I'm just here for Freddie Mercury.

While watching the music video for We Will Rock You, I can't help but notice the difference between Freddie Mercury's moves and those of the rest of the band. Though the guitarist does get his groove on during the solo at the end, most of the band just stand there stiffly, moving no more than necessary. Meanwhile Freddie Mercury is performing in inimitable Freddie Mercury fashion.

I was going to compare him to my usual referents -- you know, Ivan Doroschuk, Mick Jagger, Tim Curry -- but I really can't because he's in a league of his own. Ivan Doroschuk moves, but he does more flailing and bouncing. Mick Jagger and Tim Curry make faces, but I don't think of them as so completely self-possessed as Freddie Mercury. He demonstrates absolute control in every expression and motion of his limbs: a combination of fluid precision and sheer joy of motion.  Kind of like Shirley Bassey or Lesley Gore. And his voice is incredible. The more I think about it, the more apt a comparison is between Freddie Mercury and Shirley Bassey -- both fabulous performers with stunningly powerful voices and charismatic stage presences whose love for what they do so clearly shines through in every word they sing.

Still air-guitarin' on the mike stand 10 years later.

Now watching Queen's Legendary concert from 1975, I see Freddie Mercury playing air guitar with his mike stand, just like he was 10 years later, during Live Aid. Even rock stars can't resist the power of the air guitar 'cause it's so damn cool! :D

Fabulous costumes!!!!!!!!

It takes a certain type of person to rock a white satin jumpsuit...

...with flame fringe on the kirtle sleeves and bellbottoms, not to mention the neckline that plunges somewhere into the region of the crotch. That certain type of person is Freddie Mercury.

On the other hand, if you're looking for someone to wear a striped vinyl jumpsuit with integrated platform shoes and a similar neckline, you're looking for David Bowie.

And if you're looking for someone whose idea of smashing constitutes a purple Rococo pompadour, a feathered ruff, skin-tight pants and thigh-high ballet boots, just hang in there -- I'm rendering him tonight. :p 

Labyrinth news: novelization reissued with bonus material

Janna surprised me a few days ago with a hardcover reissue of A.C.H. Smith's novelization of Labyrinth, [re]published at the end of April. This version contains the same novelization text as the original 1986 paperback, but omits the insert of color stills. It does, however, contain previously unpublished goblin drawings by Brian Froud, as well as pages from Jim Henson's journals, in which he jotted notes about his original conception for Labyrinth in 1983.

I care nothing for the novelization, as it's indifferently written, but the supplemental material intrigues me. I'm most interested in Jim Henson's notes, which I haven't cracked yet, except for a brief glance, during which I caught the phrase "Goblin King = death?" That made me think back to the afterword of the 20th anniversary edition of Brian Froud's book of conceptual drawings, Goblins of Labyrinth, in which he envisions Jareth "with the worms of death eating through his armor." I haven't been able to forget that image, so I'm curious to see how Henson wanted to develop it. I also wonder exactly which fairy tale Froud's referring to.

This is not an Awkward Stock Photo!

Okay, so she's in her underwear on a skateboard with no protective gear. That's awkward. Other than that, though, this is a wonderful shot with an amazing-looking model who is clearly having fun. What's not to love?

I don't know why Shutterstock labels this as "Funny Overweight Woman Skateboarding." Why is this photo amusing? Because she's in her underwear? Because she's having fun? Because she's fat? And why do the keywords include "fatty," "funny people," "crazy" and "humor?"

Oh those hilarious fat people, thinking they can enjoy themselves! They should know that they're supposed to be miserably ashamed of their disgusting flab and that they should go around completely covered in heavy, shapeless drapery all the time so that no one else has to see their grossness. Seriously...any fatty who thinks that anyone wants to see them in their underwear clearly has a mental illness.

Smashing!: Jareth's latest outfit

Earlier today I mentioned Jareth in the same entry as various theatrically costumed rock stars from the mid-1970s. I think David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and probably Adam Ant [though not from the 1970s] would approve of the get-up below.
( Read more... )

Mad Mazzy Mickle Goes Looking for Love

I think I have enough skillz now to render the three main characters from my fictional cult classic film, if not their highly specialized vehicles. Now if I could just find the poster I drew a few years ago....