Dance Class

"I said my lip gloss is cool, my lip gloss be poppin',

I'm standin' at my locker and all the boys keep stoppin'.

What cha know 'bout me? What cha, what cha know 'bout me?

What cha know 'bout me? What cha, what cha know 'bout me?

I said my lip gloss is poppin', my lip gloss is cool,

All the boys keep jockin', they chase me after school."

There is much wisdom in this refrain. In the subtle nuances, the pauses, the poetic devices that comprise 'Lip Gloss' by Li'l Mama we find an utterly essential social message -- you can measure your social and individual worth not only by the quality and visibility of your lip gloss, but also by the amount of high school male attention it brings your way. I can't wait to have a daughter.

But why, after a brief respite from the posting world would I make my reentrance with this jam? Is it because of the nostalgia I feel whenever I hear the beat start, taking me back to a hotel in Bangkok with my summer traveling duo of Freddy and Ballz where I first heard the dulcet tones of Li'l Mama? No, it's because I'm watching 'The Making of the Knicks City Dancers' on the MSG network, and the tryout dance performance is set to this tune. This show is completely unbelievable, with hundreds of girls competing to make the 2007-2008 squad, judged by the experienced, grizzled, veteran members not subject to the tryout. As Amanda from Rutgers just reminded us all: "This is not cheerleading. This is competitive dance." And to top it off, there's a special guest celebrity judge for the final event....Li'l Mama!!!

I think today is going to be a good day.