Akiza

On MySpace, I was invited by Akiza. After accepting the request, a little flyer appears in my comments, announcing the openning of an exhibition at the Cabinet des Curieux. That's how Akiza came to me.
It is difficult not to be touched by the creations of this artist who's very discreet on his website. In the fetish universe, this graphist often dedicates his little vignettes to his entourage or to artists who influenced him such as Amélie Nothomb or Coralie Trinh Thi.
Between a pure black and white and long and sinuous shapes, the almost pornographic representations of Akiza's dolls are sure to strike you. I'm totally seduced, even though I'm far from being goth, even chic.


Today, Akiza deals his creations on different media (you can find some really cool tees in the shop), and shows his creations in galeries. The website is here, there's also an Akiza page on MySpace.

Waiting for Skins...

I think it's not exagerated to say that "Skins" is almost a real phenomenon. A british show preceded by such a buzz doesn't land on our TVs everyday. This 2007 show broadcast on E4 (Channel 4's premium TV) seriously rejuvenated TV in the UK.

The pitch? Some typecast UK characters from Bristol: the saddist player, the addict party-boy infatuated with his teacher, the blonde gay twink who tap dances, the eating-disorder always high girl, the still-virgin geek, the flute-playing nerdy black girl, the Pakistanese girls-obsessed teenager... They're all in the most improbable situations that are not to be taken on the first degree. "Skins" is not necessarily the most suitable show for young viewers.

One of the "Skins" key recipe is probably its impeccable production: shot like a feature movie with Hollywood budgets, "Skins" is a lab of ideas for the MTV generation, only better!

Uncut series 1 trailer - Extended version


The first season was released on DVD in the UK in mid-2007 while season 2 is already on the air since February 2007 and should be available on DVD on the following days. We can't wait to witness the next adventures of our favorites British teenage heroes!



Uncut series 2 trailer


More on the official site, or on their MySpace.

Seal

Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, born 1963 in London, is very popular and has a collection of international hits. Everyone probably has the incredible "Crazy" (in 1991 with production by Trevor Horn) in head or the sublime "Kiss From A Rose" (on the "Batman Forever" soundtrack in 1998). I recently discovered the whole carreer of this artist who, in five albums, totally defines British soul at its best. I might add I was not really seduced by Seal's "comeback" with Love's Divine or Get It Together, which I found too slow...

"Don't Cry" (1996 - from the album "Seal 2")

"Human Beings" (1998 - from the album "Human Beings")

"Waiting For You" (2004 - from the album "Seal IV")

In November 2007, System, his latest album, was released. Produced by Stuart Price (do I need to remind you that Price, a.k.a Thin White Duke, Jacques Lu Cont, Paper Faces or Man With Guitar, was the creator of many of Madonna's "Confessions" era singles?), this new installment can confuse because it introduces us to a very dance/electro-oriented Seal. But those are his first loves, because Killer and Crazy were closer to this sound than the later (successful nonetheless) romantic power ballads he produced since.

"The Right Life" (2007 - from the album "System")

I can even say that once the surprise of the first few notes is passed, I totally dig it!
The beat is here, but the emotion still is too. With well produced dancefloor anthems, flying ballads with electro flavors or even a matrimonial duet with wife Heidi Klum, Seal scores! Can't wait to see all that live on stage.

Mitch O'Connell

A little stroll at Kiliwatch enabled me to discover this book of funky tattoos (above). Browsing it, I almost felt like I needed to have one of those trashy-cute figurine applied to my skinny forearm! Mitch O'Connell is a Chicago illustrator artist who works for Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Spin, The New York Times, Time, Playboy, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and even Juggs (the HUUUGE breast aficionado magazine).


You can discover more of his work on his website (here) or his page on MySpace (here). Some of his works, between dark humor and a criticism of consumerism, are pop collages not necessarily childish, they can even be very dark (like down here).

Hard Candy + 4 Minutes

Scoop or hoax? Here is the rumored cover of the album produced by Pharell Williams, Timbaland and Nate "Danja" Hills, to be released on Avril 29 2008. Here's also the cover of the 1st single with Justin Timberlake, already on rotation on some radio and soon everywhere.

Here's the supposed track-list :

“Candy Store”
“4 Minutes”
“Give It 2 Me”
“Heartbeat”
“Miles Away”
“She’s Not Me”
“Incredible”
“Beat Goes On”
“Dance Tonight”
“Spanish Lesson”
“Devil”

Like always when Madonna uncovers her artwork in advance, I can't help but feel a little surprised by these visuals... I'm not necessarily disappointed though. Actually, I just can't no longer wait!!


Bonus: The teaser film for the single release.
Click on the picture down there.

A message from Mr. John Soglo

From Mr. John Soglo
C/2645 RUE DE JERRICHO COTONOU
REPUBLIC DU BENIN
Email: soglojohn@yahoo.fr


I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not had previous
Correspondence, please bear with me. I will really like to have a good relationship
With you, and I have a special reason why I decided to contact you, hoping that you
Would cooperate with me.

My names are. John Soglo, a Manager and former personal assistant to a business Guru
And my former Boss, Late Frederick M. Wong. This mail is Written and intended to
Solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to my Late Boss, Frederick M.
Wong, (California USA). He was a Government Approved contractor with the Government
of the Republic of Benin, an Oil Merchant with the Government of the Gabon a Central
African country, and also a gold dealer in Ghana and very wealthy for that matter.
Mr. Frederick M. Wong made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued at USD25M (Twenty  Five
Million United States Dollars Only) with a Security Firm in COTONOU REPUBLIC OF
BENIN, before he and his lovely wife unfortunately lost their life’s aboard Egypt Air
Flight 990, which crashed in to the Atlantic Ocean on November 2nd, 1999.

(news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and left no clear beneficiary as Next
of Kin except some vital documents related to the Deposit that he left on my care, as
I was with him at the time of the deposit of this funds, The Governing Body of the
Security Company where the funds had been deposited has contacted me on this matter,
and have demanded that I provide the next of kin to whom this funds would be released
To Immediately, I have tried my best to see if I could locate any of his relation,
Unfortunately till this time I have been unable to locate and provide any one of his
Relations as the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. This is why I then decided
To look for a trust worthy person that I can front as his next of kin and my search
For such person then lead me to you based under a clear and legitimate agreement
With you, I shall seek your consent to present you to the Security Company as his
Next of kin and final beneficiary of the said funds.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate contact
With me only through this my E-mail:soglojohn@yahoo.fr   for further information
Relating to this Matter.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect your prompt
Response.

Bear in mind that if you agree to assist me with this project, you would be entitled
To 30% of the total sum, while 5% is mapped out to cover every unforseen expensess
That might be incurred in the cause of this project, like telephone calls and other
Little expenses, while the remaining would be for me, and one other staff of our
Company that knows about this funds.

Note that it does not matter the country you come from or your color everything
Would be taken care of and be assured that this project is 100% risk free so you need
Not entertain any fears, because my family is a well know family here in my country,
All I ask for is your full cooperation to conclude this project fast, because if I do
Not present the next of kin on time the funds might be declared unclaimed and handed
Over to the Federal Government of Benin, hence your urgent response is needed.

Thanking you once more for your anticipated assistance and cooperation.

I am Yours Sincerely


Mr. John Soglo

Email: soglojohn@yahoo.fr

The "Beggin'" War

You can't have missed it, but just like the "Macarena" with those of the sea and those of the river (super lame paralel), the 2008 summer hit has split in two different items. Radios and TVs air a very catchy tune, originally, it was "Beggin'" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, an American boy band from the 60s who was hugely successful across the decades. We owe them the hit "Oh What A Night", popularized in France by Claude François with "Cette Année-Là" and years later with Yannick ("Ces Soirées-Là"). This band was also the subject of a musical on Broadway, Jersey Boys, who won a Tony for best musical in 2006.

This time again, two versions of the almost identical song spread the airwaves at the same time.

The first version is a simple remix by a French DJ, Pilooski. Frankie Valli does the vocal and the Four Seasons play the music. A new beat enables the classic song to become a new hit...





The second version is from Norwegian hip-hop duet Madcon. Here, voices and music are re-recorded (above, the CD sleeve).

Just for fun, here's the original 1967 version.

Découvrez The Four Seasons!

Shaun Tan

Born in1974 in Perth, Australia, this young artist will illustrate at first some fantastic or horror short stories for teenage magazines.


Later, Shaun Tan's work is recognized and wins a prize for the illustration of "The Rabbits", a children's book.


In 2008, Shaun Tan is granted a prize at the Angoulême Comics festival for the best book with "The Arrival".


This exceptional work is a mute comic with a very cinematic verve telling the story of a migrant who just arrives in a new country. With emotion, the book introduces us to a fantastic world, between an austere gray tone and a universe populated with magical creatures like Miyazaki's, enable each of us to identify...
Cet ouvrage exceptionnel est une bande-dessinée muette très cinématique relatant l'histoire d'un immigré arrivant dans une nouvelle contrée. Tout en émotion, le livre nous présente un univers fantastique, entre l'austérité d'un trait en teintes de gris et un univers peuplé de créatures fantastiques à la Miyazaki, permettant pourtant à chacun de se retrouver...


His website will introduce you further to his world.

Olivia!

Olivia Newton-John is not a well known icon in France. If the French audiences remembered her name, it's only from "Grease" (1978)...

"Hopelessly Devoted To You" (1978)


However, as far as I'm concerned, I remember very well "Physical"!
An interesting beat, a ridicule video that tries to be funny, a perfect hair and Olivia's smile were the key to its success. Fellow Aussie Kylie Minogue paid a tribute with a cover, 20 years later, during the "On A Night Like This Tour" (2001).

Physical (1981 - Olivia)


Physical (2001 - Kylie)


Olivia was born in Cambridge, England in 1948. She left for Australia with her parents 6 years later. Her carreer started in the 1970s with some minor hits that only charted in Australia and in the UK. She was a contestant to the Eurovision and had a nice success with "I Honestly Love You". With "Grease", she's a huge hit!

Then Came "Xanadu"! This cinematic UFO, with Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richards and the neo-pop band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) will totally flop. The songs and the roller-skating apparently didn't seduce the audience then. The movie will get some recognition later, mostly due to its first degree kitsch dimension and its effecient tunes.

A musical is even created on Broadway in 2007, it will get rave reviews from the press and the public. Here are two songs from the movie.

"Magic" (1980)


"Xanadu" (1980)


In the end of the 1980s, Olivia Newton-John sings "The Rumour", an energy-driven hit written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin also in the back-singers.

"The Rumour" (1988)