Day 4: A Song That Makes Me Sad. I’m pretty sad about Justin Bieber in general, but I’d say “Baby” epitomizes my sadness (“Somebody to Love” has somewhat of a soft spot in my heart, due to a fairly stellar performance from the Glee men). Watch the video if you want to be sad about popular music and youth culture in today’s America.
This might be controversial, but I really loathe the song “On My Own” from Les Miserables. I like Les Miserables, quite a bit, but this song makes me quite miserable. I loathe it for several reasons: 1) It provides fodder for whiny teenage girls with crushes. 2) It provides material for horrible talent show performances–I cannot tell you how many of these I have seen. 3)It is a classic example for those who claim to “love Broadway” but only know this song and Wicked or Rent. In addition, the song is whiny and forced, it has never seemed true to me. Dreadful.
Not even Lea Salonga can redeem it, as you can witness below.
So in the spirit of trying to blog more I figured I’d chronicle my Facebook 30 Day Song Challenge here. I started it today, and day one is your favorite song. Which, what?! Who actually has one favorite song. I have lots of songs that, depending on the day, I’d call awesome, or amazing, or fantastic, but probably not my favorite. Still, the first song that came into my head was the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight,” off their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
I started listening to the Smashing Pumpkins when I was a sophomore in high school, which is right around the time when I began developing my current taste in music. I listened to a lot of Radiohead, Tori Amos, R.E.M., etc., but when I was riding the bus or doing homework or alone at night in my room with the lights off (yes I did this, yes I thought I was so deep) I listened to the Smashing Pumpkins.
A friend of mine put the appeal of “Tonight, Tonight” very nicely, describing it as grand and sweeping yet also personal and intimate. I think this describes a lot of classic Smashing Pumpkins, but this is the song to which I always return. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the musical video is absolutely incredible–Steampunk before Steampunk ever existed, and still a timeless example of music video artistry. It probably wouldn’t surprise any of you if I told you that the Smashing Pumpkins were a formative part in the development of certain aesthetics I like to costume in from time to time (ie: elegant Goth, Steampunk, black eyeliner, lots of it). Also, it looks like Lady Gaga took a few tips from this video–“Bad Romance” anybody? Anyways, enjoy!
I am pretty much 100% in love with Girl Talk’s newest album, All Day. Sheer joy, y’all. So many high points: the mash up of “Get Low” and “Cecelia,” the random introduction of that song about wishing about being taller, baller, girl caller etc., “In Your Eyes,” “Swag,” I mean, so much goodness. I keep meaning to have a Girl Talk/All Day dance party but I don’t really know anyone who dances. Do you dance?
Speaking of dancing, some creative types in New York City are planning to do an entire video of actual trained dancers dancing to All Day on the Staten Island Ferry. That is so cool y’all. Here’s the trailer.
And here’s the NYTimes article explaining this project.
This makes me want to dance, y’all.
Oh and here’s a particularly rockin’ sample from All Day if, forever whatever absurd reason, you have not yet heard it.
I’ve always really liked Thierry Mugler, especially as a fashion curiosity. Someone who did unusual clothes that made women look like the Maria-robot from Metropolis. Since I love robots that look like people, this should not surprise anyone.
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
I especially love that Thierry Mugler’s work is present in lots of fantastic music videos, and by lots I primarily mean George Michael’s “Too Funky” and Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” These are both fantastic music videos.
Guys. A motorcycle bustier/corset. A total metallic robot costume. And, in the “Too Funky” video, Linda and Tyra! (This reminds me that I need to do a post on George Michael’s amazing videos, one of which was directed by DAVID FINCHER y’all, but this is a project for another day. And yes, I know that Eric from True Blood is in the “Paparazzi” video, but this is a post about fashion).
So, there was also a great show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago called Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy and it featured a lot of Thierry Mugler’s works, namely said motorcycle bustier. So that was fun.
So, anyways, Thierry Mugler fell off the map a bit and also got some plastic surgery and then in 2010 designed some perfume and you can read all about that here. But I really think that Lady Gaga brought attention back to the designer, because she is all about his clothes because girlfriend is not afraid to be fierce, and Thierry Mugler’s clothes are for a lady who is fierce. I mean, I am sure there is more to it than Lady Gaga but I like to think that Lady Gaga actually does have the power to resurrect a man.
As some of you may know, Lady Gaga walked walked in the Nicola Formichetti for Thierry Mugler show at Paris Fashion Week. And guys, she was really, unsurprisingly, awesome. Snarling and cat-clawing and column humping and walking in ten-inch heels better than any model awesome. With an amazing weave. The video of the show is below, and is totally worth watching, if only to see some models nearly face plant in their ten-inch heels.
I actually think the collection is really strong. That electric blue is fantastic, and I could see myself wearing a few of these pieces. The lines are just funky enough but still extremely strong and clearly flattering. My one complaint? Too much sheer. The world doesn’t need to see my nipples. Give me that gorgeous electric blue turtleneck dress and I’ll call it a day.
The Dilettantista 