P o p M u s e

Rufus In Town

I spent last Thursday watching Rufus Wainwright sing his latest single "Going To A Town" at a TV show taping (for the day job).  It was truly magical.  GTAT is such a beautiful song and his extraordinary talent is so much more apparent in an intimate live setting. 

But I've always loved Rufus, even before I heard a song of his.  Ya see, PopMuse was a Production Assistant on a Dreamworks Records (remember them) EPK shoot for his first CD back in 1998.  And Rufus asked the crew to film a Dorothy Parker-esque 'Tea Party' at an older lady friend's home.  It was hours of Rufus and all his um, eccentric friends talking art and literature. I liked him, the label worried.  Then he sat at the piano and played a song, and my like turned to love, and the label settled.

Seeing him now in person, almost ten years later, us both the same age, all growns up, sober, and professional, was a sweet moment.  To me he looks better now then he did at 25, (and I'm so jealous he still has all that beautiful hair!)

Watch the new Rufus video above, it's simple and powerful and perfect.  (Funny how nearly all the Music Video Directors of my day have disappeared or jumped into features EXCEPT Sophie Muller who is still going SO STRONG.

LISTEN: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT "GOING TO A TOWN" [MYSPACE]

BUY: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT "RELEASE THE STARS" [AMAZON] [ITUNES]
 

[pic coutesy of xolondon]

Stagedoor Movie

Just Netflix'd the cutest Documentary called "STAGEDOOR".  It's one summer at Stagedoor Manor, that theater summer camp in New York, the one that produced Mandy Moore, Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. You know the movie "CAMP" right??? (If you don't, I weep for you.) ..."Stagedoor" is a reality version of that film.  WATCH the trailer above.   

I'm not a fan of showtunes AT ALL, but I do love THEATER PEOPLE, especially little queens who flame it up arguing over the authenticity of costumes for Fiddler...  Hello, heaven!

BONUS CLIP: 
Watch this clip below from "CAMP" (the film), remind you of anything?  No I'm not going, not going, to tell you what?!?  (I'm feeling very drama-club-corny today if you haven't noticed.)

Boom Boom Blog 4-23-07

Feels like a fine day to share some dance, boom boom, boys on boxes remixes I've been diggin' lately. So here goes...

Gwen Stefani "4 In The Morning" (Thin White Duke Mix) [mp3]

Diddy & Keyshia Cole "Last Night" (Maurice Joshua Mix) [mp3]

Mutya Buena "Real Girl" (Moto Blanco Mix) [mp3]

Jennifer Lopez "Que Hiciste" (Tony Moran Mix) [mp3]

Timbaland Nelly F & Justin T "Give It To Me" (Pugh Radio Mix) [mp3]

Make sure to visit all the "D'Load Music Links" in the Left Column for more amazing mp3 Downloads.

Gay Funny, Gay Not Funny

Here are two comedy products featuring funny-ha-ha gayness.  The one above is from Acceptable TV, it is humorous, and poignant, and acceptable to this gay.  ((PopMuse loves VH1's new sketch comedy show Acceptable TV (Exec Produced by Jack Black).   It is the new THE STATE.  WATCH IT & VOTE.))  Watch The GAYLIENS Sketch ABOVE.  Is funny.

Below is the trailer for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" the new blockbuster Gayrody where Adam Sandler and Kevin James play butch firemen who pretend to be gay, umm, to get a tax exemption???   All parties involved in this trailer should be ashamed.  Was nothing learned form the Snickers commercial mess? 

Now, maybe the actual film has some great message about Gay Rights and acceptance, but from the looks of this trailer, I'm doubtin' it.  Did I see Alexander Payne's name as one of three screenwriters???  ...talk about 'Soul Death'.  And Mika, oh lady Mika, did you sell a song to this piece of shit trailer, really?  I hope you got PAID, cause this will haunt your dreams dear.  WATCH ABOVE.

Day Without the Dog

I had the day off today but the cleaning lady was coming so I had to evacuate.  I took Carrie Fisher to Doggie Day Care 'cause the maid needed her space (only in LA) and I couldn't bear the idea of sitting in the dog park all day with a bad head cold.  Anyway, I ended up going to see a matinee of
Year Of The Dog all by myself, and no, the irony of dropping off the dog to go see this film was not overlooked by moi.

What did I think of the Molly Shannon starrin', Mike White directin' dramedy?  I LIKED it, it was much more than the trailer promised, (more serious at least.)  I can't say I loved it, I see so many 'quirky comedies that shift into disturbing realities' films, so I'm always waiting for the turn, but I liked this movie and how CAN'T you support Molly Shannon?

Mountain Blogger

Carrie Fisher (the dog), PopMuse and Bloghungry headed outta LA for a weekend in the mountains, Lake Arrowhead to be exact.  On the bright, we stayed in a nice big cabin with a view of the lake, Bloghungry had a fully equipped kitchen, and PopMuse had Digital Cable and a DVD player.  Plus Carrie Fisher got her first glimpse of snow.  On the dark, we both got bad head colds, so sneezing and coughing on the couch replaced, well, other planned activities. 

Anyway, I brought up with us the newly released DVD Box Set of the underrated Darren Starr TV Series "Grosse Pointe".  If you don't remember it from The WB circa 2000, it was a spoof of "Beverly Hills 90210" and watching underrated Lindsay Sloane play Tori Spelling, with Tori Spelling on the cover of US Weekly on the coffee table was quite poignant.  I strongly suggest you rent, buy or netflix it.

Below is some crazy youtube video I found, seems a Grosse Pointe fan compiled all the homoerotic scenes from the series.  Oh, youtube!

"Like WORRRK!" By MBP

Inside the PopMuse Offices (my brain) there are many employees (multiple personalities).  One of the employees is a DJ names "MBP".  And MBP just released his latest CD to a small group of pop culturists and hype influencers.  PopMuse convinced MBP to share the music with PopMuse Fans, and therefore I bring you... "Like WORRRK!".  It's a boom boom dance mix, with the best Pop-House tracks I've d'loaded lately.  Plus a handful of Interludes courtesy of FourFour.  Click Image above for songlist and download the tracks below.  It's a large .zip file (152MB) so be patient, it's worth it.

UPDATED 4/29:
DOWNLOAD: "LIKE WORRRK!" BY MBP [uploaded .sit file]

UPDATED 4/15:
New Download Link: 
LIKE WORRRK! BY MBP [sendspace .zip file]

REQUEST: Popmuse Vid Clip: Massive Attack "Three"

I get requests for historical PopMuse Vid Clips all the time.  This was an easy one from an old PopMuse Friend SG.  Oh, the hours we spent watching this hallucinogenic video in our dorm rooms.  Directed by the brilliant Stephane Sednaoui, this is artful music videomaking at it's best.  (Note: The incredible visual effect at the end is done with a green-screen umbrella opening and closing.)  WATCH ABOVE.

PopMuse Vid Clip: B/M Boyfight

BMBoyFight
Uploaded by PopMuse

Contemplating Ne-Yo as I do too often, it occurred to me that all of his hits sound similar to Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine".  Think about it.  Then my mind drifted to that infamous fight where Monica beatdown Brandy after she said something derogatory about one of Monica's dancers at a VMA rehearsal.  One of PopMuse's friends was Brandy's Label Rep at the time and swears it's true.  Then I thought, I have that performance in the PopMuse Video Archives, I should revisit.  I did.  You should.  Watch above.  Focus on the body language, it's the whole story.
LISTEN:
Ne-Yo "So Sick" [mp3]
Brandy Monica "The Boy Is Mine" [mp3]

Lo Life

LoLife
Uploaded by PopMuse

Jenny Lo-Lo is taking a hit in the press.  With the seriously slim album sales for her Spanish Language Debut, and the less than favorable response to her latest film at Berlin Film Fest, this ain't her month. 

But PopMuse is gonna focus on this little moment from her MTV Series Dance Life, where she chit-chatted with one of her new dancers .  The Jenny in this clip is the Jenny everyone wants to see.  Soft, but in control, r-e-a-l, and a Bronx 'round the way dancer at heart, who sits on the floor with her cute gay compadre.  I'm not asking you to run out and buy Que Hiciste, just watch the clip above and remember who she is or who she can be.

Maroon 5, Week 2

I've found in the past I love Maroon 5 songs for exactly 3 weeks, then I don't need to hear them again.  What is that about?  Let's discuss.  I downloaded this track last week.  Fell for it hard.  Then the video this week.  Fell for Adam Levine hard.  (Doesn't he just have the most perfect face?  I mean structurally, isn't it just perfect, anyone know his surgeon?  Or is it just exceptional lighting?  Maybe he is just the most well groomed man in pop?)  Whatever, "Makes Me Wonder" don't get too comfortable, you got one week left in the warm embrace of PopMuse.