Je suis désolé

Madonna's newest single, "Sorry" comes out today in the States. Be sure to pick up the Maxi single, featuring the Pet Shop Boys Maxi-Mix. Also on the US Maxi single release is the cool Paper Faces Remix of "Let it Will Be".

All this in anticipation of a world tour in late spring/early summer. I'll probably be heading to Vegas again to catch it. See you all there!

Love Kylie

I'm really into Kylie Minogue again.

I guess I've overlistened to my Confessions on a Dancefloor album, so now I've been listening to a lot more Kylie now. But not even new Kylie, her older stuff, like from 1994 stuff (God, listen to me talking like 1994 was like eons ago!). I only got Kylie's older stuff (Light Years, Kylie Minogue self titled album) recently, so it's new to me.

Anyway, my current favorite song is "Confide In Me." It's very strange as a dance song, starting off with a string section playing in a minor key, and giving way to trip-hop like bass lines, with Kylie singing in a spooky lower register. And is that a sitar that I hear strumming in the background? In effect, it is a very slinky song, allowing one to slither on the dancefloor.

Too bad the video for it (which I saw off the Ultimate Kylie video collection DVD) is a seizure inducing mess. It could have been so much better. Basically the premise of this video is Kylie, in 6 different getups with the only thing in common between each is impossibly red lips, is advertising for a hotline number. I can't tell what kind; a crisis number or a phone sex line. The only outfit that seems to fit the theme of this song is this black patent leather getup with a big fro hairstyle. It catches the dark moodiness of the song the best. The other getups range from the silly to the odd (stud collars totally clash with hot pink!). And then the screen flitts back and fourth between all six of these Kylies and text in all different languages. Sometimes it's O.K., but when the text starts moving at breakneck speeds, I start getting vertigo. Who O.K.ed this concept? I guess I should blame director Paul Boyd (though his Robert Palmer inspired "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain is nearly pure genius).

At least I still have Kylie's "Come Into My World" video (an excellent Michel Gondry production) to watch over and over again.

They burn!!!

OH, OK! I admit that I'm not above a little pandering for some sympathy. So here it goes.
My eyes sting. Well, more than just sting. It feels like someone set two heavy books on each of my eyes, and then set the books on fire.

I blame my eczema. For some strange reason, my body decides that I should not be comfortable in my own skin. Literally and figuratively. In case you don't know what eczema is, it is a chronic drying out and itching of the skin. Usually my eczema takes up residence in somewhat benign areas like my wrists, forearms, and elbow areas. But once in a while, my eyelids start looking like it's molting season for snakes. It is really gross, how my skin turns white and sloughs off throughout the day.

So what do I do? I go see my friendly dermatologist, and she prescribes some low level steroids to smear over any patchy areas, and in a few days, they get better.

Too bad that the ointment tends to melt a little and run into my eyes. And thus the whole point of my bitching and moaning that I like to do so well...

Hung Good Inc? Feel Up?

I think I'm starting to get sick of award shows.
I remember when I was little, there seemed to be only three award shows tuning into. The Oscars for movies, The Grammys for music, and The MTV Video Music Awards for there irreverence. Each seemed like a big event, worthy of the hype given to each, and each were worth tuning into. They each felt like a special treat to watch, with special performances, and a great look back at the year. Sure there were other award shows around, but these three were the trifecta for me.
But now, it seems like every other week there is an award show for everyone and anyone. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, The People's Choice Awards, The Soap Opera Awards, The Billboard Music Awards!!! The list goes on and on. Now I've discovered some award shows that do deserve merit and screen time (The Tony Awards I discovered after I started high school theatre), but we really do need to cull off and give a swift death for many of them. I mean, the Billboard Music Awards gives out an award to... the highest and longest charting songs. No real merit on the artists' part. Have you heard the drivel they play on Top 40 radio these days? Thank goodness that I have an iTrip to put on my iPod. I can make my own playlist like I have my own personal radio station.
Another thing I'm starting to dislike is the advent of everyone doing mash ups with each other. Like on the Grammy's today. The Gorillaz opened up with "Feel Good Inc.", and when it got to the instrumental break, Madonna pops out and segues into "Hung Up." Now I do like both the Gorillaz and Madonna, and this mash-up wasn't quite so bad, but they really need to stop this trend. For some reason, they never seemed really inspired, it seems like the producers are just picking names out of a hat, and keeping the oddest pairing that they come up with. How else would you explain Paul McCartney singing on the same stage as Jay-Z and Linkin Park?
And didn't U2 get nominated last year for the same album? It came out quite some time ago, so I though it already made it's Award show rounds. They just squeeze as much blood out of that "Vertigo" song as they can (they did sing it twice at the Seattle Key Arena concert last year!). And then when Mary J. Blige came out to join the boys in an overstimulating rendition of "One"... I thought Mary J. Blige said "No More Drama"? Then why is she singing like she's having an epileptic seizure while standing in a puddle of water while holding onto powerlines, while at the same time being possessed by both a good and evil spirit fighting a battle over her empty shell of a body? I think that the only people who should be allowed to cover "One" is Train.
Oh, and one last thing. Chris Martin of Coldplay, please cut your hair!!! It is inexcusable for you to run around with that hairdo. You are not a 8 year old boy anymore, so you don't have to gallivant about with what looks like a small, permed dog sitting on top of your head.
OK, that's enough ranting for tonight. See you for the Independent Spirit Awards!