Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny. Just typing that makes me giddy as hell! I don't think anyone except for Meek, my best friend of 20+ years, will ever, ever, ever, ever understand my undying love and devotion for New Edition. To me, those dudes--with the exception of Bobby...I'm sorry, that's just how I feel...--will always be true, history-making, original icons in my eyes. And that's real talk. What other successful male group has had each and every one of its members to musically branch out on their own and achieve superstardom in their own rights? What other male group endured the trials and tribulations that came along with bankruptcy, drug addiction, Diddy's sheisty-ass ways, pesky rumors, jheri curls, shags and tight-ass Levi jeans only to flip the script on the naysayers by reuniting as a group and claiming their celebrity status all over again? Think about. I'll wait.
And to this day, I still find myself reverting to my teenage years anytime I hear a New Edition song or see a New Edition video. These dudes are the truth. Hell, I don't even have a problem telling yall that when I listened to this particular part of their song, N.E. Heartbreak:
...Just to be on top/And to give the best that we can give you/And to never let you down/We'll keep strivin' for perfection/N.E. Heartbreak is coming to your town....I believed every single word. That's why I wasn't surprised one bit after Meek and I called the Tallahassee Civic Center hotline and found out that N.E. Heartbreak was really coming to our town!! LOL! And before I knew it, me and Meek had secured front row seats! If I keep on with all this reminiscing I'll never get to the point of this post. In celebration of New Edition's 25 years in the music industry, several celebrities shared their memories of New Edition and how they influenced their lives.
“I fell in love with Ralph’s voice when I first heard Is This The End back in the 80s. Then I saw the video and was in awe. Their N.E. Heartbreak album talked about the different stages of love. Their songs are memorable and their subject matter is very relatable.”
—R&B singer, Deborah Cox
“New Edition influenced me to put Dax in my hair! Candy Girl reminds me of when I was on the playground chasing after all of the girls. New Edition's music is universal and has inspired many young R&B singers.”
- actor, Mike Epps
“I was on the fence about liking New Edition initially but then the video for Popcorn Love came out and I was in! So much was taking place when their music was being played - good memories -- and their music brings it all back to life.”
—music producer, Jermaine Dupri
CONTINUE READING MORE CELEB MEMORIES OF NEW EDITION & FIND OUT WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS THE GUYS ARE WORKING ON AFTER THE JUMP!
“New Edition can still tour now because their music and unity has stood the test of time.”
- R&B singer, Omarion
“My first memory of New Edition is all the posters my aunt had on her bedroom wall. I actually remade Candy Girl on my second album, Doggy Bag. When a New Edition song comes on the radio [now] people still remember where they were and what they were doing at that time."
-rapper, Bow Wow
“My favorite memory of New Edition was dancing on Soul Train in high school when [they performed as] the featured artists. I loved their chemistry on stage. My Prerogative by Bobby Brown and My, My, My by Johnny Gill are in my iPod today.”
- actress, Wendy Raquel Robinson
“My first memory of New Edition was at a concert at Six Flags in Dallas when I was 15 years old. Can You Stand The Rain is my favorite N.E. song because of the chord changes and melodies. It sounds like a gospel song. They came from an era where there was true artistry.”
- gospel singer, Kirk Franklin.
Also, be on the lookout for several projects from the guys of New Edition. According to Michael Bivins, a 25th anniversary album and television special will be released later this year. And in 2009, a movie chronicling the life and times of New Edition will be released through BET Films and Paramount Pictures followed by the launch of their 25th anniversary tour.
READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!
(click pic) After three and a half long days of tedious toiling and restless nights, I have been able to regain access to my site as well as some bits and pieces of my sanity! LOL!. Just in case a couple of you all were wondering, Real Gossip 101 had been idle since last Saturday (January 5th) after some unknown person decided to target me by hijacking my email and blog accounts in hopes of, I assume, to fatten their pockets. Whatever damage they have done will be handled by the appropriate authorities. I will like to take this time to apologize for any demeaning, threatening, explicit and uncouth emails and spam that any of my email contacts may have received during that four day period. I am not stranded in some foreign country and in need of $500,000 to make it back to the States.
