JohnnyHoang: August 2025

Alexis Bledel

Alexis Bledel is an American actress.

Beyonce was born in Houston in 1981, as were Alexis Bledel and Serena Varghese.

Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew (1920's-2010's) is Singapore's first ever Prime Minister, doubling as one of its founding fathers in the modern age.

With LKY at the helm, Singapore had transformed from a backwater into a global destination.

Under LKY, Singapore maintained friendly relations with Western countries, being Westernized on the surface while adopting core Asian values.

After LKY, Singapore became more Western (or cosmopolitan), simply maintaining an Asian front.

In the past, Singapore was influenced by Anglo-Saxon culture and mentality.

With English being chosen as Singapore's de-facto lingua franca, mainstream Singaporeans also select English as an entertainment language.

Plus, under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore became one of the Asian answers to Switzerland.

Ray Charles, James Brown and Stevie Wonder

Ray Charles (b. 1930), James Brown (b. 1933) and Stevie Wonder (b. 1950) are some of the notable pioneers and innovators in the rhythm & blues and soul genres.

Together, both Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder are blind music icons who use glasses, yet they are still influential in music.

Likewise, both Ray Charles and James Brown are associated with Georgia.

For Ray Charles, he is a pioneer in mixing gospel, blues and jazz to create what became known as soul music; he also bridges the gap between gospel and secular music.

James Brown is an innovator in funk music; his unique style emphasizes the downbeat and syncopated rhythms.

Stevie Wonder is also a pioneer in using synths and other electric instruments in rhythm & blues.

Plus, the influences of Ray Charles, James Brown and Stevie Wonder on both Western pop culture and Western music is undeniable, their legacy extends across fashion, dance, stage and youth trends.

Aretha Franklin (1942-2010's) is also a pop culture icon, like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, along with Ray Charles, James Brown and Stevie Wonder.

Having been one of the most famous singers of the 20th century and beyond, Aretha Franklin is also a trailblazing music icon in both the 20th and the 21st centuries.

With her soulful mezzo-soprano singing voice, her four-octave vocal range and her iconic hits, Aretha Franklin, known as "The Queen of Soul," has had a profound impact on Western pop culture.

In fact, Aretha Franklin's singing voice is raw, soulful, powerful and emotional.

Ella Fitzgerald, who is a supporter of (and has a friendship with) Marilyn Monroe, is also one of Aretha Franklin's major influences.

Together, both Marilyn Monroe and Aretha Franklin died in August.

Coincidentally, both Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin have connections to Memphis and died on the sixteenth of August, but are also integral to American pop culture.

Plus, both Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin are among the greatest voices in modern music history.

Sam Cooke (1930's-1960's) and Bo Diddley (1920's-2008) are likewise early rhythm & blues and soul music contributors, as Ray Charles, James Brown and Stevie Wonder are pioneers and innovators.

Kashif (1950's-2010's) is an innovator in integrating synths and MIDI technology into rhythm & blues music, alongsude Stevie Wonder.

Whitney Houston (1960's-2010's), Mariah Carey (b. 1969) and Celine Dion (b. 1960's) are similar pop culture icons to Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder serve as major influences on both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Some Whitney Houston trademarks are her beautiful smile and her soulful mezzo-soprano vocals.

Through her powerful and soulful singing voice, her charisma and charm, Whitney Houston impresses many people across the world, especially America.

Oversinging is a trend aimed at soulful, emotive vocals dominating the music they are performed in.

Riffs, runs, melisma and belting are some vocal styles most frequently associated with the oversinging trend, all popularized by Whitney Houston.

In addition, Whitney Houston popularized the big voice, little woman trend, also being used by Aretha Franklin.

The Voice is one of Whitney Houston's nicknames, along with Nippy and The Prom Queen of Soul.

Known as the "Songbird Supreme," Mariah Carey impresses many people across the world, especially America, with her melismatic singing style and her use of the whistle register.

Lambs are Mariah Carey's dedicated fanbase.

Marilyn Monroe is one of Mariah Carey's most enduring idols.

Both Marilyn Monroe and Mariah Carey share the letters M, A, R and I as the first letters of their given names, plus R as the third-last letter of their surnames.

Furthermore, both Marilyn Monroe and Mariah Carey have moles/beauty marks on their faces.

Huntington, based in New York's Long Island portion, is where Mariah Carey was born.

Still on Long Island, Tobay Beach and Amagansett are some of the places for the notable photoshoots being conducted by Mariah Carey's idol Marilyn Monroe.

Mariah Carey's daughter is also named after her idol Marilyn Monroe.

Both Marilyn Monroe and Mariah Carey are blonde girls whose natural hair colour is brown, but also endure different careers, the earlier mainly being an actress, the latter mainly being a singer.

Pop, rhythm & blues and soul are genres belonging to Mariah Carey, music indirectly being rooted in African-American genres, like jazz and swing, both being Marilyn Monroe's music genres.

Ella Fitzgerald is a key inspiration for Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the latter whose idols include Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin

For years, both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have left their mark on pop culture in the Western world and beyond, inspiring countless artists and shaping music and other pop culture forms.

Plus, the influences involving the likes of both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on pop culture are undeniable, like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Riffs, runs and melisma are soulful singing trends for both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

By distancing herself from Whitney Houston's ballad style, Mariah Carey uses a sound with runs and vocal acrobatics infused by gospel, incorporating youthful and upbeat elements into her music.

Celine Dion is, unlike both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, a Canadian.

Plus, Celine Dion uses the same vocal techniques that both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have utilized.

The Vocal Trinity is a term to describe the three iconic, influential and soulful female singers: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

Each Vocal Trinity singer has powerful vocals, known for their range, control and emotive delivery.

Furthermore, rhythm & blues and soul are in the Vocal Trinity, rooted in the earlier African-American music genres, including jazz and swing, both being Marilyn Monroe's favourite music genres.

Both Kyla and Jay R are pioneering icons of the Filipino rhythm & blues music scene; in fact, they are well-known as Rhythm & Blues Royalities.

Angela Via (b. 1981) is a singer in the rhythm & blues and soul genres, yet is unknown.

With a soulful singing voice being characterized by riffs, runs and melisma, Angela Via has been often influenced by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (Vocal Trinity).

In essence, Marilyn Monroe is a key idol for Mariah Carey, who, in turn, is a key idol for Angela Via.

Raymondville, located in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, is where Angela Via was born.

Having Mexican, Spanish, Native American and European ancestries, Angela Via is a Latina girl.

Both Mariah Carey and Angela Via have similarities.

For one reason, both Mariah Carey and Angela Via have soulful singing voices being characterized by riffs, runs and melisma; they were also born in a year of the Rooster.

Jane Zhang (b. 1984) is a Chinese-language singer in the rhythm & blues and soul genres.

Having been China's answer to Mariah Carey, Jane Zhang uses her soulful riffs, runs, melisma and the whistle register, the latter earning her the nickname Dolphin Princess.

Both Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe are idols for Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the latter being a major idol for Chinese rhythm & blues/soul singer Jane Zhang.

The iconic and world-famous breathy and cooing voice of Marilyn Monroe is a tactic that she used to overcome a childhood stutter; in fact, her voice is a gentle breeze.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe famously poses on a bed covered in white bedsheets.

During an interview with Life magazine, Marilyn Monroe made a famous declaration that she wears Chanel No. 5 to bed, boosting the perfume's iconic status.

Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire are three of Marilyn Monroe's breakout movies, all released in 1953.

The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot are Marilyn Monroe's films directed by Billy Wilder.

George Axelrod, who wrote The Seven Year Itch's original 1950's play iteration, also co-wrote its film version with Billy Wilder, in which Marilyn Monroe plays an unnamed actress and former model.

Marilyn Monroe wears a white dress being used in the best-known scene of The Seven Year Itch.

In the most well-known scene of The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe's white dress is blown up by a subway grate wind in New York, revealing her legs and under garments.

Known as a pop culture moment, the flying dress scene being featured in The Seven Year Itch is often associated with Marilyn Monroe's image as well.

Ever since her 1962 death, Marilyn Monroe's iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch, where it's blown up by a subway grate, has been depicted, represented and imitated in many aspects.

For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe performs Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.

Marilyn Monroe dons a pink dress, which is used during her iconic Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend number from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Likewise, ever since her death, Marilyn Monroe's pink dress, which is utilized during Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, has been depicted, represented and imitated.

William Travilla created two of Marilyn Monroe's most famous outfits: the white dress being used in The Seven Year Itch and the pink dress being used in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

How to Marry a Millionaire, starring Marilyn Monroe, is the first film shot in CinemaScope, also the second one to be released overall.

Directed by Henry Hathaway, Niagara is one of the dramatic films for Marilyn Monroe.

Rose Loomis is the character which Marilyn Monroe plays in Niagara.

Sugar Kane Kowalczyk is the character which Marilyn Monroe plays in Some Like It Hot.

Marilyn Monroe sings four songs in Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot film: I Wanna Be Loved by You, Runnin' Wild, I'm Thru with Love and the title track.

Plus, for Some Like It Hot, Marilyn Monroe sported a mole on her left cheek, not her upper lip.

Something's Got to Give features a nude Marilyn Monroe in a swimming pool, which is an iconic and famous scene being imitated, represented and depicted.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe's Something's Got to Give scene, where she swims nude, is unconventional.

Rebel Without a Cause is the most famous of all three films starring James Dean.

Directed by Nicholas Ray, Rebel Without a Cause is a highly-influential film for teenagers and young adults, with James Dean as Jim Stark.

For Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean dons a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red leather jacket.

Moss Mabry designs James Dean's world-famous outfit: the one which consists of a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red leather jacket, being used for Rebel Without a Cause.

Gone with the Wind is also one of the greatest and most successful films ever, starring Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.

Zomba's 2002 sale to BMG put musicians like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys under the BMG banner.

Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad are Michael Jackson's Epic albums that achieve critical and commercial successes and earn legendary status, all co-produced by Quincy Jones.

The first of three albums being released for Michael Jackson by CBS' Epic Records label, Off the Wall established him as a pop star, also marking a transition from a child icon to a mature solo artist.

Plus, Off the Wall is a significant departure from Michael Jackson's former work for Motown, but also represents a major breakthrough for him.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is Michael Jackson's first solo tune where he had full creative control.

For his second album released by Epic Records, Thriller significantly cemented Michael Jackson's pop culture status, largely due to the innovative music videos accompanying this album.

Billie Jean, Beat It and Human Nature, aside from the title track, are some tunes for Michael Jackson's Thriller album.

The music video for Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, directed by Steve Barron, is the first ever by a black artist to earn heavy rotation on MTV.

Due to the huge success and popularity of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video (plus many others from his Thriller album), MTV's initial focus on white artists was broken down.

At the same time, the music video for Michael Jackson's Beat It, directed by Bob Giraldi and filmed in Los Angeles, established the pop star as an international icon.

Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, directed by famous film director John Landis, sealed MTV's position as a major cultural force and revolutionized music video production.

Praised for its innovative production, its stunning choreography and its cinematic approach, Michael Jackson's Thriller music video inspired countless artists and directors to emulate its style.

Taking responsibility for the choreography in Michael Jackson's innovative and groundbreaking music videos Beat It and Thriller was Michael Peters.

Bad, which is Michael Jackson's third Epic album, represents a shift towards a more mature and edgy image, departing from his boyish persona.

Lucky Star is Madonna's first top five hit; its music video features her fashion/style, which became the trend among the young generation of the time.

The music video for Madonna's Matertial Girl pays tribute to Marilyn Monroe's Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend performance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, earning heavy rotation on MTV.

You Give Good Love is the first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston's iteration of Saving All My Love for You is her first ever number one hit on the Hot 100 chart, but also her worldwide breakthrough.

How Will I Know is Whitney Houston's first upbeat tune.

The music video for How Will I Know serves as Whitney Houston's first to receive heavy rotation on MTV, which gave her exposure to teenagers and made her the first black woman to do so.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) is a shift for Whitney Houston by reaching a wider audience with a more pop-oriented music sound after hits with ballads on her debut album.

George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden are the masterminds behind Whitney Houston's upbeat tunes: How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

The soulful rendition of the Dolly Parton song I Will Always Love You serves as Whitney Houston's signature tune, but also a cultural phenomenon.

Vision of Love is Mariah Carey's debut single, but also popularized riffs, runs, melisma and the whistle register in mainstream pop music.

Mariah Carey's Vision of Love tune is also the blueprint for future female singers using her techniques.

During the climax of her own Vision of Love tune, Mariah Carey uses her whistle register, which she popularized; the inspiration for Mariah Carey's whistle register is Minnie Riperton.

Someday is Mariah Carey's first upbeat tune.

Emotions is Mariah Carey's sophomore album, which, besides its title track, features others like Can't Let Go, Make It Happen, etc.

For the title track of her second album, Emotions features Mariah Carey's upper range and her whistle register.

Unconfined to Mariah Carey's whistle register, Emotions also has disco, rhythm & blues and gospel.

Music Box features such songs as Dreamlover, Hero, Without You and Anytime You Need a Friend.

Dreamlover is Mariah Carey's first attempt to incorporate hip-hop into her songs.

Hero is deemed by many to be Mariah Carey's signature song, known for its message of finding inner strength and self-empowerment.

Without You is Mariah Carey's soulful cover version of the 1972 tune of the same name.

The music video for Anytime You Need a Friend marks Mariah Carey's first image change.

All I Want for Christmas is You is a modern Christmas anthem for Mariah Carey, which blends various music genres, like pop, rhythm & blues, soul and gospel.

Furthermore, Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You also mixes 1960's rock and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, especially in its structure and instrumentation.

Daydream marks Mariah Carey's entry into the contemporary rhythm & blues scene.

With Dreamlover being Mariah Carey's first attempt to utilize hip-hop, Fantasy further solidfied this direction; its remix, featuring ODB, is produced by Puff Diddy.

Puff Diddy's remix of Mariah Carey's Fantasy popularized the trend of rap features on pop songs.

Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club samples Mariah Carey's Fantasy.

Honey's music video marks a step up for Mariah Carey to embrace a more liberated and overtly sexual image, in contrast to the traditional and demure persona she has cultivated.

The music video for Mariah Carey's 1998 cover of I Still Believe, for whose original version she sings background vocals, is inspired by Marilyn Monroe's 1954 USO tour.

Mariah Carey also surprises the audience at the curtain call of the musical version of the 1950's movie called Some Like It Hot, which she joined in November 2022 as a co-producer.

In addition, the music video for Mariah Carey's Butterfly tune, which she co-directed, features poses similar to Carroll Baker in Baby Doll, directed by Marilyn Monroe's friend Elia Kazan.

Michael Jackson's 2009 death overshadows Farrah Fawcett's, but the latter's legacy continues among girls/women.

What motivated Mariah Carey to be a co-producer for the musical iteration of Some Like It Hot is her passion for the leading star of the original film version named Marilyn Monroe.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe's 1954 USO tour, as covered by the American Forces Network, inspires Mariah Carey's music video for I Still Believe.

Baby One More Time is Britney Spears' first hit.

The famous and influential music video for Baby One More Time features Britney Spears wearing a school uniform with a midriff-baring top/crop top.

Stronger is also a big hit for Britney Spears; its lyrics reflects on resilience after a breakup.

Plus, the music video for Britney Spears' Stronger tune serves as a diversion from her previous music videos in that it has a darker tone.

For Marilyn Monroe, her beauty and premature death contribute to her status as an iconic figure.

In nostalgia, smoking cigarettes are icons of youth, rebellion, elegance, sexuality and style, especially when associated with people like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Whilst cultural icons like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston are not eternally youthful in physical sense, their deaths have preserve their youth.

Since the 1990's, pop/rock songs have used instrumental intros featuring soulful vocal riffs, runs and melisma before the main melody, inspired by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

For the last chorus of a pop song since the 1990's, the backup singers have harmonized with the lead singer doing soulful vocals, inspired by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

Riffs, runs and melisma, described as soulful vocal techniques, are accompanied by vocalizations.

Female singers who got soul have riffs, runs and melisma, plus vocal fry.

Plus, females have their hair getting wet in MTV-style music videos, either in the rain, splashing in the beach or when sweaty.

In other words, wet hair is sexy for girls in music videos with genres like rhythm & blues and hip-hop.

Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and Shakira are some inspirations for Filipino singers.

Angela Via

Angela Via (b. 1981) is a singer in the rhythm & blues and soul genres, yet is unknown.

With a soulful singing voice being characterized by riffs, runs and melisma, Angela Via has been often influenced by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (Vocal Trinity).

Riffs, runs, melisma and vocal breaks are some of the iconic and world-famous vocal techniques being popularized by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

In addition, Whitney Houston is a girl who popularized the 'big voice, little woman' trend, also used by Mariah Carey and Celine Dion; its roots come from earlier powerhouses like Aretha Franklin.