A skyscraper, of which each floor will rotate on a whim, will apparently be built in Dubai by 2010. If you are cringing based on what I thought at first blush, then breathe easy - the movement will supposedly be powered entirely naturally and the building’s carbon footprint should consequently be in check. Check out a video of how the twirling tower is slated to look here. Crazy!
Just watched Walk The Line (2005), a sort of biopic on Johnny Cash and June Carter. It’s a riveting film that recreates the 50s in which the two musicians met, performed, and eventually married. The music scene at the time had Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dylan, and Waylon Jennings amongst others, and it’s so great to see them appear on and off through the film. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon are brilliant and the story of how their love returns him to his former glory, after a pill-popping roller-coaster ride, is touching. Music, history, a Hollywood film made with a measure of sensitivity; what more could you ask for on a lazy last day of the weekend. Here’s an original video of the title song.
Much of course has been said on the topic of logos, but here are my two cents, nay phils.
There’s a logo for a ‘horseracing city’ in Dubai called Meydan. The logo is simple. It’s a sort of variegated blue background. On it, in a white and very legible font is: Meydan. A thoroughbred destination. That’s the English version. I saw a similar looking logo in Arabic the other day and knew instantaneously what it was for - even though I am thoroughly uninitiated when it comes to reading the script.
Compare this to tonnes of other logos around that try and do too much - fancy color schemes, an effort to communicate not just the company but it’s holding company as well, fonts that overwhelm, and taglines so verbose or rehashed that they repel. It’s often pretty unnecessary, largely ineffective and highly forgettable stuff…
So ditch the clutter and think Nike, Fedex, and Apple instead! I believe the message is simple.
Josh Rouse is a singer-songwriter I’m a little conflicted about. I got pretty hooked on to a couple of his CDs - his songs are so mellow and catchy! But then I saw him play on stage, and it was a sorry disappointment. Something about his music just doesn’t work live. I also don’t think much of the sound engineering at the El Rey in Los Angeles, but blaming the venue is often a lame excuse for a mediocre performance, and so I resist.
Compare him to Ben Harper (yet another typically mellow ‘n’ catchy fella) live , and it’s easier to see why Josh falls sort of flat in person. Maybe it’s because Ben’s so comfortable going extempore that he rocks it. Josh hesitates in venturing too far from the original recording, and it detracts greatly from the musicianship. I meant to find a couple of videos from each to make the point better, but you know how recordings of live performances on youtube can be…
So here’s a random tune from the eternally hot Bruce Springsteen instead!
Watch British commercial artist, Alison Jackson, make a wry statement on our morbid curiosity about celebrities.
Had either Rihanna or Beyonce won Record of the Year, I would have lost what little of faith I have left in the Grammy’s. There is a modicum of justice yet! Go Amy Winehouse.
Take a quick look at these commercials. The first is from Airtel - I applauded its creativity wholeheartedly just a few weeks ago. The other - and presumably older of the two - is for New Zealand Telecom. (I happened upon the second on this rather noteworthy blog.)
You might find the overlap between the two spots intriguing…
So what do you think: coincidence, plagiarism, or just cryptomnesia?
Kudos to Airtel and the chaps at Rediffusion DY&R in India for the new direction in which they have taken the campaign.
It’s almost predictable, which is precisely why it is close to genius. Much like the Corona campaign: on-the-tip-of-your-tongue intuitive. The trick often lies in hitting on a concept so seamless that everyone - from consumer to creative to CEO - takes a look and wonders why they didn’t think of it first. Nice!
Airtel’s reliability index better be pretty good though, or users might have to take the brand with a pinch of salt! Good for beer, not so much for a mobile network - no matter how noble its advertising.
Watch these 2 ads pitching deodorants for men.
Axe is marketed as Lynx in Europe, so did Unilever rename Axe as Zatak in India? Apparently not. Turns out Zatak ads are simply “inspired” by the Axe creative. I’ve always found the Axe idea vaguely off-putting and imagine anyone who “buys” the spoofy campaign to to reek slightly of desperation if not BO. Even so, I’m not surprised that it won several awards for its creative and planners. I mean the concept is occassionally funny albeit in a boy’s club kinda way, and the Clicker idea was actually pretty catchy. But back to Zatak. I’ve got to say it stinks, if from nothing else, then from its utter lack of originality.
I’ve always believed that the true test of a musician is a live set or two. On the flip side, I’ve also always been intrigued by one-hit wonders. I recently caught William Shatner hosting a VH1 showcase of a Top 100 of them. It was sooo fun!
What is it about these songs that made them so hugely popular? And what is it about the ‘artists’ to whom they belong that couldn’t get it right ever again? But more important, how many on that list did you once find yourself grooving to? Fess up! Or knock yourself out on mine. =)
| Rebirth Of Slick - Digable Planets | Rock Me Amadeus - Falco |
| How Bizarre - OMC | Unbelievable - EMF |
| Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve | You Gotta Be - Des’ree |
| What I Am - Edie Brickell | What’s Up - 4 Non-Blondes |
No Rain - Blind Melon | Cars - Gary Numan |
|Lovefool - The Cardigans | Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry |
| Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice | 99 Luftballoons - Nena |
| I’m Too Sexy - Right Said Fred | Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-lot |
| Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies | I Touch Myself - Divinyls |
| Electric Avenue - Eddie Grant | Funkytown - Lipps Inc. |
