It's Not Gossip, It's Commentary
If Katy Perry would just remove all that glitter and spandex, she would get the respect she deserves as a legitimate singer. I understand that gimmicks are sometimes necessary for success, but she doesn’t need it — and it’s time for her to get serious. Listen to her performance below, and try to imagine it without the ridiculous costumes.
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Beyonce sure gets accused of plagiarism a lot. The latest exercise of finger-pointing involves Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, who accused Beyonce of ripping off her ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ and ‘Achterland’ choreography for Beyonce’s ‘Countdown’ video. I’ve watched the comparisons, and it’s alarmingly similar. When addressing the controversy, the famed choreographer said:
I’m not mad, but this is plagiarism. This is stealing. What’s rude about it is that they don’t even bother about hiding it. They seem to think they could do it because it’s a famous work. When I saw the actual video, I was struck by the resemblance of Beyonce’s clip not only with the movements from Rosas danst Rosas but also with the costumes, the set and even the shots from the film by Thierry De Mey. There are protocols and consequences to such actions, and I can’t imagine she and her team are not aware of it.
I’d give Beyonce the benefit of the doubt, but this is a consistent accusation. Her performance at the 2010 Billboard Music Awards, for example, was a blatant rip-off of a Lorella Cuccarini performance. She avoided responsibility by saying she discovered Cuccarini from YouTube and she was “inspired.” And lets not forget that her very famous ‘Single Ladies’ choreography was “inspired” by Bob Fosse’s ‘Mexican Breakfast‘ routine. There’s a fine line between inspiration and plagiarism. Watch the clip below to see the similarity.
The New Yorker got it right. Their latest cover features Steve Jobs and St. Peter, who is using an iPad to check him into to heaven’s gate. There is outrage about the cover, which has been labeled disrespectful because Jobs was Buddhist. The naysayers are missing the point. It doesn’t matter what your God is — it matters that whoever or whatever he is, he’s using an iPad. If Jobs were alive, I imagine he’d like it. If someone made a complimentary Jesus-Christ-related joke about me, I’d be fine with it — even though I’m Jewish. Funny is funny.
Zooey Deschanel is that rare breed of actress that appeals to both men and women. She’s extremely likable, and her new show, ‘New Girl’, illustrates her understated comedic timing. Did I mention it’s a ratings hit? That is quite the coup, given the likelihood of success in this cutthroat television industry. Deschanel plays “Jess”, a girl in her late twenties that lives with three guys she found on Craigslist after she discovered her long-term boyfriend cheated. Her new roommates help mend her broken heart, and they soon become protective. Despite her looks, Jess doesn’t know her value, which makes her charming. I couldn’t picture anyone but Zooey Deschanel in this role (the casting director deserves a promotion). Because I exited a long-term relationship myself and subsequently found a group of guys to erase my depression, I find this story personally relatable. In fact, I think almost everyone can relate. Watch a clip below.
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These Glee kids annoy me. They have a hit television show, get paid a lot of money, and still want to undress for magazine covers. Do they hope to get a hall pass out of television detention by taking their clothes off? If that’s the case, I’m certain they’re asking for a social shunning. I should give Naya Rivera the benefit of the doubt. That FHM cover-photo must have been intended for her boyfriend and not the entire world. Perhaps she’s a phone-hacking victim? That has to be the only explanation for such a poor choice. And in case my readers are wondering — yes — I’m a judgmental prude.
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Iris’ hit it out of the park. It’s visually stunning, and it satisfies every artistic sense imaginable.
The $100 million show premiered September 25, 2011, at the Kodak Theater, and it’s the only non-traveling Cirque du Soleil show, which means that the performers not only have to love Los Angeles, but they also have to love the theater, because the entire show is built around it.
Speaking of the performers, Andrew and Kevin Atherton (the aerial straps duo) kindly answered questions after the show, which painfully included ridiculous inquiries from other journalists such as, “are you scared you might die up there?” Unfazed and classy, the brothers professed that fear is important for safety, but they “trust each other with their lives,” and they are “living a dream.”
One of most enjoyable parts of the show was the music, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman. Unlike Elfman’s familiar film medium, ‘Iris’ constantly evolved, so he was forced to change the music until all the elements were complete. Had I shut my eyes for the entirety of the show and just listened the music, I would have still been satisfied.
The second act was substantially better than the first, because it had the appropriate amount of light and shade. My favorite performance was the hand balancing, beautifully executed by Olga Pikhienko. It was understated and impressive, and it was one of the only acts where I felt personally connected to the performance.
Las Vegas has some new competition. For tourists visiting Los Angeles in need of some entertainment, this will exceed their expectations. With the combination of acrobats, costumes, and music, there’s no going wrong.
“It has been quite good for me. It was good for me to use my brain, but I wish I picked a cause that had more natural public sympathy, something to do with animals perhaps, or assisted dying.” Hugh Grant on his involvement in the phone-hacking scandal.
