Pop Vultura Category
What’s my skeleton in the closet? Pop culture. I’m facinated by pop culture. I like to pretend it’s a side-effect of my sociology degree: pop culture is an excellent barometer of where American culture is, since we seem to live on a steady diet of whatever entertainment crap we’re fed. The crap that’s popular tells you a lot about the people injesting it. But part of me thinks I just like it.
Election Eve
4
Nov
2002
In: Pop Vultura
Today I received my absentee ballot from Seattle. Apparently there was a scandal about how late they were mailed out, but I got mine just in the knick of time. I will be mailing it in tomorrow, and I hope you will all be voting as well.
Perhaps you’ve heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been getting increasingly involved in politics. This is a frightening thing, especially since last weekend I had the pleasure of driving on Senator Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway. Californians clearly have no problems electing bad actors into public office.
Then I got to thinking: what if Ahnold followed Ronald Reagan’s footsteps! Mr. Schwarzenegger is interested in running for California Governor and is married to a Kennedy — he could conceivably run for president! This frightened me, until, much to the pride of a civics teacher somewhere, I remembered that, since Ahnold was born in Austria (therefore not a “natural born citizen“), he cannot run for President. Please join me in a collective sigh of relief.
Madge & Guy
14
Oct
2002
In: Pop Vultura
Guy Ritchie, Madonna’s husband, directed both her new video (where she appears to be in a political torture chamber), and her new movie (where she plays a rich super-bitch marooned on a desert island who is violently subjugated by a former servant). Notice a common thread? Between the video and the film, Madonna is kicked, beaten, raped, submerged against her will in water, impaled by a crossbow, kicks and screams, and is electrocuted.
Something about these two Guy & Madge collaborations suggests to me that their relationship has some interesting power dynamics.
Pop Cultura
7
Oct
2002
In: Pop Vultura
Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake? You decide.
[Added: anyone who doesn't have free NYTimes account can read the article by clicking the MORE link below.]
Claim To Fame: Exhibit 1
25
Jul
2002
In: Pop Vultura
Did I ever tell you about the time my photo was in Life magazine? No shit! It was for an article about Phish in 1996. The title of the article was “Why is this woman swooning over this man?” On the left hand page was the above photo of me at a show in Vancouver, BC, in 1995. On the right hand page was a picture of John Fishman, the drummer.
For the record, I was NOT swooning. I was dancing. Sure, Fishman is talented, but he’s not exactly swoon-worthy. In fact, I think when this shot was taken it was during an epic piano solo. Page always was my favorite. I was doing my then-standard eyes-closed head-up mouth-open reverent “ohmygod I love this song so much I’m going to transcend!” move. Come to think of it, I still do that move, but usually to somewhere around 120 bmp. And now my head stays down, since there’s almost never a stage with lights in front of me when I dance. I like my entertainment participatory. I AM the stage, bitch.
Then the picture showed up in the book “Where Music Comes From,” by the photographer who took the shot, Nubar Alexanian. The photo showed up on the title page, even. My dad heard an interview with Nubar on NPR where the photographer talked about the image:
HANSEN: Do you have a favorite one in this book?
ALEXANIAN: The one I’m fascinated by probably because of this film I’m working on is the very first picture you see in the book of the Phish fan in Vancouver, British Columbia.
HANSEN: Right…
ALEXANIAN: You know…
HANSEN: … and she’s sort of. It looks like a very religious experience that she’s having as if she’s just been, I don’t know, baptized or something — you know.
ALEXANIAN: Yes, this young woman’s in church.
(LAUGHTER)
ALEXANIAN: I mean, as far as she’s concerned. And you know, the whole, the simplicity of it, she’s on the left page, it’s a big image. And then it’s just says, “opposite” on a white page “Where Music Comes From.”
It’s funny because of course in a way he was right. Dancing to good music is my church, and that at one time included Phish, at one time included raving, and will certainly include other genres in the future.
- 0 Comments
- Tags: lifemagazine, music, phish
Just indulged in the guilty
17
Nov
2000
In: Pop Vultura
Just indulged in the guilty pleasure of seeing “Charlie’s Angels.” I hate to admit it, but it was totally fun. Clear to see how “The Matrix” permanently changed action films.
In other news, today I got a call from a guy checking references (one of my writers had applied for a job) and was like “Do you know anyone else who would be interested in Web Producing content for a youth-oriented lifestyle site?” I was like “Um, me??” I would like to find a way to get away from Amazon…
Now is the time when I admit something some of you already know: I have a musical skeleton in my closet. Ok, so I edit a national electronic music magazine. This you know. Let’s walk through my MP3s…William Orbit “Ruby Heart,” Tosca “Fuck Dub,” Cheb i Sabbah “Divine Passtime,” Christina Aguilara “Come On Over (remix),” N’Sync “Sailing - Christopher Cross cover,” Destiny’s Child “Bugaboo.” Uh you see my issue? My music ranges from epic classical electronica, dubby smoker’s delight, Indian-influenced house beats, and then sheer, unadulterated SHITE! What can I say? I know all the words to The Backstreet Boys “Shape of My Heart.” I know that Christina’s voice is better than Britney’s. I have an MP3 of “The Thong Song,” for fooksake (although it IS a 2step remix–forgive me a little on that one.)
Yes, I have a weakness (besides being a loud-mouth) and the name of the weakness is “POP MUSIC.”
- 0 Comments
- Tags: pop, popmusic
Election Eve
4 Nov 2002 In: Pop VulturaToday I received my absentee ballot from Seattle. Apparently there was a scandal about how late they were mailed out, but I got mine just in the knick of time. I will be mailing it in tomorrow, and I hope you will all be voting as well.
Perhaps you’ve heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been getting increasingly involved in politics. This is a frightening thing, especially since last weekend I had the pleasure of driving on Senator Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway. Californians clearly have no problems electing bad actors into public office.
Then I got to thinking: what if Ahnold followed Ronald Reagan’s footsteps! Mr. Schwarzenegger is interested in running for California Governor and is married to a Kennedy — he could conceivably run for president! This frightened me, until, much to the pride of a civics teacher somewhere, I remembered that, since Ahnold was born in Austria (therefore not a “natural born citizen“), he cannot run for President. Please join me in a collective sigh of relief.
Madge & Guy
14 Oct 2002 In: Pop VulturaGuy Ritchie, Madonna’s husband, directed both her new video (where she appears to be in a political torture chamber), and her new movie (where she plays a rich super-bitch marooned on a desert island who is violently subjugated by a former servant). Notice a common thread? Between the video and the film, Madonna is kicked, beaten, raped, submerged against her will in water, impaled by a crossbow, kicks and screams, and is electrocuted.
Something about these two Guy & Madge collaborations suggests to me that their relationship has some interesting power dynamics.
Pop Cultura
7 Oct 2002 In: Pop VulturaMichael Jackson or Justin Timberlake? You decide.
[Added: anyone who doesn't have free NYTimes account can read the article by clicking the MORE link below.]
Claim To Fame: Exhibit 1
25 Jul 2002 In: Pop VulturaDid I ever tell you about the time my photo was in Life magazine? No shit! It was for an article about Phish in 1996. The title of the article was “Why is this woman swooning over this man?” On the left hand page was the above photo of me at a show in Vancouver, BC, in 1995. On the right hand page was a picture of John Fishman, the drummer.
For the record, I was NOT swooning. I was dancing. Sure, Fishman is talented, but he’s not exactly swoon-worthy. In fact, I think when this shot was taken it was during an epic piano solo. Page always was my favorite. I was doing my then-standard eyes-closed head-up mouth-open reverent “ohmygod I love this song so much I’m going to transcend!” move. Come to think of it, I still do that move, but usually to somewhere around 120 bmp. And now my head stays down, since there’s almost never a stage with lights in front of me when I dance. I like my entertainment participatory. I AM the stage, bitch.
Then the picture showed up in the book “Where Music Comes From,” by the photographer who took the shot, Nubar Alexanian. The photo showed up on the title page, even. My dad heard an interview with Nubar on NPR where the photographer talked about the image:
HANSEN: Do you have a favorite one in this book?
ALEXANIAN: The one I’m fascinated by probably because of this film I’m working on is the very first picture you see in the book of the Phish fan in Vancouver, British Columbia.
HANSEN: Right…
ALEXANIAN: You know…
HANSEN: … and she’s sort of. It looks like a very religious experience that she’s having as if she’s just been, I don’t know, baptized or something — you know.
ALEXANIAN: Yes, this young woman’s in church.
(LAUGHTER)
ALEXANIAN: I mean, as far as she’s concerned. And you know, the whole, the simplicity of it, she’s on the left page, it’s a big image. And then it’s just says, “opposite” on a white page “Where Music Comes From.”
It’s funny because of course in a way he was right. Dancing to good music is my church, and that at one time included Phish, at one time included raving, and will certainly include other genres in the future.
- 0 Comments
- Tags: lifemagazine, music, phish
Just indulged in the guilty
17 Nov 2000 In: Pop VulturaJust indulged in the guilty pleasure of seeing “Charlie’s Angels.” I hate to admit it, but it was totally fun. Clear to see how “The Matrix” permanently changed action films.
In other news, today I got a call from a guy checking references (one of my writers had applied for a job) and was like “Do you know anyone else who would be interested in Web Producing content for a youth-oriented lifestyle site?” I was like “Um, me??” I would like to find a way to get away from Amazon…
Now is the time when I admit something some of you already know: I have a musical skeleton in my closet. Ok, so I edit a national electronic music magazine. This you know. Let’s walk through my MP3s…William Orbit “Ruby Heart,” Tosca “Fuck Dub,” Cheb i Sabbah “Divine Passtime,” Christina Aguilara “Come On Over (remix),” N’Sync “Sailing - Christopher Cross cover,” Destiny’s Child “Bugaboo.” Uh you see my issue? My music ranges from epic classical electronica, dubby smoker’s delight, Indian-influenced house beats, and then sheer, unadulterated SHITE! What can I say? I know all the words to The Backstreet Boys “Shape of My Heart.” I know that Christina’s voice is better than Britney’s. I have an MP3 of “The Thong Song,” for fooksake (although it IS a 2step remix–forgive me a little on that one.)
Yes, I have a weakness (besides being a loud-mouth) and the name of the weakness is “POP MUSIC.”
- 0 Comments
- Tags: pop, popmusic
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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