Floetry Review:

The partners in crime, originally from SE 5 -Thornton Heath travelled all the way from Philadelphia, US to the heart of Camden Town to perform to a small but packed venue of Floetry fans in the famous Jazz Café for four days and for everyone who knows about Jazz Café would know how intimate the venue is.


The two South London ladies began their evening with the intro track to the Fo’ology album (“Blessed”). Walking down a set of steps Marsha (Songstress) was in a very elegant red dress, complimenting her new look and weight loss. Natalie (Floacist) who was dressed in casual jeans and white vest then followed her, a very extreme make over was evident, with her hair almost all shaved off dyed red matching her retro red shades aka The “Stunnas” and additional tattoos to her collection.


From the second the beat began to the outro of their evening the crowd, which Floetry referred to them as “family”, couldn’t stand still or stay silent, everyone was singing like there was no tomorrow both the ladies and men were hitting the high and low notes, with one person fainting, either from the heat or the overwhelming vibes of Floetry. It was without doubt a mind-boggling experience.


The twosomes definitely haven’t forgotten where they were from. Proud to be British, and stating to the crowd that they were happy to be “home”, they explained that all they need to say is that they are British when they are in the States and didn’t see the point of clarifying whether they were Afro-Caribbean or African as they were representing were they are from at heart, London.


They made you feel each beat and lyric. From the up beat tracks of “Floetic” to the classic lyrics of “getting late”, all I can hear around me were people saying their hairs are standing or they are getting shivers down their spine. A remix of “Superstar” was made with a Crunk feel and a drum and base beat switched up their usual style but enjoyed and appreciated by the audience. With the angelic and hypnotic voice of songstress and the Deep heart felt poetry and expression of Floacist everyone was moved and felt cosy as Floetry truly set the tone.


Interacting with the audience Floetry made the crowd finish of the lyrics to getting late, Marsha would say “I’m afraid” and the audience would respond with a very high pitched “Don’t be”, they also sang the infamous track “Butterflies” which was given as a present to Michael Jackson from Floetry themselves. Marsha kept on stopping and starting again claiming she can never do the beginning like MJ does which goes “One love”, the crowd sang the chorus over three times, shivers was the correct feeling that was running through me and the rest of the 100 and so people. To add a bit of a London vibe the crowd was made to sing a ‘Hooligan like” tone which made everyone laugh out loud while singing along.


Still with their comical talks, Floacist took everyone to the old days of childhood, being the dominant talker, she really made you feel like you were her friend as you can relate and know exactly were she was coming from. She sang the theme tune to Danger Mouse cartoon and proudly bigged up Andy peters and all four dogs in Blue Peters, which again had the crowd laughing.


The most memorable song was “Sunshine”, the song was so heart felt and moving to the extent that I spotted a few people tearing up as many could relate and feel what the duo had to say. The song was based on a person loosing their sunshine, sunshine being a soul mate or a loved one.


Astounding is understatement to begin describing the atmosphere. This defiantly wasn’t your average concert, it wasn’t just music and muffled voices from a bad mic, but spoken words of wisdom with light hearted joke where after two hours performance they didn’t get booed, which meant the crowd was beyond stratified as they couldn’t stop applauding and were very happy to be part of such an experience.


Almost all the recent concerts I’ve been to the artist has been booed and as I’m leaving the venue all I usual hear is a lot of dissatisfied people. However this was far from the case. The only negative criticism was the fact that I almost missed my last train.


OVER the past couple of months a moral panic has occurred about Muslim women covering up. Claims that it’s hard for communication between two people when one is covering up their entire body except their eyes.


A lot of opinions have been voiced in regards of whether Muslim women should have the choice of covering up.


Why should it be down to anyone to decide on a religion or even suggest a change in something they have little knowledge and understanding about, so Jack Straw airing his views in a talk which had no relevance to anything, resulted in a problems, was the problem of communication the only reason for this alarm or it is a motive so something else?


Jack Straw said: “It (veil) was such a visible statement of separation and of difference”- a cross, turban, Jewish hat, dreadlocks, hoods or dressing in a gothic manner, all these are some examples of separation and their appearance makes a statement of who they are, what they believe in and a reflection of their lifestyle, some can as intimidating to others.


A teenager wearing a ”hoodie” with baggy trousers, who talks in slang maybe intimidating and stereotyped as an undereducated “thugs” to gothic person as well as other people, in contrast a gothic person maybe intimidating to a “thug” and my be stereotyped as devil worshippers, this is just based on talks about style and not religion.

This alone shows that the veil isn’t the only “statement of separation” as Straw stated. In his talk he continued to say that this country give rights to human freedom, so why create an issue of the veil now, considering the fact the veil has been worn in the UK for years, with no problems.


Not considering the outcome of his expression, since Straw’s speech many Muslim women have been attacked as a result to his words or could it be a “coincidence” like the aftermath of 9/11 and 7/7?

Muslims are being bullied at school, having the veil snatched of their heads, women have been attacked on the streets and their veil taken off by force by another random stranger who felt they can take it upon themselves to do such an ghastly thing.

“…blamed Jack Straw's comments for an attack in which a woman's veil was torn from her face… the day after the former foreign secretary criticised veils that cover the face..”- BBC NEWS ONLINE


This hasn’t only created an issue with Muslims but also non-Muslim women, feminists in particular, who feel that Muslim women are feeling more oppressed when they are forced to take off their veil. Women for years all over the world have complained over the fact that they are being portrayed as sexual objects and that some men cannot see beyond the beauty of a woman’s body. So covering up must only show that the women are not giving in to such a stereotype and lifestyle, should they not be looked on as a role model for children and other females who feel peer pressured by society and the 21st century expectation of a woman and what is portrayed in the media.


A Muslim cannot tell a Christian or any other person to remove any symbols that represent their religion as its part of their strong beliefs.


In the Quran it says that women and men have to cover up, woman more than men. This isn’t oppression, it states in the Quran that women have more rights over men and are placed higher as they’re the fundamentals essence of the human race.


According to some of the non-Muslims, woman wear Hijab (Veil) because they are forced to by their husbands and male relatives therefore they are oppressed.

This is far from the truth. In Islam it is something you do in respective of the body you are in as they are properties of Allah (God), so covering up is a duty for Muslims.


«"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)"» [Quran, Chapter 24, verses 30-31]


The purpose of the Veil is to cover up a woman’s external beauty and only expose her inner beauty through her mentality and her intelligence, to avoid unnecessary attraction when in public; this makes both men and woman not look at her as an object that can be judged on solely by her appearance but, instead appreciate her for what she stands for and her mental strength. She is then seen as equal to the rest.


Many Muslim women don’t wear a veil because they either chose not to wear, as they may not be that committed to their religion or because they aren’t ready to wear something that strongly symbolizes ones religion.


The most reaction a veiled woman would get in a non-Muslim country is a funny look for standing out but no sexual references will be made on their appearance.


Many Muslim women are very successful and highly educated in the western world. They have a voice; they are respected by their men and live a very fulfilling lifestyle.


Statistic shows that Asian girls in the UK are achieving higher grades in their GCSE’s and further education compared to White British and Asian Muslims boys. If oppressed then education wouldn’t be priority but instead bring a perfect “house wife and daughter” would be the main trainings of their culture according to stereotypes.

“… girls of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin - 90% of whom are Muslim - have overtaken white boys in performance at GCSE, with a higher proportion achieving five good passes at grade C or above...”-Guardian Sept 7th 2006


Since the tragic event of 9.11, Muslims have been placed under a microscope. Men with beards have been stopped and searched, Prophet Mohammad was mocked using cartoons, Students are currently being spied on and abuse is received on the regular and now the attack on the Muslim dress code.

Does any of this really have relevance with the greater good of the community? Or is this just another attack on Islam?


What a WACKO EVENING!



Yesterday night I attended the World Music Awards, to no surprise when I arrived half an hour before the show was meant to start, the rehearsals were still going on. I didn't mind watching Rhianna while she sang her song over and over again but it did get frustrating when the doors open at 6pm and show starts at 7pm and your still not seated until 7:20pm!

I still had faith that it..s going to be a decent show; I mean it IS the WMA!!
However its now approaching 8pm no sign of shows, celebrities are even waiting to be seated! Nevertheless Chris Brown was in the building and he seemed to be the most grounded Celebes there, maybe because he is new to the UK so he had to make an impression that definitely worked, as I was most impressed. He got off his table and stood there signing autographs for aprox 20mins. When he sat back down, he only got up to sign more! He was very dedicated to his fans! Much respect to him!


The Michael Jackson fans kept chanting for him, and may I add over 80% of the crowd were MJ fans!


Finally the show starts, 8:35pm, so much for 7pm, but I guess that TV for you!
The voice over starts the show and again to no surprise he has to do it again as he was too early because the first act wasn't ready.

Beyonce was the first act of the night, a brilliant choice, she sounded amazing, looked amazing and had such a ..MJ.. opening intro and then switched into ..Déjà vu.. and very preformed performance.

Lindsey Lohan came on stage, bless her heart, she was extremely nervous, enough to have to repeat her speech again for recording purposes.
With little support from the crowd and them booing her constantly, I don..t blame her.

Michael Jackson fans booed pretty much all the acts, to the extent that Rhianna almost cried on stage, while singing!

CHRIS BROWN! He performed a cover of ..Thriller.., he wore exactly what MJ wore in his video and he most definitely had the moves to pull it off! Him and Beyonce, by far were the high lights of the evening!
They got the crowd moving and the celebrities awake!

Finally when Mr Jackson got on stage to receive his award, everyone in the room stood up to great him. He gave a typical MJ speech, with the little pause followed by a ..LOVE YOU TOO!.., followed by a GIGLE, which drove the fans mad!
Once he received his award and gave his speech, the crowd still were not satisfied.
Scary for Rhianna, she was the next act to perform so she was booed throughout her performance. My heart goes out to her as her eyes were tearing up but she had to stay strong.
Its bad enough she had to perform after her competition..s big opening (Beyonce), let alone the King of POP!

FINALLY the long awaited finally closing act performance of the one and only King Of Pop!
Around 20 children walked on stage, which immediately gave away the song he was going to ..sing.. to all the Michael Jackson fans, But no sign of Jackson.
The track began, ..We Are The World.., two minutes into the track the children were singing along but still no sign of Michael? Is he going to surprise us? Going to fly in from the top of the stage?

As Kyle from My Wife an Kids would say ..errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm NUH!..
He casually walked on stage with a MIC in his hand, mumbled, ..We are the world... We are... Giving... Made all the kids run up to him, hug him and he sang 5 seconds of vocals with no music again the same lyrics. May I add the microphone was terrible and the whole act was one big devastation.

Even the Celebs were confused!
Then he left the stage, the vice over announced its over and everyone began to boo!
I honestly DON..T BLAME THEM, a lot of the people came from around the world to see Michael Jackson perform, at least make an effort to do something.

My expectations: Beyonce would come on stage starting off ..We Are The World.., followed by Rhianna, then Chris Brown, followed by all the international act taking a verse each singing in their language and then Michael Jackson comes on stage and sings his one line.. PEOPLE THEN WOULDN'T HAVE BOOED AS THEY RECEIVED A PERFORMANCE, A FULL ONE, NOT JUST A BUNCH OF 10-13 YEAR OLD's swaying from side to side to a song that isn't actually being sung by ANYONE!


What frustrated me the most is, after the end of the show al the mad fans chased after Michael not with a BRICK but with gifts and LOVE! Lol
WTF! WHY? He..s let you down, don..t be punks and chase him in mid traffic.
He could of made an effort for you.
Most of the fans were standing from the morning and the night before they were outside his hotel and each restaurant he ate at the least he could give back is half a decent performance! The LEAST HE COULD DO IS THAT!


MJ Fans WAKE UP. Don..t chase after him, he needs to get out his bubble, Don..t get me wrong I love his music and I do think he deserved the award but that put me off him so much its ridiculous.

MJ FANS (again), the nights wasn't called the World Michael Awards so you had no right to boo anyone, instead respect them and cheer for them for coming on stage and performing and dedicating their music to Michael, they love MJ too!
Get over your attitude.


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