Something's Gotta A Hold On Me...

Check out Christina Aguilera singing the Etta James tune, "Something's Got A Hold On Me," above in a clip from her upcoming movie, "Burlesque." Christina pretty much sang this song up and down, delivering some killer vocals. There's no denying that she can always give an awesome vocal. 

Christina will star alongside Cher in the movie and the two will be doing lots of singing in the upcoming musical. Cher is said to have recorded two songs,  the movie's opening number and a powerhouse ballad produced by Diane Warren. Christina worked with Sia Furler, who she also worked with on her ill-fated "Bionic" album, and contributed a couple songs as well. The likes of Danja, Tricky Stewart and Claude Kelly also produced for the movie.

Parker Hurley!!!

Check out this model's profile... Gorgeous, Tats, Piercings & All! http://www.modelmayhem.com/1086028

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

"ON BEHALF OF LEE MCQUEEN'S FAMILY, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TODAY ANNOUNCES THE TRAGIC NEWS THAT LEE MCQUEEN, THE FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF THE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BRAND HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME. AT THIS STAGE IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON THIS TRAGIC NEWS BEYOND SAYING THAT WE ARE DEVASTATED AND ARE SHARING A SENSE OF SHOCK AND GRIEF WITH LEE'S FAMILY. LEE'S FAMILY HAS ASKED FOR PRIVACY IN ORDER TO COME TO TERMS WITH THIS TERRIBLE NEWS AND WE HOPE THE MEDIA WILL RESPECT THIS."

—Alexander McQueen Office, Official Website, 11 February 2010

I found the news out at work today... was heartbroken then I got an email from an ex... like honestly he's one of the designers I grew up admiring... his designs, concepts, runway shows were innovative, dark, avant-garde thought-provoking, and controversial... From about 11/12 til early 20's I watch Style Network like people watch CNN... Always dreamed of going to Fashion Week in New York, Paris... Milan. I unlike most around my pre-teens could pronouce Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada... watched runway shows, took notes... I even got to visit one of his stores while in Vegas, I was so in awe... like a kid in a candy store... I wanted to buy... but I did take of photo... not inside the store didn't wanna seem like a lame tourist. I'm truly saddened... and distraught anyone who feels they need to judge him for committing suicide... the man's mother passed away... it can be alot to handle when she means the world to you... my prayers are with his family & friends... whom I leave thoughts from and a video of a recent interview with CNN about his Fall '09 runway show, his infamous Fall '09 Men's Runway show... and an archive of his Fall show from '98... your provocative, awe-inspiring, ground-breaking runway shows and fashion will live on! Rest in peace, Lee Alexander McQueen!

"His talent had no boundaries and he was an inspiration to everyone who worked with him and knew him," she said in a statement released by her publicist. "This is a sad day to all who loved him around the world and my condolences are with his family. I will miss him so much, he will never be forgotten." - Naomi Campbell

Designer Carolina Herrera called McQueen "one of a -kind" and said in a statement that he was "one of the most talented designers of his generation. This is a big loss for the world."

A manager at the Alexander McQueen store in New York said the shop would be closed Thursday and Friday in light of the designer's death.

Appearing on CNN Thursday before news of McQueen's death broke, singer Lady Gaga -- known for her ground-breaking fashion -- spoke of her admiration for the designer.

His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs.
--Alexandra Shulman, British Vogue

"He is so -- He is on his own planet. He doesn't need to respond to trends or what anyone else is doing," Lady Gaga said in an interview on 'American Morning.' "He is so pure and from within and I -- he just generally inspires me ... and I love when I can wear his clothes and sort of synthesize for my fans what it means to me, because I want them escape through his clothes the way that I do."

According to a biography of McQueen on Vogue's Web site, he was born in 1970 in London's East End, the son of a taxi driver.

He trained in London's Savile Row at a company that made suits for Prince Charles. One anecdote that helped cement his bad-boy image claimed that he had once embroidered a suit for the Prince of Wales with a profanity sewn into the lining.

His clothing line was purchased in 1991 by stylist Isabella Blow, who became a close friend. She committed suicide in 2007, five years after his label was brought into the Gucci Group, based in Paris, France.

In an interview with CNN's Jim Bittermann in October, McQueen -- whose work was also worn by Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow -- talked about how the traditional runway shows for fashion designers are changing.

His latest show was an invitation event for 1,000 people and was streamed live on the Internet.

"It's got to progress, and it's got to move on," he said. "I've been doing these shows for over 15 years now; I must have done about 60 shows. Even I get bored with the same concept, so this way, I can see a brighter future for fashion."

The designer was honored as a commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and won numerous other awards in the fashion world..

The Amazing Tale of the High School Quarterback Turned Lesbian Filmmaker Critical Eye: Details.com

The Amazing Tale of the High School Quarterback Turned Lesbian Filmmaker Critical Eye: Details.com

The Flintstone's Divorce Attorney... & The Dabba Don

What I'm Listening To...

MJ: Groove of the Neptunes...

Since The King of Pop's death, there have been numerous re-releases, MJ Suites, Remix albums etc... but this one is probably my favorite... I'm a huge fan of the Neptunes, Virginia natives power duo & 2/3 of the Rock-Hop group N.E.R.D.: Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo. The EP includes 7 well-known biggest MJ hits Remixed-Mashed Up...

Tracklisting:

1. Motown 25 - Intro

2. I Know My World (Klash Mix)

3. Don't Stop Ya Body (Klash Mix)

4. Excuse Me Billie Jean (Klash Mix)

5. Scream How Does It Feel (Klash Mix featuring Janet)

6. Rock with Lavish (Klash Mix)

7. Never Can Say Goodbye (Klash Mix)

8. 1983 before The Moonwalk and The Red Jacket (Klash Mix)

Gladys Knight "Since I Fell For You"

Remake of Buddy Johnson's smooth track, Gladys brings to new life on her album, "Before Me" was featured in the movie 'It's Complicated' starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin, there is no physical soundtrack which is a shame... 25 tracks featured during the film including Joss Stone's "Girl, They Won't Believe It" (Which I've overplayed since I've owned the 2007 album Introducing Joss Stone) produced by rumored beau Raphael Saadiq who's track, "Love That Girl" is also featured... check out the source of all the tracks!

Sia "You've Changed"

"You've Changed" is the Australia single taken from her 2010 record, "We Are Born," which was produced by The Bird & The Bee's Greg Kurstin. I love her new sound... Originally recorded by her Lauren Flax, Sia, who happened to be in town when Flax was composing it and came by her apartment to lay down some tracks. Sia decided to make her own version for her album proper, imbuing it with a disco treatment that sits as a lovely companion piece to Flax’s breathless house version. You can get with this, but you should also get with that, they’re equally sweet. Honestly, just recently became a fan of her music thanks to artist Solange Knowles heavy inspiration and the fact she's featured on of my favorite songs "Destiny" by Zero 7... she's rumored to also be working with Christina Aguilera on her 2010 album, 'Bionic." Check out Flax's version... and a treat Solange's revamp of Destiny by Zero 7 featuring Sia!

Can Details Get Away With Calling Someone a "Douchefag"?

Can a magazine that plays it straight but actively courts a gay readership get away with making tasteless gay jokes? Conde Nast'sDetails sure thought it could when it published "The Rise of the Douchefag," one of the magazine's trademark "Let's identify a trend, or make one up, and then package some witty copy around it." Front and center in the piece, next to Marc Jacobs' ex Jason Preston, are Project Runway designer Christian Siriano and his DJ boyfriend Brad Walsh — who had a major problem with Detailsthrowing the "fag" word around, let alone being identified by a mainstream magazine as a "douchefag."

The article's premise: There are gays, and then there are gay "douchefags." Like douchebags, only with the F-word. A handy charticle helps identify which is which: A guy is only gay if he "bleaches teeth"; he's a gay douchebag if he "bleaches anus." Gay if he "saves up for calfskin briefcase"; gay douchebag if he "saves up for calf implants." Gay if "posts sleeveless pictures on Connexion"; gay douchebag if he "posts pantsless pictures on Manhunt." See how this goes?

(Click for a larger, and readable version)

The backlash started on Twitter, when Walsh tweeted: "so, just to be clear, when a major (albeit dying) magazine for straight men refers to me in part as a 'fag,' that's homophobia. and hate." It was followed up by a few more short bursts, including: "i don't mind someone thinking i'm a douchebag or calling me gay. opinion and fact. but calling me 'fag,' even if OUT did it, is not right."

Details got wind of Walsh's outrage, and opted to change the story's online version. There, the headline now reads, "Meet the Gay Douchebag." But the print version (in the December 2009 issue with John Mayer on the cover) already shipped, with the original "The Rise of the Douchefag" headline — and Siriano and Walsh's photo included.

So Queerty asked Walsh to explain what happened. He tells us:

A friend showed me the article, and in the print version I didn't really understand why the photo of me and Christian was there. It's not really explained. But in the online version of the article, they refer to Christian as a stereotypical gay "always with a pocket square" (though he's not wearing one in the photo, and doesn't ever wear them), and me as the "douchefag" who is "always with a pocket gay." I'm not sure why the fact that my boyfriend is shorter than I am is funny. I think it's a flimsy joke to begin with. But calling me a "gay douchebag" is fine. I am gay, and they are allowed to think I am a douchebag. That's their opinion. It's the use of the word "douchefag" that I have a problem with. I don't appreciate any magazine referring to me as a "fag." I don't like that word. I wouldn't be happy with a primarily gay publication calling me "fag" either. If OUT Magazine called me a fag I would be just as upset. It's not appropriate, and it is offensive, and you'd think on the eve of 2010 that would be clear by now. It's a dumb article, and it really stretches to be funny. But that's their choice. If they have no valuable content and need to fill two pages with an unfunny listicle of stereotypes, that's their problem as a dying magazine. But why call, me "fag" in the process? I know it's a tired point nowadays, but really, imagine if they had done the exact same article about black people, and included a punny interpretation of the "N" word. Would never ever have gone to print. It seems like they were trying for controversy for attention, and unfortunately, some people think that while making fun of race is off limits, making fun of sexuality is acceptable.

And therein lies a critical part of the story: Can any publication — gay or straight — get away with calling someone a fag? If not, then it shouldn't be in print. But if the rules are looser for gay mags, does Details qualify? That's a question even Details doesn't like to answer; it's stocked next to GQ andEsquire, but appeals to Out's readership. It's headed up by a straight married guy (Dan Peres) but hires top-notch gay talent (Augusten Burroughs is a columnist, and Simon Dumenco is a regular contributor). Does that give it enough gayness to qualify? (Worth noting: Queerty uses the word "fag," as both a replacement for "gay person" and as a pejorative, but mainly when discussing bigots, like John Ensign.)

We asked Walsh what, if anything, Details could do as a make good.

Well, they can't go around the country and take back all the issues they sold with my face across from the word "DOUCHEFAG" in big red letters, can they? I don't think they need to do anything, no public apology would mean anything to me. Homophobes who are forced to apologize… what does that do? I think they should be fined or required to print a full page ad for GLAAD or something appropriate, for printing the word "fag" in a way that deliberately makes fun of gay people. There should be legitimate consequences for such use of that word and other slurs.

Novel idea! We're checking with Details right now about that.

In the meantime, you tell us: Is Walsh right to feel slighted by a major magazine for throwing around such an offensive word? Or is Details just having a good laugh — with, not at us — and guilty of nothing more than some off-color humor?

[Source]