many people, so I like doing it.” To hear more from Billy Stritch look for his albums, especially Billy Stritch Sings Mel Torme which is overwhelmingly breathtaking. His talents have no limits.

    The two entertainers, Liza and Billy then come together and perform a beautiful duet of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” dedicating it anyone who has a birthday in the audience.

    “Singing “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” with Liza is one of my favorite parts of the show,” says Billy, “I think it’s a nice moment in the show, not only for me but for Liza as well. It shows our collaboration and affection onstage and the audience seems to enjoy when we harmonize and sing together. We’re always thinking of new songs to do and perhaps there might be another duet or a different one in the show at some point. People seem to love when Liza sings the old standards and we always get a great response for “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”.

    Liza continues her show with the song “Ring Them Bells” and three songs from her 2010 album Confessions. Proudly, Liza introduces her Band, “I love them so much and I’ve been with them so long. They are really the best. There’s not a lot them up here but we make quite a sound”. The gentlemen in her band, dressed in white tuxedos, each play a very crucial role in creating this beautiful show. Some of these men have been with Liza for practically her whole career. Ross Konikoff first started out with Liza back in 1977 as a trumpet player for the Broadway musical The Act.

    “In the summer of 1977 I was called for a Broadway show called The Act, starring Liza Minnelli. I had certainly known of Liza, but until that point I had been primarily a jazz trumpet player.” Konikoff left Berklee College of Music in 1971 and moved to New York City and began performing with Show Bands. In 1973 he toured with Kiss Me Kate and in 1974 No No Nannette. Then from 1975 to 1977, Konikoff joined the Buddy Rich band, being offered the Jazz soloist position.

    “The Act was great fun to play, “ Konikoff recalls. “The large orchestra was lined up against the back wall of the stage, all dressed in tuxedos, in full view for the entire show. I was seated next to Jay Leonhart, Liza's first bass player, and Bill Lavorgna, who had already been Liza's drummer for a few years. Liza was a ball to work with every night, looking back at the band or doing something to make us laugh.”

    Konikoff reflects on how he permanently joined Liza’s band, “When they announced the closing, Bill Lavorgna had a little talk with some of us and told us that Liza was taking her night club act on the road and that she wanted twelve of us to go with her to be her permanent band. I loved Liza and I loved traveling, so I accepted happily.”

    The places they traveled to have been all around the world, and it’s been quite an extraordinary journey, one that Ross Konikoff is very proud to be a part of.

    “I love traveling, and with Liza, it has always been absolutely first class. Nobody is more loving and respectful to her musicians than Liza. She let's me stand up and play my heart out on a few tunes and that makes me very happy. Then of course, playing for her as she sings has always been exciting and rewarding. We make music history every night. Who could ask for more? I am 50 times the trumpet player I might have been had I not met Liza and played in front of millions of people over these past 35 years.”

    In the 70s Konikoff had the privilege of being Liza’s dancing partner in a number “Everybody Gets The Blues”. “I was scared to death. I had never danced anything with anybody prior to that routine. Fred Ebb told me I could do it, and that he would make me a star! Everybody Gets The Blues started with me playing some soulful, bluesy licks all alone, indicating that I was feeling very sad. Then Liza turned around and asked me what was wrong. We had a little back and forth, then I walked down next to her and she sang as we danced this routine. I played at her, she sang at me and by the end I was all cheered up and ran back to my chair.”

    Billy Stritch has been with Liza now for twenty-three years. He had been work nine years prior with his vocal group, Montgomery, Plant and Stritch.

    We had already made a splash in New York,” Says Stritch. “having worked many engagements at the Algonquin Hotel Oak Room as well as concerts at Town Hall and Carnegie Hall, so I had somewhat of a following in New York by then.” Then one night he was playing the piano in a restaurant and in walks Liza Minnelli, who was immediately drawn to Billy.

    “Liza was beginning rehearsals for her show "Stepping Out At Radio City Music Hall" and she invited me to be part of the creative team, crafting vocal arrangement for her and the twelve women who co-starred in the show. That was the beginning of my collaboration with Liza and the rest as they say is history. I've learned so much from this collaboration and I think Liza would say the same. She's made it possible for me to work all over the world and has certainly promoted me in ways that I never dreamed possible. She is unfailingly generous and kind and it has certainly been the most important professional relationship in my life. Twenty three years and counting....”

    Simply Liza draws to a close with Liza singing her two highly anticipated songs “But The World Goes Round” and of course, “New York, New York.” She then encores with an emotional rendition of, “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”, leaving the audience wanting more. There is simply no other performer like Liza Minnelli.

    For those who missed this One-night only performance at the Broward Center, perhaps in the near future Liza Minnelli will bring her Simply Liza show back to South Florida. The Broward show was most certainly a success.

    “I love Florida,” says Konikoff, “Getting my life batteries recharged by that beautiful, pure sunlight is the best thing there is to keep one alive and healthy. Any time I have the opportunity to go to Florida, I am thrilled. In addition, the Broward Center theater is a fantastic place to perform. The whole group looks forward to performing there at every opportunity.”

Gay Men Can Only Donate Blood In the Closet

Fidel Castro
Staff Writer

    Walking by a blood donation bus is almost unavoidable on any Broward College (BC) campus—but if you are a gay man, you should probably save yourself some time and immediately tell them, “I am gay.” You will see how quickly the employee will sigh and turn to look for another possible donor.

    “If you are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977,” you are ineligible to donate blood because you pose the risk of having HIV/AIDS, as implemented by the FDA. It is also listed on the Red Cross donation center’s website under the category of HIV/AIDS which somewhat implies most homosexual men who have ever (even once) been sexually active are probably infected with the deadly virus.

    The “Big Red Bus” usually parks outside the only main entrance to BC’s Miramar Town Center, which allows employees from blood centers to ask most people who enter if they are able to donate. One day, I recognized a former flame working, trying to convince people to donate blood in order to save lives. Saying hello was my only option once we locked eyes, but I was startled when he approached and asked if I was willing to donate blood.

    Working at an organization that discriminates against the both of us was one thing, but he went as far as to ask me to lie about my sexual orientation and history in order to save lives. “It is not a big deal, I have to do it all the time,” he claimed, in order to meet a certain quota. I was stunned.

    I knew this man on an intimate level, and the audacity of him to ask me to lie about our relationship just to meet his quota felt insulting to me at the time. There is no way I would walk back into that closet just to lend him a hand!

    In theory, to lie about your sexual orientation to save someone’s life is not a mortal sin; it is just not right. There is no harm done, especially if you test regularly and know your status, but it is unethical because it does involve deceit.

    Taniamary Marquez, a BC student who formerly worked at a blood bank in Hialeah opened up about her thoughts on the guidelines and her experiences at the bank. “Sometimes, very questionable people would walk through the door and as long as they checked off the correct boxes, they were able to donate. It is sad, because there is such a large gay community in South Florida who could contribute but they are being discriminated against,” said Marquez.

    The policy, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has received criticism from defenders of the gay community for years. Rumors circulate constantly in media that change to the policy is coming soon, but it seems the chances of marriage are more likely for gay men as the recognition of their commitments is a current hot-button topic.

    For now, it is up to each individual gay man to decide about whether a visit to the closet is worth potentially saving a life. Personally, I will wait until these guidelines reflect the ideals of equality.