Lane Bryant Pulls A "Louie" this week...
US based retailer Lane Bryant, catering to the "plus-sized" fashion clientel, got shunned by ABC-TV for it's latest commercial campaign. Good job to you LB on garnering free press for your brand. How did they pull a Louie???? read on:
Louis Vuitton is my friend.... and I hope that the fashion house keeps up their work and vision. Why are they my friend? Well, for starters my LV duffel - "Uncle Louie" is what I use to tote around my costumes when I'm headed to a performance. The straps are comfy and the construction of the bag is tough enough that it helps protect my Couture wears. That is, until last week when I STUPIDLY spilled an entire XXL Diet Rock Star in the bag --- I know you heard about the fall out (hence this month's article about
costume cleaning).
What my Uncle Louie team did last month at the Paris Fashion week was celebrate US!! The curves and sizes of women on their runway. Oh not to mention ages as well --- a 46 year old on the run way??? gasp!
Film-Fest in India Pushing It:
Hopeful Hip-Pops:
With a background that includes film work, some of which included fest-bound indies, I keep my eyes and ears on the festival circuit. It will be interesting to see how Mumbai's "Kashish" festival pans out. It kicked off Thursday, marked as the biggest gay-and-lesbian themed film festival.
In a nation where homosexuality carries a heck of a stigma, organizers hope this will create more open dialog on gay issues. Dialog, yes it will come. After all, it was less than a year ago that the Delhi High Court ruled that same-sex sex was not a crime... but I'm not so sure how open and welcome their mainstreaming efforts will be.
Good Luck and let's see if Bollywood moves away from making homosexuality the comic relief.
Exciting news from the music scene in India:
Hip-Pops & a whole lot more:
More good news from India, and one of my favorite composers/visionaries: A R Rahman. He's going on tour!!!! Canada, America and Western Europe --- get ready for this summer! I'm trying to get my tickets now, but cannot decide where I want to see him: London, Houston, or Amsterdam. Yes, I will be in all those places at those times.
No I am not stalking him.
HOUSTON You DO Have A Problem.......Texas-Sized Jaw-Drop: An interesting news headline graced my computer screen this morning thanks to the Hip Muzik team: “
Houston Jury Finds Member Of World’s Largest Alleged Internet Music Piracy Group Not Guilty.” Whaaa? Houston, how could you let me down like this?
As I skimmed the article, it was even worse than I thought. Matthew Chow, founder of Rabid Neurosis, the largest illegal file-sharing database on the net, was let off the hook last week for all of the shady business he was up to.
*Breathe*
Okay. The courts are WAY too nice to people guilty of copyright infringement! It’s us, the performers and musicians, who are taking the hit for these guys when they refuse to give their cut to the RIAA. It’s one thing to burn a CD for your friend (even though that’s wrong too - learn more
here)…but to run that big of an operation and then receive no punishment whatsoever?
This Chow guy was going to get a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Boo-freakin-hoo.
Brain Hemorrhage + Rockers, Not Once, But Twice!
Double Jaw Drops:
As I was writing about the loss of drummer Devon Clifford of the band You Say Party! We Say Die! who died of a massive brain hemorrhage after collapsing during their Vancouver gig at the Rickshaw Theatre... I hear the news that Brett Michaels' in critical condition. He too, has been hit with a brain hemorrhage. Wow. Sad and scary.
What? A Pop-Star Being Selfish? Caring More About Corporate Sponsorships? Say It Ain't So!
I give 2 Hip-Pops to Indonesia:
Kelly Clarkson - the "Original Idol," has put out a long string of hits, and being a Texas-Born & Bred Girl... I've been proud of a fellow-Texan's success. But her current money-grubbing decisions have made me shocked & embarrassed by her. Her concert's banned in Indonesia - and for GOOD REASON. Her concert sponsor is L.A. Lights Cigarettes. Huh? I was baffled and even gave her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was without her direct knowledge?
“This is a lose-lose situation for me and I am not happy about it but the damage has been done and I refuse to cancel on my fans,” she says on her site.
Never mind on that 'benefit of the doubt,' I was extending.
Indonesia is one of my favorite places... what I hate to see when I am there - are the children smoking. 10, 12 even as young as 8 years old, I've seen it and been shocked.
Take a stand... do the right thing & dump the tobacco money. As Matthew Meyers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has said:
"If she rejects tobacco industry sponsorship, she can send a powerful message to children in Indonesia and around the world that they, too, should reject the tobacco industry's deadly products and marketing."
I agree. Grow some Kelly. Indonesia is not an expensive place. Your overhead costs are little to nothing. If you are so concerned about disappointing your fans... have you thought about the message of a FREE concert?
Take a stand and do something positive with your voice.
And Ending On A Wonderful Belly Dance Hip-Pop Note:
Awesome job to Yasmina Ramzy... an amazing dancer, director and woman in Canada. Don't know her? Well this past weekend she orchestrated the 3rd International Belly dance Conference. Drawing over 1,400 dancers from around the world and bringing more visibility and press coverage to this wonderful and beautiful art form that we love.
You are a treasure Yasmina: to the dance, to the art and to our community. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. I'm just sad that I had to miss it this time. I won't miss it next time -- PROMISE!
