Black History Month: 10 Strong Black Women

Dear Poptastic Readers,

As you might be aware, there haven't been that many posts this year due to the fact that we are so overwhelmed by the awful things happening with the current administration of the USA. However, we trying to stay positive, and we were thinking about Black History Month and strong black women, as we do, and we thought it would be nice to highlight 10 of our favourite female artists who have inspired us. Here they are ...

1. Jody Watley

If you follow this blog, then you know that Jody Watley is no stranger to Poptastic Confessions. Jody is probably most known for her megahits "Looking For A New Love", "Don't You Want Me", "Some Kind Of Lover", "Real Love", "Friends", and "Everything." We wrote a history of her career, we've seen her concerts time after time after time, Dave even met her in person. Jody had our #1 spot in 2013 with her song "Nightlife." And this past year, she reached our #1 spot with "The Mood" with her group Shalamar Reloaded. What's next for Jody? Her group Shalamar Reloaded should release their album Bridges soon. We are expecting more fabulous singles! Like Jody's Facebook page here, and follow her on Twitter. Jody's music (as well as Shalamar Reloaded) is available on digital outlets everywhere. 

2. Keisha Buchanan (Sugababes, MKS)

Keisha was the original Sugababes member who stayed in the group the longest. While Keisha was in the Sugababes, they had 6 UK #1 hits: "Freak Like Me", "Round Round", "Hole In The Head", "Push The Button", "Walk This Way", and "About You Now." After she left the group in 2009, Keisha reunited with the other two original members in 2012 and they released the single "Flatline"in 2013 under the name Mutya Keisha Siobhan (MKS). What's next for Keisha? Looks like she is in a legal battle to get the name Sugababes back. We happened to hear MKS's leaked album and thought it was great. So here's hoping that 2017 is the return of the Sugababes/MKS in some form. Follow Keisha on Twitter here. Check out the Sugababes greatest hits album on iTunes everywhere called Overloaded.

3. Lisa Cork-Twiss (Glass Slipper, Real McCoy)

Lisa joined Real McCoy in 1996 after Patsy left the group, as Lisa has a beautiful voice. She sang on three of their singles: "One More Time", "I Wanna Come (With You)" and "(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here." Lisa was interviewed in Poptastic Confessions in 2013 about her time in Real McCoy and because of that interview, Lisa and Davearama's friend Brad formed the deep house duo Glass Slipper. They've been churning out songs every year since: "Surge" was #4 on our 2014 countdown and "Up On The Floor" also came in at #4 last year. Lisa even had a song out at the end of last year with Black Magic Disco called "Better Than Alright." What's next for Lisa? More Glass Slipper songs, we hope. Like Glass Slipper's Facebook page here and follow them on Twitter. Glass Slipper's music is available on digital outlets everywhere.

4. Alice D

I'm not quite sure how Alice D has not taken the world by storm yet. She has an amazing voice, and she is a talented songwriter. Alice did her first-ever interview with Poptastic Confessions in 2014. Alice may have a famous mother — Sara of Bananarama, but we try to focus on Alice's talent — which she has plenty of. Alice's song "Moving On" came in at #8 in our 2014 countdown. Last year, her song "Only You" came in at #11. What's next for Alice? More new music! Hooray! Like Alice's Facebook page here, and follow her on Twitter. You Can get the Alice EP on iTunes, otherwise, check out her SoundCloud page.

5. Melanie Brown/Melanie B/Mel B (Spice Girls)

Last summer, Melanie B, Geri, and Emma (GEM) decided to carry on as the Spice Girls. Their song "Song For Her" was leaked, Geri got pregnant, and that was the end of that. Melanie's last solo outing was "For Once In My Life", which landed at #5 in our 2013 countdown. What's next for Melanie B? She is currently on Broadway starring in Chicago. Melanie has been very vocal about getting all 5 Spices back on board for something this year. We hope she is successful. If not, we are happy with GEM continuing as the Spice Girls. Follow Melanie B on Twitter here. Melanie B's 2000 solo album Hot is available on iTunes everywhere.

6. Crystal Waters

Crystal Waters has been packing dancefloors for years. While most famous for her hits "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" and "100% Pure Love" — Poptastic Confessions fell back in love with Crystal in 2014 with her fantastic song "Be Kind" — which landed at #6 in our countdown that year. In 2015, her song "Synergy" came in a #31 on our list, and last year her song "Believe" just missed our top 20. What's next for Crystal? Apparently a new album is on the way. And we can't wait! Like Crystal's Facebook page here, and follow her on Twitter. Crystal Waters music is available on digital outlets everywhere.

7. Francine (The Face, Parralox)

Francine is probably our most unknown artist on our list, yet somehow we can't manage to look away. Francine first came to our attention when she was in a trio called The Face. Their one and only single "Love Stuck" with Dream Beats landed at #9 in our 2012 countdown. However, it was the song she recorded with Parralox called "Crying On The Dancefloor" that really made us take notice of her. That was our #2 song of 2014. What's next for Francine? We know that she has been working on new music for awhile, so hopefully 2017 will be the year she releases new music. Like Francine's Facebook page here, and follow her on Twitter. Francine's song with Parralox is available on digital outlets everywhere. I'm not sure where to get her song with The Face and Dream Beats.

9. Shaznay Lewis (All Saints)

Shaznay is part of the group All Saints — and what a comeback they had last year. Their amazing 2016 album Red Flag (which Shaznay wrote all the songs) earned the group stellar reviews and the album went to #3 in the UK. Their songs "One Strike" went to #8 on our 2016 countdown, while "One Woman Man" landed at #15. What's next for Shaznay? Get busy writing the next All Saints album, please! Haha. Just don't take a long of a break since the last All Saints album! Like All Saints Facebook page, and follow Shaznay on Twitter. All Saints music is available on digital outlets everywhere.

8. Connie Mitchell/Miss Connie (Sneaky Sound System)

  

We were a bit late to the Sneaky Sound System party. And just when we got there, they went on hiatus. They have released a couple of singles the past two years under the shortened name Sneaky: "All I Need" in 2015 and "I Ain't Over You" in 2016. What's next for Connie? I think she just had a baby last year, so that might mean more time off. But we are hoping for a new Sneaky Sound System album soon. Like Sneaky's Facebook page here, and follow them on Twitter. Sneaky Sound System's music is available on digital outlets everywhere.

10. Jade Ewen (Sugababes)

Jade is probably most well known for replacing Keisha in the Sugababes in 2009. However, earlier that year she represented the UK at the Eurovision song contest with a song called "It's My Time" penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jade had a single out the week she joined the Sugababes called "My Man." However, we have always loved the epic b-side "Punching Out" just a bit more. She released 3 singles with the Sugababes: "About A Girl", "Wear My Kiss", and "Freedom." What's next for Jade? Since that lineup of the Sugababes called it quits in 2011, Jade has been doing various musicals in London. She is currently getting rave reviews as her portrayal as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. We'd love for her to return to releasing music. One of the things we love most about Jade is her infectious smile. Follow Jade on Twitter here. There are a couple of songs by Jade on US iTunes. I think the rest of her music, and her music with the Sugababes might be only available digitally in Europe.

There you have it! Ten strong black women who you should support by buying and/or streaming their music. They have all made a difference in my life, and I am so grateful to each and every one of them for it.

Download and/or stream their music today!

Cheers then,

—Davearama

P.S. You can also like Poptastic Confessions Facebook page, and follow Davearama on Twitter.

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