A Special Country Edition of Fierce Fridays...on a Tuesday Afternoon

God I just love her.
Can't I just carry her in my pocket all day long?

Fierce Fridays: Peacock!

I love this damn song. From the second I heard it I haven't been able to get enough of it. It's so silly and fun and...yummy!
An online friend posted this and suggested Katy Perry should just throw some money this guy's way and call this the official video.

I couldn't agree more.



Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Give Head & Be Beautiful

Everything about Dirty Sanchez is fierce.
Everything!
I hope they come out with a new album soon.




Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Beauty Killer

Jeffree Star



Beauty Killer
Video by Austin Young

...swoon!



A fierce weekend to all!

Fierce Fridays: My Mommy

Came across this old pic of my mommy this week.
Werk!!!



Have a fierce weekend, everyone.

Fierce Fridays: Xelle

Mimi Imfurst caught a lot of heat for her now infamous attempt to "lipsynch for her life" on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3, but she's doing quite fiercely for herself, along with group-mates JC Cassis and Rony Goffer. The three make up Xelle, a campy and welcome twist on girl groups. Their first single "Party Girl" is unapologetically uncomplicated, fun and infectious.



Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Nikka Costa

"Ching, Ching, Ching" by one of my favorites, Nikka Costa.
Can't wait for the new album to be released!



Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Scissor Sisters

from the album Night Work




Have a fierce n' funky weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Kelis "Scream"

It's not enough to live so just dream
It's not enough to say so just scream




from the album Flesh Tone

Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Sarah Vaughan

The effortless fierceness of Ms. Sarah Vaughan is timeless and inspiring.
My favorite singer of all...ever.









Have a fabulous weekend, all.

Fierce Fridays: Hot Monkeys!

Cazwell readily admits "I rap cause I can't sing". In a recent Out interview he also matter-of-factly states that his latest album holds no deep concepts beyond him rapping over music "you can dance to".

It's enough for me.



The only thing that could have made this video any better for me would be if they had all come out of a barrel (like clowns out of a car).



Damn, now I'm craving bananas.
Have a fierce weekend!

Fierce Friday on a Wednesday: R.I.P. Liz Taylor

I did not grow up watching Elizabeth Taylor films. It was not until high school, when I became active in theater , that I first watched "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" It, of course, left an undying impression on me and remains, to this very day, one of my favorite films ever. Shortly after that, I became to familiarize and fall in love with her impressive body of work.



There has always been a soft spot in my heart for Ms. Taylor. Her great acting and persona aside (not to mention her generous dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS), she has always reminded me of my mother (or the other way around). Not to say that my mother was a dead ringer for Liz, but she was that "type" of beauty. People often told her so and this comparison endeared me to the movie star.



As a dear friend of mine mentioned earlier today, she was one of the last true movie stars. They simply don't make them like Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor anymore. She perfectly balanced talent, glamor, sex appeal, kindness, compassion and yes, even scandal. She was a gutsy and flawed; as intriguing off as she was on screen. Young Hollywood could take a lesson or two, perhaps an entire course from her.



Today, Ms. Taylor, I do not mourn you.
I celebrate you!
Rest in peace, you beautiful goddess.

Fierce Friday!

Embrace humor.
Don't over think.
Do you.

And speaking of doing "you", here's a bit of fierce fun from the one and only Amanda Lepore to send you off into the weekend:

The Return of Fierce Fridays

I've decided to resurrect my "Fierce Fridays" weekly posts from way back when. I think the last one was in 2009.

I send you all off into the weekend hoppin' and prancin' and stompin' to Sam Sparro's fierce House music throwback "Pink Cloud".

Mr. Sparro, please please please release your new album soon!!!



Be sure to stop by Sam Sparro's site where you can download a "Pink Cloud" EP FREE! It includes 3 mixes of this song plus "You's a Nasty". Who doesn't need that??



Keep it fierce, everyone!

12 Chinas

China Machado is fierceness personified.
For those who might not be familiar with China, here's an excerpt from a wonderful W Magazine article on her:

At age 19, China Machado ran away with the most famous bullfighter in the world. What followed that impulsive decision was a charmed life of mystique and chic: She modeled for the great couture houses of Paris and then made fashion history as the first non-Caucasian face to grace a major American magazine.

Read More here.

China's timeless beauty and grace was the inspiration for a recently completed 12-piece commissioned series.



China (Purple Zebra)
acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"



China (Zebra With Bubbles)
acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"



China (Purple and Yellow)
acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"

Fierce Fridays: The Beauty of Dark Skin

With models of color missing from the pages of high profile fashion magazines once more, and luxury brands dropping or refusing to use models of color in their campaigns (Allegedly due to the recession. Lame!) it's refreshing to see editorial spreads like this one.
There's no real reason I'm posting this (this isn't a "major" mag and probably won't change anything in the industry) other than I think these girls are GOR-geous and I think the shoot is cool (the kid in spongebob and crocs cracks me up!), so I'm sharing.
These clothes wouldn't look the same if it weren't for the beautiful color of their skin and I'm glad that is what got them booked instead of the other way around.

If I started discussing the many other levels that make me love this shoot ( for me, it touches on consumerism, gay marriage, adoption) we could be here all day.


More pics!

I have a serious case of “skin-envy”. Being a pale red haired lady, I have longed to be able to wear bright coloured all over print outfits offset by divine dark skin. But alas, this shall not be. An example of my skin-envy is featured in the latest issue of Oyster Magazine. “Nu Clean” is shot by Milos Mali and showcases how technicolour, neon pop, ornate brocade and rainbow hip hop fusion can blend together successfully when worn by the gorgeous Kuei and Akeer.
With outstanding styling by Paul Bui, the inspiration seems a mix of M.I.A and Santogold with Boy George circa 1980! Whilst the girls pose in a decidedly egalitarian approach to the styling, labels like Josh Goot, Tina Kalivas, Zimmermann, Firetrap and Adidas mix with Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Gucci and Marni to form the kaleidoscope of colour and texture.
Milos has used a super kitsch, eye candy approach to this shoot featured in and around a grimy suburbia house with a “fashionista squatter” feel to it. Boring, everyday “chores” are given a new lease on life with this duo; cooking eggs in the make do kitchen, knitting on the retro couch, playing on the bed with the carnival won oversized teddy bear and hitting that piñata off the clothes line in the backyard! - Kate Vandermeer

Fierce Fridays: Wendy & Lisa

If you think you only know them as "those girls from Prince & the Revolution", you are mistaken. Their brilliant collaborations (Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day and Parade) with Prince might have thrust them into the public eye and Pop-consciousness but Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman established themselves as greatly skilled innovative artists in their own right long, long ago.
If you're not already a die-hard fan, as I am, it is possible that you might not be aware that they've released 5 studio albums (yes, I still say "album") since their Revolution days. However, if you are familiar with Seal, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Liz Phair or Grace Jones (to name a few) you have probably heard their work as sessionists, songwriters and/or producers.
If you watch tv or go to the movies, you might also be more familiar with their work than you realize. The award-winning duo (ASCAP's "Composers of the Year" for their work on "Dangerous Minds", the theme to HBO’s Carnivale, Crossing Jordan and Heroes) is responsible for the scores of various films as well as tv shows.
Recently Wendy and Lisa granted OUT Magazine a candid interview in which they coined the tongue-in-cheek phrase "Fancy Lesbian" (much to Prince's chagrin, as it was used to describe him LOL!). They will be included in this year's OUT 100, the magazine's annual list of the year's most interesting, influential, and newsworthy LGBT people.

Be sure to pick up their latest album:
White Flags of Winter Chimneys!

Artists, it's great painting music!

And if you're feeling "Fancy" pick up one of their awesome tees!


In the meantime, here's their latest video "Salt & Cherries (MC5)", which was partly fan-created:

Fierce Fridays: 80's Flashback!

Guess who we saw in concert last night?


If you have never seen Jody Watley in concert, you're missing out. The "Looking For A New Love" diva has not only held up fabulously, she puts on a hell of a live show!
After her performance, she graciously met with fans. I, of course did not pass up the opportunity to "talk art". She was warm and sweet and ever so charming.




Ms. Watley and I talk art as I hand her one of my prints.

Fierce Fridays!: Kenneth Cole HRC Tee

I WANT!!!



100% of the proceeds from this shirt go to the Human Rights Campaign.

Get it here: www.hrc.org

Fierce Fridays: Alright I give in!

So I did it!
I downloaded "The Fame" two days ago, after months and months of GaGa Resistance.

It ROCKS! Pop Heaven.

The songs already out are definite standouts, as are "Money Honey", "The Fame" and "Summerboy" (Fame and Summerboy are very Gwen Stefani-ish!). My current favorite is probably the funky "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich".
There really are no real fails on the album.
"Eh Eh" does feel a bit like filler and too "sweet" for La GaGa, but it's not a bad song.
Ironically, I'd pick "Boys Boys Boys" as my least favorite. LOL!

Here are the 3 things that finally won me over:

This interview pretty much sealed the deal. I miss this type of media hype. Remember the 80's??? The way she dismisses the reporter's question as ridiculous is simply

Music video for "Paparazzi". Anyone who works Crippled Glamour gets my vote!


Live at the Much Music Awards (where she appropriately thanked "God and the Gays" for the award she won):