tun up!
Awards Season by Ava Gardner
A
s the awards season draws to a close, we reflect on the fashions displayed by our favourite actors, actresses and artistes, at the 53rd Grammy Awards and 83rd Academy Awards (otherwise known as the Oscars) held in La La Land on the 13th and 27th of February, respectively. There was excitement in the air as they paraded a unique array of clothes across the red carpets, garnering praise and sometimes expressions of disappointment. Everyone dressed fairly well, but these were the best:
I believe only Ciara could have pulled off this amazing Emilio Pucci dress.
Selena Gomez’s J. Mendel metallic dress was formfitting and simply stunning.
After giving birth only a month prior, Penelope Cruz looked quite hot in this L’Wren Scott dress.
Hilary Swank looked stunning in her strapless and feathered bottom Gucci gown.
Overlooking the applique at the waist, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Calvin Klein dress was amazing and glowed.
Rihanna’s Jean Paul Gaultier dress was definitely LOUD.
J. Lo was definitely a hot mama in her Emilio Pucci dress Many people might not have known of new artist Esperanza Spalding’s work, but after seeing her in this Selma Karaca dress, they should know about her style.
Black Swan’s ‘antagonist’ Mila Kunis looked a bit harmless in this lavender Elie Saab gown. Photos courtesy of WireImage.
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teen spirit eZine
Denyque
Gets Us Hooked Interview co-ordinated by Kandice Moncrieffe
F
ast-rising music star Denyque Dontréhad a big year in 2010 with the hit singles “Summer Love”, “Hooked on Me” and “Oh So Good”. Although she has only been recording since 2009, this talented 20-year-old has been singing since her days as a student at the Belair School in Mandeville, where she won several medals in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) Festival competitions.Teen Spirit caught up with the self-proclaimed “Super Girl” to talk about her music, when we can look forward to her debut album and what’s on her playlist.
Teen Spirit: How would you describe your music and who are some of your influences? Denyque: My music is pop-inspired, so it’s always a fusion - Pop/Reggae, Pop/Dancehall. Pop/R&B.My major influences are Aaliyah, P!nk, Keri Hilson, Usher and Toni Braxton.
Teen: Spirit:How did you get started in the music industry? Denyque: Music has always been my career choice. I got a call from Arrows Recording in late 2008 and it all started from there. My first single, “Can’t Breathe”, dropped in mid-2009.
Teen: Spirit: Tell us some of the places you have performed. Do you have any upcoming shows? Denyque: I’ve performed in quite a few places. I
am really grateful for the opportunities that music has put forth for me. My favorite venues would have to be the high schools on the RE/Coke Zero School Tour. Yes, I do have some upcoming shows that I’m excited about.
Teen Spirit: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes you write about? Denyque: I write most of my songs myself but I
never neglect great and positive input. I believe two heads are better than one. The main themes are boys/men, from bubble-gum, puppy love to first heartbreak. Relatable, clean and to-the-point.
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Denyque
Gets Us Hooked Teen Spirit:When can we expect your debut album? What will it be called? Denyque:No album anytime soon. But if I were to do
one I’d definitely like to get some ideas from my fans on what to name it.
Teen Spirit: How do you feel about being nominated for an EME award? Denyque: I feel absolutely incredible. Just knowing that
my work is being appreciated is a gift in itself. It’s this support that keeps me going.
Teen Spirit:Which artistes have you worked with and who would you like to work with? Denyque: I’ve worked with Tanya Stephens, Ding Dong, Richie Loop and Chino. I’d love to do some work with Tami Chynn, CeCile, I-Octane, Busy Signal and many more.
Teen Spirit:What are some of the songs on your playlist? Denyque:“I Hate Love” - Toni Braxton, “Buyou” - Keri Hilson ft.J.Cole, “All the Boys” - Keri Hilson, “Sober” -P!nk, “Get Back Up” - TI ft. Chris Brown.
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mek we
Chat People Business! by Dervin Osbourne
W
hen you’re a celebrity, it’s basically inscribed in the fine print that your every move is watched and noted. Celebs always complain that they want to live normal lives and people should stay out of their business, but who cares?Our lives are boring and theirs always seem juicy!So sit back, relax and mek we chat people business. Tump,tump, tumphar up! But Jesus! Short on lyrics Vado? His new single “TumpHar Up” has been getting a lot of backlash since its release. Well of course! Couldn’t he find some other metaphor for his ‘skills’ in the bedroom? Movado, try againand leave the lyrical versatility to Kartel. Stick to basic English. Let’s talk about Al Miller and his latest scandal, “Plums and Guns”. Is it me or is this “pastor” always caught in some mix-up which has nothing to do with the church? A few weeks ago news broke of Al’s gun supposedly beingstolen from his car while he was picking plums. And because we a idiot… Aidonia a talk up di tings dem bout Kartel and I have the all the scoop! 876radio.com did an interview with Aidonia who was asked what he thought of the remarks Kartel made about him saying that he was broke and hungry and confused because he was a part of the Alliance, then he left, and then he went back. By the way, did you guys know he went back? I wonder how he asked…I bet it had grammatical errors like, “Can I rejoin back your group please?”
Mavado
His response to the question triggered 10 minutes of pure uncensored tracing. He says he’s hungry because what Kartel is eating, he (Aidonia) isn’t. This leaves me to wonder…Aidonia also said Kartel should let Jamaica know that he, (Kartel) is afraid of him. This again leaves me to wonder, because Kartel hasn’t responded and I hate to think that Kartel is being the “mature” one. Producer Russian was the talk on Twitter for about 5 minutes after news broke that he was shot. A source’s good source confirmed that the producer was not shot, but was shot at and somehow his arm broke. After numerous questions being asked as to the validity of this info, he finally tweeted “not shot”. Hours later he tweeted “clearing all rumours final time, no incident no shooting. nothin.. rumours.” I don’t know who he was fooling. His first tweet said “Not Shot.” If rumour broke that I had been shot and I wasn’t, I would definitely write more than just those two words, which leaves me to conclude that his arm was indeed broken. I assume he was dodging bullets like he was playing dandy shandy and fell.
Aidonia
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of eZines Limited.
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teen spirit eZine
culture
Your Picks The Roomate Rated: PG-13
by Alana Gardner
Rating:
T
he Roommateis a teen thriller from director Christian E. Christiansen, in his first Hollywood film with a cast featuring Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka, Danneel Harris, Nina Dobrev, Katerina Graham, Matt Lanter and Billy Zane.
Avoid This!
The Roommate is about college student Sara (Kelly), who is randomly assigned to a dorm at her new school with a stranger. They start off as friends, but things turns deadly when Sara finds out that her new roommate Rebecca (Meester) has an obsession with her. The Roommate earns itself 1.5 stars. It is similar to the movie Single White Female, except that it is set in college.The acting is adequate, even though the plot is very predictable and you can see the ‘attacks’ coming a mile away. Not every horror film will have us on the edges of our seats, but to put it plainly, it was irredeemably awful and it wouldn’t scare a six year old.
Positive Vibrations by Dervin Osbourne
I
recently raised the question to some of my friends and followers on Twitter, asking if they could think of any positive impacts that Dancehall music has on the society. Many were hesitant in responding for numerous reasons. Most responded negatively, saying that dancehall music had no positive effects. Some gave basic answers like “It’s a stress reliever” and some thought pensively but could yield no answer. It’s quite ironic that the people who love the music, the originators ofit, have not even an inkling as to the effects of their music. It is necessary to highlight that it is easier to speak of the negatives in the dancehall music as they are often discussed on a wider scale. However in a society as hearty as Jamaica, we should not dwell on the negative but also embrace the positive. Our music promotes female independence to some extent. Look beyond the ‘raerae’, ‘wifey and matey’ sagasand even promiscuity. The entertainers oftentimes seek to promote female power and confidence. Refer to some songs released by Lady Saw or more recently “Certified Diva” by Tami Chynnand Tifa. Even the men embrace the idea of independence among females, Tony Matterhorn a big contributor. We must also give credit to Dancehall for being an effective advocate against political oppression. Amidst the restraint inflicted
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on citizens by the actions of those in government, such as tax increases,Dancehall music acts as a voice for the people. Reflect on VybzKartels’ “Emergency”, which touched on the government’spoor track record. Through this avenue, the music highlights the struggles faced by the poor in our society. Also note “Poverty” by I-Octane. Many Dancehall entertainers preach the benefits of having a pure heart, speaking to the dangers of jealousy and hatred towards each other. Look at I-Octane’s hit “Nuh Love Inna Dem”, which shows the extent to which people sometimes conspire against each other. Dancehall’s doctrine teaches us to be satisfied with what we have and work towards what we desire. Which leads me to my final point:Dancehall music promotes endurance, dreaming big and never giving up on those dreams. This aspect of the music is more vivid and emphasized than the others. Whether it is dreaming to be a successful musician, a millionaire or merely buying a car or a house, Dancehall music is a great motivator towards such goals. However, some of the music does dictate violence, which is accentuated beyond pleasure. That must be toned down and allow the positive to shine. If more artistes do this, we can expect to see greatness within our society. teen spirit eZine
he says... she says...
Tight Pants by Tiffany Willacey and Cornel Grey
T
he days of sagging jeans and oversized t-shirts are long gone. These are the days of the tight pants, the fitted jeans, the ‘denim huggables’. This trend has caused more than a bit of controversy, including the opposition of women who feel that men are stealing their clothes off the racks and trespassing on their femininity in general. It is men versus women. The teens give their views:
What is your take on tight pants? Craig: In my view, wearing tight pants gives the impression of
Ashani: They complement most casual outfits. They are fashionable. Also, it allows the body to appear [slimmer and] taller.
Lily: I love a guy in tight jeans. It shows me all that they have go-
ing on. Although I don’t particularly like unkempt eyebrows, I don’t have a problem with them fixing them but as long as they are not neater than mine. Now that is a bit extreme.
a male who is conflicted and unaware of his gender. Additionally, it gives the impression of a ‘cruff ’ or ragamuffin. I really don’t think that it should be accepted within Jamaica’s culture
Kristen: It is okay to not want to look like a ‘waste’, but know your limits. You are not a girl!
Brian: People need to understand that there’s a difference
between ‘tight pants’ and ‘fitted jeans’. A lot of us label those two distinct fashions as the same thing and that’s really narrow-minded. Most guys wear fitted jeans, not tight pants. Onlookers only think it’s tight when compared to what they are used to seeing. Why do I wear fitted jeans? I do this because they make me feel confident and I look irresistible in them.
Suzanne: Males who take on these practices are not mascu-
line at all. If I wanted a female partner I would go looking for one. All in all, they should not dress like females because females want masculine partners. No arched eyebrows, penciled in and no tight jeans. BIG TURNOFFS!
Vaughn:
They are uncomfortable, for it is difficult to freely get around. It is only a fad that allows for metrosexuals to be targets for homosexuals. In terms of posture, or stature, the person is less impressive. This fad is totally ridiculous.
Shannon: Yes males should care about their images, but do
so in moderation, don’t take it to an extreme. If they are wearing a pair of jeans, it may be close fitting but not too tight where it stops their blood circulation and they act as if they are fine. Also, if they choose to ‘groom’ their eyebrows, don’t arch it as a female would. There are some views that metrosexuals take on female habits but are the one’s who actually improve their images as opposed to those who take it to an extreme.
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teen spirit eZine
buying
Your First Car by Micheal Farquharson
Y
ou’ve received your licence and your folks have decided to buy you a car. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to buy it yourself. Many young drivers jump at the names Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi (especially the Evolution series and Air Trek) and, for the more fortunate, Mercedes, B.M.W and Audi, just to name a few. But hold up a second! Have you put serious thought into the choice for your first car? A car isn’t a girlfriend or boyfriend you can string along and then leave. It’s an investment and in most cases it is definitely not cheap. So what should be your first move? Try not to count on advice from your friends because more often than not, teenagers have a tendency to throw practicality and reason out the window. Their suggestions would be a strain on your pocket – let’s rephrase that: on your parents’ pocket. But fret not, all is not lost. Teen Spirit caught up with experienced mechanic Raymond Smellie, who has worked at John Crook (now K.I.G. Kingston Industrial Garage) for a number of years and also at Toyota Jamaica. Describing the best type of car for a young driver, he said, “Look for one that is economical in terms of fuel and parts. You would also think about one that is durable as well. These should be the first things to look for as a young driver. Avoid stress.” Mr. Smellie is personally partial to the Daihatsu brand because of the low possibility of theft, even though parts tend to be expensive. However, your preferences might differ. “Some people have a pref-
erence for looks and aesthetics, others in the practicality of the car. Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans have high a rate of theft, so it is up to the driver and what they want. To give a choice is hard, but I would go with Toyota, because of the experience with Toyotas that I have. That, though, is subject to change. It may be completely different with someone else.” Don’t make you choice based on what your friends like. Be practical and don’t be impulsive with the first car you see. Remember, no one ever forgets their first, so try to make a good choice.
Here are a few tips you can take to extend the life of your new car:
• Check the engine oil, transmission oil and coolant levels frequently. • Ensure that all the lights function well, inside and outside the vehicle. • Tire pressure and wear patterns should always be monitored. Worn tires are dangerous to drive on and carry lofty fines. • Keep your mechanic on speed dial. That way, any problems can be easily addressed. www.ezineslimited.com
teen spirit eZine
why a career porfolio is a
Job -Hunter’s “Must-Have”
S
avvy job seekers think of a career portfolio as their very own portable collection of papers, documents and essential job and education-related tools and/or artefacts presented in a variety of formats. Your portfolio can be a folder, other ‘holder’ of some type, maybe with inside pockets and tabs for labelling different sections - job, education, life goals, etc, or it may have transparent pockets in which to place items.
Cutting Edge
A career portfolio can also be considered as part of your self-marketing arsenal, an extension of your résumé and cover letter and something which you can take with you to an interview as proof of your achievements. A career portfolio will bring life and interest to an interview and may just give you the edge over another candidate. You will be able to answer interview questions much more confidently with the information which you have brought together about yourself, your aspirations, interests and your experiences.
Portfolio Essentials
If you do not already have a career portfolio, you can create one now. Include in it: • Results of assessment tests you have done, like, The Career Key (Caribbean edition). • A copy of your résumé. This should be kept up to date at all times by adding all new work experience, training programmes attended and qualifications as you acquire them. • A basic cover letter which you MUST update and modify to suit each job application • Information you learn about promising occupations. You can scan newspapers, magazines and the Internet for this type of information. Look out for stories on companies where you would like to work and add those also. • A brief statement written by you outlining your career plans and goals, and steps you will take towards achieving those goals. • Copies of your external exam certificates. You will need these at job interviews as proof of your qualifications. • Photographs can be included also. • Records of things you have done and feel good about. These will be a good reminder, and, may be included in your résumé or when answering interview questions.
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• Information about schools and colleges, training programmes and college courses. You must always be looking for ways to improve your qualifications and skills. • Internet job search sites and also the names and contact details of reputable employment agencies. • Letter of appreciation, commendation or any recommendation received at previous jobs or for community service. • Clippings of newspaper, magazine or newsletter articles written by you or featuring you • A list of your networking contacts. Having these things together in one place will help you to make good job-hunting decisions based on information you have gathered about various professions, companies, the labour market and trends. You will also be able to keep important information together relating to your personal career aspirations and goals, and educational opportunities. When you create, keep and maintain this career portfolio, you will be able to: reflect on your past achievements - analyse and plan the best way forward - identify your own personal career development requirements and know which opportunities you should be looking out for - offer proof to a potential employer of what you say you have done in the past and your personal achievements - plan, appraise and track learning experiences. Add to your career portfolio as time goes by and you will have a valuable tool to assist you on your career journey. Remember that when you have a job, that’s not the end of the life of your portfolio. You never know when you will be job hunting again, so keep it up to date at all times. Contributed by Angela deFreitas, general manager, CHOICES Career Advice, and publisher/editor of “CHOICES Career & Education Magazine” and “The Career Key”. CHOICES can be contacted at info@choicesonlinejm.com and www.choicesonlinejm.com.
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