Valerie Brown: The Background Singer That Made History

In the entertainment business, cartoon characters are treated as real celebrities and public figures with full careers and accolades to match.

Valerie Brown, weather you know it or not, is indeed an icon. Regardless of not being her group's lead singer, while on background vocals she became a breakout star and an important part of breaking down barriers and making history. Ultimately paving the way for black people, black women and women in general that followed her.

She's not just an icon among animated cartoons like herself but an icon amongst real-world fleshly icons as well. When it comes to a list of black cartoon characters to be "first" at achieving a certain feat, Valerie is alongside greats like T'Challa known as Black Panther who was the first black superhero in Marvel comics and John Stewart also known as Green Lantern who was the first black superhero in the DC comics.

On the flip side, when it comes to a list of black people or black women in general to be "first" at achieving a feat, Valerie is alongside greats like Diahann Carroll who was the first black woman in an American television series to portray a non-stereotypical role with her show, Julia.

Valerie originally appeared in the Josie and The Pussycats comic book series created by Dan DeCarlo, as Valerie Smith, from 1968-1982. She premiered in Josie And The Pussycats #45 in December 1968, and first premiered on the cover of Josie And The Pussycats #46 in 1969. She was the very first black character to appear in Archie comics.

After Valerie's inclusion into the trio the comic grew so popular, the idea of a cartoon television show was pitched. This resulted in the legendary Hanna-Barbera getting into a three-week standoff with producer Danny Janssen, as the TV moguls wanted to make the character of Valerie a caucasian woman. Janssen protested the switch and refused to back down, and the company finally relented, making Valerie the very first black recurring cartoon character in a television show series. The Hardy Boys drummer Pete Jones had been the first black male to appear on Saturday mornings a year earlier, but Pete's voice was not spoken by an African-American. Hanna-Barbera did cast Valerie's speaking voice accordingly and Danny Janssen cast her singing voice, setting the historic precedent.

Josie and the Pussycats was produced for Saturday moring television by Hanna-Barbera Productions, airing on CBS starting in 1970. Valerie was the first positive Black female character in a Saturday morning animated cartoon series. Still, what makes Valerie so important?

Valerie Brown of The Pussycats is significant in pop culture for a few reasons:

• 1. Representation: She is celebrated as one of the first Black characters in mainstream comic books and cartoon series. Her presence serves as an important example of diversity and representation in media, especially during her debut in the late 1960s.

• 2. Breaking Gender Stereotypes: Alongside her bandmates Josie and Melody, Valerie challenges traditional gender roles. They are portrayed as talented musicians and perform as an all-female rock band, which was relatively uncommon at the time of their creation.

• 3. Empowering Female Characters: The Pussycats, including Valerie, have inspired many fans with their strong and independent personalities. Their stories often depict themes of friendship, empowerment, and pursuing their dreams, which resonates with audiences.

• 4. Multiple Adaptations: The Pussycats gained further recognition through various adaptations such as the 1970s animated television show, the 2001 live-action film "Josie and the Pussycats," and their appearances in the "Archie" comics.

As a member of the group, Valerie helped the group's popularity grow just by her being accepted into the group after replacing former member Pepper. Valerie becoming an addition to the originally all-white girl band, made The Pussycats one of the first girl groups, real or fictional to be multicultural with members of different ethnicities. Girl groups like The Spice Girls, The Cheetah Girls, The Pussycat Dolls, Danity Kane, Fifth Harmony and the X Factors Little Mix were to follow their example.

The 2004–2007 Comedy Central animated TV series Drawn Together featured a character named Foxxy Love. An African-American mystery-solving female musician, who was a direct parody of Valerie.

Overall, Valerie Brown's character, as a member of The Pussycats, has had a lasting influence on pop culture by breaking barriers, promoting diversity, and empowering audiences, particularly those longing for more representative characters in media.

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Tevin Campbell's Music Career Is Dead 🪦

The world was first introduced to the lamentable Tevin Campbell at the age of 12½, making his debut on Quincy Jones' single "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart in June of 1990.

Campbell's first solo hit was "Round and Round", which charted at number 3 on the R&B chart in November 1990 and 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1991. "Round and Round" was produced by Prince and was featured in Prince's film Graffiti Bridge.

Campbell has released platinum-selling albums like his self-titled debut T.E.V.I.N. and the follow-up I'm Ready. His songs, "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do", "Can We Talk" and "I'm Ready" all reached the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100. He even appeared on television shows The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Moesha.

Not to mention, he voiced Powerline from the Disney film A Goofy Movie. He performed the songs "Stand Out" and "I 2 I" for the soundtrack. It's because of this role that Campbell has seemingly cemented his "legacy". However, this is NOT the case! Tevin Campbell may NOT have finished his career in the music industry in a traditional sense, but he created a legend through the anthropomorphic Michael Jackson remake in A Goofy Movie.

Despite, this his career is still dead as a doorknob. No question about it. A Goofy Movie only helped save his career by an inch. If that. So what killed Tevin's music career?

There are several factors that have been suggested as contributing to the decline of Tevin Campbell's career. Some of these include:

• 1. Voice changing: Campbell's voice went through a significant change during puberty, which meant that he could no longer hit the high notes that were his signature sound. This ultimately affected his popularity and appeal to audiences.

• 2. Changing musical landscape: In the late 1990s, the music industry underwent a shift towards more hip-hop and R&B styles, with artists like Usher and Trey Songz gaining popularity. Campbell's style of music, which was more influenced by traditional R&B and soul, became less in demand.

• 3. Lack of strong management: Campbell also faced management issues, including changing management teams and a lack of support and guidance, which impacted his career trajectory.

• 4. Personal struggles: Campbell has talked about dealing with personal challenges, including addiction and legal issues, which may have also affected his ability to focus on his career.

Maybe some of those factors as well include the fact that he was nominated five times for a Grammy and won NOT one! 😃 🤣 😂 

Seriously though, it's pretty sad that he got into the business so young and eventually got overshadowed and surpassed by almost every male R&B act of the time. His 1996 album, Back to the World, straight out flopped.

His 1999 self-titled album did just the same. Deep down Campbell must have known it was over for him as far as music was concerned. So what does he do?

He goes an gets himself arrested in July of 1999, after trying to get some head from an undercover cop in children's Elementary School district. Pedophile perhaps? At least the cop was an adult. This happened during a sting operation in Van Nuys, California. Campbell was definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time. There had been numerous complaints from the public about cruising and solicitation. According to police reports, Campbell was also in possession of a small amount of marijuana at the time of his arrest.

In that moment, his "boy-next-door" image was squashed by the po-po who caught a pot head trying to get some oral. Coming from the entertainment business at such a young age, who knows what other drugs Campbell has done or what other bad things he's done that never made the news. These Hollywood guys and gals are pieces of crap. It's ridiculous and un-called for that some of the most important and successful people in this world carry on the way they do. Without expectations of consequences. They aren't just despicable. They are just horrible people. Tevin being no acception.

During 2000, Campbell stayed out of the public eye. In 2001, they released the compilation album, The Best of Tevin Campbell. Which they usually do at the end of someone's career 😉.

What Campbell did in the entertainment industry from 2002 to 2021? NOTHING! Yet, in 2022 he hops himself on a podcast to come out as gay to the world. Final nail in the coffin? ⚰️ 

Tevin Campbell's music career might be dead but homophobia certainly is not. There are homophobes out there just as ignorant as Campbell. Their hatred? Well intact.

Although, Campbell stated that he came out to his family in private during the early 2000s sometime after the arrest happened. For years, people have speculated with little to no proof. Maybe Campbell got as sick as he looks and decided to set the record straight for himself.

Yes, Campbell has continued to perform, indicating that while his mainstream popularity is completely gone, he still has a dedicated fan base despite not being Chris Brown or a rapper. That's the story! ✌️ 

Do U Lie?: A Defense of "Under the Cherry Moon"

It's July 3, 2023. Tomorrow will be the national holiday "4th of July" in the states. Yesterday was July 2. That was the date that the film, Under the Cherry Moon was released in 1986, thirty-seven years ago to date. Thus, celebrating its 37th Anniversary since being released. This article is being written, to weigh in on the often harsh criticism of an '80s box office flop. The negatives and the positives will be evaluated.

The Negatives: What Went Wrong

Under the Cherry Moon was released, coming off the heels of Prince’s so called masterpiece Purple Rain. It was swiftly panned mostly for not being the sequel to Purple Rain, just as much as it was for being misunderstood. When it came time for awards given out for the worst films, Under the Cherry Moon walked away with five, including a tie with Howard the Duck for worst picture. A night of dissatisfaction at the 7th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards held at the legendary haunted Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in March of 1987.
The film was also nominated for an award for "Worst Picture" at 1986's 9th Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

Much like The Wiz did for Diana Ross and Michael Jackson's acting careers on the big screen, Under the Cherry Moon is more or less the movie that killed Prince’s viability as a screen icon. Prince definitely should have had more movie roles and been a bigger star in film that what he turned out to be. The potential was there.

After its failure, Prince seemed to lose interest in the filmmaking process, possibly because he found it difficult to reconcile his one-man-band approach to creating music with the filmmaking process in which countless of hands are required to help create even the most individual of visions.
In 1990, he finally gave everyone the “Purple Rain” sequel they had been clamoring for, but the result, Graffiti Bridge (1990), was uniquely nothing like its predecessor.

Sadly, Prince never acted in or directed a feature film again after Graffiti Bridge. Not counting any direct-to-video movies, television shows or concert films where he played "himself".

Under the Cherry Moon faced several challenges that contributed to its lackluster performance at the box office and mixed reception among audiences and critics. Here are a few factors that may have influenced its underwhelming performance:

• 1. Prince's Unique Style: Prince was primarily known as a musician, and his foray into filmmaking with "Under the Cherry Moon" might have been seen as unconventional or unexpected. The film's stylized black-and-white cinematography and eccentric storytelling approach may not have resonated with mainstream audiences, who were more accustomed to traditional narrative structures at the time. This is what Warner Brothers was afraid of from the start. Thus it was agreed that the film would be shot on color stock but processed into black and white in post-production.

• 2. Mixed Critical Reception: The film received predominantly negative reviews from critics upon its release. Some criticized the film's plot, viewing it as convoluted or lacking substance. Others found fault with Prince's acting and directorial choices. Negative reviews can significantly impact a film's success, as they can deter potential viewers from watching it.

• 3. Limited Marketing and Distribution: The film's marketing campaign may not have effectively conveyed its unique appeal or reached its target audience. Additionally, the distribution strategy might not have been extensive enough to garner significant attention or attract a large number of viewers.

• 4. Competition: "Under the Cherry Moon" was released during a competitive period at the box office, with other high-profile films capturing audiences' attention. Tough competition from other popular films can make it challenging for a smaller or niche film to gain traction and draw in audiences.

• 5. Lack of Commercial Appeal: The film's artistic and unconventional nature may have limited its appeal to a broader audience. Its black-and-white cinematography and stylistic choices, while visually striking, might not have aligned with the mainstream taste at the time.

The Positives: What Went Right

The film marked Prince's directorial debut, who also wrote and starred in the movie. There's a positive. It also marks another debut, that of its female lead Kristin Scott Thomas in her feature film debut. There's another positive. Prince was always getting careers started and bringing new talent into the industry to work with him.

Thomas as Mary

Under the Cherry Moon is known for its stylized black-and-white cinematography, which gives the film a classic and timeless feel. Note that the film was shot in color. Like Dorothy stepping into Oz from her grey Kansas home, the audience never gets to see the true scale of the magnificent costume pieces worn by the cast as well as other interesting aspects of the film until glancing at still pictures and principle photography in full color. Aside from photographs, none of the color footage has yet emerged with the exception of the music videos for "Mountains" which is the same as the end credits sequence in the film but kept in its original colored format for the video version. Making the film even more magical.

Prince's music is also a significant contribution which makes the film great. With several original songs featured throughout, including the popular number one United States hit, "Kiss". The music adds an additional layer of emotional depth and enhances the romantic atmosphere of the story. The movies soundtrack album, Parade, sold over a million copies and achieved platinum status in the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and in France.

Something else positive that came from the making of the film was that Prince gained a new musical collaborator. Jazz keyboardist/composer-arranger Clare Fischer, experienced his first of many recorded collaborations with Prince due to the film.

Parade was named one of the best albums of 1986 by The Village Voice and NME magazine, who named it their Album of the Year. Parade was released on March 31, 1986 to acclaim from music critics, who viewed it as a creative comeback after the critical disappointment of Around the World in a Day.

Although the film received mixed reviews upon its release, it has gained a cult following over the years, largely due to Prince's involvement and the unique blend of musical and cinematic elements with fans appreciating its unique aesthetic and Prince's creative vision.

Despite its initial reception, the film remains an interesting piece of Prince's artistic legacy and a representation of his creative vision beyond his musical endeavors.

The film's legacy itself has evolved beyond its initial reception, and it is now regarded as an intriguing part of Prince's artistic journey.

Conclusion

Overall regardless of anything negative anyone has to say about UTCM, it is a pretty decent film. It may not fit everyone's criteria for "the perfect film" but it is definitely worth a watch. It holds the audience to a solid viewing experience nonetheless. Especially for those who have never had the opportunity to see the film. In a lot of ways, it is better than Purple Rain. For sure Graffiti Bridge can't hold a candle to it. The film's contemporaneous negative reception had to have been due to people expecting it to resemble Purple Rain. The better option would be to have accepted this film for what it was and made educated remarks based off of that alone! With that being said the film shows considerable effort and that's why it's memorable and loved.

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