Monday, April 25, 2011

Ab Fab Is Coming Back



Absolutely Fabulous is coming back. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will reprise their roles as Edina and Patsy for three new episodes that will film this summer, though the BBC is still putting the "finishing touches" on the exact contracts, and there's no word yet on the story line. 

Lumley first mentioned the reunion back in November, when she said Saunders had approached her about maybe cracking open the Bolly once again. "I said, 'Bring it on'. Because we're all still here. Mother's still alive, the wonderful June Whitfield. Julia Sawalha [and] Jane Horrocks [are] all still alive and available ... and I think we just have to do it." Champagne and smokes for everyone! [ Guardian UK]

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Britney Spears: Till the Worlds End


"
Till The World Ends" debuted at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was released. The single would go on to become Britney's tenth top ten hit, ultimately peaking at #8. The international success of the single has been mixed. Over in the UK the song only managed to peak at #21 on the UK Singles Chart. 

"Till The World Ends" was written by Dr. Luke, Alexander Kronlund, Max Martin and Ke$ha and produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Billboard. The song has been remixed by the Bloody Beatroots, White Sea, Kik Klap, Alex Suarez, Friscia and Lamboy, Varsity Team and Karmatronic


The video for Britney Spears' second single off of Femme Fatale, "Till The World Ends" was released on April 6th. Set at an underground dance party on December 21st 2012, the Ray Kay-directed clip features Brit Brit dancing like it's the end of the world. The club scene was filmed in a basement somewhere in Los Angeles and gives off a "I'm A Slave 4 U" vs. "Dirrty" kind of vibe. 

 

Britney Spears – Till The World Ends (dance edit)

 

Britney Spears has called an impressive pop music summit by inviting Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj onto a remix of her latest "Femme Fatale" single, "Till the World Ends." The track leaked online late Friday (Apr. 22), before it was scheduled to be officially released next Monday, according to a countdown on all three pop singers' websites. [Complete Article Billboard]



Britney Spears: Femme Fatale


It appears that Britney Spears has made it back after years of being a Whiskey Tango Train Wreck.  According to a  press release in January:

"Britney has proven yet again that NO pop artist has the longevity, fanatical fan base and sheer sizzle that she does! In a marketplace littered with supposed heirs to her throne [Queen of Pop], the first single from her forthcoming 7th studio album, "Hold it Against Me," exploded on impact. First week sales of well over 400k show the huge demand for her music, and all things Britney. In fact, “Hold it Against Me” enjoyed the biggest first week track sales for a female artist EVER, eclipsing the previous record holder Taylor Swift. Britney is just the second artist (joining Mariah) in Billboard’s history to debut multiple songs in the #1 slot. Outside the US the single debuted at #1 in over 20 (!) countries, proving once again that Britney Spears IS the worldwide Queen of Pop.

The US radio picture has been equally explosive. “Hold it Against Me” shattered all previous records for most number of spins at radio in a first day (and one day) period at both Mediabase and BDS! Strong early call out and a flood of requests were immediate. The video will be a sexy, edgy dance piece directed by Jonas Akerlund and showing Britney at peak form and ability. 

In short, Britney has one of the biggest records of her unparalleled career with “Hold it Against Me.” This rabid reaction is sure to feed the already unbridled anticipation for her brand new album [Femme Fatale], due out on 3/15. [Actual release date was March 25][End of Press Release] Once again the industry’s creme de la creme have lined up to work with the legendary Ms. Spears. Back with multiple songs to add to their amazing track record with Britney are Max Martin and Dr. Luke (“Hold it Against Me”). The album also features tracks/production by proven hitmakers Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Fraser T. Smith, and Bloodshy & Avant, to name a few."

According to Billboard, Femme Fatale debuted in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart  selling 276,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.  "Femme Fatale is Spears' sixth chart-topping album. "The feat ties her for the third-most No. 1s among women with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Only Barbra Streisand (nine No. 1s) and Madonna (seven) have earned more No. 1s.

Britney Spears CIRCUS by netmen

Spears has hit the top with six out of her seven studio albums, only missing with 2007's "Blackout," which debuted and peaked at No. 2 (290,000). Her last effort, 2008's "Circus," started more robustly than "Femme Fatale," as it launched at No. 1 with 506,000 following its Dec. 2 release. "Femme Fatale's" debut of 276,000 is Spears' second-lowest sales start with a studio set -- only her 1999 debut effort, "Baby One More Time," began with a smaller figure (121,000 at No. 1). [Billboard]

Fight for Your Right Revisited: Revisited


Following its TV premiere all of Fight for Your Right Revisited — a short directed by Adam Yauch that's preceding the new Beastie Boys album, Hot Sauce Committee Vol. 2 — has popped up online.  


It is, as its overstuffed cameo roll and basic concept — Mike D (played by Seth Rogen), Ad-Rock (Elijah Wood), and MCA (Danny McBride) continuing to wreak havoc the morning after the party from the "Fight for Your Right" video — would suggest, a wholeheartedly awesome twenty-plus minutes. It's got an improvised (in a good way) feel, an exceptionally funky soundtrack of new Beasties music, the coining of the term "Jon Bon" to refer to the front man of Bon Jovi, the consumption of whippits, and exchanges like this


See the full video here and related story

Esquire’s 50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To

 
A few disqualifying factors for "songs a man should be listening to": Any song we fell asleep listening to didn't make the list. Or any song that sounds like it's being sung by someone who sounds like they're about to fall asleep. Or any song that features a novelty instrument, such as a poorly played French horn. Or any song that is a slow, acoustic cover of a song that was originally played fast. Or any song that makes us feel worse about ourselves and the world and music in general. Any song that isn't good, is what we're trying to say. [By Andy Langer]

Here is a few of the selection [For more titles: Best New Songs of 2011]




Watch host of ’s “Guide to 50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To” and her mile-long legs count down some of the Best Songs of 2011 thus far. The dance moves that impress her most: “Pop-and-locking, ticking. The moonwalk. Tricks like that.”

According to Esquire, the songs guys should be listening to were actually recorded by a bunch of people you’ve probably never heard of. Titles by Brett Dennen, Jamaica, and The Decemberists are featured prominently in the countdown… but it’s not like you will notice. [WagerWeb.com]


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Hello Kitty/Shepard Fairey


Street artist Shepard Fairey created an OBEY x Hello Kitty screen print to celebrate the opening of the Sanrio Small Gifts Art Show in Miami. Frank Shepard Fairey, born February 15, 1970, is an American contemporary artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. 

He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" (…OBEY…) sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama "Hope" poster. 

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston calls him one of today's best known and most influential street artists. His work is included in the collections at The Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

Taxi Drive: Re-Imaged



In honor of this year’s best performances, W Magazine has put together a 20-page photo series entitled Best Performances which show actors photographed as characters in past best performances.  I found the photo of Dakota Fanning mesmerizing. It is a sensuous re-imaging of Jodie Foster's character Iris. Photographs by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin; styled by Melanie Ward. Tom Ford’s leather tank top, Chanel’s calfskin shorts, Patricia Underwood hat, and Chanel bracelets.






Beastie Boys: Fight for Your Right Revisted


This is the official trailer for the Beastie Boys film Fight For Your Right Revisited

Watch the Star-Studded Beastie Boys Video ‘Make Some Noise’ at Rolling Stone It's basically a trimmed-down version of their 30-minute short film Fight For Your Right Revisited. Make Some Noise is about 2 minutes longer than the official trailer and presents the cameos in a different sequence. Regardless this is what Music Videos should be.

Here's a guide to the celebrity cameos thanks to The New York Magazine/Vulture

Adam Yauch's Sundance short, Fight for Your Right Revisited, asks the question, "What happened after the Beastie Boys left the iconic shindig from the '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)' video?" The answer: They make mischief with a whole lot of celebrities — so many celebrities, in fact, that the 30-minute short plays like an A-list, hip-hop cross between the videos for Moby's "We Are All Made of Stars" and Weezer's "Pork and Beans." Vulture was on the scene last night when Revisited premiered in Park City, and because we are nothing if not service-y, here's a list of which celebs you can expect in the short (and what they'll be doing).

Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, and Elijah Wood: Playing Mike D, MCA, and the most adorable Ad-Rock ever, respectively, the trio stumbles out of the party at dawn, then goes on a slow-mo destruction spree, tossing beers at people and breaking into a bodega.

Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci: The parents whose absence allowed the party to happen in the first place. A suspicious Sarandon tries to blame the Beasties for the wanton destruction, using pie remnants as proof.

Rashida Jones: The first of the short's many, many two-second cameos, Jones walks down the street, is come on to by the Beasties, and says, "You wish, turkeys."

Will Arnett: If you're still in the throes of Arrested Development withdrawal, enjoy Arnett essentially playing G.O.B. here (expensive suit and indignant "Come on!" included).

Adam Scott: A cabdriver. This is the point in the short where the audience started murmuring the names of the celebrities they recognized, so there was a lot of, "That's Adam Scott!" (and just as much "Who's Adam Scott?").

Rainn Wilson: A churchgoer, he is offended by the Beasties' post-party antics.

Ted Danson: The maitre d' of a café that the Beasties terrorize, and between him and Steve Buscemi as the establishment's waiter, the recipient of most of the audience's "Hey, I recognize that famous celebrity who is making a two-second cameo" goodwill.

Amy Poehler, Roman Coppola, Shannyn Sossamon, Mary Steenburgen, Alicia Silverstone, Laura Dern, Milo Ventimiglia, and Jody Hill: All patrons of the café, Poehler and Steenburgen are lucky enough to get close-ups, but the rest of the actors were there to add barely glimpsed celebrity flavor.

Jason Schwartzman: Another café patron, dressed as Vincent Van Gogh, for some reason.

Chloë Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, and Maya Rudolph: This is the point where the short started to weirdly resemble Madonna's video for "Music," as the Beasties clamber into town cars with three colorfully wigged metal chicks, who indulge in all manner of illegal activity (drugs, stabbing) with them. All it needed was a Sacha Baron Cohen cameo.

David Cross: Cross reprises his role as Nathaniel Hornblower, the pseudonymous alter ego of director Adam Yauch. Complicated? Perhaps, but you only get three seconds of him anyway.

Orlando Bloom: Credited as "Johnny Ryall," he would appear to be the character from the Beasties' track from Paul's Boutique, except that Orlando Bloom is way too pretty to play a homeless alcoholic.

Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Jack Black: Arriving in a Delorean, the three play time-traveling versions of the older Beasties, with a cowbell-striking Ferrell as Ad-Rock, Reilly as Mike D, and Black as MCA (or, as the younger Beasties put it, "The ghosts of License to Ill future"). It isn't long before the Beasties of both generations get in a dance-off, which culminates in a literal, endless pissing contest. 

Adam Horovitz, Mike D, Adam Yauch: Finally, the actual Beasties appear as cops, hauling the faux Beasties away in a paddy wagon driven by Martin Starr. Still, their most significant contribution to the short might be the new, thumping tracks on the soundtrack, including a remix of "Too Many Rappers," featuring Nas.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: Ten Times Rosie

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley by Rankin

Rankin published Ten Time Rosie last October; it is a stunning 240-page hardback photography book. Ten Times Rosie showcases the creativity Paula Thomas, head designer at Thomas Wylde, and stylist Maryam Malakpour.

 
This is coffee table tome is crazily epic.  Rosie goes from sexy to glamorous to gritty to edgy to androgynous and back again.  This is just a 5-shot snippet of the actual book.


It’s an undeniable fact that Rosie’s amazing though.  She’s a lot more versatile than people who write her off as a Victoria Secret model would expect


Obviously she is very aware of her feminine charms, but it would be wrong to typecast her as merely a bombshell. 


"Shooting Ten Times Rosie was the most incredible experience of my career," says Huntington-Whiteley. "Paula, Rankin and the team worked so hard, the set had an amazing community atmosphere. I think we have created some beautiful and iconic images. I'm so proud of this project and I believe it's something that is very close and personal to all of us as it's a combined effort of our creativity and imagination."


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Miranda Kerr: A Bad Education

Model Miranda Kerr is quickly becoming one of the most photographed models of the decade. A new set of photos is going viral on the Internet that takes her sexuality to a whole new level.

In one of the latest series of photos, she poses in a Catholic school girl fantasy for Numéro, a French magazine that describes itself as an avant garde fashion book.

Photographer Greg Kadel shot the spread and took inspiration from Catholic school, nuns and schoolgirls.

Patti Wilson, handled the styling for La Mauvaise Éducation, and wasn’t shy about pushing all the buttons that make up a Catholic school girl fantasy — namely sex, blasphemy and fashion.











Daisy Lowe: Dazed and Confused

Daisy Lowe by Rankin for Dazed & Confused
 







Katy Perry: Speaking in Tongues

Mark Seliger shoots Katy Perry for Rolling Stone Magazine in Sex, God and Katy Perry.
 "Speaking in tongues is as normal to me as 'Pass the salt..'"

Rolling Stone August 2010
I sure that plenty of Fanboys would be speaking in tongues when she was done with them. Unfortunately for everyone but Russell Brand she is now a married women.


Katy Perry: Esquire U.K.


Well hello, Mrs. Russell Brand. Yes, that is Katy Perry and her boobs going full-on Bettie Page pinup girl for the cover of the UK version of Esquire. After taking a look at the Esquire UK site we can say that it seems like Katy’s ladies are a little shocking for a magazine with articles like “How To Use A Spitoon” and “Polo In The Park” but it just goes to show – boobs are beloved by all, no matter how fancy-pants one may seem.[The Fablife]






Women We Love Photographer and director Yu Tsai.

Katy Perry: Dark Angel








The child of pastors and one-time gospel-rocker has parlayed infectious fruit-flavored hits like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot and Cold” into a sold-out 50-city concert tour. And somewhere along the way, her career became a blueprint for aspiring pop stars.


Everything is calculated: the bright red lipstick; the pin-up aesthetic; the irreverent titles and earworm hooks. But where it might seem cynical coming from anyone else, Katy makes it work. Hell, she makes it honest. 


I came out like this 1940s pin-up girl, and of course that has evolved a little bit here and there. It’s a bit of a darker side of me, a little S&M. 


Katy Perry: Dark AngelStory By Joe La Puma; Photography by Gavin Bond; Styling by Kelly McCabe.