One Year Ago Today

Google's Making Fun Of Me Again

Okay, last week, Google Adspot placed a "matched" advertisement on this blog about a rehab facility specializing in addiction and mental illness. Har, har. Now I'm promoting trailer parks! I think I best stop writing about Sarah Palin's family, eh?

Duran Duran & Pals

Click on image to make any sense of it.

The Taylor Family

Ah, the charms of a scanner. Above is my favorite Taylor family photo, with my parents and brother Chris, circa 1977. You can see here why my orthodontist remains an unconditional hero of mine. Below, my mamer Evelyn's college graduation in 1947, and my diddy Dan in World War II around the same time. They married in 1950... 58 years now!And here's my dad playing drums in the early 1950s.

Billboard, Jan. 10, 2009 Issue

LEONA LEWIS I Will Be (4:00)
Producers: Dr. Luke, Steven Wolf, Matt Beckley, Smit
Writers: A. Lavigne, M. Martin, L. Gottwald
Syco/Sony BMG
Grammys be damned for not giving Leona Lewis a best new artist nod. Despite the Recording Academy’s embarrassing omission, Billboard’s No. 1 new artist of 2008 has plenty to celebrate: Alongside No. 1 album “Spirit,” best-selling iTunes single of the year “Bleeding Love” and top 40 radio top 10 follow-up “Better in Time,” third single “I Will Be” is again paved in gold—a straight-up power ballad. The song is propelled by a killer vocal that Mariah Carey would adore, gargantuan production that scoops up a heap of cumulus clouds and a chorus and bridge that boast indelible pop songwriting (from Avril Lavigne and Max Martin, among others). Overseas, Lewis’ cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run,” added to an enhanced version of the album, became the fastest-selling download in British history and promptly shot to No. 1 last month. With her consummate “Footprints in the Sand” (a “bonus” track on the current U.S. album), 2009 is sounding like a superlative second act for Lewis.

KATY PERRY Thinking of You (3:57)
Producer: Butch Walker
Writer: K. Perry
Capitol
A year ago, Katy Perry’s amusing debut, “Ur So Gay,” was met with trepidation by radio, but embraced by the club community and applauded on this page. Now look at her: Grammy-nominated with the No. 1 “I Kissed a Girl” and the frolicking top five sophomore single “Hot N Cold.” The down-tempo “Thinking of You” is decidedly more earnest, as the singer/songwriter reflects on settling for second best: “You said move on, where do I go/Cause when I’m with him, I am thinking of you.” Perry maintains her distinct vocal inflection, while production conjures a mid-’90s No Doubt pop/rock palette. Much like Pink, who credibly flip-flops from playing to ponderer, this is an essential transition for Perry to mutate beyond party girl novelty into savvy, staple hitmaker. As a woman who has played the game for longer than most realize, she has earned her keep. “Thinking” is a no-brainer.

Betty Boo

Who watches live TV anymore? After all, it's 2008... oops, 2009. I'm catching up on "Ugly Betty" on Tivo, realizing what a piss poor job the show did with developing her alleged new love interest Jessie, played by the talented (and pretty) Val Emmich.

It seems the writers couldn't make up their minds about what to do with the character: one week on, two weeks off, then slowly draining him to nuttin'. It's obvious that ABC flip-flopped by reading short-term response instead of making a commitment and allowing the singer/actor to become the major force he deserves to be.

As a result, the theme about Betty moving into her own Manhattan apartment and developing a life on her own is a flatline. A great show is now in danger of jumping the shark, because it can't make its mind up whether the lead character can become a grown-up New Yorker with her own life... or remain solely dedicated to her family... yawn...

Oh, did I mention that I gave Val a stellar review in Billboard for his phenomenal single "Go On With It"? He also joined us during the summer at Lunasa. Sweet, handsome man. Hopefully, he'll move forward to a place where he's appreciated. (He's top right.)

Looking Ahead to Christmas 2009

Good, yeah?!

Benjamin Button

Ayhan and I saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" tonight. What a stunning, sweet, clever, captivating movie. I just cried and cried... And laughed: Daisy- "Sleep with me." "Benjamin- "Absolutely."

And what a beautiful line, "We're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?" I've never so much cared one way or another about Brad Pitt... but he proved himself a true talent here. Best movie Oscar? Oops, now so conflicted alongside "Milk."

Fundamental Civil Rights: Is This 2009 Or 1959?

On Logo channel this evening, I watched an engrossing documentary “Tying the Knot” about gay marriage, and saw addressed for the very first time—amid so many hundreds of discussions over the years about the topic—that even if random states honor gay marriage, the greater issue of federal recognition remains fundamental and unfulfilled where one partner in a couple is not an American.

CONNIE RESS, Marriage Equality: Our government is saying, “Don’t fall in love with someone from another country, because they’re going to have to be sent back to their country.”
MAX: I’m from Argentina, I came to New York and I met Jessie three years ago and I fell in love and I moved here because I want to be with my love.
JESSIE: Even if marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts, the discriminatory law of the Defense of Marriage Act still needs to be repealed and struck down, so that our marriage will be recognized on a federal level and Max will receive a green card. Where’s the compassion when this country is forcing us to leave?
(SOON-TO-BE FOREVER FORMER) PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH: I strongly believe that marriage, uh, should be defined as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges that are defining marriage.

I only pray that Barrack Obama propels past his first impression as apathetic toward civil rights, given his selection of homophobe Rick Warren to preside over the “religious” festivities of his inauguration…

Brunch With Fredly

Fred Bronson traditionally spends New Year's in NYC since he writes Dick's Clark's annual New Year's Eve special. Today, Ayhan and I had a wonderfully talky brunch with Fredly at Maison in midtown. It's at 1700 Broadway... but it's on 7th Avenue and 53rd. Don't ask.

WARNING: This Blog Causes Mental Illness

Google ads have a mechanism that supposedly matches relevant topics to those appearing on its Blogspot blogs. Should I be concerned that an ad containing the following showed up today? "Memphis Alcohol Help: Rehab Specializing in Addictions & Mental Illness. Insurance Accepted." Click on screenshot below for a closer look. Hey, thanks Google!

Holidays 2008: That's A Wrap

Brooklyn's handsome and historic Borough Hall.

Lunacy, January 2, 2009!

Friday happy hour begins at Lunasa with Lisa, Susie V. and Natalie!...and then onward to Arrow, where we picked up Emmy and Gail......and Bram-a-lam!

5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

We have spent the last 45 New Year's Eves (give or take) with Bob and Tim, and this year proved to be among the most joyous ever—I even remember it! For 2007, we met in Brooklyn at the homestead to count down our respective top 40 playlists. This year we were all in the mood to look at pretty faces instead of staring at our own ugly mugs.

First stop was Cola's, Bobby's favorite restaurant along Eighth Avenue in the heart of Chelsea for Italian eats. The intimate little joint was hardly crowded and we enjoyed a nice leisurely dinner starting at 8. Lovely.

Next we stopped by an apartment just around the corner, where Bobby and Timmy were staying for the night, as their friend Mikey went out of town. It was the ideal intermediary for warm-up cocktails and animated conversation, along with hats and tiaras, natch.

Then it was on to the main event, as we tip toed through the needles—also known as ferocious wind—we met our destination at 19th between 7th and 8th avenues... G Bar. No cover, no line.

This is where the serious party started, complete with camera colorizing antics. Wow. We are very cool. Who needs psychotropics when candles, fun-colored drinks and Canon special effects are around? We were amazingly fortunate to actually find seating, as go-go boys skipped around us, hot little bartenders ignored us and boys of all ages, shapes and sizes dances, cavorted, made out with strangers and enjoyed the positive vibe. Before your mamer could slide down the stripper pole, it was time for the countdown: "10, 9, 8, 7..." you get it... And... 2009!

Can I just say thank God? For the four of us, after another hour or so of G mayhem, we decided to take the party elsewhere, and stopped by nearby Rawhide, where the men came in fewer ages and shapes, but spirits were high, all the same.Then it was back to Bobby & Timmy's temporary gigs, some more pictures, more hats and... hmmm, it's every so slightly fuzzy. Ayhan and I left and went for pizza. Yeah, that's it. Then we tried in vain to get a cab... nothing doing... They roared by us one after the other, filled with hapless drunks, while we, not drunk enough,

were turning into icicles. With the wind chill, it was 5 degrees. Alas, the subway was right there, and running wondrously efficiently, probably for the last time this decade. But we were home in no time. An ace evening, and a bright start to what I hope will be a year with a lot less darkness.

Golden Boy: James Franco

Ever since the absorbing 2001 made-for-TV biopic "James Dean," we've recognized that James Franco is much more than a pretty face. He won a Golden Globe for that nuanced role, and has gone on to tickle the mainstream in "Spider-Man" and its two sequels. He's also done a bunch of less-than-interesting war movies. But it's his supporting turn in 2008's
"Milk," playing the boyfriend










of Sean Penn's "Harvey Milk," that is again bringing Franco to the forefront. His performance is mighty in its understatement. And who knew a mustache could ever look hot again after the 1970s. Franco is truly a cinematic treasure, who seems to enjoy his art more than his fame. Can't wait to see what comes next.

Sylvia's Fab Party

Ayhan & I were at Elmo in Manhattan Dec. 30 for a wondrous birthday party hosted by our dear friend (and top 10 Billboard dance artist) Sylvia Tosun (above) for her man Anton (below). Man, we had a frigging fabulous time!
Sweat Equity: With Freedom Williams, the rapper from C&C Music Factory's ubiquitous 1990 No. 1 hit "(Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)."

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Cool Cats!

(The magic of photo editing: Here's the original picture. How about dat?)