PART III ALL THAT GLITTERS-FIRECRACKER

PART III
ALL THAT GLITTERS
FIRECRACKER
“He knows we just did this shit with Mariah?… and he’s trying to fuck with Mariah.”
—Irv Gotti
The saga¹ of making Glitter was a collision of bad luck, bad timing², and sabotage³.
The soundtrack and film began as All That Glitters, and though I first began to work onthe project in 1997, we had to put it on hold for several years so I could fulfill⁴ morepressing obligations to Columbia. While I had significant creative control over thesoundtrack, I had virtually none when it came to the film. The initial concepts I developedfor the story were almost entirely⁵ rewritten. I started working on the script with my actingcoach and Kate Lanier, who had written What’s Love Got to Do with It. She’s such atalented and gifted writer, and I really trusted her. But every day we kept getting more andmore studio notes.
Tommy could not give up control, especially now that I was doing what I had alwaysdreamed of and he had always feared: acting⁶. Glitter was being produced by ColumbiaPictures, which was owned by Sony, which connected it to Tommy. The chair ofColumbia Pictures at the time referred to him while we worked as “the white elephant inthe room”—that silent, invisible force we could not discuss. Anything that might havepushed the envelope, that would have made it an R-rated or even PG-13–rated movie, wasswiftly vetoed. Nothing could be too real, too edgy⁷, too sexy, or too down-to-earth. Therewas a much grittier script to be had (come on, it took place in the eighties!), but we endedup with something very bubblegum.
As a result of continual back-and-forth and Tommy’s stifling⁸ control, we had scriptchanges every day. No one knew what was happening from moment to moment. Inaddition to a vastly different script, I had also wanted Terrence Howard in the lead (Ienvisioned him in this kind of role before Hustle⁹ and Flow, mind you). But the powersthat be were dismissive of the idea of a romance between Terrence and me. I suspected itwas because he looks Blacker than me (though he is also mixed!) and they didn’tunderstand how that was going to work, if you catch my drift. So that was disappointing.
No shade to Max Beesley, who was great.
In addition to a lack of creative control, I felt my acting was really inhibited¹⁰ for manyreasons by the acting coach, who by this time I believe had become too invested in mycareer. I don’t want to slay¹¹ her, but she prevented me from doing my best by projectingher own personal shit onto the movie. I’ve heard this often happens in collaborations; itgot very Marilyn and Paula Strasberg–ish. With all due respect, it became an ego¹² fest (I’msure she would agree with me now). What was important to me was that the extras andother people on set—from actors to crew—knew that I was serious, ready to learn, andready to work just as hard as them. Though the whole process wasn’t great, I did feel Igave some good performances (which would have been more evident with different edits).
I wasn’t upset because it was such a new medium for me, but I think at every turn therewere missteps.
But there was light at the end of this glittered tunnel. Frank Sinatra once said DaniJanssen was one of Hollywood’s “original broads,” and I love a good broad, especiallyone who knows how to throw a good party. Dani Diamonds’s (as she was famouslycalled) Oscar parties are legendary—and I do not throw the L word around haphazardly¹³.
Most guests either have to have an Oscar or have been nominated for one in order to beinvited. Her regulars are all legends—Sidney Poitier, John Travolta, Quincy Jones, Oprah,Babs (Barbra Streisand), and on and on. And each year a hot new crop of fresh Oscarwinners mingle¹⁴ with icons¹⁵ amid her massive collection of white orchids¹⁶. One year, I wasfortunate enough to receive a surprising and very special invitation (naturally, Dani and Ihit it off famously). One of the hottest leading men at the time, a two-time AcademyAward winner (Dani’s code of no “networking” or name-dropping is taken very seriously,so he shall remain anonymous), came up to me and said about my work in Glitter, “I knowpeople give you shit about it. I’ve been there. You were really hitting some things thatwere very genuine, and I think you should stick with that. Don’t let them make you feellike you can’t go there anymore.” He made me feel so much better because of theimmense respect I have for him as an actor. And it was a good thing I didn’t give up—because a few years later something truly “precious” would come my way.
Much of what went wrong with Glitter led back to Tommy. He was angry about thedivorce and my departure from Sony, and he used all his power and connections to punishme. And everybody else around me knew it was happening, including my new label.
Tommy and his cronies went as far as taking promotional items, like my stand- upadvertisements, out of the record stores. It was a real fight. He didn’t want it to look like Icould succeed on my own, without him, so he even interfered¹⁷ with the Glitter soundtrack.
I worked on it for a long time with people like Eric Benét and Brat¹⁸, who were both in themovie. Terry Lewis was able to get us the original music for “I Didn’t Mean to Turn YouOn,” since he and Jimmy Jam produced it, of course! And having Rick James (whorequired a white suit, a white limo, and perhaps some other white accouterments for hissession) on “All My Life” was priceless.
The whole experience felt like a dream. And in many ways, it was exactly what I haddreamed of for so many years. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying Glitter was Cat on aHot Tin Roof or something, but I don’t think it deserved what it got. I think it could havebeen good had it been allowed to be executed as originally conceived, but by the end, itwas such a fight just to have it happen at all. But as always, I kept the faith. I told myself,Everything’s going to work out. I went to that place of hope. This is hard right now, I toldmyself, it’s a struggle, but I’ll make it through, no matter what. And I was stronger thanever on the other side. And though darkness followed, it was in that darkness that I learnedto build my own light.
Tommy was furious when I cut the strings¹⁹ he used to manipulate me. There was no wayhe would allow me to have a huge success after leaving him and Sony. He was not goingto let me or Glitter shine; rather, he was intent on stamping us out. He wouldn’t have beensatisfied unless I absolutely failed. He used to always say, “You do what you do, and thenI do my magic.” He would have me destroyed before I exposed that he was no magician.
If the Glitter soundtrack had been a monster hit, he would have had to face the fact that hewas not omnipotent²⁰, he was not indispensable, he did not single-handedly make MariahCarey. To add to his fury, he knew I’d just negotiated the largest cash record deal to date(and my family knew, too, but more on that later). And on top of it, I was making a movie,something he forbade when we were together, and that meant my career was expanding,which made him feel like he was shrinking. He had already been publicly humiliated²¹ whenI left him, but for me to be successful without him too? That was too much for his fragileego to withstand. What would it mean for his whole empire to be based on intimidation²²?
What would it mean to other artists if I made it without him? I fully²³ believed he wascommitted to me not having a life he didn’t control. That he wouldn’t be happy until I wasburied in the ground.
I escaped a man and marriage that nearly smothered²⁴ me to death. I was one of severalartists who called Tommy and his flunkies out for working against the best interest of thecompany because of petty personal vendettas²⁵.
Meanwhile over at the new label, all hell was breaking loose because “Loverboy,” thefirst single off the Glitter soundtrack, was only at number two on the charts, not numberone. I didn’t understand the panic around a number two single on a soundtrack for a filmthat wasn’t even released yet. But suffice it to say, on the heels of filming Glitter, my lifeand work were once again under tremendous scrutiny²⁶ and pressure.
And then there was the sabotage. I had written the lyrics²⁷ to “Loverboy”; the melodywas tight, and it had an infectious groove²⁸. Super producer Clark Kent and I had chosen“Firecracker,” by Yellow Magic Orchestra, as the sample, and the few insiders working onthe film’s production were really loving it. That did not go unnoticed by Sony executives(and spies). I had chosen the song and paid to have it used in the movie. After hearing mynew song, using the same sample I used, Sony rushed to make a single for another femaleentertainer on their label (whom I don’t know). They used the “Firecracker” sample andreleased it before “Loverboy.” Ja Rule and I wrote a song together too, and next thing youknow, Tommy was calling up his manager Irv Gotti, asking him and Ja to collaborate²⁹ on aduet for the same female entertainer’s record—leaving me to scurry³⁰ and remake the song.
Irv has even discussed it since, in an interview on Desus & Mero: “He knows we just didthis shit with Mariah?… and he’s trying to fuck with Mariah.” This was sabotage, plainand simple.
Look, I was well trained in the art of turning shit situations into fertilizer, but Tommyknew fucking with my artistic³¹ choices was particularly low. But I wouldn’t let him stopme. I switched gears and turned from the techno influence to a funkier³² sample from“Candy,” by Cameo (you can’t go wrong with Cameo), and Clark Kent produced it again.
After we were both robbed, he saved the day with a banging track (using some remnantsfrom “Firecracker,” which is my favorite part of the song). Da Brat pretty much said it allin her blistering³³ and very real rap on the remix to “Loverboy.”
Hate on me as much as you want to
You can’t do what the fuck I do
Bitches be emulating³⁴ me daily
Hate on me as much as you want to
You can’t be who the fuck I be
Bitches be imitating me baby
—“Loverboy (Remix)”
We even featured Larry Blackmon (in cornrows) in a poppy sexy-kitschy video shotby my good friend, the fabulous³⁵ David LaChapelle. And we had a good time despite it all.
But the good times were about to turn real bad.

1 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

2 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

3 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 edgy   

adj.不安的；易怒的

参考例句：

• She's been a bit edgy lately,waiting for the exam results.她正在等待考试结果，所以最近有些焦躁不安。
• He was nervous and edgy, still chain-smoking.他紧张不安，还在一根接一根地抽着烟。

8 stifling   

a.令人窒息的

参考例句：

• The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热，光景是要下雨。
• We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里，简直透不过气来。

9 hustle   

v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌)

参考例句：

• It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
• I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。

10 inhibited   

a.拘谨的，拘束的

参考例句：

• Boys are often more inhibited than girls about discussing their problems. 男孩子往往不如女孩子敢于谈论自己的问题。
• Having been laughed at for his lameness,the boy became shy and inhibited. 那男孩因跛脚被人讥笑，变得羞怯而压抑。

11 slay   

v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮

参考例句：

• He intended to slay his father's murderer.他意图杀死杀父仇人。
• She has ordered me to slay you.她命令我把你杀了。

12 ego   

n.自我，自己，自尊

参考例句：

• He is absolute ego in all thing.在所有的事情上他都绝对自我。
• She has been on an ego trip since she sang on television.她上电视台唱过歌之后就一直自吹自擂。

13 haphazardly   

adv.偶然地，随意地，杂乱地

参考例句：

• The books were placed haphazardly on the shelf. 书籍乱七八糟地堆放在书架上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is foolish to haphazardly adventure. 随便冒险是愚蠢的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

14 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

15 icons   

n.偶像( icon的名词复数 )；（计算机屏幕上表示命令、程序的）符号，图像

参考例句：

• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons. 用图标来区分重要的文本项。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Daemonic icons should only be employed persistently if they provide continuous, useful status information. 只有会连续地提供有用状态信息的情况下，后台应用程序才应该一直使用图标。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

16 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 brat   

n.孩子；顽童

参考例句：

• He's a spoilt brat.他是一个被宠坏了的调皮孩子。
• The brat sicked his dog on the passer-by.那个顽童纵狗去咬过路人。

19 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

20 omnipotent   

adj.全能的，万能的

参考例句：

• When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of science.我们达到万能以后就不需要科学了。
• Money is not omnipotent,but we can't survive without money.金钱不是万能的，但是没有金钱我们却无法生存。

21 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

22 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

23 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

24 smothered   

（使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制

参考例句：

• He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
• The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。

25 vendettas   

n.家族世仇( vendetta的名词复数 )；族间仇杀；长期争斗；积怨

参考例句：

• I'm not getting involved in your personal vendettas. 我没有牵扯到你们的私人恩怨里。 来自互联网

26 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

27 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

28 groove   

n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯

参考例句：

• They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
• The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。

29 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

30 scurry   

vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马

参考例句：

• I jumped on the sofa after I saw a mouse scurry by.看到一只老鼠匆匆路过,我从沙发上跳了起来。
• There was a great scurry for bargains.大家急忙着去抢购特价品。

31 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

32 funkier   

adj.时髦的( funky的比较级 )；有臭味的；节奏强适宜跳舞的；激起情感的

参考例句：

33 blistering   

adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡

参考例句：

• The runners set off at a blistering pace. 赛跑运动员如脱缰野马般起跑了。
• This failure is known as preferential wetting and is responsible for blistering. 这种故障称为优先吸湿，是产生气泡的原因。 来自辞典例句

34 emulating   

v.与…竞争( emulate的现在分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿

参考例句：

• The possibilities of producing something entirely new by emulating nature's very wide crosses are enticing. 用自然界的非常广泛的杂交方法创造出全新植物种的可能性是诱人的。 来自辞典例句
• The human emulating this archetypal patterning will be quite the accomplished businessperson. 这类原型模式者会是一个很成功的商人。 来自互联网

35 fabulous   

adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的

参考例句：

• We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
• This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。