16.12.09
BEAT BEAT BEAT
I don't really like much music from the 80's, with exception of a few bands. I'm more into 90's music (as you would most definitely know if you've ever seen me DJ).
However, one of my favourite bands of all time would have to be Bronski Beat, an all gay synth pop trio who made their big break in 1984 with their hit debut single 'Smalltown Boy'.
(Photo below rules - Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil, See no Evil!)
If you've ever heard the song, or are an existing gigantic Bronski Beat fan, you would know what the song can do to you. When i'm driving in my car, listening to 'Smalltown Boy', my heart starts racing and i feel like i've got 10 times more control than i actually do.... the traffic lights change in time with the song, and the other cars on the road are doing some seriously impressive choreographed dancing - swerving in an out of lanes like we're all part of the same routine..... i'm sure you can picture it (and if you can't, then get an imagination).
See the original film clip for 'Smalltown Boy' below:
My point being, it's a fucking amazing and uplifting track. And it's all about a teenage boy being kicked out of home for being gay. These guys were setting an example for gay youth of the 80's, and everyone loved them - 'Smalltown Boy' reached No. 3 on the UK charts after it's released.
My Dad's actually seen Bronski Beat before, and he was the one who introduced me to them, and passed his controversially titled Bronski Beat album 'The Age of Consent' down to me. The title represents the inequality between heterosexuals and homosexuals - in the 80's in the UK, hetero couples could have sex at 16, however gay couples had to wait until they were both 21 or over. This was nearly 30 years ago, and still nothing has changed. In Australia, the age of consent for hetero couples is 16 and for gay couples it is 18. Anyway, i'm getting a little too socio-political.
After a short lived success, the bands lead singer, Jimmy Somerville, departed Bronski Beat in 85 and moved on to head The Communards - another hugely successful group from the 80's. He then moved on to a bit of a flop of a solo career.
Anyway, hail to Bronski Beat, wherever you are.
LOVE!X
However, one of my favourite bands of all time would have to be Bronski Beat, an all gay synth pop trio who made their big break in 1984 with their hit debut single 'Smalltown Boy'.
(Photo below rules - Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil, See no Evil!)
If you've ever heard the song, or are an existing gigantic Bronski Beat fan, you would know what the song can do to you. When i'm driving in my car, listening to 'Smalltown Boy', my heart starts racing and i feel like i've got 10 times more control than i actually do.... the traffic lights change in time with the song, and the other cars on the road are doing some seriously impressive choreographed dancing - swerving in an out of lanes like we're all part of the same routine..... i'm sure you can picture it (and if you can't, then get an imagination).
See the original film clip for 'Smalltown Boy' below:
My point being, it's a fucking amazing and uplifting track. And it's all about a teenage boy being kicked out of home for being gay. These guys were setting an example for gay youth of the 80's, and everyone loved them - 'Smalltown Boy' reached No. 3 on the UK charts after it's released.
My Dad's actually seen Bronski Beat before, and he was the one who introduced me to them, and passed his controversially titled Bronski Beat album 'The Age of Consent' down to me. The title represents the inequality between heterosexuals and homosexuals - in the 80's in the UK, hetero couples could have sex at 16, however gay couples had to wait until they were both 21 or over. This was nearly 30 years ago, and still nothing has changed. In Australia, the age of consent for hetero couples is 16 and for gay couples it is 18. Anyway, i'm getting a little too socio-political.
After a short lived success, the bands lead singer, Jimmy Somerville, departed Bronski Beat in 85 and moved on to head The Communards - another hugely successful group from the 80's. He then moved on to a bit of a flop of a solo career.
Anyway, hail to Bronski Beat, wherever you are.
LOVE!X
6.12.09
DAUL
I don't buy magazines all that much.... only when something about the issue really catches my eye. I have a small collection of magazines, most of them with torn out pages that i blu-tack to my walls, but there are some that i don't rip apart - my favourites.
I was flicking through one of the favourites - the 'The Stepping Stone Issue' of i-D Magazine from July 2008, when i came across a shoot of the beautiful Korean model Daul Kim, who tragically committed suicide at her apartment in Paris just last month.
She was 17 or 18 at the time of the shoot, and i-D had already named her as "one of the most charismatic talents to hit our catwalks"
In the i-D article, we're told how Daul was bullied at her Singaporean high-school, which led her to quit school and focus on her modelling career. She is quoted as saying "i've always considered myself an outsider" and "I think if you go out too much and meet too many people, there's gonna be too much talk about you and that's not what i want".
Daul also had her own blog - iliketoforkmyself.blogspot.com - which has now been disabled and is only open to invited readers. Her last blog post before her death was titled "Say Hi to Forever".
Below are some photos of the truly magical Daul Kim.
Rest in Peace.
(in i-D Magazine, July 2008)
(in the last issue of RUSSH Magazine, wearing Emma Mullholland swimwear)
LOVE!X
I was flicking through one of the favourites - the 'The Stepping Stone Issue' of i-D Magazine from July 2008, when i came across a shoot of the beautiful Korean model Daul Kim, who tragically committed suicide at her apartment in Paris just last month.
She was 17 or 18 at the time of the shoot, and i-D had already named her as "one of the most charismatic talents to hit our catwalks"
In the i-D article, we're told how Daul was bullied at her Singaporean high-school, which led her to quit school and focus on her modelling career. She is quoted as saying "i've always considered myself an outsider" and "I think if you go out too much and meet too many people, there's gonna be too much talk about you and that's not what i want".
Daul also had her own blog - iliketoforkmyself.blogspot.com - which has now been disabled and is only open to invited readers. Her last blog post before her death was titled "Say Hi to Forever".
Below are some photos of the truly magical Daul Kim.
Rest in Peace.
(in i-D Magazine, July 2008)
(in the last issue of RUSSH Magazine, wearing Emma Mullholland swimwear)
LOVE!X
5.12.09
KAHLOSEXUALITY
I feel as though i'm super pro-feminism right now, but i can't help it.
I've loved Frida Kahlo for a long time, and only just got around to watching the film 'Frida' with Salma Hayek. I would go as far as saying it is probably the best film i've watched all year (and it's from way back in 2002).
I love the way she is depicted in the film - as an honest, strong, cigarette-addicted, alcoholic, eccentric, bisexual, Mexican artist. It's visible in her paintings just how crazy she was.
She was also featured on the cover of French Vogue.
"I hope the exit is joyful - and I hope never to return - Frida"
LOVE!X
I've loved Frida Kahlo for a long time, and only just got around to watching the film 'Frida' with Salma Hayek. I would go as far as saying it is probably the best film i've watched all year (and it's from way back in 2002).
I love the way she is depicted in the film - as an honest, strong, cigarette-addicted, alcoholic, eccentric, bisexual, Mexican artist. It's visible in her paintings just how crazy she was.
She was also featured on the cover of French Vogue.
"I hope the exit is joyful - and I hope never to return - Frida"
LOVE!X
4.12.09
THE SHERMANATOR
I know what you're all thinking, and no, i'm not making reference to the nerd-face in American Pie. i'm talking about the Queen of Creative Photography - Cindy Sherman.
Cindy's been around for years, and some could say she's a tad narcissistic for using herself as the model for many of her more well known photographic series, though way back in 1990 in an interview with The New York Times she told them "I feel I'm anonymous in my work. When I look at the pictures, I never see myself; they aren't self-portraits. Sometimes I disappear."
Cindy's been around for years, and some could say she's a tad narcissistic for using herself as the model for many of her more well known photographic series, though way back in 1990 in an interview with The New York Times she told them "I feel I'm anonymous in my work. When I look at the pictures, I never see myself; they aren't self-portraits. Sometimes I disappear."
She know's how she wants her work to be viewed by others, and what it takes to reach that, which means cindy is more often that not a photographic one woman show. Maybe she doesn't like models? Maybe she's hates stylists? either way... she's a genius.
Below are some images from her "Sex" series from 1989.
Below are some more well known photographs from Cindy.
And finally..... the cover of the limited edition collaborative photo book released by Marc Jacobs, Cindy Sherman and Juergen Teller.... my three favourites, incase you didn't know.
LOVE!X
ANTONY EYES
This man is one of a kind and truly magnificent.
I started listening to Antony and The Johnsons about a year and a half ago when my Mum introduced me to their albums.
Antony Hegarty has worked with the likes of Boy George, Lou Reed, Bjork, Leonard Cohen and Devendra Banhart.
If you're yet to hear Antony's operatic vocals and oh so honest lyrics, then click along to www.antonyandthejohnsons.com
I just heard a cover version of 'Crazy in Love' by the one and only Beyonce. The sound is so beautiful, as is the accompanying video which begins with static green lit footage, followed by other various footage of Antony. Please watch below.
My favourite part is when Antony sings "looking so crazy, your love's got me looking, looking so crazy in love" and the pink lit eyes appear in the video. See below.
Antony and The Johnsons are playing at the Sydney Opera House on January 31st and February 1st.
And at the Perth Concert Hall on February 5th and 6th.
LOVE!X
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