Somebody’s on top of the world aren’t they?

Scandal star Kerry Washington is covering the newest issue of Parade magazine, and inside she opened up about her very busy schedule (since she’s a very in-demand A-list actress these days), Scandal‘s off-the-wall storylines, if she’s asked President Obama what he thinks about the show, and the emotional toll working on Django Unchained had on her. Let’s see what she had to say:

Speaking on the scandalous storyline of ABC’s hottest show, and the reality that cheating presidents (and their mistresses) have been around forever:

“The story lines…push what’s possible. But there are stories on the news that change what we think is possible all the time. You hear about a governor who’s disappeared into the Appalachian trail because he has a South American lover, or somebody else’s behavior on Twitter. I mean, if you want to look at presidents having affairs—there are about four I can think of off the top of my head.”

On how draining it was to work on Django and how hard it was to get back to normal after the fact:

“I feel like I barely survived Django emotionally. The violence. Hearing the N-word every day. It cost me a lot psychologically, but it was worth it to tell that story. I had two days between finishing Django and starting up again on Scandal. It was nuts. That first day back I had to walk across the Rose Garden in heels. I thought, ‘I don’t remember how to walk like Olivia Pope anymore. ‘ I’d been barefoot in the woods for months playing a slave.”

On whether or not she knows if the president likes Scandal:

“I haven’t wanted to ask the president his opinion of the show. But I have lots of friends in the administration who love it. We make D.C. look s**y and exciting.”

Love her! Check out more from her interview over at Parade and let us know what you think of what she had to say.

Rev. Al was one of the distinguished guests at this year’s African American Day Parade. Image via Twitter

It bills itself as the “Largest Black Parade in America.” Missed it? Well, it just took place in Harlem on September 16th.

The African American Day Parade actually celebrated its 43rd year with an estimated million people lining Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. The parade was launched in 1968, according to its website to “provide an opportunity for African people to join together on a Special Day to highlight our history and salute African people throughout America and the world for their outstanding achievements. The parade promotes unity, dignity and pride.”

The turnout this year was more than expected, say the organizers, who go as far as to say that it was in fact the largest in all of the parade’s 43 years. Perhaps it was this year’s NYC elite–Governor David Paterson, former Mayor David Dinkins, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the New York State Board of Regents Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Rep. Charles Rangel, mayoral candidate William Thompson and Lillian Roberts, executive director of DC37—who attracted the attention.

Despite that reported turnout, media coverage of the parade is scant. Furthermore, we were in touch with parade organizers and didn’t get through. After reaching the Harlem Chamber of Commerce for additional info, they only gave us a “no comment.”

Whatever the case, parades are usually big business for a community. Although, the numbers for the African American Day Parade haven’t been released, generally they rake in millions for the vendors and other businesses in the community. The recent West Indian Day Parade was estimated to geneate at least $86 million for the city.

Besides the long list of big names (Doug E. Fresh!), bands and organizations from 12 states attended. And on the Barack Obama website, it encouraged supporters to go to the parade to drive votes.

Source: individualism.co.uk

No matter what you’re doing today, make sure you take time out to stop and play some Prince. The Purple One, born Prince Rogers Nelson, turns 54 today, and doesn’t look a day over 40! The multi-talented musician has been ahead of his time since the ’70s, when he dropped his debut album, For You, and slowly but surely started to change both the R&B and rock game (don’t forget about funk!). So on this day of celebration, we thought we’d find a way to pick six of our favorite songs by a man with a catalog of jams so extensive and amazing. Feel free to let us know your own favorites in the comment section. And if you’re wondering why I picked six…well, I couldn’t pick JUST five and seven would have been doing the most…I know, it doesn’t make sense.

Enjoy!

*Sidenote: I would have added all the videos, but Prince isn’t a fan of his stuff being accessible via the “Intanetz.” So attached are links to the songs.

I Wanna Be Your Lover

The minute this song drops, who doesn’t stop and start nodding their head really hard? The keyboards, the guitar action, and Prince singing like he got kicked in the gonads–it’s a classic! It’s also one of his biggest R&B hits and a jam that definitely makes you want to head to the dance floor for a bit. And the video, with his hair looking very laid and his clothing at a minimum, is a must-see as well. Good look finding it though, you know he doesn’t mess with YouTube…

When Doves Cry

“How could you just leave me standing…alone in a world so cold?” Many people have tried to cover this track (Hey, Ginuwine), but nobody has done it like this fella. A stellar track from the legendary Purple Rain soundtrack, the nearly six-minute song is guaranteed to make you dance, and possibly shout (especially around the breakdown). And who wasn’t either lusting or laughing at Prince when he was in the bathtub and then crawling butt naked towards the camera? Such an intriguing character he is.

Adore

There are few slow love songs out there that touch me to the point that I feel the need to play it nonstop, but “Adore” gets that reaction from moi. With deep lyrics and messages like, “If God one day struck me blind, your beauty I’d still see…” and the way the song gradually grows through the beautiful crescendo makes it one of those jams that inadvertently takes you to church with each listen. It’s so moving, that while performing the song during a tribute to Prince at the BET Awards, a very pregnant Alicia Keys felt so inclined to climb on top of her piano and jam. Can you blame her though?

Kiss

A song from the highly underrated Parade album (which was the soundtrack for his panned film, Under the Cherry Moon), “Kiss” is a showcase of the power of some sick acoustics. The track is very minimalist when you compare it to other Prince songs, but maybe it’s his attempts to sing falsetto and the smart, snarky lyrics (“Act your age mama, not your shoe size…”) that make it a must-listen. Plus, the minute it plays at a party, or even on the radio, folks lose their ever-loving mind. What do I think when I hear the song? As Prince would say during the bridge, “I think I wanna dance!”

If I Was Your Girlfriend

What you know about this one? Definitely an alluring and seductive track, “If I Was Your Girlfriend” is supposed to be a song about the tight bond and relationship between a woman and her best friend, and a man’s quest to be that oh-so-close to his lady. The “lady” singing the track is of course Prince with his vocals altered to sound like his female alter ego, Camille, and the track as a whole appeared on the critically-acclaimed album, Sign ‘o’ The Times. This is one of those dance-around-in-your-lingerie jams, or better yet, sit-on-your-couch-and-eat-Cheetos bangers too...

Purple Rain

But of course. When Prince did this track during the Super Bowl halftime show a few years back, I was pretty sure I was going to cry, but instead, I just threw my cell phone light up in the air in my room and reveled in the awesome-ness of it all (Until the Chicago Bears lost the game, then I was sad.). Some of Prince’s biggest and best hits were with the Revolution, and this one for the movie of the same name is as big as it gets. I mean, the guitar solo, the strings, the lyrics–it’s just all too epic. But then again, so is Prince.

Which jams would you add to the list?

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