Broadway Favorites: Aida "Easy As Life"

Broadway Musical: Aida
Song: "Easy As Life"
Singer: Heather Headley



Now out of every Broadway show I have seen, AIDA is definitely my favorite. There is such a beautiful love story told in a time of war and turmoil. I have seen the show probably six times or so and still cry every time. The first time I went to see it Heather Headley returned to play the lead, as she was the original AIDA. After seeing her I was done, she was made to play that role. Since then I have seen both Deborah Cox and Michelle Williams in the part and neither quite measure up to Heather. Anyone who knows me, knows I love me a Deborah Cox but her voice was not powerful enough for the role.

The song from AIDA that has a great deal of meaning to me would be "Easy As Life" performed by Heather Headley herself. There is a point where Aida has to make a choice between the man she has fallen in love with or the people she has a responsibility to. She decides to forfeit love in order to save her people and to do that she has to convince herself that the love wasn't meant to be and that she is better off without him. The lyrics are absolutely amazing..I hope you enjoy!

"Aida, Amneris, and Radames are entangled in conflicted loyalties and emotions ("A Step Too Far"), that Aida might be a traitor to her people as she loves Radames, that his love for her could end his life as he knows it, and that he does not show the attention that Amneris deserves. Aida and Mereb bribe their way into Amonasro's prison cell, where she is reunited with her father. Mereb hatches a plan to escape with the king during the commotion of Amneris' wedding. To save her father and her nation, Aida must betray the man she loves ("Easy as Life")."

Spotlight Fashion: Tyson Ballou

Now who isn't in love with a beautiful man in an underwear ad? When I think of what would want to look like in skimpy undies, I imagine myself as beautiful and toned as Tyson Ballou. I know I am not quite there yet but do hope that one day I will be damn close. Looking through Tyson's PHOTO GALLERY I realized that he is not only good to look at, but he is also very versatile in his look. Between the racy underwear ads, fierce runway shots, and beautiful campaign layouts..it is clear that this is one model who knows what he's doing.

"Born in Garland, Texas, he began modeling at the age of 15 years old, appearing in magazines and shows in Texas. Later on, he began modeling in New York under the Ford Modeling Agency, but later signed with another agency, IMG, which was instrumental in making him one of today's most successful male models. His modeling include stints for Giorgio Armani, Versace, Exte, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana, among others. In 2007, he shot a jeans campaign for luxury brand 7 for all Mankind, alongside Carolyn Murphy."

Broadway Favorites: Les Miserables "On My Own"

Broadway Musical: Les Miserables
Song: "On My Own"
Singer: Lea Salonga


This is by far one of my most favorite broadway numbers. I have to admit I have not seen the actual show myself, but have watched the live performance of it on DVD before. I absolutely love Lea Salonga a great deal. She has an amazing voice and did a fucking amazing job in Miss Saigon (whole other entry on that show to come) and the Disney movies. However, I personally think that Frances Ruffelle did this song the best. She was the original girl to play Eponine on Broadway in the 70's. I hope you enjoy this nearly as much as I do.

On My Own

On My Own is a solo for the part of Éponine. The chorus of the song is the same tune as that of "Come to Me", although it adds a bridge and the tune of the verses are different. Beginning in the key of D, modulating to Bb(even though the song does not actually change key), then ending in F, this is her most important song.

Other uses

"On My Own" has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables, for example:

* Michelle Kwan skated to it during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.

* The character of Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, played by Katie Holmes, sings this song at a talent show phase of a beauty pageant in Episode #1-11 "Pretty Woman," also known as "Beauty Contest."

* The character of Rachel Berry in Glee, played by Lea Michele (who played Éponine at the Hollywood Bowl production of Les Mis), sang this song as an audition to join the Glee Club in the pilot episode.[9] Michele's version has been released as a digital download single.

Spotlight Fashion: Baptiste Giabiconi

I have always been in love with a classic Black & White photo shoot. These photos are no exception to that rule. Absolutely fucking fabulous in my eyes. They are part of the portfolio for runway and print model Baptiste Giabiconi. For only being 20 years old he has definitely already got a name going for himself. As far as I can tell, he is the lap boy for designer Karl Lagerfeld. Definitely smart move on his part. You can view the whole portfolio...

HERE

Memory Lane: Prince Poppycock

Walk with me down memory lane....

Several years ago there was a club in Los Angeles by the name of FUBAR that had an event each week called DIRTY DEEDS. It was actually kind of a big deal, they had CHI CHI LARUE in the DJ booth and hot porn stars dancing and doing live shows all over the place. It was actually quite an entertaining night. It was where all of the pornstars and their admirers would come to commingle with one another. One of the few places we could go to get away from the labels and judgements that followed people in the sex industry.

Now back to the story at hand, working the door was this amazingly sweet guy who we all knew as Prince Poppycock. Most of the time he was dressed down but when he would dress up it was absolutely AMAZING. Big white wigs and old victorian type costuming, it was an astonishing transformation. Well the other night DYLAN was watching television while I was blogging. I got up to walk to the room for something and saw this guy on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT who was singing opera..I was like "hmm looks like my friend Prince Poppycock" and keep going thinking nothing about it. When I came back through, to my surprise, it was Prince Poppycock. I knew that he was amazing to look at but had no idea the bitch could sing.

BRAVO PRINCE POPPYCOCK !!!

Spotlight News: "Bionic" Album Release

Christina Aguilera
"BIONIC"

I have always been a huge fan of the lovely Christina. Her sound has grown so much over the years and she has quickly become one of the most notable voices of our generation. Though I was never really a big fan of her first album but was totally in love with "Stripped" and even more obsessed with "Back To The Basics". She has always been so beautiful in my eyes and these new photo's of her just seal the deal.

There is a rather delightful story about her and the new album "Bionic" on OUT Magazine which is rather insightful and gives a little bit of history on her as well as the scoop on the new album. There were a lot of facts and information about her that I wasn't really familiar with. After reading the entry I was actually more stoked than I already was about hearing the new album.

"Bionic does not logically follow from her last album or the one before that. From pop tart to Angry Young Woman (Stripped) to Marilyn Monroe (Back to Basics), the sequence of Aguilera’s sound is as wild as the wind. Her voice is a mercenary, one of the perks -- and pitfalls -- of being a versatile medium. “Every album has been a 180 from the past,” she admits. “On Bionic, I wanted to go completely futuristic. As a new mother, I was thinking about the future generation, so I was inspired a lot by electronic music.” When she began the album, Aguilera put out a call to artists whose work she found simpatico, an unexpected cavalcade including underground faves Le Tigre, Goldfrapp, and Ladytron. “It’s a gamble,” Aguilera says of the cattle call. “You never really know who’s going to get it and who’s not.”

That's is an insert from the article that was extremely enlightening and I wanted to share with you. I am totally looking forward to hearing the collaboration she has done with LADYTRON. There are a few of her songs that I have listened to back in the day, definitely going to be interesting to see how the two come together. To read the whole article click the link below. ENJOY!!

Christina Aguilera Reclaims The Fame