Let's Talk Business (Sponsor Visit)

This Monday, Brian and I met up to discuss our business for my senior project and this little surprise he had for me. The surprise that was planned was my track for “Beauty School Dropout” it is almost complete he just has to lay down the drums and bass. When I heard the good news I became very anxious to practice and record the song for my fans here at LHS. (So for the fans out there Beauty School Dropout is coming soon and much more) Now at our sit down we discuss the real sound and time theme of the Demo CD and we came up with “Motown meets R&B Soul”.

We are going to follow a time theme starting in the 1950’s to the present day with little surprises here and there. At your request (Mr. Abrams) I will be doing some Leonard Cohen cover songs like “I’m your man”. However, it will be another version of this legendary song that I really enjoy listening to and cannot wait to put my touch on it. Later, on in our meeting we kind of talked about a medley and how to create one that is memorable. So I came up with a group to honor in my ground breaking medley and the group is the Jackson Five. The medley will be the longest song on the CD and will feature my group No Komparison. Stay tuned for much more really soon. That’s all folks. .

Trying Tenderness to Dropout !!!!

My connection this week is about a film I had the privilege to a year ago called, “This Christmas”.

This Christmas was about a family who comes home to visit for the holidays and then all hell breaks loose. The kids reveal certain secrets, find love, loose love, come back to the family, and reveal their talents.

My favorite character of the movie was “Baby”, played by Chris Brown because we had a common gift of song. However, in his family, his mother did not want him to sing because she thought music was the root of all evil. So, Baby wa scared to tell his mother that he wanted to sing because of how she would react.

In comparison, my connection to this character has the same story but with a twist because my mother knew I had a voice but, when I told her I had a solo in Grease she began to doubt. (Or at least that’s what I felt like when I told her.) The funny thing is last Christmas my family and I were watching us the film and my grandmother said “That will be you!” I had no clue what she was referring to but after Grease we all figured out what she meant. (Fate is a fickle friend isn’t it?)

Lastly, in the film Baby’s brothers and sisters went to a night club with no clue that Baby was there performing because earlier that day he told them he had a date. So, Baby was called the stage and suddenly the family was shocked then wanted the older brother to stop him from performing. But to their amazement Baby could really sing and blew them away. (It’s a power scene) Well this happened to me during Grease because my mother was really surprised and by the applause the crowd loved it. Well, I am out of time but I am never out of word this is Antione McGee signing off saying, “God is Love.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbtBF7TkzqY (Link of the scene.)

Making a Connection to Motown. (Rags to Riches Epiphany)

Through my research for my paper I learned a great deal about Berry Gordy and Motown from his rags to riches upbringing. Berry Gordy began Motown with a vision and a loan from his family that supported his new business decision. Like the Jackson family, the Gordy family was also very musically gifted although none of their generation became superstars they still had a love for music.

In comparison, as a young child I was gifted with a voice and incredible stage presents if I must say so myself. I started singing in the church choir then the unthinkable happened and I lost my voice due to puberty which was discouraging. Rip into rags because of my lost talent I began to become a stronger dancer watching and learning from Michael Jackson, Usher, and a lot of old school dancing movies. Like Berry Gordy learning the tools of my trade from my idols I became my own best teacher training my talents. This often reminds me of Joseph in the bible how he was sent to jail and while in captivity he worked his gift until it got him where he wanted to be. It amazes me how far I’ve come and how much I worked to be this good without any proper vocal training taught myself. This really goes to show you that I truly have my father’s coat on and it flows through me. (The Father’s Coat in the Book of Genius, the story of Joseph look it up) The play really allowed me to show the town of Lindenwold exactly what Antione “Iconic” McGee could do with a simple song telling a girl to go back to high school.

The title rags to riches come to mind because when I started singing again I was at the bottom of the popularity charts. When now I am near the top of the charts with my vocal ability however, my sponsor Brian begs to differ he says I am the best vocalist in the school by far. I am honored to be held to such a high esteem but I feel I have a long way to go. But, I have come from rags to riches that are just beginning. Lastly, remember that God is Love. A.T.M.

The Sit-Down with Brian… Sponsor Visit.

After a long week of saying thank you and smiling from my performance in Grease I finally got to sit back and enjoy another artists company without the spotlight being on me. Today, I met up with Brian for some very interesting conversation about music and the type of things we are going to prepare for. A very interesting thing about my visit is that it began where our journey with Grease ended at the Stratford Diner. We entered into a very tasteful discussion over delicious lunch specials Brian ate a Tuna Sandwich and I enjoyed a Caesar salad with light dressing.

Our conversion began with a simple question from Brian, “what kind of music do you want to make and how do you want it to sound?” Pausing with excitement I answered, “The kind of music I want to perform and sing is both old school and new school.”

Then I went into the name of the CD which is “THE GEMINI (PAST TO PRESENT)”, the name itself sets up the structure of the CD and how it is going to sound. Recently, I told you about the demo guidelines that all artists format their albums by and we had to go back to those notes to help choose the music. He introduced me to an artist called Michael Buble to listen to and become familiar with his music, I have to say Mr. Buble is really good. In the mist of our sparks flying while brainstorming about ideas we hit a huge discovery to use my love for MJ and put it to good use.

So I had Brian listen to Dirty Diana by MJ because he never listened to it and he thought the song was amazing. As he listened I watched his facial expressions to see what he was thinking when something outstanding happened he came up with a way for me to remake the song. He went into the arrangement and how we were going to change things make the song become blues and jazz with a hint of Seal. At the end of the day I learned a lot and I am glad that I met Brian Walsh he is a great guy.

Connect Five ! ! !

Last night was the first real rehearsal for “Grease” and it began with a wonderful energy that excited me. Suddenly, after a few scenes tension began to develop in the room where people were catching attitudes about little things. Unfortunately, the show did not go as planned but, there is still hope left to make the show great. On a brighter note I had the time of my life on stage last night while performing “Beauty School Dropout”. I finally learned to just let go, have fun, and sing to the audience with all my emotions. Using my emotions let me channel into the song without thinking of how to move my hands, look at the audience, and interact with “Frenchy” (played by the wonderful Ashley Webster). In conclusion, my performance reveal that letting go and just letting your emotions guide you will serve you well. With this in mind I choose not to go frustrated over little things and let all my experiences good and bad become a masterpiece.

Easy Pickings !! Music Is My Calling !

Before, choosing the class I was torn with the fact of choosing my Senior Project due to my contrasting interest and talents. My areas of close perfection are singing, dancing and forensic science; these three things I do and use in my daily routine without knowing. For example, I use my vocal skills and how I deliver my speeches or even how I write on paper uses my vocal skills. How precise I am when you my utensil to create a work of art on paper for my teachers and peers to read; I have been compared to a girl when I write because I write neat and careful. I use dance in my daily routine in the way I walk the halls and how I loom the opposite sex with my body. Forensic Science is all about solving crimes by using critical thinking to see clues, find leads, and discover how a person was murdered. This skill I use when presented with a dilemma in my personal life or even within me. I often find myself in my lab (my room or mind) solving problems looking for positive and constructive ways to end up with a good end to the adversity I am facing.

Looking back at how I made my decision to pursue music through this opportunity I used my forensic science traits and decided to begin with the end in mind. To use this opportunity to test the waters and see if this is the life I wanted to live. For I have learned that the life of an entertainer is very demanding from my research for my research paper. Being an entertainer lets you live out your wildest dreams while in the end take away your freedom with you performing, making person appearances, and touring all around the world. I have come to a conclusion that this is the life I am choosing I will not complain because this is my purpose on this Earth being born to amuse, delight, and inspire.

Well unfortunately, I am out of time but not out of words, God is Love, Love A.T.M.

Making A Connection !!!!

“Temptation is something everyone cannot have, but something everybody wants, it’s something irresistible and sexy.” These were the words of Paul Williams, of the original group, The Temptations, said this to show his follow group members the meaning behind their music and group persona. This concept really stuck with me because I am “Teen Angel” in the musical, Grease and I am struggling to show my sexy, cool, and suave.

One Day In Your Life.....My Out Look !!! (Any Choice Blog)

Life, a gift giving to us by the Almighty, it is something we all take for granted because we can do a lot in this life with patience and given an opportunity. Like “The Force” life can be manipulated through your actions because life can be good and bad, when you experience hardships that challenge your character. Bad situations build your character to endure hardships and rough time without breaking down under the pressures of life. For example, in Grease, I am under stress trying to provide the correct amount leadership without getting frustrated and this is testing my character. I am so glad I am experiencing this now for when I get to the level of show business I am destined to do I will need to able to deal with this pressure. But, in the end I believe that life is what you make it and how you respond to tension. In my case life is about the opportunity to serve and become great through your challenges. God is love, love A.T.M.