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Fantasy Pop Star Manager – Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves recently sang the national anthem at a professional women’s baseball game. Ms. Reeves’ voice didn’t sound good. The sound was bad. She and her back up singers were unrehearsed. It was not a good performance. Martha Reeves performance went viral on social media. Martha Reeves was lambasted across social media.
Martha Reeves deserves better. Most people commenting on her didn’t know who she was two weeks ago so I will share some facts about her.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas had six top ten songs on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas had ten people top tens on the US R&B charts. Two were number ones.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas was a foundational act that helped established the success of Motown. Motown laid the foundation for American pop music. American pop music is global. Without the contributions of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Motown among other early Motown acts there wouldn’t have been later Motown acts like the Jackson 5. The contributions of Martha Reeves and early Motown altered human history. Show some respect.
Like most talents, gifts and abilities, singing diminishes with age. I’m unsure what anyone expected from an eighty five year old woman. No one would expect Joe Montana to suit up and play in a Superbowl and be competitive but Martha Reeves is supposed to sing like she did in the 1960s. Ozzy Osbourne became a mainstream pop culture icon in his later years. His reality show became a hit because audiences thought Ozzy was cute and charming past his prime. When are we going to talk about Willie Nelson. He’s looked old as long as I can remember and his voice has the same quality as current day Martha Reeves. They expectations and standards for Martha Reeves are unrealistic and ridiculous.
I don’t understand why Martha Reeves wasn’t given some help. It’s well known that the music industry uses tools like autotune. It’s now accepted that well known acts lip sync in order to offer a better presentation. I don’t know why the same couldn’t be done for Martha. At least she’s proven and her prime was in am era with no autotune or lip syncing. Martha doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone at this stage in her life and career.
Martha could have also had better back up singers who did the heavy lifting and she just added some flare. Eighty seven year old gospel singer Shirley Caesar does the same. There are ways that Martha’s poor performance could have been avoided. Unfortunately, the organizers of Martha’s performance and her management did not protect Martha’s best interest.
This is the kind of support Martha Reeves needed.
I didn’t even know there was a women’s pro baseball league. It’s interesting to me that this obscure event went viral. I first heard about Ms. Reeves’ appearance on a FOX News outlet. The choices made in this matter are questionable.
Martha Reeves is a living legend. She made her impact and participated in influencing global pop music culture. Without Motown acts like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas there probably would not have been acts likes the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson’s solo career. There wouldn’t be K Pop and acts like BTS.
Martha Reeves is still active in the music industry and has released music this year. If I knew how to buy music these days I would support her. Martha deserves better treatment that what she’s getting from FOX News and internet naysayers. An eighty five year old woman should be afforded more grace.
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Question of the Day 8.10.26 🤔🤷🏿♀️
Do you think everything happens for a reason?
Yes. Some things are meant to be, divine providence, God’s plan. Other things are the result of our choices and where we focus our resources, energy and time.
This is a photo of a calendar I bought from Temu in 2025.
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Question of the Day 8.7.26 🗒️✍🏿⌛
Daily writing promptIf your future self could send you one sentence, what do you hope it would say?You made the most of the opportunities offered to you and created a rich life with a lot of interesting experiences, people and places.
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Question of the Day 8.6.26
I had a customer service job offer a soft skills training. I think students could benefit from the same sort of training. The training covered things like empathy and etiquette.
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Question of the Day 8.5.26 📋✍🏿😟
That list gets shorter as I get older but as I get older a few things get added to the list. There are different stages in life with different challenges and concerns.
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If You Erase We Will Replace
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To Whom It Concerns … A Poem
What exactly do you want?
What are you hoping to find?
Are you looking for sexy pics?
Do you want to see my behind?
I’m going to disappoint you. Go to go to a different site. That’s not what I upload onto Shannon’s Midwestern Life.
Wanna hear about me being in a bind?
Wanna know what makes me tick?
Are you looking for an upsetting and/or sensitive topic?
Do you want to hear about old paramores and friends?I don’t talk about private people in public view. The End.Are you interested in personal struggle or tragedy?
Are you looking for photos of my home?
Do you want to know about my financial cash flow?
Is my family situation what you want to know?
Do you want to know the number on my license plate so you can find info to use and humiliate?
Do you need help occupying your leisure time?
Try career focus. Or clean your home, yard, garage and soul from grime.
Try a good hair and skin care routine. Since you have time.Go up the street and vacuum your car.
Do you know where your children are?
Read The Word and talk with God.Go call your dad and/ or mom. Maybe go for a jog.
If none of that interests you just go get a dog.
I’m stylish and charming but my life is pretty routine.
Thanks for your concern but you have other things to worry about than me.
Am I the most interesting person you know?
It seems that way.
Well, welcome to the Shannon Show. Enjoy your stay.
I don’t need to be clairvoyent to see you read my posts. What’s weird is haunting my social media like a ghost.I don’t understand why you act like you don’t read this blog when it’s clear that you do. I mean now what? I’m not talking to or about you.
You wait for my posts to see what I have to say. I have thoughts and opinions like any other Tameka, Jane or Kay.
What is the fascination with me, Shannon Lee, exactly? This is just the tip of the ice berg you see.
I post on a blog. But don’t think you know me. This is content for the internet; just trending topics. I enjoy my privacy.
I hope you’re inspired. I hope you like my work. Just don’t be weird and silently lurk.If you’re passing judgement, writing narratives and coming up with theories. After all your research you’re probably still wrong Dearie.
Take my words as they are don’t subtract or add. If you found some mess would you be giddy and glad?
There is no scandal Mr. and Miss and if there was I would leave it in the abyss.
I’m an adult. This is America. We can do as we please. Just stay within legal boundaries.
I’m polite to those I meet. I don’t ask for any favors and if I did you would look at me as if I am diseased.
Whatever you’re thinking as you read posts made during the Obama Admin., pandemic or last Fall, understand your opinion has the same value as coins in the fountain at the mall.
I started this blog in 2015 in the spirit of fun, freedom, and truth. Later I created a channel to share faith, prayer and my thoughts about God’s Word on You Tube.There is no disrespect to anyone that wants to support amateur writers. Bless you and thank you for your view and click. It made my day brighter.
My issue is people mining for gossip nuggets to share. It’s weird and sick. Go smell some flowers. Why the heck do you care?
I try to have a sense of humor and be in good cheer. I don’t take myself too seriously. My conscious is clear.Content creation requires skin to be thick. But there is no fear. Lord willing I will be posting new content this time next year.
If someone reads this and laughs at me that’s a price I willingly pay. That happens when you put a piece of your heart on display.Go kick rocks if you have something to slick to say. I mean whispering behind my back if we’re acquainted. A comment on this page is OK.
Open your mind. Change your fate. Establish something and inspire. Let’s see what you/we can create. Be different and original instead of boilerplate.I will encourage and support you. If you know me irl you know that’s true.
I will click like, share and encourage you know that’s something I would do.
Too bad that generosity is a one way street. I’m used to lopsided interactions. That’s not new to me.
With all that said it’s fine that you view me on line. It gives me a flattering vibe. When you visit say Hi. Support, comment, like, subscribe.
No. This is not AI. -
Update – Awkward Fan Interaction -Fantasy Pop Star Manager – Usher
I’m starting a new series called “Fantasy Pop Star Manager”. It’s like Fantasy Football but instead of managing a pretend NFL team I’m going to give career advice that no one asked for to established entertainers. Today’ client is Usher Raymond.
Usher Raymond is on tour this summer with Chris Brown. The tour is simply called the R&B Tour; The Raymond and Brown Tour. Usher has had a long and impressive career that started in his teenaged years. He navigated fame and the music industry with guidance from his momager Johnetta Patton. Usher’s mother was his manager for seventeen years.
I think Usher and his mother had a falling out when he married Tameka Foster and she stopped being his manager shortly after that. Usher’s marriage to Tameka was quite a time in pop star history and it was at the height of TRL’s popularity. You had to be there to understand. I think it predates social media as we know it now. Usher fandom was messy as heck at that time. That needs to be a different blog post.
https://people.com/usher-felt-attacked-by-fans-opinion-of-ex-tameka-foster-exclusive-8582989
That stage in Usher’s life inspired the song “Papers”. It’s a song about divorce. I’ve never been married so I don’t personally relate but for some reason “Papers” is one of my favorite songs.
We’ve watched Usher mature, marry have children, divorce, marry again, repeat. Usher is currently married. I’m unsure how many ex wives, children and step children he has. He’s made a lot of music, been on a lot of tours, made a lot of money, won awards and performed at the Superbowl halftime twice. The man is highly accomplished.
Usher released “Confessions” in 2004 and it was a sensation. The song was dramatic and video was sexy. No one else was quite like Usher and offered what he offered listeners.
I saw Usher in concert on his Kansas City stop of the OMG Tour in 2010. It was awesome! It was a great show and the OMG era established Usher as a pop star. Usher is very savvy. He merged into the pop lane without turning his back on his R&B roots and alienating his day one fans. His moves have been brilliant.
I’ve never been to a concert where it was so interesting to observe the audience. I’ve been to several concerts throughout my life and have been in audiences full of excited fans. (I didn’t go see the R&B Tour. They didn’t come to Kansas City and the ticket prices were a bit steep to me.) Usher’s fans have a unique energy and vibe. The audience was mostly women and a handful of men. Some of the men in the audience were as excited to see Usher as the women were. Usher fans act like they just got out of solitary confinement or convent and went straight to the Usher show. It’s like they hadn’t seen a man in months.
I couldn’t imagine being the center of that type and level of attention. The T Mobile Center in Kansas City (then Sprint Center) holds 20,000 seats. 20,000 people were lustfully screaming their heads off for one man. It’s got to put him in a strange head space and possibly cause mental health problems. It almost seems kind of scary for him but he was confident and comfortable on stage. Usher seems like a nice, well adjusted man but keep Usher in your prayers. I’m glad Usher stays married to someone. I’m sure it helps him stay grounded.
Usher is now forty seven years old and is destined to reach legend status. I think he will be similar to Frankie Beverly one day. My unsolicited advice to Usher is to make a feel good song or an entire album for people to play at cook outs and family reunions in the next few years. A song or album for two steppers will keep his music in play for decades into the future. Cook outs and family reunions are never going to stop.
There is a segment of the R&B Tour where Usher simulates sex with a woman that he brings on stage from the audience. During his Las Vegas residency he at cherries out of an audience members mouth. It was gross and I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Clark County Department of Health didn’t fine him. I guess everyone forgot about the herpes scandal. That too needs it’s own blog post.
I think Usher should lay off the Chippendales type antics. His fans don’t need it. Their imaginations are far worse than anything he’s going to do on that stage so it’s kind of a waste of time. I’ve been to see the Chippendales and they don’t even do all that. The Chippendales are actually kind of wholesome. It was actually a little family oriented. Women were in there with their grandmothers.
Usher just needs to keep singing, working out to look good and be the multiple times married and divorced, middle aged dad he is as opposed to being an amateur stripper. His fan base is mostly comprised of middle aged single moms, spinsters, housewives and gay men that don’t actually need the visual.
At least Usher can read the room.
Usher Stops Onstage Encounter After Fan Appears Uncomfortable https://share.google/YXfOx02d4HKgfmaVZ
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Fantasy Pop Star Manager-Lizzo
I’m starting a new series called “Fantasy Pop Star Manager”. It’s like Fantasy Football but instead of managing a pretend NFL team I’m going to give career advice that no one asked for to established entertainers.
Lizzo is my first fantasy celebrity client. I like Lizzo. She is charismatic, beautiful and very talented. Lizzo is a classically trained flautist. She produced some catchy hits and what I will call enjoyable B sides (songs that are not as popular or mainstream but nonetheless likeable).
People are saying that Lizzo has fallen off. Her new music isn’t selling well. Perhaps she has. Flash in the pan artists are not new to the music industry. Besides that “falling off” is subjective. Her new music is falling flat but her older music is heavily played on Spotify. Lizzo is labeled as popular on Spotify and has over 10M monthly listeners. I wouldn’t call that falling off.
Lizzo has had controversy. Some of the complaints are more concerning than others. She was accused of sexual harassment by back up dancers. The claims were deemed unfounded but I learned things about Lizzo that I wish I hadn’t. She’s also been teased on line due to her weight. There was a ridiculous uproar about Lizzo playing John Madison’s flute at the Library of Congress.
Here is my advice to Lizzo. Lizzo is very confident and outspoken. She can be described as brash. That’s not a problem for me. I think Lizzo is highly likeable. The problem is that she can be vulgar.
I think that might be why her new music isn’t selling well. The titles alone are a turn off to many people. There are limits to where a song named “Bitch” and another song named “Hoes” can be played. Lizzo is limiting her own audience. There aren’t that many places songs title “Hoes” and “Bitch” can be played.
“Hoes” is a collaboration with Sexxy Red. That collaboration is a mistake too. I like Sexxy Red as a person. She seems down to earth and unpretentious. Sexxy is probably a lot smarter than she let’s on. Sexxy donated to the St. Louis tornado victims in 2025. Sexxy acted to help people affected by a natural disaster before the government did. But her brand is vulgar.
Her audience is limited. Sexxy Red became popular because one of her songs got played on Tik Tok. The lyric that was repeated numerous times said “my booty hole is brown”. What?! It’s demented that anyone wrote that down and recorded it.
Lizzo became an ambassador for the body positivity movement. I’m not sure if that is by design or not but she embraced being a body positive role model. The problem with that is that Lizzo has lost weight. Is she losing support for shedding pounds? A lot of the references towards Lizzo’s weight on social media have been very mean spirited.
She’s in the new “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue”. I’m sure many will praise Lizzo’s cover and for others, particularly so called conservative social media personalities, it will be rage bait. I like some of the photos better than others. Some are very flattering and she looks great.
It’s not even a matter of size. Some of the poses border on soft core porn. Regardless of size no one will look that great posing like that. I don’t think hardly anyone looks all that great in a bikini regardless of size. The exceptions are people like Tyra. Again, I don’t consider a feature in the “SI Swimsuit Issue” falling off. Good for Lizzo.
https://people.com/lizzo-says-she-manifested-her-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-cover-12024136
I think Lizzo is a pretty lady. She should dress in a fashionable way that flatters her figure instead of like a trashy Power Ranger or in a dress with the booty cut out and a thong underneath. That is not body positivity. Those are the actions of someone that hates their body.
Lizzo became popular in 2019. She is now thirty eight. She’s grown up since her debut. Lizzo has done some wild things and that’s fine. Move on. Lizzo is in a great position to expand and solidify her career as an entertainer. The foundation has been laid. Lizzo needs to use her gifts wisely and not be an ambassador for vulgarity. She needs to turn it down a bit. No more songs with expletives. No more bootyless dresses sitting courtside at NBA games. If Lizzo matures she will be fine.
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Photo Dump – Sunset Over Strip Malls 🌆
I renamed my blog Shannon’s Life in the Midwest. I searched for a photo on the internet for a profile picture and avatar to represent an average life in the midwest. I ran across photos of sunsets over strip malls. I’ve seen some impressive sunsets over strip malls but never thought to document them. I chose one but I decided to take my own photos over the weekend. I will take more in the future.
Thoughts, Observations, Impressions
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