Hugs, Bears, and Kisses

In honor of Day Without a Gay- Call in Gay Day, I'd like to share with you a video by the English band Huggy Bear.  "Pansy Twist" is from their monumental 1993 album Taking the Rough with the Smooch.

America the Beautiful

This is a great sketch from French and Saunders about America and it's dream.  Sad, but true.

MMMMMMM Mugler

There's not much to say about Thierry Mugler, except that he is indeed a very special talent.  I feel the fashion world has been easily amused by some new and young "designers" that may be lacking in the talent department and then I feel bad and think I'm being too critical.  Then I go back and look at some old fashion footage of Mugler's Haute Couture collections and take it all back. I'm not being too critical at all, if anything my expectations have sunken lower over the years.  This is what fashion should be about- new ideas, unbridled creativity, and impeccable workmanship melded into one.     

These clips are from Thierry Mugler's spring/summer 1997 Haute Couture collection.  Look out for larger than life supermodel Jerry Hall.

13 going on 30

30 years later from the performance of the last post comes these two.  One is from Beyonce at the American Music Awards singing and dancing to the song "Single Ladies."  This act is basically the music video created live because I guess everyone loves the special dance moves created for the song.  The next video is from Britney Spears doing "Womanizer" on Good morning America.  I don't think either of these women are particularly talented or captivating.  But, because they are peers and are at the top of the pop music pyramid (dung heap), I think they will be good subjects to illustrate my point.  What's left when you don't have natural talent or a compelling persona?  That's right- hard work.  This great American value accounts for most of the success in this country.  Who cares if someone's work is of quality and brings good to people's lives as long as it make money for a handful of people.  Hard work is really a great virtue that evens the playing field- nonracial affirmative action at its best.  

As much as I think hard work is worthless without the foundation of talent and somewhat overrated, look at the difference between these two performances.  Beyonce is hitting it pretty hard and obviously worked worked her butt off to nail this routine.  I'd have to say the black and white Armani Prive coat and dance panties informing the black and white backup dancer's costumes informing the black and white dancers was pretty smart.  I also liked that the set was only composed of bright lights and a little dance ramp- pretty minimal.  On the other side of the spectrum, you have Britney.  Britney, you definitely have my crazy.  All of the pyrotechnics and circus freaks could not distract you from her lack of energy and apathy while performing her song.  I wonder why she didn't perform a ballad, or come up with a creative show that required little physical activity?  I guess hard work does go pretty far by pop standards.

Oh Mandy

Amanda Lear is the famous model/singer/actress/TV personality introducing Grace Jones a couple of posts ago on the Italian TV show Stryx.  This performance of "Follow Me" on Stryx is the video I wanted to be the main video, but it was disabled.  Please click on the link.  I love how creative the set designers and choreographers got.  I think if this was done today, they would of relied heavily on dopy computer animation.  Bravo Team Stryx.  

Amanda's real past and identity is unknown.  She was Salvador Dali's muse and some say she might be his greatest work of art.  Whatever the truth is, I'm sure it will make a great movie, at the very least a great made for TV movie.

This clip is also from Stryx.  Enjoy.

This is Amanda's Alphabet

Sexxxy Nun on the Run

Wow!  I guess Italy has a love affair with Grace Jones.   Here is a duet from Luciano Pavarotti's fundraising concert Pavarotti and Friends.  She looks amazing.  Now thats what I call great taste.

Chaises and tigers and fog! Oh, my!

This is a clip of Grace Jones singing, dancing, and seducing on an Italian television show called Stryx.  This show aired the same year I was born and it is a lot more daring and interesting than anything from a performer in the last two decades (Janet Jackson's nipple was not that intriguing and the performance with Beyonce and Sugarland at the VMAs might run a close second).  I love the set with the chaise lounges, fake fog, animal fur, and live tiger.  It's a really great combo.  Grace is awesome because she really knows how to go for it.