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" I’ve had a wonderful amount of success and done a lot at 22, but there’s a lot more I want to do. "

" What's good in having money and being famous if you can't share it with others less fortunate than yourself? "

" I would like to make a bigger impact on the world by giving back, and using my celebrity to raise money for people who need it most. "

" I don't mess around when it comes to my work – it's important. That's when I will definitely put someone in their place. "

“ If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don’t think it’s going to be easy. It’s hard! ”

" Being in this business, I accept that there are positives and negatives but having a strong family base and a belief in God enables me to weather the storms. ”

“ It’s hard to say what I want my legacy to be when I’m long gone. ”

“ That’s why I work every day. Ev-er-y day. I want to knock people out. ”

“ There is always a bit of pressure to do a good album – to do good work, period. ”

“ I’m a total performer. ”

“ People are gonna look up to me because I’m young, black, and female. ”

" I want longevity. I don't want to get out there and run myself ragged and spread myself thin. "

" I think it's important to take a break, you know, from the public eye for a while, and give people a chance to miss you. "

" I see myself as sexy. If you are comfortable with it, it can be very classy and appealing. "

" I began to work the stage and get the audience into it. I also learned how to have fun out there. It is something I will never forget."

" There are certain things I want to keep to me. I don’t discuss my private life. "

" When a fan comes up to you and says I love your music, there’s nothing better than that."

" You have to love what you do to want to do it everyday. "

" I’m the interpreter. I’m the one who takes your words and brings them to life. I was trained to sing and dance and laugh, and that’s what I want to do. "

" I don’t think about my previous success. I’m happy that the work I’ve done has been very successful. "

" It’s in how you carry yourself. I’ve always been a very mature person, and I’ve always known what I wanted. And I go after it no matter what. "

" I want people to remember me as a full on entertainer and a good person. "

" All I can do is leave it in God’s hands and hope that my fans feel where I’m coming from. "

" I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original."

" I’m a survivor and I can handle anything. I’m very confident about that. "

" I don't want to abandon one work for the other, and I don't think I need to sacrifice anything to put my all into either one of them."

Aaliyah: Live In Amsterdam Film Documentary Viewing In Birmingham UK By Pogus Caesar

By Sandy

Monday, June 6, 2022 - 22:40

Repost via Pogus Caesar: A one-off exclusive event not to be missed, celebrating an evening of films produced in Birmingham! 'Tower of Dreams' an intimate documentary that develops into a love story dedicated to The Tower Ballroom in Birmingham. The event is hosted by Professor Roger Shannon. Venue: Lecture Theatre, Birmingham City University, Parkside Building, Cardigan Street, B4 7RJ Date: 14 June 2022 Time: 5pm - 7pm Admission: Producer/Director: Pogus Caesar for Windrush Productions Executive Producer: Iris Bertz Running Time: 40 mins There is also a rare opportunity to experience 'Aaliyah Live in Amsterdam' which was filmed in 1995. As the documentary unfolds, it provides fans with a unique insight into the 'Princess of R&B.' Aaliyah died in 2001, she was only 22 years old. Date: 14 June 2022 Time: 5pm - 7pm Admission: Free Producer/Director: Pogus Caesar for Windrush Productions Running Time: 51 mins

What a pleasant surprise for UK based fans! A while ago back in 2010, Pogus Caesar premiered Aaliyah: Live In Amsterdam at the Midlands Art Centre (MAC). We are happy to let every Aaliyah fan out there know that we will be attending this event, so any UK fans out there be sure to spread the word to others! We are absolutely ecsatic and cannot wait to witness never before seen, rare footage.

Below is a quote from renowned British photographer, conceptual artist, archivist, author, curator, television producer and director Pogus Caesar

“I was alerted to the fact that she was this young singer and child prodigy, So I flew out to Amsterdam to try to catch that leg of her tour. What struck me then was how lucid she was for someone so young, talking about people like Barbara Streisand in terms of both acting and singing. After we met, Aaliyah’s career really went upwards. You connect with people at the time because you know they have something at the time but you don’t really know what it is. Had she lived, to get the kind of access today that I had then would be impossible. She would have gone into The Matrix film and could have been doing something like headlining Glastonbury this year. Instead of Aaliyah, it was Beyonce performing who is just one of many girl singers who have followed in her wake. Every time I look at them, I see Aaliyah’s influence."

Synopsis

Aaliyah Live In Amsterdam was filmed in 1995, Windrush Productions gained exclusive access to the Amsterdam leg of R&B superstar Aaliyah's European tour. As well as capturing rare live footage of the concert, Aaliyah and her Father agreed to be interviewed, in a series of intimate conversations, they speak openly about her musical influences, achievements hopes and dreams.

Performing at Amsterdam's 'Escape Club' a 16 year old Aaliyah's professionalism shines bright as she confidently handles a stream of classic songs including Street Thing, Back & Forth, and Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. It is estimated that she has sold between 24 and 32 million albums worldwide, accolades include five Grammy nominations, three American Music Awards and two MTV VMAs. Aaliyah also had successful career in Hollywood, starring in films Queen of the Dammed, Romeo Must Die, and had shot scenes for The Matrix Reloaded. As the documentary unfolds it provides fans with a unique insight into the Princess of R&B and asks us to consider how much she would have achieved had her life not been tragically cut short.

Aaliyah Live in Amsterdam is a rare opportunity to witness a star in their ascendancy and pays homage to a multi talented singer and actress on the verge of superstardom, she died in 2001 aged just 22.

Producer/Director: Pogus Caesar

Production Company: Windrush Productions

Genre: Music Documentary

Release Date: 2015

Running Time: 51 min