Austin City Limits Music Festival + ME = B-A-N-A-N-A-S

The Austin City Limits Music Festival was amazing. It left me speechless literally. The heat was unbearable, a lesser man would have given up but not I. A combination of Red Bull, sun block and enthusiasm kept me going throughout the weekend. I went with my friend Christopher and my sister Rosie and my brother. The more the merrier, right! The lineup was really good: Death Cab for Cutie, M83, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Oasis, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Jet, The Bravery, Eisley, Spoon and The Walkmen, so everyone worth seeing in the '05 was there. I even heard Gwyneth Paltrow & baby Apple were in Austin for the festival but I never saw them. I'm sure they were hiding all the A-listers backstage. Here's hoping Gwyneth Mizz Paltrow-Martin saw me on Sunday in my "Like A Virgin" t-shirt & reports the news back to Madonna. NOT! Fat chance I know but I can dream! I at least got some compliments from a couple of randoms for my attire.
I didn't get to see all the acts I wanted to see but beggars can't be choosers. Anyway I don't think I could have gotten to Zilker Park earlier and hung out all fucking day in that insane heat. All the bands were dying. They all made some pretty unfortunate wardrobe choices certainly not suitable for Texas heat. They really need to put in some more shade in the future. As it is I was fucking melting!!! Yet even in my sorry state I saved a life when this chick passed out in my arms on Sunday right before Coldplay. I was trying to get her over the railing to safety when BOOM she was out cold, crazy!
I saw The Walkmen, Jet, Bloc Party and Oasis on Saturday. The Walkmen were good, nothing extraordinary. I didn't have such good real estate during their set. And I was a bit disappointed I didn't get to hear the hit.
Jet were rock and a lil' more mellow than I remember. They played "Cold Hard Bitch," "Are You Going to Be My Girl?," "Roll Over D.J.," "Move On," well all the hits!!!
Bloc Party were stiletto sharp. This was the 2nd time I got to see them. The last time I saw them was @ South by South West. They played right before The New York Dolls @ Stubb's BBQ during SXSW. So in honor of that 1st show I ate a burger from Stubb's during their set. Talk about synchronicity. I totally didn't plan that. Bloc Party played all their singles and a cool new song. It sounded like The Cure other than that I'm a blank. I still can't believe I saw fucking OASIS!!! That's just crazy!!!

And it's so perfect cuz I recently dug out all my ol' Britpop cds. I've been listening to Pulp, Blur, and Oasis like nobody's business. It's 1995 all over again baby & I'm loving it. I got to hear all the hits: "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," and "Don't Look Back In Anger." They were so English it's not even funny. All through their set they were mumbling and cursing about God knows what. The last song they played was a cover of The Who's "My Generation" that was just great to sing along to.

I saw The Bravery, The Arcade Fire, Jason Mraz, Franz Ferdinand, and Coldplay on Sunday.
The Bravery's guitarist

The Bravery were really good and I had a really good view of the stage. I thought I might not get to see them since I got to the festival right when they were starting. Christopher & I literally had to run inside to catch their set. I haven't heard of all their album but I love love love their singles "Honest Mistake" and "Fearless" and "Public Service Announcement" which repeats over and over "stop, drop and roll." It's so new wave it's not even funny. The Bravery totally blew me away. They were so rock and new wave in fucking 100 + degree weather. Who would have thunk it? I literally had to run to the AMD stage to catch their set but it was worth it. They played a new song. The guitarist was insanely rowdy. I thought he would annoy me since he seems like he tries a little too hard (it's the tragic eye makeup that makes me cringe) but he was every bit the rock star. He jumped on a stack of speakers, climbed up scaffolding and jumped into the audience. I didn't get to enjoy The Arcade Fire as much as I would have liked to since the sun was at its meanest during their set. I did get to hear them cover David Bowie's "Five Years" off of Ziggy Stardust. I was kinda hoping they would drag Bowie out from somewhere like they did in New York but no such luck. During their set I ran over to some misters for some serious cooling down.
I had prime real estate for Franz Ferdinand and Coldplay. I danced through all of Franz' set despite being dehydrated. I was really trying my best to conserve my water since rations were low. I loved how Franz played "Take Me Out" in the middle of their set instead of playing the huge hit at the end. Typically bands make you work for the big song but not Franz. After they played "take me out" they went into their new single "Do You Want To?" which is just as catchy as "Take Me Out." I love that that they played those two songs one after the other. They also played "Michael" which never sounded so good and "This Fire" which was quite appropriate with the Texas sun cooking those poor Scottish lads.

I had to fight tooth and nail to get my real estate but Coldplay made it all worth it. They played all the hits, singles, whatever you wanna call them. When they played "Yellow" it was amazing. They even threw in these huge yellow balloons filled with gold confetti to add to the drama of the evening. They dedicated a song to Johnny Cash and covered "Ring Of Fire." They reminded me of U2 and The Police. They just had this intensity which I've only felt when I saw U2 live and Shirley Manson in concert. Who would have thunk lanky Chris Martin would make such a dynamic frontman a la Bono & the Sting. The last song Coldplay played was "Fix You" which was a fitting end to the festival. It seems the festival lineup was inspired by The O.C. A good portion of what has been played on the show was represented at ACL. A fact which I'm sure annoys a lot of Austinites but whatever. What I loved about everyone's sets was that no one was stingy with the hits. Jet played all their singles, Bloc Party ditto, even Oasis played "Wonderwall" which they dedicated to all the ugly girls in the audience.
I have to have to attend next year's festival without a doubt. I'm going to make it a point to attend every ACL and South By Southwest from now on.

Let Them Eat Cake...

Well I'm quite excited about Sofia Coppola's new movie Marie Antoinette. I've been wondering about this movie since I first heard it was being made. I went over to http://www.imdb.com which is one of my favorite websites, to go and dig up some information. IMDB is an all powerful entertainment oracle, when in doubt IMDB it. Sofia Coppola cast Kirsten Dunst in the title role of Marie Antoinette. It seems Sofia went with a familar actress. I like Kirsten, she's not a brilliant actress, she's okay but I don't know if she can pull off the role of Marie Antoinette. Will she have to use a bad accent a la Madonna???
I'm intrigued by the story of Marie Antoinette. It's understandable considering I'm a big fan of Courtney Love (she used a picture of Marie for the album art for My Body The Hand Grenade), Madonna (Hello! Madonna's 1990 VMA performance!) and Tori Amos who have talked about Marie Antoinette. I want to go out and buy Antonia Fraser's biography which is the basis for the film. I hope the movie is really good. Now there has to be a movie about Anne Boleyn I heart costume dramas. Go check out http://www.marie--antoinette.de, use a translator because the page is not in English. I found this brilliant depiction of Marie-Antoinette @ http://www.amydewolfe.com:

Madonna - LaChapelle = :(

Well now it looks like the Queen of Pop will not be working with David LaChapelle which is just too bad, I found this info. at http://www.drownedmadonna.com after being tipped off by towleroad.

Madonna and photographer/filmmaker David LaChapelle won't be teaming up on the video for her single "Hung Up." The pair confirmed to us yesterday that "artistic differences" foiled the collaboration.

Just Wednesday, at an H&M/Interview party for his film "Romeo and Juliet," LaChapelle told us, "It's going to be major. It's just the hottest Madonna song."

Yesterday, his rep explained that LaChapelle "wanted to approach the video in a documentary style, like he did in 'Rize' [his movie about ghetto dancers]. Madonna didn't see it the same way.'"

Some claimed both talents turned diva. "Madonna had to control every little thing," said one tipster. "She wanted to be shot so she looked very young."

The 47-year-old goddess certainly looks youthful on the Steven Klein-shot cover of her new CD, "Confessions From the Dance Floor."

But her rep, Liz Rosenberg, insists Madonna bears no grudge against LaChapelle: "She loves him and said she would work with him again in a minute."

Her Madgesty was in New York last weekend. Besides having doctors check out her riding injuries, she had dinner Sunday at Blue Hill with Christiane Amanpour.



I think it sounded too good to be true. It sounded like a good idea but "oh well whatever nevermind..." Well it seems like Madonna is embracing her inner Kylie. Ms. Minogue has already done the redheaded vamp look and done it well and Kylie has never abandoned the dancefloor. Madge's new single does sound Kyliesque but I think it's a good thing. Madonna influenced Kylie now it seems the Queen of Pop has been inspired by the Princess of Pop.
In other Madge news here's the rumored tracklisting for Confessions On A Dancefloor:

Confessions On A Dancefloor
1) Hung Up
2) Get Together
3) Sorry
4) Future Lovers
5) I Love New York
6) Let It Will Be
7) Forbidden Love
8) Jump (Kylie has a song called "Jump" too)
9) How High
10) Isaac (sounds a bit biblical/ Kaballah)
11) Push
12) Like It Or Not


All the song titles sound good and super kawaii!!! I hope her new dance songs live up to her best songs like "Into the Groove" and "Vogue." Now here's hoping the album will be as good as it sounds and lives up to the hype. It's too bad the song hasn't been released to radio and the video hasn't debuted to capitalize on the buzz Madonna has on the internet. The first image was rumored to be the cover of Confessions before madonna.com revealed the real cover image. The second image was going to be a Paris Vogue cover in August 2004 but it was ditched in favor of the same picture without the psychedelic vibe.

Redhead of the Week: Madonna!!!

Madonna's new album cover has been released on http://www.madonna.com and it's so good. It's so now and ahead of everyone else just like Madonna. Madonna is now a redhead just like my other musical loves of my life. (Tori Amos & Shirley Manson) I love it!!! It's about time Madge revisited her red hair, like the wig she had in the "Fever" video off of Erotica, circa 1992. I'm so glad I have my redhead of the week thing going to honor all the redheads I love from pop culture.

Here's the news brief from madonna.com

Confessions on a Dancefloor Cover Artwork Revealed!
Madonna wanted her fans to be the first to see the cover art for her new album, Confessions on a Dancefloor. Madonna collaborated with Steven Klein and Giovannin Bianco to create this dazzling album artwork. Confessions on a Dancefloor will be released on November 14 in international markets, November 15 domestically.

Coo Coo Cool

Now I've downloaded the Photek remix of Gwen's "Cool." Which is really good and new wave and all that but not nearly as dreamy as the album version, video version or Richard X's remix. The Photek remix is more rock while the Richard X remix is more dance but it's all POP! The Photek remix sounds vaguely like a Cure song which suits me just fine. It's like a lovely white leather glove. Strike that it sounds tons like a Cure song and it more like a black glove, Robert Smith so shoulda added some flourishes to this. I know some of you might think that's beneath Robert but after you working with Blink-182, which he did there's nothing beneath you. I did like Blink 182's single "I Miss You" and the accompanying video. But it was all a Smashing Pumpkins/ The Cure ripoff. My favorite lyric from the song is I guess everyone's fav lyric "we can live like jack and sally..." sweet!!

I Know We're Cool...

I'm here watching Anderson Cooper 360 and looking for something new on the net and I hit the jackpot. I just finished downloading the most amazing thing I've heard all month. Richard X's remix of Gwen Stefani's "Cool." The Richard X remix of "Cool" is brilliant. It's for everyone who wanted to rush to the dancefloor when "Cool" came on the loudspeakers but didn't really wanna slow dance. I read about it at Towleroad who read about it at Fluxblog who got it from iTunes. It's super kawaii. It's at the iTunes music store and the single drops Sept. 20. I love the single artwork. It's kinda cheap just ripping a still image from the video but Gwen looks really hot. I love the old school record vibe the single has, very extra Italian cool kinda like the video. The sleeve looks like an old Frank Sinatra record.
I'm really pissed at iTunes though for not alerting me to this. Stefani is on my artist alerts and I didn't get wind of this till I hit my favorite blogs. I never ever get artist alerts on time, so I ask you, why iTunes, WHY??? The Richard X remix is not on the single though it's only at iTunes and Fluxblog. I wonder why that is??? The remix is really good, it makes the song even more new wave. It totally adds a new dimension to the song. I can't wait for Gwen in concert.

p.s. Why hasn't Gwen Stefani released a video version of "Cool" with the really good cinematic intro that's not on the record??? I need that intro!!!

~~~~ ~Madonna Meet$ LaChapelle~~~~~~~

Here's another pic from the Madonna/LaChapelle/ Rolling Stone photoshoot.

Madonna + LaChapelle = POP

I found this info. @ madonnalicious.com (which is a really good British Madonna fansite that has daily updates), who got it from Madonna.com:

Madonna.com is pleased to announce that David LaChapelle will be reuniting with Madonna to direct the "Hung Up" video! David & Madonna's previous collaborations include a photoshoot for Rolling Stone Magazine in 1998 and the cover of the Video Collection 93:99. Based on their beautiful past creations, we can be sure that the "Hung Up" video is going to be a work of art!

The video is slated to be shot in and around London, utilising famous London imagery such as double decker buses and the tube. Some hidden camera work will be used to record the reactions of people when they see Madonna on the street/bus/tube. The final set piece of choreography in the streets will be staged by Jamie King.
At the moment there is even a tongue-in-cheek reference to her broken bones!

That sounds like it's going to be a really good fucking pop video. David LaChapelle has a really good eye and aesthetic. The Rolling Stone cover shoot in 1998 was brilliant, so if that's any indication the video should be some clever eyecandy. "Hung Up" is a great pop song so it's not like he has to work with some shit song. I can't wait to see what these two kooks cook up. I'm hoping it's London Street Fashion meets old school Madonna meets madness crossed with new futuresque Madonna. A spin on Debbie Harry and Madonna's BOY TOY look could be good too. Maybe something mod perhaps?

P.S. A clever nod to ABBA wouldn't hurt either.

Hung Up On Madonna

"I want to rule the world!" - - Madonna on American Bandstand, 1984
That clever soundbyte has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Madonna is set to take over the world. In the coming months we'll all be living in a Material World and that suits me just fine. Apple, iTunes, Motorola, Cingular and Madonna are all in cahoots to promote the new Motorola ROKR. It's a really cool looking mobile phone meets iPod gadget.
She's been reluctant to enter the digital market along with other heavweights such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin but that no longer seems to be the case. Her entire digital catalog is available exclusively at various international iTunes music stores. Her previous endeavors into the digital music market were when she released the title track off of her album American Life through her own website.
The new Motorola commercial features Madonna, Iggy Pop, Little Richard, Alanis Morrissette, Mya, Bootsy Collins, Common, etc. There are also some lookalikes of Beethoven and Biggie Smalls included. All of the stars pile into a phone booth. The commercial is set to the tune of Madonna's first single "Hung Up" off of her new album Confessions On A Dancefloor. It's a really good song. It samples ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)."
Here are the lyrics to "Hung Up":

HUNG UP

"Time goes by so slowly ( repeated 6 times)

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
No time to hesitate
Those who run seem to have all the fun
I'm caught up
I don't know what to do

Time goes by so slowly
Time goes by so slowly
Time goes by so slowly
I don't know what to do

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Ring ring ring goes the telephone
The lights are on but there's no-one home
Tick tick tock it's a quarter to two
And I'm done
I'm hanging up on you

I can't keep on waiting for you
I know that you're still hesitating
Don't cry for me
'cause I'll find my way
you'll wake up one day
but it'll be too late

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you"

I found them @ http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=27131&forum=8

Lots of goodies can be found at : http://www.madonna.nu

You can download a lo-fi audio snippet (1:18) of Hung Up at:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=02CLGY5I

You can watch a 30 second clip of Madonna's new Motorola commercial at:
http://www.motorola.com/mot/doc/5/5831_MotDoc.mpg

I found this info @ http://www.madonna.com (which has an amazing intro everyone must check out!!):

Madonna is looking stunning as usual when she was photographed shooting a Motorola commercial in London at Shepperton Studios. The Material Mom, still recovering from her recent horse riding accident, is also putting the finishing touches on her upcoming new CD "Confessions on a Dance Floor" which is scheduled to be released on Warner Bros. Records in November.

Madonna @ iTunes

Orange Crush

It's a couple of hours before the season 3 premiere of The O.C. and I can't wait. I'm in desperate need of an O.C. fix, sure there were the reruns all summer long, then there's the release of season 2 on DVD. I've been watching the horrible O.C. replacement Laguna Beach on MTV but it's just not the same. (With that said I still feel compelled to say I'm on TEAM L.C.) Just cuz it's set in Orange County does not make it as good as The O.C. I like my TV characters articulate and scripted. FYI: Rachel Bilson (Summer) came out on the Tonight Show last night and Adam Brody (Seth) is going to come out on Kimmel tonight and the whole cast is going to be on Ellen Degenerate's show tomorrow afternoon a couple of hours before the premiere. Mischa Barton (Marissa) is on the cover of the current issues of Giant and Ellegirl and Bilson graced the cover of Ellegirl last month. I guess Ellegirl and I are on an O.C. jones.

"California, here we come... right back where we started from..."

"Gwen Stefani & All That..."

I'm here wondering what will be on Gwen Stefani's setlist for her Harajuku Lovers 2005 tour. I have almost No Doubt (*pun intended) that the setlist will be the same for the entire tour. Here's hoping she'll perform all the singles, hello that's a no brainer. I mean why else would you release a single and not perform it on tour. Those are the songs everyone wants to hear. It's weird how Stefani has released her singles in the same order they are on the record. First came "What You Waiting For?," then "Rich Girl," then "Hollaback Girl" and most recently "Cool." (which is like "Crazy For You" for the aught generation.) [Coincidence?] She'll probably perform one of them as the last song or somewhere in the encore. I'm thinking "What You Waiting For?" will be the last song. I hope to God she performs every song off of L.A.M.B. It would be great if she performed at least one new song. Is she going to release a new album before the year's end even after touring & working on her fashion line. In all these articles I've read it says L.A.M.B. version 2.0 will be released b4 the year ends but I don't know, she sounds awfully busy. Although I would love love love a new Stefani record. It would also be great if she performed some covers perhaps Madonna's "Into the Groove." I would die if Gwen did that, that would truly be the shit. After all she cited that track as an influence for L.A.M.B. It would also be cool for her to cover Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam's " I Wonder If I Take You Home" but with Fergie using it for "Don't Phunk With My Heart," I don't know. Maybe Gwen & Fergie could sing "I Wonder." Another great cover would be a New Order song or a Prince song or even Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" I can't wait to hear the music before the concert starts. I always love to hear the music selected to be played before the concert starts. You always get to hear some pretty interesting stuff.
Gwen really has to perform some of her No Doubt songs perhaps "Don't Speak" or a "Simple Kind Of Life" which would kill me. "Bathwater," "Suspension Without Suspense," "Making Out," "Platinum Blonde Life" any No Doubt song would be great but those are the ones that really floor me. I hope her set is longer than an hour and a half. I can't wait to hear what the songs will sound like live, here's hoping no lipsynching. But Gwen wouldn't do that she's from the Rock world after all. I wonder if the songs are going to be remixed in some sorta way. I can't wait to see the outfits (will there be multiple costume changes???), the sets & background, and the light designs. Well if her performances on award shows and talk shows are any indication it should be really really good. "Super Kawali!!!!"

My Ideal Gwen Stefani setlist

an instrumental version of "What You Waiting For?"
(Gwen appears on stage goes into )
"Hollaback Girl"
"Rich Girl"
"Platinum Blonde Life"
"Harajuku Girls"
"Bathwater"
"Bubble Pop Electric"
"Serious"
"Simple Kind Of Life"
"Cool"
"Crazy For You"
NEW SONG
"Into the Groove"
"The Real Thing"
"Crash"
"Making Out"
"Luxurious"
"The Danger Zone"
"It's My Life"
"Long Way to Go"
"What You Waiting For?"
* it looks kinda long but "oh well whatever...nevermind"

*just some suggestions from a big fan but I'll go for any setlist Gwennie Gwen Gwen performs*

p.s. Whatever happenend to that contest her & MTV were having to win a spot in one of her videos? I guess releasing "Harajuku Girls" as a single & video was a no go.

"Friends Are Like Flowers..."

"friends are like flowers...beautiful flowers... friends are like flowers in the garden of life... Are you a daisy?... Are you a rose?...Are you a dandelion?"

Just Cuz...

it's my blog I can do whatever the FUCK I want & right now I wanna stare @ Gwen.

My thoughts & prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Katrina.