Talk Show Tune: Maury Povich Inspires New Syleena Johnson Song

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By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Syleena Johnson/Maury Povich

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Syleena Johnson has been one of the genre's best kept secrets since her debut in 2001.

Eight years later, the Harvey, Ill.-bred is back with a new CD, 'Chapter 4: Labor Pains' on her very own label, Aneelys Records.

"Its scary and confusing," Johnson said of being a businesswoman. "But it's liberating and rewarding at the same time! I feel powerfully-afraid, if that makes sense."

During her tenure on Jive Records, where the 32-year-old songstress released three albums – 2001's 'Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness,' 2002's 'Chapter 2: The Voice' and 2005's 'Chapter 3: The Flesh' – Johnson seemed to go unnoticed while the record company focused their emphasis on her label mates Britney Spears, N'Sync and Ciara.

Regardless, the daughter of Blues singer Syl Johnson continued to earn a following with hit records like 'I Am Your Woman' featuring R. Kelly, 'Guess What,' 'Another Relationship' and her collaboration with Kanye West, 'All Falls Down.'

In 2Syleena Johnson007, Johnson got married for a second time to international basketball star Kiwane Garris, who shoots hoops in the Italian league for the Premiata Montegranaro.

On August 2, 2007, Johnson gave birth to a son named Kiwane Garris, Jr., who came after 44-hours of labor pains and inspired the title of her current CD.

It was during this time off from the industry that Johnson was motivated to begin writing songs for her latest release, 'Chapter 4: Labor Pains.'

One track in particular, 'Maury Povich' was written by Johnson after the show became her guilty pleasure.

Unbeknownst to her then, the talk show host himself would fall in love with the song and invite her on the show to sing it live.

"Maury Povich's producer said he played the song over and over again in his office for days when they received it," said Johnson.

She flew to New York City in February to tape her appearance on the show, which aired on Thursday Feb. 12.

"The best part was his face when I sang it and the fact that he was so honored! I was honored that he was honored! It was an awesome experience," she shared, before adding: "I was so proud because I wrote it, all by myself."

The popularity of the tune, which deals with baby momma drama synonymous with topics from the long-running talk show, has folks wondering if it will be the next single from CD.

Syleena Johnson, Maury Povich & Cold Hard of Crucial Conflict

"I am not sure that it will be the next single but it sure is looking that way," Johnson offered. "We have some things in store that we are working on to support that if that is what we decide so we will just have to see. I don't want to say it and then it doesn't happen."

In the meantime, the proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is trying to find the balance between professional endeavors and domestic life.

"Balancing is ridiculous! Nonstop movement all day. I don't get a moments rest," she confessed. "It's exhausting 'cause my baby doesn't go into daycare. Only the gym daycare, which is only an hour or so. But he is with me pretty much 16 hourChapter 4: Labor Painss a day, seven days a week unless he is at his grandma's house on the weekend sometimes. He consumes my life, so trying to do everything else is very difficult. But he is worth it and I am trying. I miss my husband all the time. He is the missing link to my life. I get pretty sad at times but God keeps me company. You know the saying, 'You may be by yourself, but you're never alone!"

If you're wondering what Johnson's next installment to her CD series will be called, the singer admitted that it may be a long time before we get a fifth chapter.

"'Chapter 5' won't be around for a while. The next album will veer from chapters. I have the title but it's a secret and it's going to go a whole new direction. But the chapters will pick up later. They won't go until I retire," she concluded.




Vintage Racist Advertising

    Top left LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav present onstage at the VH1 - Big in '04 on December 1, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Top right: 1899 -- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS; Bottom right: 1930s AC spark plugs ad in The Saturday Evening Post -- Photo by The Authentic History Center; Bottom left: This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. (AP Photo/New York Post) ** NO SALES ** Credit: Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP

    Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP

    Advertisement for an African-American slave sale.

    Although the enslavement of mankind in general has been recorded as early as 1200 BC; the first African slaves were reportedly transported to the 'New World' in 1517. This is 76 years after the first black slaves were captured and taken to Portugal.

    Bettmann / Corbis

    African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising c.1880s Tin of Nigger Hair Tobacco

    For decades this product was sold in stores as chewing tobacco or for smoking. It was advertised as 'pure, unadulterated, fine old burley leaf.'

    Photo Source: The Authentic History Center

    The Authentic History Center

    1888 -- Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster -- Image by © Swim Ink 2, LLC/CORBIS Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster

    Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis

    ca. 1890 -- Zoulou Powder Poster (French advertisement)

    Because offensive advertising was permeated throughout the world for many years, (and still is, as you will see in a few upcoming slides) it should come as no surprise that in more modern times 'racism has become the scourge of European soccer stadiums.'

    Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis

    ca. 1899 --- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

    Topsy was a stereotypical pickaninny character in the book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Uncle Tom was a slave in the book. The term 'Uncle Tom' is recognized to be offensive and a derogatory name for a black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to whites.

    Corbis

    ca. 1899 --- George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster --- Image by © CORBIS George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster

    Early definition of minstrel: a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.

    The black-face minstrel act was a very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America. White audiences were receptive to the portrayals of Blacks as singing, dancing, grinning fools. T.D. 'Daddy' Rice, the original Jim Crow, became rich and famous because of his skills as a minstrel. Interestingly though, when he died in New York on September 19, 1860, he was broke.


    Corbis

    African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising 1899 Durkee's Salad Dressing advertisement, Harpers Magazine

    Notice the broken English purportedly spoken by black Americans, 'We're gwine ter live high ter-night ...'

    Photo Source: The Authentic History Centerr

    The Authentic History Center

    Advertisement for Clarence Brooks and Co.'s Fine Coach Varnishes uses racist stereotypes to depict a group of African-American adults and children as they cheer and watch two shirtless boxers, one of whom appears unconscious, accompanied by the text "the Championship Fight, Sullivan Wins," late 1800s. The Sullivan in the text is a reference to boxer John L. Sullivan, who fought bare-knuckled in several famous bouts.

    Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

    Advertisement for the St. Louis Beef Canning Company features an illustration of a stereotyped African-American character sitting on a can of beef, accompanied by phonetically rendered, stereotypical dialect-style text that reads: 'No Sah! dont jine no Exodus so as dis Beef lasts,' late 1800s.

    Showing blacks to massacre the English language, further perpetuated the false idea that African Americans were somehow unable to be educated.

    Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images




Black Music Notes Mar. 3

    3/3/09: Diddy
    When it comes to making an event out of an album, Diddy sure knows how to put on a show. And for his forthcoming project, 'Last Train to Paris,' the multitalented mogul is following in the vein of Prince's classic flick and album 'Purple Rain.' "It's definitely going to be an album you can seamlessly see," he recently told MTV News. "Not after the fact. When you get the album on that day, September 22, you will be able to see the whole album on your computer. ... You know how when you're on your computer and you're listening to an album, you have your screen saver on instead of screen save, you'll be able to see the album in motion. And the presentation of the album will be different from the videos." Hopefully, Diddy will make it in time on Sept. 22 to catch the 'Last Train to Paris' once the album hits stores.

    Kevin Mazur, WireImage

    3/3/09: Janet Jackson
    Recently there has been speculation that Janet Jackson was likely to sign a new multirights deal with Live Nation. However, contrary to reports, Live Nation senior VP of communications John Vlautin denied the claim. "We have not signed a deal with Janet, nor are we currently in discussions with the artist," Vlautin said. Jackson departed from her former label, Island Def Jam, in September, 14 months after signing to the record company.

    The Canadian Press / AP

    3/3/09: Black Eyed Peas
    Despite previous reports that Grammy Award-winning pop group Black Eyed Peas would release a new album, 'The E.N.D.' (The Energy Never Dies), in March, it now appears Will.i.am and company will release the project on June 9. Billboard reports that the album's first single, 'Boom Boom Pow,' will soon be released, and that the group is planning an international tour. Will.i.am, the Black Eyed Peas front man, described the album as having "a lot of dance stuff, real melodic, electronic, soulful. We call it, like, electric static funk, something like that."

    Peter Kramer, AP

    2/27/09: MC Hammer
    MC Hammer is back! This time the multiplatinum-selling rapper is heading to network television for his new unscripted A&E reality series 'Hammertime.' Hammer's new half-hour series will feature Hammer, his wife and five children – reminiscent of the Huxtable family from 'The Cosby Show,' says executive producer J.D. Roth. "Here's a dad with five kids, married to the same woman for more than 23 years, living in the same place where he grew up and going to church every Sunday," Roth says. "He's had his ups and downs, and it's what makes him such a character you root for." MC Hammer's 'Hammertime' is set to premiere on A&E later this year.

    2/27/09: Jazmine Sullivan
    Although she didn't walk away with an award at this year's Grammys, singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan is bound for Hollywood for her upcoming film 'Red Tails.' According to Billboard, Sullivan will travel to Prague to start shooting the film, which is based on the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. "I play a singer who entertains soldiers," she said. "I'm really just entertainment for them, but I kind of get a little relationship going with one of them. So that's very exciting." As for now, Sullivan has an exciting relationship going on with R&B crooner Ne-Yo -- on tour that is. The two are currently touring through March 1. At press time, there was no release date for 'Red Tails.'

    Charles Sykes, AP

    2/27/09: Tupac
    With the Notorious B.I.G.'s biopic in the can, fans are now anticipating a biographical movie on his rival Tupac. Unfortunately, fans may have to wait a little longer before a Tupac flick hits the silver screen. A legal dispute has surfaced involving the production company Morgan Creek and Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. The lawsuit, which was filed by Morgan Creek, states that Amaru Entertainment reneged on an agreement to sell the rapper's life rights for a movie. Amaru Entertainment released a statement clarifying the recent media reports: "This lawsuit has no merit. We felt it was important to bring the story of Tupac Shakur, one of music's most remarkable icons, to life onscreen, and in realizing this vision, we sought to find the best partner who would be true to Tupac's vision and bring his unique story to life on the big screen. In doing so, we have taken every step to ensure that our partner in this process is committed to the integrity of Tupac Shakur's legacy and, more importantly, that they are the right people. To that end, we have been in discussions and negotiations with several major studios and production companies, including Morgan Creek Productions. However, at no time did we have an agreement with Morgan Creek."

    Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

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