Monday, March 22, 2010

Another Glee Album Coming

We’re still waiting for the show to come back, but in the meantime you can pre-order the all Madonna Glee album that will be coming out April 20th.

Track Listing:
1. Express Yourself
2. Borderline/Open Your Heart
3. Vogue
4. Like A Virgin
5. 4 Minutes
6. What It Feels Like For A Girl
7. Like A Prayer

Glee returns to Fox Tuesday April 13th 9pm EST

[Via http://regularlyscheduled.wordpress.com]

Friday, March 19, 2010

A Grown Up Heart

About two years ago, my doctor thought he heard a murmur in my heart.  I wasn’t surprised, because on a bad day, I can murmur and complain enough to cause Moses himself heartache; however, my doctor wanted me to see a cardiologist.  In the past I had a couple of incidences with irregular heartbeats when I was running on the treadmill, and it is imperially important that a heart beat, murmuring and complaining or not.

My one little visit to the heart doctor turned into a series of tests that caused my wallet to tremble.  I got to see my heart pumping away on a monitor and I even had my aorta checked.  They thought it was enlarged.  I fear my bottom has become enlarged, but thankfully nobody’s ever suggested photo imaging of my backside.

Then I took the test where they try to kill you on a treadmill.  Don’t ever let the technician in charge of all the wires coming off your chest know that you do any form of regular exercise.  In fact, pretend you can’t walk on one leg for this test.  If they see even the tiniest hint that you’ve used a treadmill in your lifetime, they defy gravity with the incline and up your speed until you are running faster than the traffic speeding outside the window.  They make you stay on until your heart explodes or they decide you’ll live for another six months.

They nearly killed me, but left me with just enough spark to come back two days later and do it all over again.  Only this time they decided to inject me with nuclear waste.  It was my first time dripping drops of glowing sweat.

The best part is when they decided I was done.  Instead of dropping the incline and decreasing the speed, they just pressed stop and I nearly fell over the front of the treadmill and flew out the window.  The nurse caught me just short of breaking glass and threw me onto a table to see how my heart would react.  I am convinced if you don’t die during one of those tests, you’ll live until you’re ninety.

Me as Madonna sometime in the 80's

It was during my last appointment that the doctor was to give me a prognosis and tell me whether I had a happy heart or murmuring heart.  My husband was a little nervous and decided to come along, but he only came as far as the parking lot.  I think he was scared that they’d put him on a treadmill.

By the time I came out to the car, my husband thought I was about to undergo the knife or worse.  After the routine waiting room stint, I spent about forty minutes in the doctor’s office, ten of which we discussed my heart.  We talked about Burt’s Bees, make-up, and Maine for the other thirty minutes.  I walked out wishing he, his wife, and kids would come over for dinner.

On that cool Spring day, I realized that I was growing up.  No longer are my doctors old men in scary white lab coats; they are people with whom I would choose to spend time.  It finally dawned on me that my friends are doctors, lawyers, teachers, bankers, police officers, writers, clergy, and business owners.  We are running our communities.  We are the grown-ups.

My heart is fine.  It just beats to an unusual rhythm, but I am still mystified with adulthood.  It sneaked up me unawares.  I can’t define a time when I transitioned from carefree youth into responsible adult, but it happened.  I am all grown-up.

I just hope old age doesn’t sneak up on me as quickly.  I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and find myself using a cane, eating all bran cereal, and holding my teeth while I brush them.

When did you realize that you were all grown up?

This post is linked to Flashback Friday hosted by Mylestones.  Go visit by clicking on the photo below and read more stories with the theme All Grown Up.

[Via http://thedomesticfringe.wordpress.com]

From banning the Bra to Wonderbra - the (victoria's) secrets out.

9/11/06

Feminism, the bad good word of the 60’s, is symbolized in the burning of bras, mythic or otherwise. Bra burning was considered a protest against the Miss America pageants, just as burning the draft card was a protest against the war in Viet Nam.  But all that has changed, reflecting that, is the bra, an enduring symbol of upliftment of the down trodden. From burning of the bra to the wonderbra the Victoria secret’s out. Mammalians of the world unite, stay abreast of the times.

As a photographer who in recent times has had the good fortune of photographing women, the bra becomes an important consideration. Many times after humming and hawing you muster up enough courage to venture into the territory of the undergarment, and sort of let slip, ‘casually’ that a well fitting bra could be as essential as mascara. For a male photographer you would think that having to make this ‘salacious’ comment would be unnecessary. Truth be told the woman and the bra could not be more mismatched. Boudoir London, an up-market lingerie store in Mumbai run by two Punjabi NRI sisters has identified this niche or gaping hole and has success plugging it with bras of every flavour ranging from the matronly to the downright kinky, pink fur, union jack, stars and stripes signifying patriotism albeit to a wrong country, leather and studs and even edible lingerie. Needless to say feminists knee jerk their belans and poll paats protesting the male gaze and use other, “my culture/your culture” jargon, yawn, sigh, ho hum.

And then on Hill Road are Chinese knock offs offering all that and heaven too with voluptuous Rakhee Sawant cut outs, the sales girls, astonishingly, invariably are men generally marwari or Muslim. The misfit continues. The middle class is buying.

And in Bhuleshwar alongside puja material are roadside bra vendors with swishing scarlet and thongie lingerie that fill up like windsocks, traditional women in saris make the purchase with a most interesting ploy, they feel a handkerchief or some very ‘appropriate’ white, or skin coloured bra on the table and ask for the lacey sexy number that’s gyrating in the wind, not letting on by pointing.

There were times where the panty line seen through a pair of tight well fitting trousers was considered so déclassé. It became mandatory that the bra strap or the thing itself should never peek. Lycra was borne and became a household name. Gwen Steffani turned the inside out, the construction of the bra has to be visible through the tee or whatever top you are wearing, it has become like a uniform. The padded bra has become like the stock market, over inflated, needing correction. Thin anorexic chicks walk around with these balloons popping out, the guys have their eyes on stalks and comments like ‘falsies’ were heard in bandra many years before silicone and Pamela Anderson.

Madonna’s metallic cones and Thiery Mugler’s tribute to the tit are all in the hall of fame.

These days in what might be considered daring, the nipple is beginning to dimple the spheres, air-conditioning also gets turned up resultantly while at Fashion week in the event of garment malfunction, nipple tape was prescribed.

The eternal transcendental question of why would a woman wear a black bra under a thin white mul mul kurtha, was it to be considered so sexy? My wife’s sweet, simplistic response was that the white ones were probably in the wash.

And then there is the supreme issue of braless ness, a blatant disregard for convention, slipping into another convention of anti-conventional be bop a loola people and your granny. But just so that the effort and the statement did not go unnoticed, the gait gets galumphing so that miss bouncy is recognized from a kilometer away.

Have you ever marveled at B & P (bra and panty) shops in the most conservative of areas flaunting, satiny, silky, sheer, downright outrageous bras and ever wondered of who would actually buy and wear those things, well they would not have them and change window displays so often if they did not sell, the imagination is doing cartwheels. Concealed under those ubiquitous ‘nighties’ lies an Umrao Jaan.

Ever traveled on a BEST and marveled at a seated middle aged women in thin georgette saris with scooped necklines, the pullow would also slip more occasionally than gravity would otherwise ordain. Nothing more day making than seeing a pair of full breasts. For a country on the one hand that has had bare breasted tribals a mere 50 km from Mumbai 30 years ago and has celebrated sacred sculpture exemplifying fertile, fecund, abundant, topless goddess torsos, and where breasts are popped out in public with impunity to feed infants long past the age, the duality of not showing cleavage continues.

The paan chewing vegetable vendor and kohli woman will delve deep into cleavage land to produce change from a secure wallet stuck in fort knockers.

Women who wear revealing clothes sometimes do it with selectiveness; a shawl or a denim jacket for ‘modesty’ in the street, then at the work place or at the selected destination the peel begins. Most women complain that the male gaze hovers directly on to her breasts, it is a kind of mismatch again, and wanting/not-wanting is the game that is being played. There is a certain kind of look that women don’t like and another that they encourage. It’s the same with touch, every women swears that they know the difference. The act of concealment and revelation is the adult version of hide and seek.

Early on when I was just beginning to photograph women and mentioning bras was unmentionable and personal, it used to amaze me that the ‘models’ all of them regular women, some young and others getting on, would take out from their bags, gingerly, the slinkiest, cleavage revealing garment they could find much to my delight.  Women who have it flaunt it.

And beyond the bra is nudity itself. Women who think they are beautiful want to be photographed in the pink, it’s a coming out statement of sorts, it’s a private, personal way of saying, and I am free. The onus is on the photographer to take this trust and become free himself too of the stereotypes. Other women, who can’t or wont yet take the plunge will enjoy revealing cleavage, push up bras, transparent lacey widgets that do all but come off. Straps fall limp off the shoulder and the hooks even get undone seductively.

Then there is the woman who thinks that topless ness is ok but pubic nudity is not, the combinations are endless and fascinating.

These days women talk of the breast hug, a full frontal ness that engages chests leaving no space within. It’s a contact sport and the bruises are pleasure filled.

A young professional woman who seemed very straight laced, used to wearing black, masculine, un flattering suits, a Tam Bram called up once to ask if I would make her look sexy, a bit taken aback at the ‘sexy’ part, above line notwithstanding, I gladly volunteered to make portraits and dithered on the promise of ‘sexiness’. Then I get a call to say that she has finished work early and is ready to come to be photographed and I began stuttering to say it did not work like that and that we would have to decide a look and ‘co-ordinate’ garments, accoutrements etc. All she said was, “ I’m wearing a beautiful, pink, lacey bra”.  She came by and beneath all that external un-sexiness was a full creamy body, gorgeous clavicles and fabulous cleavage. She made the most stunning ode to the pink bra pictures that even her mother approved of.

We are definitely a boob nation, whereas Brazil is ass oriented. Bikini destination, Baywatch, Sports Illustrated and Pirelli join the b rated posters in Beer bars, all heralding a bigger brighter future.

A kind of crude bandra schoolboy phrase of the 60’s was small tree, big fruit; I shudder to think how that translates to the more explicit 21 century. Students of mine have done interesting projects shot with spy camera type of scenarios in lifts, of college girls on their way to meet their dates, adjusting their cups in the elevator mirror.

I remember once driving across Rajasthan with a maharashtrian friend who was singing a lavni song about the fox having gone into the sugar cane patch and referring to ‘Khule Aam’, replete with innuendo and double entendre every time we passed rajasthani women with décolletage. Then late at night we pulled into Jaipur and there in a small theatre opposite a dhaba where we were going to eat was Khule Aam showing with dancing lights around the hoarding, the coincidence was hilarious.

The united colour of Benneton ads have shown a black woman breast-feeding a white child and Tocani’s attempts at voyeurism were attacked.

Lascelle Simmon’s specializes in designing the corset his wife Pallavi said that a good corset is one where a woman can kiss her own breasts. Women have fainted with asphyxiation from over tightening their whalebone corsets.

[Via http://ddesouza.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Plea for The Monkees Induction into the Rock Hall

The Monkees

Each year around this time, I always find myself asking the same question: Why are The Monkees not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?! Because really, they should be.

Every year, the Rock Hall Committee nominates and inducts artists and bands into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year, among the inductees were The Stooges, ABBA, Genesis and The Hollies.

People at Rolling Stone magazine say The Monkees shouldn’t be in the Rock Hall because they are not rock music. Wait, aren’t Madonna, The Bee Gees, and this year’s inductee ABBA in the Hall of Fame? Madonna is certainly not “rock.” I’m not saying Madonna should not be in the Rock Hall, because she should, along  with other popular music artists. Because pop music is the genre that Madonna’s music mostly falls into.To say that only “rock music” should count is ridiculous. Not everyone who influences music in a positive way is considered “rock.” Not everyone can be The Beatles or The Rolling Stones or Jimi Hendrix.

All the bands and artists inducted in the Rock Hall over the years have been popular in the sense that they had an affect on youth culture.  Why should The Monkees be considered “uninductionable” (I don’t even think that is a really word-but you get the point) because they are deemed to be popular music?

The Monkees are just as important to the history of music as any other band or artist because they impacted society. They influenced young people. They had number one singles, hit records and just unbelievable songs like Daydream Believer and Last Train to Clarksville. Yes, they were formed because of the television show, but all four of the members were  talented musicians.

Therefore, I am offering this plea for The Monkees to be nominated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They deserve to be there.

Here is one of my favorite songs by The Monkees called Randy Scouse Git:

[Via http://threechordheartbeat.wordpress.com]

$15.99 Save 27% at Amazon.com on "The Sticky & Sweet Tour CD/DVD" by Madonna

The Sticky & SweetTour CD/DVD will be released on April 6, 2010.  You can pre-order yours at a savings of $5.99 by following the link below.

The Sticky & Sweet Tour CD/DVD The Sticky & Sweet Tour CD/DVD
Madonna
List Price: $21.98 Price: $15.99 You Save: $5.99 (27%)

Release Date: April 6, 2010

Other Versions and Languages Blu-ray (CD+Blu-ray,Surround Sound) Pre-order now!

Product Description
Madonna’s most recent stage extravaganza, the ‘Sticky & Sweet’ concert, will be released on April 6th, it was announced today by Live Nation, the world s largest live music company. ‘Sticky & Sweet’, which was produced by Live Nation, was the most successful tour by a solo artist in history and was seen by over 3.5 million fans in 32 countries around the world.

The show, which will be distributed by Warner Bros Records, will be available on DVD, Blu-Ray and CD and will include many of the Material Girls hits from the course of her unprecedented career including, ‘4 Minutes,’ ‘Like a Prayer, ‘Hung Up’ and ‘Ray of Light’. Filmed in Buenos Aires, over four days to a crowd exceeding 256,000 fans, the concert also includes a show … Read more

Track Listings

Disc 1

1. Candy Shop Medley
2. Beat Goes On Medley
3. Human Nature
4. Vogue 2008
5. She’s Not Me
6. Music 2008
7. Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You
8. Spanish Lesson
9. La Isla Bonita 2008
10. You Must Love Me
11. Get Stupid Medley
12. Like A Prayer 2008
13. Give It 2 Me

Disc 2

1. Intro-The Sweet Machine
2. Candy Shop Medley
3. Beat Goes On Medley feat. Kanye West
4. Human Nature
5. Vogue 2008
6. Die Another Day 2008
7. Into The Groove 2008
8. Heartbeat
9. Borderline
10. She’s Not Me
11. Music 2008
12. Rain/Here Comes The Rain Again
13. Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You
14. Spanish Lesson
15. Miles Away
16. La Isla Bonita Medley
17. Me Darava/Doli Doli
18. You Must Love Me
19. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
20. Get Stupid Medley
21. 4 Minutes feat. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
22. Like A Prayer 2008
23. Ray Of Light
24. Like A Virgin 2008
25. Hung Up Medley
26. Give It 2 Me
27. Credits
28. Behind the Scenes Bonus Footage

[Via http://requiem4adream.wordpress.com]

Monday, March 15, 2010

(All we hear/see is) Telephone Gaga

Jeg har ventet på videoen til Lady Gagas “Telephone.” Forbindelsen mellom telefoner og populærmusikk fascinere mer generelt, samtidig som Lady Gaga har hatt sitt å leve opp til i denne sammenhengen (se her og her). Samtidig, da videoen kom i forrige uke ble jeg nødt til å vente litt med å blogge om den. Ikke at jeg ikke umiddelbart kunne si at det var en fantastisk video, en video som driver musikkvideoproduksjonen framover, og setter ting i spill. Det mener jeg absolutt den gjør. Men jeg behøvde å la den synke inn litt før jeg skrev om den.

Videoen – regissert av Jonas Åkerlund – er ni og et halvt minutt lang, og det er et uttall referanser i den, så mange at den nærmest framstår som sammensatt av populærkulturelle referanser. Samtidig henger den sammen.

Den begynner i et kvinnefengsel, med klare referanser til 70-tallets “women-in-prison” filmer. Her spilles det relativt uhemmet med klisjer, med lesbiske fangevoktere, seksuelle antydninger, semi-pornografiske poseringer, etc. Samtidig, og selv om sjangeren på mange måter er kjent for en gestaltning av det mannlige blikk (the male gaze), virker videoen annerledes. Den stiller spørsmål ved en slik lesning. Og det er her Lady Gagas betydning som mer enn en som refererer populærkultur kommer i spill. Ja, populærkulturen refereres og siteres, men på samme tid problematiseres den. Selv om mange pop-divaer tilsynelatende spiller inn i et heteronormativt skjema, hvor deres iscenesettelse først og fremst repeterer klassiske kjønnsbilder (slik jeg eksempelvis har skrevet om i forhold til Beyoncé tidligere – her), så er ikke dette en nødvendig forståelse selv ikke der stereotypene spilles med. Noen videoer eller iscenesettelser spiller også med stereotypene, og det krever en populærkulturell kompetanse for fortolkningen. I “Telephone” synes dette å være på spill.

Referansene til filmkulturen er overveldende, mest åpenbart kan hende til Quentin Tarantino (ikke minst Kill Bill, 2003-04, men også Pulp Fiction, 1994), men også Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991) er nærliggende i videoens narrativ. Sammen med Tarantion er vel Madonna den som tydeligst refereres, filmatisk fra Desperately Seeking Susan (Susan Seidelman, 1985), men også – selvsagt – hennes musikk (ikke minst fra 80-tallet – og her er det fristende, igjen, å referere til åpningen av Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs, 1992). I tillegg ses dansetrinn som siterer Michael Jackson.

En annen interessant dimensjon er samspillet mellom Lady Gaga og Beyoncé. Jeg har tidligere skrevet om hvordan Beyoncé nærmest blir reaksjonær i sin kjønnspolitikk (“Single Ladies” er kroneksemplet). I videoen til “Videophone” finnes også slike dimensjoner, men den er åpnere. Her, i “Telephone” er det hele annerledes. Kanskje er det “Sasha Fierce” som er på spill, Beyoncés alter ego fra hennes siste plate. Sikkert er det at hun på mange måter spiller femme til Lady Gagas mer butchy performance.

Jonas Åkerlund regisserte også videoen til “Paparazzi” og selv om den videoen er annerledes enn “Telephone” er de samtidig beslektet. Kortfilmer mer enn musikkvideoer, og så absolutt bearbeidelser av selve sjangeren.

Begge videoen er til dels “eksplisitte” i sitt innhold (såvidt jeg kan se har YouTube fra og med i dag lagt inn en 18-års sperre for å komme til videoen, noe som som oftest er et tegn på seksuelt eksplisitte scener – selv om det også noen ganger bare er absurd). Men at popmusikken spiller på sex og utforsker det seksuelle er ikke noe nytt. Men på samme måten som man i “Telephone” kan se utfordringer av det mannlige blikk, der selv Beyoncé i korte denimshorts først og fremst synes å vise seg fram for Gaga heller enn for noe heteronormativt mannlig blikk, på samme måten kan også det seksuelt eksplisitte utfordre den samtidige seksualmoral, både av det heteronormative slaget og den som synes å se undertrykkelse ved enhver antydning av kvinnens seksualitet. Lady Gaga spiller definitivt på sex, og hun viser hud – og sex – som en integrert del av sine videoer, men man kan likevel finne en kritisk brodd i dette. Ved 1:10 i “Telephone”-videoen faller replikken “I told you she didn’t have a dick,” en tydelig referanse til ryktene (om man kan kalle det det) om at Lady Gaga er hermafroditt, rykter som har vært såvidt påtrengende at de den siste tiden også er del av Gagas egen praksis. Ikke bare her i videoen, men også i forhold til intervju i mars-nummeret av Q.

På coveret av Q poserer Lady Gaga med bar overkropp der brystene skjules av hendene hennes, i uortodokse hansker. Og hun har en mer enn tydelig bul i buskene. Intervjuet inne i bladet fokuserer igjen på denne tilsynelatende dobbeltheten, og på det for Gaga absurde i ryktene om at hun skulle være mann. Samtidig ser jeg også i dette bildet en filmreferanse, men denne gangen til Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands (1990).  Muligens er det noe kastrerende over Lady Gagas hender. Samtidig, om vi husker Johnny Depp i rollen som Edward er det også noe annet på spill her. En annerledeshet som forsøker å manøvrere innenfor normativiteten.

Oppmerksomheten rundt Lady Gagas påkledning har vært enorm, og hun vant prisen som både best og verst kledd (samtidig) på årets NME Awards. Muligens sier dette noe om hvor konvensjonell popbransjen er, og samtidig også noe om hva som er på spill med Lady Gaga. Vi har ikke hørt det siste fra henne – noe videoens slutt vel også sier tydelig.

[Via http://steinskog.wordpress.com]

Madonna and D&G Launch Eyewear Line

[tiImage width="300" height="400" url="http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2010/wrn/031510-dandg-300.jpg" credit="Courtesy Dolce & Gabbana" align="right" border="1" alt=""] Madonna is teaming up with Dolce & Gabbana to co-design six eyewear styles under the logo MDG. The collection, which includes black and multi-colored plastic styles as well as gold and silver metal frames, will retail from $248 to $289 when it hits D&G stores in May. The ad campaign, shot by Steven Klein, features multiple stills of Madonna seductively posing behind dark shades. “She’s the way people see her—a real star, admired, desired and spied,” Stefano Gabbana told WWD. While this is the first co-branded project for Dolce & Gabbana, it’s not their first time working with Madonna. Along with designing some of her tour costumes over the years, the duo also tapped the pop icon to star in their Spring 2010 ad campaign. MDG is also one of many fashion projects Madge has lined up. Last week she announced her partnership with Iconix Brand Group where she’ll develop a junior’s clothing line exclusively for Macy’s.

[Via http://news.instyle.com]

Friday, March 12, 2010

Worst of the Week: Lindsay Lohan

Okay, you can all let out a sigh of relief!  We decided to keep it light heading into spring break, so unless you’re Lindsay Lohan (or apparently one of her lawyers), you can relax knowing that you can enjoy your week on the beach or by the pool … or just watching the snow melt without the Ad Mavericks getting on your case!

If you’ve been too busy analyzing the college basketball world in preparation of your office pool, you may have missed Lindsay Lohan’s desperate attempt to thrust herself back into the media spotlight.  ”Lindsay who?” you ask.  We’re talking about the starlet from such cinematic masterpieces as “Mean Girls“, “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” and “Freaky Friday“. THAT Lindsay.

Here’s the story:  Apparently, Lohan was so taken aback by the resemblance of her in a recent E*Trade tv commercial that she felt the stock trading company was using her likeness.  Here’s the real kicker: to back up the claim, Lohan’s lawyer argued that Lohan has single name recognition of her first name, “Lindsay” similar to the likes of Oprah, LeBron, Madonna, Tiger and Kobe.  Here’s the spot:

Yep, Lohan thinks that’s worth a cool hundred million. Successful with her lawsuit, the spot would likely be the most viewed of any of the works that feature (or don’t feature) her.

As for E*Trade, they are basking in the fact that their investment in a Super Bowl spot is now getting a second wind.  Almost 4 million views of the ad on YouTube alone?  That’s crazy – not just because of the number of viewers, but also because when you run an ad on t.v. you’re buying ratings – hoping people are paying attention and not skipping over your spots with their DVR. When 4 million people view your spot on YouTube, it means 4 million people chose to watch it – meaning they were likely more attentive and engaged.

So, the big question is, will Lohan win?  We hope for not.  But when you put some high paid lawyers in a room together, crazy things can happen.  Right Brett? (Hope our cage-fighting lawyer friend doesn’t take offense to this likeness and soak us for a million!)

Congratulations Lindsay Lohan, you’re our worst of the week!

Author: AdMavericks
www.lessingflynn.com

P.S. If you think everyoneshould leave Lindsay a-Lohan you can buy the t-shirt here.

[Via http://admavericks.com]

Madonna to launch fashion range

Pop diva Madonna has announced to launch a range of clothes.

The 51-year-old singer is creating the range, named MG Icon, in a joint venture with her manager Guy Oseary and Iconix – the company behind designer lines Badgley Mischka and Candie’s, reports contactmusic.com.

“Joining forces with Iconix to bring my fashion ideas to the consumers is very exciting for me,” said Madonna in a statement.

“I look forward to working closely with Neil Cole of Iconix and his team to create and translate my vision and ideas for MG Icon,” she added.

Neil Cole said: “Madonna is a legend in the world of music, fashion and entertainment and now with her deep involvement in MG Icon, we will be able to leverage her vision into consumer products globally.”

“Our strategy is to introduce brands formed through the joint venture in multiple countries and organically expand worldwide,” he added.

The brand’s first project will be named after Madonna’s hit “Material girl” and will be a junior range with items costing between $12 and $40. Clothes will be on sale at Macy’s department stores from August.

[Via http://celebrityandglobal.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

What was Penelope Cruz doing after the Oscars?

Here you see Demi Moore at the Oscar´s red carpet.

One of the secrets of the Oscar´s night has been revealed!.

Having  a lot of fun  Penelope and Javier on the party organized by Madonna and Demi Moore in Los Angeles.  According to journal People Penelope, and her friends danced ’salsa’, staged a funny scene with a false mustache and appeared alongside Javier neck wearing a feather boa.  A crazy night!

A party attended by over 300 people who danced nonstop,tasted Indian food and drank the cocktail created by Demi Moore for the occasion: Vita Coco Caipirinha. Demi Moore, which marched down the red carpet alone, met her husband Ashton Kutcher who were very happy all evening that lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

[Via http://misslopezplanet.wordpress.com]

Monday, March 8, 2010

TV Picks: Real Housewives, New York City Is Back!

Bravo has spoiled us this week by airing not only Part 1 and 2 of the Real Housewives OC Reunion Special, but they’re following it up with the Real Housewives of NYC Labor Day episode where dueling summer holiday parties create tons of drama.  The back to back episodes air on Thursday night starting at 8pm.  

 Monday: 24, Fox 9pm

Jack Bauer will never get a break. This week things inside Counter Terrorism Unit turn tense when there is a personnel shake up – as if he needs anymore stress – Chloe can you deal with this?

Monday: Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC local listings

It’s Oprah’s Annual After Oscars Party where she’ll be airing from the red carpet and interviewing all of the sleep deprived winners, and Gabby Sidibe of course.  We’re hoping Oprah finds out the back story behind the “[lastfm]Kanye West[/lastfm] moment” during the Best Documentary acceptance speech – it was awkward, right?

Tuesday: American Idol, Fox 8pm

We’ve completely given up on the boys along with the rest of America, so tune in tonight to the Top 8 girls who will sing for your votes and affection, then check out AMP’s review in the morning!

Tuesday: Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC 1:30am

Night owls can take some joy in being up this late when they see the always entertaining [lastfm]T-Pain[/lastfm] as a guest with AMP’s very own Morning DJ, Carson Daly.  Musician [lastfm]David Grey[/lastfm] will also be a guest, wonder if they’ll duet?

Wednesday: Real World, MTV 10pm

The effects of Tye throwing Panda over the balcony are still reverberating through the Washington DC cast – what will they do when they realize Tye is back to drinking? 

Wednesday: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC 11:30pm

Jay welcomes Kristen Stewart to the couch.  Maybe he’ll ask her if why she was so incredibly nervous during her presentation speech at the Oscars, but we’re assuming he’ll just ask if she’s dating Robert P., which is also a great question in our books…

Thursday: The Office, NBC 9pm

Now that Cecelia Marie Halpert, Jim and Pam’s baby daughter, has become part of the Dunder Mifflin family, it’s time to celebrate St Patrick’s Day Michael Scott style!

Thursday: The Marriage Ref, NBC 10pm

Larry David, Ricky Gervais, and [lastfm]Madonna[/lastfm] sit on the panel for this week’s show. Wait, are people really going to take marriage advice from [lastfm]Madonna[/lastfm]?  Ruling the world advice yes, but marriage? Will she be British tonight?  Tune in to see.

Thursday: Grey’s Anatomy, ABC 9pm

You didn’t forget about Grey’s did you now?  This all new episode has Owen and Richard competing over a extremely high-profile surgery and Bailey going on a second date with Ben.

Friday: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC 11:30pm

Tonight’s guests include teen queen Dakota Fanning, comic genius Judd Apatow, and talented Idol alum [lastfm]Katharine McPhee [/lastfm]who will perform her new single.

[Via http://amp.radio.com]

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Madonna - "The Celebration Tour" Starting In July? Nip it in the bud, it was a rumor!

http://www.undercove…n_Tour_Imminent

Madonna Australian Tour Imminent

by Paul Cashmere – March 3 2010

Madonna looks about ready to announce an Australian tour.

A touring company insider has alerted Undercover to the soon-to-be announced Madonna ‘The Celebration Tour’ for July.

This will be the first time Madonna has been to Australian since 1993 and it will be her second ever Australian tour.

In total, 10 shows are planned with three shows for Sydney and Melbourne, two for Brisbane and one each for Adelaide and Perth penciled in.

The ticket price is said to be the highest price ever for a pop concert ticket in Australia with the cheap seats expected to go for $249, next level at $499, Gold at $999 and then an Ultimate ticket at $2000.

For $1000 more, Ultimate ticket holders can also upgrade to the Penultimate ticket for $3000 which will include a meet and greet, photo op and personally signed program from the tour.

The show is expected to be marketed as “a gift to Australia” for the years of touring cold shoulders.

The Australian shows will be indoor arena shows as opposed to the outdoor stadium shows she did in other parts of the world last year, hence the expensive ticket price.

The Melbourne show at Rod Laver Arena is also expected to be filmed for a live DVD.

All shall be revealed soon.

http://auspop.blogsp…na-to-tour.html

Madonna’s drummer Brian Frasier-Moore has let the cat out of the bag, confirming (in the video interview below) that the Queen of Pop will hit the road for a new tour early in the new year.
But it’s an anonymous email that arrived in our inbox today claiming to be from a “touring industry insider”, that’s most peaked our interest.
In it they make a series of claims, including that Madonna will announce a ten date tour of Australia later this month.

They also suggest that;

* “The Celebration Tour” will be an intimate arena tour, visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
* The tour will be marketed as a special “gift” for her Australian fans, who’ve waited almost 17 years to see her.
* 250 tickets will be given away to charity at each show.
* Ticket prices will be the highest ever seen in Australia (starting at $249).
* The tour will continue to overseas destinations, but on a larger scale (they name London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin).
* One of the Melbourne dates will be filmed for a future DVD release.

We cannot confirm that any of the details contained in the email are true, and we’re not suggesting they are, but it certainly makes for interesting and exciting reading, particularly for local fans of the Material Girl, who’ve waited almost 17 long years to see her back on Australian shores. Could it be that in 2010, their wish finally come true?

[Via http://requiem4adream.wordpress.com]

Monday, March 1, 2010

What do Britney, U2, Madonna, Pink and Beyonce have in common??

They are ALL MONEYMAKERS!!!!

“Billboard” has released their annual “Music MoneyMakers” list, which ranks the Top 40 artists who raked in the most income throughout the previous year.

Here is who made the list:

#1. U2

#3. Madonna

#5. Britney Spears

#6. PINK

#7. The Jonas Brothers

#13 Beyonce

#15 Miley Cyrus

Click HERE for the complete list!

[Via http://hothits957.radio.com]

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Celebs Who Love Fur

I like fur. Some people do not. Here are some celebs who dare to wear fur. (I would have put Johnny Weir, but he didn’t end up wearing it)

1. Anna Wintour

2. Kanye West

3. Eva Longoria

4. The Olsen Twins

5. Madge

[Via http://dayvacate.wordpress.com]

Monday, February 22, 2010

Music Monday: Jerk Gets Naked

take it off...

This Monday, Jerk brings you a playlist of the songs that make us want to get naked. These are the songs that make us feel sexy, so sexy we assume you want to see our pasty butts. So, without further ado, get out those stripper poles and shake ya booty!

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

1. “Where or When” by Frank Sinatra
I’d strip to that–slow like – Kevin Eggleston, Bitch Editor

2. “Daylight” by Matt and Kim
What can I say? When I play this in my car, I feel like I’m the shit. - Erin Scialabba, Copy Editor

3. “The Hook Up” by Britney Spears
This was a toughie, since most dance-worthy songs also inspire chicas to practice their best (or uh, worst) stripper moves. I like this one in partic because it has an interlude type of deal (2:24) that is truly sexalicious. Happy booty shakin’. - Sam Morgenstern, Assistant Noise Editor

4.”Carry Out” by Timbaland (feat. Justin Timberlake)
Weird fast food related euphemisms aside, my shoulders start a-groovin’ and it migrates into a full on dance party whenever I hear it, even if I’m studying in the cafeteria. – Kate Holloway, Executive Web Editor

5. “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story
No explanation given (and I, frankly, worry to hear it) from Ray Lapena, PR Representative

6. “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” by Ida Maria
That’s my fast-strip song. Seriously, that’s playing, my clothes are on the floor. – Kevin Eggleston, Bitch Editor

7. “What Kind of Love Are You On” by Aerosmith
The first time I saw Armageddon, I danced along with the stripper in this scene. – Kate Holloway, Executive Web Editor

8. “Bad Things” by Jace Everett
It’s from True Blood – Kevin Eggleston, Bitch Editor

9. “Like a Prayer” by Madonna
Not because of any lyrical reference, just the fact that it was playing when I received my first blow job. - Gregory Miller, Assistant Gawk Editor

10. “Glory Box” by Portishead
It’s slinky and sexy and old-school and having sex to it is fuckin’ sweet. – Roxanne Broda-Blake, Assistant Smut Editor

11. “Nothing to Worry About” by Peter Bjorn and John
I love hearing this song when I’m out because it makes me feel flirtatious. With its subtly cool and melodic sound, I can’t help but smile and sway to the beat. – Erin Scialabba, Copy Editor

12. “Oh Sweet Nuthin’” by the Velvet Underground
Not only are you stripping your clothes, you’re revealing every bad emotion you’ve ever felt. Try not to feel something when Melanie Lynskey moves up and down the stripper pole in “Away We Go” – Kate Holloway, Executive Web Editor

13. “Crazy on You” by Heart
Another submission from Kevin Eggleston, Bitch Editor. Boy likes to get nekkid.

14. “Overfire” by THC (this one wasn’t on playlist.com but you can find it here)
THC’s trip hop smolders in all the right places. – Roxanne Broda-Blake, Assistant Smut Editor

And for the Video this week, who knew Iron & Wine could be so sexy?

[Via http://jerkmag.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

MBM - Erotic Milk

WARNING

This milk is extremely erotic.  Don’t drink it too fast.  Yummy.

As Madonna once sang: ‘Erotic, erotic.  Put your milk all over my body.’  Milk is certainly one of the most sensuous drinks available today, and it should be treated as such.

This post was sponsored by the Milk Bottle Manifesto.

[Via http://poursomegravyonme.co.uk]

Monday, February 15, 2010

Madonna receives charity cheque...

Madonna received a cheque for R$ 1 million from a Brazilian brewery for the Success For Kids charity. The cheque was presented to Madonna on Friday evening (12 February) in Rio de Janeiro by João Castrates Snows.

Source: madonnalicious.com

[Via http://mazeofthoughts.wordpress.com]

Friday, February 12, 2010

Madonna free zone; Malcolm did it first

I’ve had a couple of recent revelations that I would like to share.

The other day it was pointed out to me that the fruit that I believed to be a pomegramate for the twenty-four years of my existence, is actually called a pomegranate. How this passed me by for almost a quarter of a century I do not know, however until yesterday a good (and slightly older) friend of mine thought Sherlock Holmes was a historically accurate figure, which makes me feel way better. Another thing that I have discovered is that contrary to popular belief, Madonna did not invent the vogue, Malcolm McLaren did it first.

In fact neither Madonna nor Malcolm can be credited for the actual invention of the Vogue, which was born from the U.S inner city gay club scene in the late 1980s. However in 1989 Mclaren, whose previous accomplishments included shacking up with Vivienne Westwood to provide the world with Punk, released “Deep in Vogue,” a song that reached no.1 on the Billboard Dance Chart and whose masterfully crafted, highly stylized and understated video introduced the underground Voguing culture to the mainstream.

Madonna’s “Vogue,” which was released in, and reached no.1 A YEAR LATER, features an uncannily similar montage of hand gestures, body poses and movements to “Deep in Vogue.” Beat, baseline and general groove; it’s all a rip off. Whereas McLaren provides an uncomplicated insight into underground culture by maintaining and expressing the raw identity of the Vogue,  Madonna’s version by comparison stands as the self indulgent romp of a manufactured pop icon.

Contrary to what history has evolved to suggest,  the triangle titted Queen of pop should neither be credited for creating, nor masterminding the mainstream emergence of  the Vogue. Pop star she may be, but revolutionary, trend setting legend she is not. Well done Malcolm.

It appears that I am not the only one who Madonna has agitated with her glory stealing. On his album Midtown 120 Blues (voted no.1 dance album of 2009 by Resident Advisor) DJ Sprinkles reveals his own distain for Madonna’s unhand Voguing tactics. In his aptly titled track “Ball’r (Madonna Free Zone,)” Sprinkles says:

“When Madonna came out with her hit “Vogue” you knew it was over. She had taken a very specifically queer, transgendered, Latino and African-American phenomenon and totally erased that context with her lyrics, “It makes no difference if you’re black or white, if you’re a boy or girl.” MAdonna was taking in tons of money, while the Queen who actually taught her how to vogue sat before me in the club, strung out, depressed and broke. So if anybody requested “Vogue,” or any other Madonna track, I told them, “No, this is a Madonna free zone! And as long as I’m DJ-ing you will not e allowed to vogue to the decontextualized, reified, corportlized, re-genderized, pop reflection of this dancefloor’s reality!”

[Via http://anotherexistence.wordpress.com]

Madonna dating ex-boyfriend again?

Pop diva Madonna is allegedly dating ex-boyfriend Alex Rodriguez.

The “Celebration” singer is believed to have reunited with Brazilian model Jesus Luz this week following a recent split.

But she is apparently still seeing her former baseball star lover who is nicknamed A-Rod, and visited him in Miami last week, femalefirst.co.uk reported

“Madonna spent two nights with him in his beach house in Miami last week and Jesus had no idea,” said a source.

“She just didn’t tell him, and her staff were told not to tell him. She claims she has an intellectual connection with A-Rod.”

Madonna was rumoured to be dating Alex after she split from now ex-husband Guy Ritchie at the end of 2008.

The 51-year-old pop superstar is also said to have developed a deep connection with Carlos Leon, the father of her 13-year-old daughter Lourdes.

“When Madonna split from Guy Ritchie, Carlos was there for her,” a source revealed.

“They spent a lot of time together and old emotions came back. But Carlos has a lovely girlfriend who Lourdes doesn’t like, which has made life difficult. There will always be a big connection between Madonna and Carlos.”

However, all this male attention doesn’t seem to be making the “Like a Virgin” star happy.

[Via http://celebrityandglobal.wordpress.com]

Monday, February 8, 2010

Too rude to show two

With a good number of Adult Swim’s male leads in a permanent state of undress – e.g. Assy, Killface, Shake – you’d think that the issue of male nudity would be old hat to the point of banality. Not so, it can still shock, offend and, thankfully, even provoke a smile.

Take Killface and Xander’s male bonding session in the city sewers. http://tinyurl.com/yaxv2xt There’s saying ’my penis’ and there’s saying ’my penis.’

How do you think the scene in http://tinyurl.com/ycbp4nt played itself out? Who moved first?

And as for http://tinyurl.com/yc33rcf ,where does man boobs get off telling Dick Tracy what to do? He’s his own man, with his own issues.

Finally http://tinyurl.com/yajqmqy in which a naked Doc Venture puts his foot in it, nearly gets laid and very nearly gets eaten.

Too rude to show? Not really, if we’re honest.

[Via http://adultswimuk.wordpress.com]

Madonna ‘rents English manor in the Hamptons for summer’

Madonna has rented a house on Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton to beat the heat this summer, sources say.

The Queen of Pop has reportedly purchased Coxwould, the English-flavored, six-bedroom house from real-estate developer Lowell Shulman.

The 2-acre property was listed for 425,000 dollars for the season, reports the New York Post.

Now Madonna will be a neighbor of Jerry Della Femina and Martha Stewart.

Meanwhile, she is set to fly to Rio, Brazil to see the Samba Parade during Carnival on February 14.

[Via http://celebrityandworld.wordpress.com]

Monday, February 1, 2010

Decade's most popular drink...already?

We’re a month into 2010, and we already have the decade’s most popular drink to date: coconut water. Trendologists are predicting that it will be the next big hit in healthy beverages, following in the steps of vitamin-enhanced water, pomegranate juice and acai. We’ve long enjoyed coconut water’s restorative effects after a big night out, but now that celebrities from Madonna to Matthew McConaughey are lining up to invest in coconut water, it looks like the secret’s out.

[Source]

[Via http://thethomascollective.wordpress.com]

Picture of the Day

As you all know Jane Lynch will be singing Madonna’s “Vogue” in the all Madonna episode set to air on April 20th.  That’s no secret.  I had heard that she was going to be dressed like lady M herself while shooting a dream sequence.  Rumor has it Sue wants a makeover and to get in to the spirit of things she slaps on Madonna’s iconic cone bra while performing the song.  Well…the proof is in the picture…

Thank the Lord Iqbal Theba has a Facebook page and one that he runs himself for that matter because the Glee gods prompted him to post this a few hours ago.  My Monday has started out well!

I can not express to all of you how excited I am for the Madonna episode of Glee. I am a child of the 80s and adore Madonna and can not wait to see how Ryan Murphy and PJ Bloom pull off this episode.  At least 10 of Madonna’s huge hits will be in it and I CAN NOT FREAKING WAIT!!!

Thank you Iqbal for posting this gem of a photo for all of the Glee fans to see!

P.S.  How fantastic is Iqbal’s face looking down at those giant pointy boobs?  I love him!

[Via http://gleehab.com]

Friday, January 29, 2010

Day 12...

Best judo session ever. Besides that, not much significance today. Anyway, it’s kinda late and I’m lazy, so I’m keeping it at that. By the way, everyone should see this. Really funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4GzHMtSoiE

Day 12...

Day 12. It's late. But this is definitely one of my better iSight shots.

[Via http://365daysofhapa.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Linda Stein Trial

“That’s right, you were a good friend of Linda Stein’s,” The New York Daily News columnist Joanna Molloy said greeting me during the midday recess in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday. “Tell me about her?”

My most resounding memory of Linda Stein is an all-nighter with her beginning at the Ritz hotel in Paris in the early 1990s. My most immediate memory is the last time I saw her on the upper East Side a few days before she was murdered in late October 2007 in her one-bedroom Fifth Avenue apartment, allegedly assaulted repeatedly by her assistant Natavia Lowery, who is on trial now charged with her murder. I considered where to go with memory. What to say about Linda Stein?

Courts and trials aren’ t my usual beat, are they? When I saw two interesting looking men walking in our direction and, looking down, noticed the silver bracelets on the shorter man’s wrists, I thought of the handiwork of a young, popular with the fashion set jewelry designer Philip Crangi, or Verdura, only to snap out of my silly association and focus. Time and place. The man was handcuffed and being led by a detective. I told Joanna where my mind had just gone. She laughed.

Linda Stein was a well-known real estate broker whose clients famously included Madonna, Sting, Edgar Bronfman, Jr. and Angelina Jolie. She had been a Bronx-born schoolteacher who, matched by one of her student’s, met and married Seymour Stein, a founder of Sire Records and a colleague of the late Ahmet Ertegun. In the course of her career, or careers as we heard the assistant district attorney Joan Iluzzi-Orbon say in her opening statement on this first official day of Linda’s murder trial, she had “reinvented herself,” over and over. She had managed musical groups, including the Ramones. She had “reinvented” and gone into selling real estate when Edward Lee Cave, the real estate legend and former Sotheby’s bigwig, had met Linda during her days as a collector of art and antiques. Much later, she had become “our New York Auntie Mame,” the young social figure and fashion editor Lauren Santo Domigo has described her, when her daughter Mandy went to the Kent School in Connecticut and, among her suite mates, was Lauren, as well as the gallerist Amy Greenspon. On breaks from Kent, as Mandy’s guests, they frequently assembled at Linda’s Central Park West apartment.

Linda was a true New Yorker, someone who lived the Manhattan dream you see in Preston Sturges movies recast in a Warhol film. In the mid-1980s, when people drew great distinctions between “uptown” and “downtown” in New York, she was the queen, the elegant hybrid of both worlds plus a lot of Paris tossed into her crazy salad life. She spoke French fluently and included among her nearest and dearest not just Elton John and Madonna but also the French interior designer Jacques Grange and decorator Mica Ertegun, wife of the late Ahmet.

At the time of her death, she was working for Douglas Elliman’s real estate shop, one of their highest earners. Douglas Elliman had provided, through an employment agency, Natavia Lowery, this very pretty young woman, whose checkered employment history they failed, alas, to check. Now Natavia is accused of Linda’s brutal murder–bashing her head in six times with a yoga stick–as well as identity theft and stealing $30,000 from Linda. A lawyer for Natavia conceded that his client was guilty of theft, but not of murder. Although she had confessed, it was a false confession, the defense attorney is claiming on his client’s behalf because, while Linda might have spent her life “reinventing,” Natavia had spent her life “telling people what they wanted to hear,” so her confession to the authorities was false, fatally false. Despite the objections of the prosecutor, the defense lawyer continues to speculate overtly and covertly about who might have committed the murder, suggesting it might even have been one of her two daughters.

Despite the grueling playing of Mandy’s 911 calls to try and get help for her mother who lay “cold and hard,” Linda and her life is now on trial, her “feisty” nature, her battle with breast cancer, the privileges of the Fifth Avenue apartment itself, her perhaps over-use of medically-intended marijuana, her inability to use her arm fully to blow dry her hair or button a sweater as a result of the aggressive surgery to treat her breast cancer, and more.

Mandy, who found her mother in a pool of blood that cold October night, spent the day on the witness stand describing the scene of the crime, Linda’s one-bedroom Fifth Avenue apartment, how it worked, its services, elevator men and deliveries, and identifying the body we saw in photographs face down dressed for a walk in the park. How her mother’s last words before she went to work that day, editing footage of “Burning Down the House,” a film this documentarian made about the club CBGB, which she had to of course describe for the uninitiated, was to wear Linda’s scarf, it was cold outside. But Mandy didn’t want to take it because “it was too good” a scarf. Having once been a client of the couture, and Azzedine Alaia, Linda’s wardrobe in her later years was decidely Loro Piano chic, not cheap, and casual.

On the night I remember most in Paris all those years ago, it was mid-July. I was there to report on the couture shows. Linda Stein was traveling with her friend, and client, Sylvester Stallone, who had a fierce crush on Naomi Campbell, in Paris modeling in the shows. After a dinner given by Gianni Versace–the Milanese-based designer had covered the pool at the Ritz for his first Paris couture show, a big deal for Gianni, and for Paris–Linda Stein organized for Naomi and Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington, the three graces of the era, to have a nightcap in one of the grand suites of the Ritz with Stallone and after a ton of laughs we all went off to a disco and there is a famous Roxanne Lowit photograph of Naomi, Linda and Christy walking down the Champ d Elysee at dawn.

Like an unhappy wedding, the courtroom is seated with Linda’s family and friends on one side and Natavia’s on the other. One thing is already evident. Two families have been forever heartbroken. Linda’s daughters, Mandy Stein and Samantha Wells, have their mother and tender memories to a violent crime and horrific trial.

Natavia Lowery, facing up to life in prison, idles in Riker’s Island except for the daily commute to court, where, at Riker’s, she gave birth to a daughter whom she now rarely sees.

The trial is expected to continue for at least six weeks.

[Via http://billynorwich.wordpress.com]

Um, yes. I LOVE this quote.

“I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.”

- Madonna

Story of my life. I’ve been saying something similar to this since the first time I was called a bitch for pursuing the things I wanted relentlessly. As I’ve always asked, name me one CEO that wasn’t an asshole or a bitch, or at the very least perceived that way, at one time or another in his or her life. So, HA to all you haters out there.

O.O

[Via http://bittersweetwords.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 22, 2010

Download: "Across The Sky" by Madonna

Madonna’s ill-fated and over-appreciated album Hard Candy has a couple of bangers floating around from its sessions still. Yes, a track produced by Timbaland titled “Across The Sky” has mysteriously leaked just in time for the promotion of her live CD/DVD set for the same album. It’s a little bass-heavy, as our friends over at HardCandyMusic describe it, but it’s actually better than most of the tracks on the album – and then Madonna’s vocals kick in. It sounds like something Justin Timberlake would do. Click here for it through another site.

[Via http://loft965.com]

Monday, January 18, 2010

Adam Lambert Fuse Interview - When Adam Met Madonna

Check out this part of Adam Lambert’s “On the record with Fuse” interview where we get to see him talking about meeting Madonna back in May 2009! Adam explains how Monte Pittman hooked him up with the Queen of Pop and that he was completely “freaked out” by her presence!

Needless to say that it would be amazing if sometime in the future Adam gets to work with Madonna…!

[Via http://axestaticprocess.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 15, 2010

Beat Up The Beat vs. Endless Salad and Breadsticks: You do the math, I'll do the Alfredo

This is the second  part of our point-counterpoint discussion. The topic of today’s Point-Counter Point: Is Jersey Shore or The Olive Garden a more unfair stereotype of Italian-American culture?

I’d like to begin this reply by using the most indefatigable evidence in the universe: math. According the Olive Garden the Never Ending Pasta Bowl combinations are nearly endless. And according to leading commercials the math required to figure out the total number of combinations would require at least a team of astrophysicists working for weeks to accurately calculate. So here we go.

There are a total of seven possible pastas: Spaghetti, Whole Wheat Linguine, Linguine, Fettuccine, Penne, Angel Hair, and Orecchiette. There are also a total of  six possible sauces Creamy Parmesan Florentine, Roasted Portobello Pomodoro, Alfredo, Meat Sauce, Five Cheese Marinara, and Marinara. So let’s plug that into the old math machine, and I am sure the number will be high in the millions…

For those of you unfamiliar with the number forty-two, let me tell you that it is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Now are you going to tell me that such a clearly holy number, from the holiest of pasta deals, from, clearly, the holiest of Italian-American themed restaurant chains is offensive to a certain ethnic group from a certain boot shaped nation? Pfffft, whatever.

But if you must insist on forcing me to defend the most hallowed of fake stucco halls, I shall oblige you only to ensure that the OG’s reputation remains untarnished. The simple fact is that the Olive Garden gives so much to world and asks for almost nothing in return. Reasonably priced pasta dishes? Check. Friendly service? Of course. Endless salad and breadsticks?! My cup runneth over.

Of course at the Olive Garden, it’s not really about the food. It’s about the experience. It’s about being transplanted to the rolling hills of Tuscany, flowing fields of wheat golden in the morning sun, and Giovanni, the young, dark, sculpted gardener gently nibbling at your toes – excuse me, I was lost in the moment there for a second…and isn’t that exactly the point? To be transplanted to a place with decadent food, bold wines, and beautiful people, if only for an hour, and escape the gross, simplistic, and discourteous world we live in on this side of the Atlantic. We need this escape and we deserve it, and I am proud that a franchise that claims to represent my ethnic homeland is the one to give it.

And what of Jersey Shore? Is it indeed the case that these seven examples of hedonistic hair gel and boob jobs are the best examples of Italian-Americans that we as a society can present? Are these the future leaders of this country? JWoww the next Madonna? The Situation the next Martin Scorsese? Pauly D the next Samuel Alito?! I certainly hope not. Yet if this is the highest representation we have found (and we know only the loftiest manifestations of our culture make it onto the TV), I fear for us. Oh yeah, you sit around claim to watch it “ironically.” Claim that you watch it as an example of how not to act, an example of the most disgusting human behavior you have ever seen. How is  that entertainment?! That is simply not an explanation for watching such a morally corrupt program. You might be watching Jersey Shore to make yourself feel better… “Hey, I’ve only slept with four girls in a hot tube- Six?! That Pauly D just doesn’t know where to draw the line.” Or maybe it’s a secret perverse desire that drives addiction… “Wow, JWoww’s boobs are so fake-gross, oh god please let me touch them.” Either way, the fact that you would even watch this show, let alone support it, is demonstrating some serious emotional dysfunction.

So what’s the alternative? Yes, it’s easy to mock the heartfelt slogan, When you’re here, you’re family. But maybe we need something really sincere, just maybe, in these tough times, we need a place to open its doors and say, Hey you look hungry-how about 3000 calories of Alfredo sauce to fix you right up?

The Olive Garden is that place.

[Via http://bromandude.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

madonna schedules sticky & sweet dvd release

Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour, which ran from August 2008 to September 2009, earned its provocative headliner a cool $408 million, making it the second most successful tour in history, and, from March 29, fans will be have the opportunity to channel even more money into her pockets with the much anticipated release of the tour DVD. Filmed over a four-day residency at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, where Madonna played to over 256,000 fans, the concert film naturally includes a “historic” performance of ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, as well as ‘Like A Prayer’, ‘Ray Of Light’, ‘Hung Up’ and ‘Four Minutes’.

Although the tracklists for the DVD/Blu-Ray and CD have not yet been confirmed, much of the footage has previously been aired worldwide on Sky One and by TV channel Epix. Additionally, an uncut version was shown exclusively in four South and Central American countries in September 2009. The DVD/Blu-Ray includes 30 minutes of additional exclusive behind-the-scenes footage filmed throughout the tour.

Here’s the cover:

Alan Pedder

[Via http://wearsthetrousers.com]

Monday, January 11, 2010

FASHION SHOOT: UP CLOSE WITH MADONNA FOR DOLCE & GABBANA

Madonna is not a cultural pop fashion icon for nothing, as these pics show in her fashion shoot for Dolce & Gabbana. 

~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.11.2010~

[Via http://horiwood.com]