Many have tried to look ‘Like a Virgin’. Britney Spears, Cristina Aguilera and most recently, Lindsey Lohan. None have been as popular as Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, known by many as Lola. Madonna’s daughter strikes a pose playing a role in her mother’s new videoclip: ” Celebration”.

The video of Madonna’s new single ‘Celebration,’ the title track of her upcoming greatest hits album. The material girl shows off her dance moves in thigh-high Louboutin boots and a dress short enough to allow for plenty of gyration and crotch-touching shots.

Around 2:20, Madonna’s boy toy Jesus Luz enters. He is playing a DJ, which is his real-life dream. Madge touches herself some more, realizes she must remove Jesus’ clothes to recognize him, then makes out with him.

Lourdes, Madonna’s 12-year-old daughter,  makes a cameo as a dancer towards the end of the video. Madonna is currently on her ‘Sticky & Sweet’ tour in Europe, and has made time for visiting Jewish Holy sites with Jesus and speaking out on behalf of the Gypsies. You can download the ‘Celebration’ video free on iTunes until September 3  for free by following this link.

Like Mother like daughter what a blessing.

Last winter I was invited at the opening of the Jewish Sephardic Festival at the American Sepharadic Foundation in New York City. The opening screen film had this introductory song which had been in my mind from mornings to evenings during the 10 days festival duration.

On the last evening of the event I decide to ask the administration who sings that song with those curious ethnic words in a language that I don’t recognize at all. ” Oh that song – she answers laughing- everyone asks, the artist name is Idan Raichel, and the song is called , “Bo’ee“  . The album is available here at the center for sale, it’s called the Idan Raichel Project and the curious language is Ethiopian. Wow!  That’s a discovery Joelle ” -  I think very exited.

A few months later, I read on the new York times that Idan Raichel is coming to the Madison Square Garden for only a two days show. I immediately write a letter to the Simeon Chapin. Director of Marketing and Promotions at Cumbancha asking if I could have the pleasure for an interview with Idan. Simeon was very kind and gave me a  short time slot of 20 minutes .

That afternoon the sky poured so much rain over New York city that I could not make it on time to see Idan in person. I was so disappointed no matter how hard  Simeon tried to make me feel better. I promised myself to get a as soon as I can my rain check!

The Idan Raichel Project burst onto Israel’s music scene in 2002, changing the face of Israeli popular music and offering a message of love and tolerance that resonated strongly in a region of the world where headlines are too often dominated by conflict.

With an enchanting blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds coupled with sophisticated production techniques and a spectacular live show, the Idan Raichel Project has become one of the most unexpected success stories in Israeli music history.

The architect of this unique recording project, is keyboardist, producer and composer Idan Raichel. Originally from Kfar Saba, Israel, a small city near his current home of Tel Aviv, Idan was born in 1977 to a family with Eastern European roots, and although music was an important part of his upbringing, his parents did not place much emphasis on performing music from his particular cultural background.

“I think the fact that I didn’t have strong family musical roots is what made me be very open to music from all over the world,” says Idan.

He started playing the accordion at the age of nine, and even at this young age was attracted to the exotic sounds of Gypsy music and tango. As a teenager, Idan began playing keyboards, and studied jazz in high school, honing his skills at improvisation and working with other musicians. In Israel, military service is mandatory for all young men and women, and at 18 Idan was conscripted into the Israeli army.

Rather then heading to the front lines in this volatile region, Idan joined the Army rock band and toured military bases performing covers of Israeli and European pop hits. As the musical director of the group, he became adept at arrangements and producing live shows, making his Army experience productive and positive.

After completing his service, Idan started working as a counselor at a boarding school for immigrants and troubled youth. Notably, the school was filled with young people from Ethiopia who were part of Israel’s growing community of Ethiopian Jews.

Idan developed friendships with members of the Ethiopian community and began to explore Ethiopian music and culture. He started going to Ethiopian bars and clubs and soon was invited to Ethiopian synagogues, weddings and ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Idan had become a successful backup musician and recording session player for some of Israel’s most popular musicians. He decided it was time to pursue a project that reflected his musical ideals, and began working on a demo recording in a small studio he set up in the basement of his parent’s home.

Idan invited over 70 of his friends and colleagues from Israel’s diverse music scene to participate in the recordings. He never expected his musical experiments to turn him into Israel’s biggest musical phenomenon in recent memory.

While most of the Israeli labels considered his work too “ethnic” and too outside of the norms of the formulaic Israeli pop scene, one A&R man, Gadi Gidor at Helicon Records, instantly heard the potential in Idan’s work and quickly signed him on to the roster. The subsequent album was an immediate hit.

The haunting Ethiopian chorus of the first single, “Bo’ee” (Come With Me), sounded completely unlike anything most Israelis had heard before, yet, coupled with Idan’s richly poetic lyrics of love and devotion and sophisticated production techniques, the single was a huge success. The album went on to sell over 150,000 copies (triple platinum) and firmly establish Idan as a new type of Israeli pop star.

Interest in the recording began to grow while demand for live shows increased, including an offer from the prestigious Opera House of Tel Aviv. Given the number of musicians who participated in the recordings, it would have been impossible to have them all appear on stage. Idan chose seven members in addition to himself who were both versatile and strong individual artists in their own right.

“There would be no front man,” Idan said of the concept, “I would sit at the side and watch things and see what occurs. Every song would have a different singer, we would sit in a half circle and each musician would have a chance to demonstrate what they have to offer.” The live show became symbolic of the album, as it brought together a group of people of different backgrounds but each is equal to the other.

This sentiment is reflected in the decision to name the collective The Idan Raichel Project. Says Raichel, “If I had called the album just ‘Idan Raichel,’ people would have thought that Raichel is the main voice on all the songs. I wrote the songs and I arranged and produced them, but I perform them together with other vocalists and musicians. On the other hand, we are not a group. It’s something in between.”

In January 2006, The Idan Raichel Project traveled to Ethiopia, the land that had inspired so much of its music. The trip marked the first time two of the Project’s lead vocalists were able to return to the land of their birth and also the first time an Israeli artist had performed in Ethiopia.

The Idan Raichel Project opened the Fifth Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa, sharing the stage with top Ethiopian performers, including the legendary Mahmoud Ahmed, and were happy to learn that their songs “Bo’ee” and “Mi’Ma’amakim” had earned a fair share of local radio airplay. The story of the Project’s emotional trip to Israel became the basis of the documentary film Black Over White.

In the fall of 2006, the record label Cumbancha released the music of The Idan Raichel Project worldwide, bringing even more renown to this inspirational collective. Billboard Magazine called their international release “One of the most fascinating titles to emerge in world music this year?a multi-ethnic tour de force.

” The New York Times selected the album as one of the top world music releases of the year, and media from Peru to Portugal was unanimous in their praise. The album also received a nomination as one of the best world music albums of the year by the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music.

Known around the world, especially in circles of Jewish, Ethiopian and Israeli communities, the Idan Raichel Project regularly sells out concerts in large performance venues. Since the international release, The Idan Raichel Project has headlined at New York’s prestigious Central Park SummerStage, the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, the Sydney Opera House and performed across Europe as well as in Mexico City, Sydney, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Singapore, and Mumbai.

Future touring plans include South Africa and South America. Wherever they perform, The Project unifies the audience in a celebration of that which is unique about the cultures of the world, as well as that in which we are all alike.

In November 2008, The Idan Raichel Project released the album Within My Walls (Bein Kirot Beiti) in Israel to tremendous acclaim. The album is to be released worldwide outside of Israel by Cumbancha in early 2009. Much of Within My Walls was recorded over the past few years while Idan was on tour, during recording sessions in hotel rooms, backstage dressing areas, private homes and other impromptu settings.

His poetic lyrics reflect these travels and contemplations; sung in Hebrew, Moroccan Arabic, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole and Swahili, the songs address the struggle for personal fulfillment and the true meaning of love in a conflicted and complex world.

For Within My Walls, Idan recorded and co-wrote songs with Colombian singer Marta Gómez, Cape Verdean luminary Mayra Andrade and the silken-voiced Somi of Rwandan and Ugandan heritage. Inspired by the lush, moody strings of Nick Drake, Idan assembled a 24-piece orchestra and worked with Israeli arranger Assaf Dar to transpose his engaging melodies into an orchestral format.

Idan also invited some of his favorite musicians, such as Middle Eastern percussionist Zohar Fresco, traditional flute and woodwinds specialist Eyal Sela, Mark Eliyahu on kamancheh (a traditional Persion fiddle), and legendary bassist Alon Nadel to lend their talents to the recording. The result is a deeply moving recording, overflowing with rich melodies, engaging poetry, stunning vocal performances and intricate arrangements.

With the release of Within My Walls, the Idan Raichel Project prepares to embark on their next great adventure by bringing their music to en even wider audience across the globe. With major tour dates planned for 2009 in North America, Europe, Latin America and other regions, the Idan Raichel Project will be breaking down walls for years to come.

Joelle’s Tips:

The Artist: Idan Raichel

The Interview: One on One Al Jazeera Part 1 /  Part 2

Album of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand
Best Rap Album: Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: John Mayer, “Say”

Record of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Please Read the Letter”
Best New Artist: Adele
Best Rock Album: Coldplay, Viva la Vida
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Rich Woman”

Rubin (Death Magnetic, Home Before Dark, Mercy, Seeing Things, Weezer)
Best Rock Song: Bruce Springsteen, “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”
Best Rock Instrumental Performance: “Peaches En Regalia,” Zappa Plays Zappa, Featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock

Best Metal Performance: Metallica, “My Apocalypse”
Best Hard Rock Performance: The Mars Volta, “Wax Simulacra”
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Kings of Leon, “Sex on Fire”
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: John Mayer, “Gravity”

Best Alternative Music Album: Radiohead, In Rainbows
Best Pop Vocal Album: Duffy, Rockferry
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Adele, “Chasing Pavements”

Best Pop Instrumental Album: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Jingle All The Way
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Eagles, “I Dreamed There Was No War”
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books): Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth (Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood)

Best Contemporary R&B Album: Mary J. Blige, Growing Pains
Best R&B Song: Ne-Yo, “Miss Independent” (Mikkel S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen and S. Smith, songwriters)
Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Chrisette Michele Featuring will.i.am, “Be OK”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: Al Green Featuring Anthony Hamilton, “You’ve Got the Love I Need”
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Al Green Featuring John Legend, “Stay With Me (by the Sea)”

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: Alicia Keys; ” Superwoman”
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Ne-Yo, “Miss Independent”
Best Rap Song: Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major, “Lollipop” (D. Carter, S. Garrett, D. Harrison, J. Scheffer and R. Zamor, songwriters)

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Estelle Featuring Kanye West, “American Boy”
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z and T.I. Featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne, “Swagga Like Us”

Best Rap Solo Performance: Lil Wayne, “A Milli”
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Natalie Cole, Still Unforgettable
Best Country Album: George Strait, Troubadour

Best Country Song: Sugarland, “Stay” (Jennifer Nettles, songwriter)
Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947

Best Country Instrumental Performance: Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner, “Cluster Pluck”
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Killing the Blues”
Best Male Country Vocal Performance: Brad Paisley, “Letter to Me”

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: Carrie Underwood, “Last Name”
Best Reggae Album: Burning Spear, Jah Is Real
Best Hawaiian Music Album: Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, Ikena
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand
Best Traditional Folk Album: Pete Seeger, At 89

Best Traditional Blues Album: B.B. King, One Kind Favor
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Dr. John and the Lower 911, City That Care Forgot
Best Long Form Music Video: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
Best Short Form Music Video: Weezer, “Pork and Beans”
Best Classical Album: Weill, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost

Best Classical Crossover Album: The King’s Singers, Simple Gifts
Best Classical Contemporary Composition: John Corigliano, composer, Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan (JoAnn Falletta, conductor)
Best Classical Vocal Performance: John Corigliano, Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan

Best Small Ensemble Performance: Spotless Rose, Hymns to the Virgin Mary                                              Best Chamber Music Performance: Elliott Carter, Pacifica Quartet, String Quartets Nos. 1                           Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): Gloria Cheng, Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutoslawski

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): Hilary Hahn, Schoenberg, Sibelius: Violin Concertos (Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor)
Best Choral Performance: Sir Simon Rattle, “Symphony of Psalms”
Best Opera Recording: Weill, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Best Orchestral Performance: Shostakovich, “Symphony No. 4,” Bernard Haitink, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)Best Engineered Album, Classical: Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago

Best Traditional Gospel Album: The Blind Boys of Alabama, Down in New Orleans                                         Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Gaither Vocal Band, Lovin’                                              Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: CeCe Winans, Thy Kingdom                                                               Best Electronic/Dance Album: Daft Punk, Alive 2007

Best Engineered Album, Classical: Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago
Best Electronic/Dance Album: Daft Punk, Alive 2007

Best Dance Recording: Daft Punk, “Harder Better Faster Stronger”
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Kirk Franklin, The Fight of My Life

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album: TobyMac, Alive and Transported                                                                                                                                                    Best Gospel Song: Kirk Franklin, “Help Me Believe”

Best Gospel Performance: Mary Mary, “Get Up”

Best Latin Jazz Album: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Song for Chico

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Chick Corea and Gary Burton, The New Crystal Silence
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Terence Blanchard, soloist, “Be-Bop”
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Cassandra Wilson, Loverly
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: Randy Brecker, Randy in Brasil

Best New Age Album: Jack DeJohnette, Peace TimeBest Comedy Album: George Carlin, It’s Bad For YaBest Polka Album: Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, Let the Whole World SingBest Contemporary World Music Album: Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo, Global Drum Project

Best Traditional World Music Album: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu

Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival                                                                                                                                         Best Native American Music Album: Come to Me Great Mystery—Native American Healing Songs
Best Norteño Album: Los Tigres del Norte, Raíces

Best Banda Album: Joan Sebástian, No Es de Madera
Best Tejano Album: Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, Viva la Revolucion
Best Regional Mexican Album: Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Amor, Dolor Y Lágrimas: Música Ranchera

Best Tropical Latin Album: José Feliciano, Señor Bachata
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album: 45, Jaguares
Best Latin Pop Album: Juanes, La Vida…Es un Ratico
Best Musical Show Album: In the Heights

Best Musical Album for Children: They Might Be Giants, Here Come The 123s
Best Spoken Word Album for Children: Bill Harley, Yes to Running!
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): Natalie Cole, “Here’s That Rainy Day” (Nan Schwartz, arranger) Disney

Best Instrumental Arrangement: Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, “Define Dancing” (From Wall-E) (Thomas Newman, arranger)
Best Instrumental Composition: “The Adventures of Mutt” (From Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)

Best Surround Sound Album: Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: MGMT, “Electric Feel,” Justice Remix (Justice, remixers)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: The Raconteurs (Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell and Jack White III), Consolers of the Lonely

Best Historical Album: Art of Field Recording, Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music (Documented by Art Rosenbaum)
Best Album Notes: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Francis Davis, album notes write

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: In Rainbows
Best Recording Package: Metallica, Death Magnetic (Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat and David Turner, art directors)

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, “Down to Earth” (From Wall-E)

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, The Dark Knight

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Juno
Song of the Year: Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group: Sugarland, “Stay”
Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson
Industry Icon Award: Clive Davis

Joelle’s Picks:

Photo Credits : Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press /Patrick Seeger/European Pressphoto Agency/Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Kevin Winter/Getty Images/

]]> http://joellelifestyle.com/2009/02/08/51-grammy-awards/feed/ 0 http://joellelifestyle.com/2009/02/04/soledad-force-of-nature/ http://joellelifestyle.com/2009/02/04/soledad-force-of-nature/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:05:51 +0000 Joelle http://joellelifestyle.com/?p=7260

You know those days in which Mercury retrograde taps fully to slow down your motion?

Those very important E-mails you sent were never received, your I-pod froze, the Blackberry messenger failed to accept your most recent contact, your server went down at the time you were finishing an important proposal for a client, the alarm clock did not ring, the home answering machine broke, a huge misunderstanding with your co-worker took place at the office and your new date had no idea you had agreed to meet before his call?

Yes, all that is happening because Mercury is in a retrograde motion.  Moreover, It’s snowing like crazy in New York City and life seems more chaotic than one could even imagine.

I have a friend in the city who is an actress.  Her name is Puy Navarro and she is from Valencia.  We met last year, introduced by a mutual, Brazilian friend who happens to be one of the best actors in the country.

Puy is precise and punctual.  She’s also a Sevillanas instructor, she’s certainly acquainted with the concepts of rhythm, tempo, and space.  Together we share a passion for Andalusian culture, especially in regard to great Flamenco legends like dancer Soledad Barrio and her husband Martin Santangelo, artistic director of the Noche Flamenca touring company.

In December, one month in advance, Puy called to tell me that Soledad would be in town for just a short period of time and ask if I desired to join her to see the performance.  I am fully aware that Puy is very well acquainted with Soledad and periodically worked for the Noche Flamenca in Spain and in New York.

“Are you kidding Puy?  Of course I am in!  By the way please, please kindly intervene and ask Soledad if I can have the pleasure of an interview and permission take some pictures for my website.” 

“Claro mi amor, consideralo hecho,” (of course, my love consider it done!) she said.

Consulting astrologers in my life, I have recently learned a very important concept: Never consider anything done when Mercury is retrograde!

And here I am on a Saturday morning in bed.  It’s 11:30, it’s snowing outside, and I don’t need to be anywhere.  I feel like relaxing quietly exactly where I am but my cell is ringing.  “Joelle? Donde estas?”

”What do you mean where am I?  I am in bed Puy, why?”

“Dios mio, the show is starting in 5 minutes!  Did you forget?”

I realize for a few seconds that I am speechless.  “Isn’t the show at midnight?”  Puy, irritated as you can imagine, tells me in English with a strong Spanish accent that everybody is waiting for me and that even if I miss the interview, I should manage to at least arrive in time for the show if nothing else.

I close the phone, speechless, with a simple “Okay,” as an answer.  Without going to my closet, I quickly pick up last night’s clothes from a chair.  Almost without taking time to breathe, I put my ugly Uggs on and rush by taxi to Joe’s Pub on Lafayette Street downtown.

The cell number for Xavier, the company’s assistant, is all I’ve got to get in.  When I ask him on the phone what he looks like, he tells me he looks like a gypsy, has long hair, is wearing ‘everything black’ and cannot speak English.  Very cute at twenty years old, Xavier finds me and takes my handbag, coat, hat, and umbrella.  He asks with the sweetest voice if my camera shows a red blinking light when one pushes the shutter speed button.

“Yes.  No.  I don’t know,” is my answer.  I am completely moved by the sound of Spanish guitars and clapping hands coming from the other room.  “I just want to get in Xavier, just want to get in.”  The camera’s red light viewer goes through a meticulous layering process with Scotch tape.  I am finally led to my seat, right in front of the stage.  There they are, Soledad Barrio and Martin Santangelo, right in front of me.  I forget I still need to breathe.

Under the direction of Santangelo, the award-winning Noche Flamenca has become Spain’s most successful touring company.  Formed in 1993 by Martin and his Bessie award-winning wife, Soledad Barrio, the company regularly tours throughout the globe.

Performance highlights in North America include Berkeley’s Cal Performances, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Ravinia Festival, Wolf Trap, and the Hollywood Bowl, among others.  Internationally, the company has appeared on stages in Australia, New Zealand, Greece, and Egypt, among other countries.

In front of me the couple’s rigorous and synchronized foot steps transcend into a realm I can’t reach yet.  Immersed in the notion of universal tragedy, I start to relate to the primal scream of Flamenco by watching the severity in their expressions.  Perceiving the surrender of their interlaced souls to this theatrical performance, very quietly I am able to calm down and finally catch my breath.

Finally able to breathe, their penetrating performing presence in this micro-universe called Joe’s Pub makes me realize I am not alone in life’s limitations, whatever they are: social, spiritual, economic, physical or astrological.

And through this flamboyant Flamenco tactic directed by Martin Santangelo, Noche Flamenca’s powerful sound of guitars, rhythm, hand clapping, dancing and the raucous intensity of its company singers, heartbreaking expressions of passion, despair, joy, or sorrow suddenly lead the repressive state of Mercury retrograding in my mind to transcend into a totally new dimension, confronting other emotional states that bare the toughest truths about human existence.

As dance critic Tobi Tobias wrote in her review: “The cast members of Noche Flamenca work as a team to provide mounting excitement, but putting them all in the shade, there’s Soledad dressed in black. She delivers her solos in chapters.  One segment finishes, having gone as far as it can.  A pause, and then the movement rouses up again, as if to tackle the same subject from a new angle.

Slowly, her hair falls loose from its tight arrangement bordering the nape of her neck as her soul seems to stiffen within, in sheer determination to explore fully what most people find it safest not to think about. She is the one who takes you places you might never reach without her.

Her feet go on striking relentlessly, now actuating a trembling through her bare legs, exposed as she roughly raises her skirt.  At the end of a section that seems to leave her exhausted, she keeps snapping her fingers at the musicians and curlicuing her hands at the wrists, apparently insisting that she still has something more to say.  At this point you feel that the vehemence of her mere glance might turn its object—singer, guitarist, viewer—to stone.

The stage darkens.  She moves to a light in the corner and crouches over it.  Then, having been trailed by the musicians in a raggedy processional, she swivels to face them.

She rises to her full height, stretching her arms high.  That final gesture reads as a triumphant announcement: Beyond death there is nothing to fear.”

On the way out, Puy introduces me to the company.  Martin very kindly invites me to watch the show once more this evening and possibly reserve some time for our interview.  Unfortunately, I must be in the Hamptons for the birthday of a dear friend of mine.

The next day Martin, Soledad, and the group are leaving early in the morning to proceed with their tour. Martin offers his E-mail so I can forward my questions.  He does not know that Soledad, without a word, during this retrograde phase of Mercury, already answered them all.

Joelle’s Picks:

The company: Soledad Barrio and the Noche Flamenca.

The company has launched a development initiative to help build the infrastructure to support ever more ambitious creative productions and a possible permanent home in New York for teaching and performing.

Noche Flamenca is dedicated to bringing the authentic form of Flamenco to the public through its performances around the globe.  Unfortunately, ticket sales only cover 40% of their expenses.  Contributions help offset the costs of rehearsals, costumes, salaries, transportation, etc.  All contributions are greatly appreciated and can be sent to:
168 West 86th St. Suite 9A
New York, NY 10024

The 2008 Promotional Video:

References : ‘Undertow’  by Tobi Tobias/Voice of Dance

If you happened to visit the brand new, cleaner Naples this July, angels were by your side! I am referring to the magnificent and exceptional three-night majestic and illuminated Piazza Plebiscito held under the stars.

The first evening, I had the privilege in assisting, with friends among an elegantly dressed Neapolitan audience of 10,000 comfortably seated spectators, conductor Zubin Metha presenting the public not one, but two prestigious orchestras. Not an everyday occasion!

The Maestro’s, baton conducted 350 musicians on a stage where the orchestra complex of the Teatro San Carlo the peak of Neapolitan culture, and choirs of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino from Florence harmoniously united to give life to the execution of one of the greatest compositions ever written: The in B Minor, Op. 125 by Ludwig van Beethoven, otherwise known as “The Ninth“.

Finmeccanica as the sole sponsor of the concert served also to finance the restoration of the San Carlo opera house.

Many government figures were present including Sandro Bondi, minister of cultural affairs, Antonio Bassolini, president of the Campania Region, Dino Di Palma, president of the Province of Naples, Rosa Russo Lervolino, mayor of Naples and Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, along with celebrities from the entertainment world including Renzo Arbore, who introduced the concert, Roberto Bolle, Carla Fracci and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

The Piazza symbol of the city, looked impressive, through time a stage for political and cultural events this year it speaks of a desire for rebirth – “A stage in the heart of Naples” with the intent of bringing the city back to its ancient spirit: the cultural appreciation of music and the capital of international arts, a difficult task in view of the city’s current problems.

While arps and other instruments of the orchestra played their tunes, you could hear the noise of some occasional plane above the piazza, dog barking from far on houses nearby, where owners invited their friends for drinks in their balconies for this special occasion. Every fifteen minutes sharp, the clock on the beautiful Neo-classical facade would with exact precision remind us of time.

The mix of these sounds and the invisible touch of the fresh evening breeze would remind me of Proust when he wrote about time being an illusion ” The time we have at our disposal everyday is elastic: The passions we feel expand it, the ones that inspire us contract it, and the habits are the ones that fill in what remains.”

There was a vivid performance of a legendary work, which Beethoven composed when he was completely deaf – a rare combination of strength and beauty that reaches its apex with the “Ode to Joy“, the anthem of the European Union which rose in a great crescendo to symbolize the brotherhood of all peoples. The applause at the end of the performance was interminable.The conductor offered an encore by acclamation: the Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni.

After emphasizing the significance of the event and explaining it was not possible to leave Naples – which was his first stop in Italy when he arrived in Europe from India – without playing something “from Naples”, the finale of the evening was a rendition of “O Sole Mio ” made rollicking by the powerful chorus and the emotion of the piazza. ( listen live) . It was a wonderful combination of “cultured” music and popular sentiment, another challenge in an event that certainly did not lack ambition, leaving everyone with the wish that the storm will be followed by an “aria serena” – a time of peace.

” It will be a hymn for the rebirth of a marvellous city,” declared Zubin Mehta shortly before the concert while speaking of Beethoven. He said that music cannot resolve problems – but culture, beauty and art can be important allies in confronting it. Definitely to remember!

On July 5, ballet major star Roberto Bolle also performed in Piazza Plebiscito. The San Carlo theatre opened once more to the city with a new event for the very vast public and for young people.

“Roberto Bolle and Friends” Gala event united ballet dancers of international fame, who came from the best ballet companies of the world, all around Bolle, the magnificent dancer, an evening of union governed by the great art and by beauty with some of the most beautiful and famous music pieces of the 17th and the18th century repertoire.

In the same soiree and on the same stage, the most famous ballet stars of the moment, “challenged” each other in a friendly way, in the name of the art of dance, in an extraordinary confrontation of techniques, schools and styles. Absolutely unique!

Finally, in front of a delirious crowd of 40,000 twenty-seven years after having done his first show in this same square a symbol the crossroads urban Bourbon-Catholic belly of the city, Pino Daniele, the king of as he defines himself “Taramblu “, a mix of tarantella, blues and rumba whose songs are characterized by a free intermingling of English, Italian and Neapolitan passages reigned supreme.

It is the reality that now has changed. The sun, sea, but the landscape is dominated by dark colors dell’immondizia (Litter) and degradation. But the singers also serve as this: to revive the colors, the desire to ransom in the rubble. singers also serve as this.

The most beautiful song and celebrated by Pino Daniele the singing all together, like a languid “we’re the world” Parthenopean in this evening taste cathartic for Naples: The protagonist, the public and then Nino D’Angelo, Avion Travel, Giorgia, Irene Grandi, Chiara Civello and even Gigi D’Alessio.

Pino with his fabulous old band, the one with James Senese, Tony Esposito, Rino Zurzolo, Joe Amoruso and Tullio De Piscopo singing ” Je so ‘crazy“, ” Yes I know my way” (watch) and then the musicians who have accompanied him in thirty years of songs. One thing is certain, Pino Daniele still sings “Napul’è one thousand culure” and he is so right!

References: La Rebubblica It. Napoli Nino Gastaldo ” Pino Daniele un coro di felicita”—-Finmeccanica communications-Teatro San Carlo press Release– Photos courtesy Riccardo Siano

Joelle’s tips:

Watch and listen the videos live:

” Vento di Passione” Pino Daniele and Giorgia (Beautiful!!) ” Yes I know, my way ” Pino Daniele

Zubin Metha: Listen live ” O Sole Mio” with the choir of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Teatro San Carlo

According Wikipedia, the Bansuri is a transverse alto flute of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, made of a single length of bamboo with six or seven open finger holes. An ancient musical instrument associated with cowherds and the pastoral tradition, intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha, and is depicted in Buddhist paintings from around 100 AD.

It is intimately associated with Krishna’s Rasa Lila; the tunes on his flute are poetically associated with driving the women of Braj mad. The North Indian Bansuri, typically about 14 inches long, was traditionally used as a soprano instrument primarily for accompaniment in lighter compositions including film music.

Born in Annacapri, Almartino, Pasquale, (still not sure about his true name exactly) is a charming and mysterious man. Self taught, having as masters the sound of the wind, the noise of sea, and the silence of historic places that talk far too much without the need of words, he often spent long days by himself, secretly exploring those sounds in deserted sites of the island of Capri.

The feeling I got when I was introduced by photographer Umberto D’ Aniello is as though he needed to hear a voice of what later would become his own—through thousands of different instruments he imported from historical Japan, India, China and Indonesia.

Khrishna, Sun-Tzu, or Genghis-Khan, warriors and archetypes of time would meet with Roman king Tiberius in busy encounters, Almartino’s soul being the attentive spectator.

One of the results of these several walks is the spectacular CD called “Nei Cieli della Storia” (In the Skies of History”) where with other musicians and dance performers he records live in places like Fortino di Pino, Villa Lysis, Monte Solaro, Damecuta and Tragara.

He confided in me later (over at San Pellegrino aranciata at the Piazzetta) that in the track entitled “Ossesioni Ocidentali” the loop of synthesizers symbolize obsessions, the typical monotony of occidental cultures, while the Bansuri sings, explores, indicates. It’s a simple and deep atmosphere- he continues- and maybe mystical…”

I asked Almartino, what kind of music he listens to and which musicians inspire his work. He answered: “to tell you the truth Joelle, and I am really going to be honest, I don’t listen to music often… actually very seldom, and when I am asked if I know some musician or another, I find myself embarrassed as unfortunately I have never heard of them nor their music.”

He uses different names: Almartino when he plays his music, Pasquale when he signs his e-mails and when he wears his white costume, plays Cuban music, white Panama hat and black shirt he personifies as Pascal Martinez with a Saxophone.

Pascal Martinez is a saxophone collector. Among the sophisticated keyboards and high-tech computers, his ethnic musical instruments set-up is composed of thousands of flutes from all over the world. He also patiently manufacturers flutes that he calls “Moon Flutes” out of very old bamboo that he manually dries under the Caprean sun and carves them to attain the exactitude of the sound he requires.

For last year’s Prada contest for the silent short film, “Trembled Blossom,” Almartino was one of the participants with his piano composition which I personally find sublime…

He is young, long haired, calm and particularly shy and above all he has an incredible sweet smile. When I asked him if he thought there was touch of the divine in his music, he paused, did not answer—I took that as a “I don’t know, or I really don’t think so.”

But what Almartino doesn’t know as he is talking to me in the busy Capri Piazetta , that Krishna and Adhra, through a very special old Bansuri from India, they are just whispering at his back the tunes of his new concert taking place next August 17 in a beautiful place in Anacapri called “Belvedere Migliera “. If you have nothing else to do, fly in and get your stone spot under the sky overlooking the sea.

Dear Almartino may your beloved island among other, be once more the source of your great inspiration .

Namaste.

Joelle’s Tips:
Check his newest video with Photographer composer Umberto D’ Aniello

The Musician: Almartino contact: almartino@almartino.it

The music CDs: ” Il Viaggio” -1999 -” Capri, Memoria di un isola ” 2002 Capri Multimedia

Check Almartino videos on line:

Madonna still has a ton of blond ambition. Cover of Vanity Fair Green Issue and Elle Magazine Madonnarama is reaching a bewildering aphoteosis and this season on Elle there is a question of her having made the transition from diva to deity.

Her trajectory and desire for glamour and self-expression have inspired and awed the world for more that two decades.Her discipline, her drive, her lack of self-destructive tendencies is exact what we love in her.

As she nears 50, Madonna’s narrative is shifting. Yes, there’s another new super-pop album, her eleventh, Hard Candy, with Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams. The Queen of Pop has been crowned number 1 in both the singles and album charts with the track “4 Minutes”featuring the vocals of Justin Timberlake and new album “Hard Candy”

But there’s also Filth and Wisdom, the feature film she’s co-written, produced, and directed, and I Am Because We Are, her documentary on Malawi, the aids-ravaged country where the coolest heath -mother of the planet controversially adopted her third child. She also raises three children under the age of 13.

How glamorous is to be that ambitious?

Joelle’s Tips:

Watch: Madonna 2008 Cover shoot Elle Magazine Video

I have sources that continuously tracked the music used at all the global Fashion Week events; with now over 200 tracks used during Autumn/Winter 2008 and Spring/Summer 2008 shows from 50+ designers; from Paris, New York, London and Milan.

If DJ’s at the New York shows were obsessed with That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings, then the ubiquitous song in London fashion circles this week is Blind by Hercules & Love Affair. Vocals by Antony (of The Johnsons fame), and with a video that features a young Lisa Stansfield look-a-like. Due for release next month.

As the relationship between fashion and electro clash cools, runway music has become much more eclectic, with Radiohead as the new darlings of the fashion show DJ, and a clear return to classics of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Blondie. In addition, a new interest in the 80s, with Duran Duran, The Cure, Nirvana, and David Bowie.

My favorite fashion week music story of the week from the Yohji Yamamoto in Paris, where the music was provided by Yamamoto’s own guitar-based music stylings.

RUNWAY SHOW MUSIC – SPRING/ SUMMER 2008

(Updated February 29 , 2008 ) Including:

• Milan ready-to-wear
• Paris ready-to-wear
• London ready-to-wear
• New York ready-to-wear
• New York menswear
• Milan menswear
• Paris menswear
• Paris couture

• ALBERTA FERRETTI
• Heroes • Nico
• ALESSANDRO DELLʼACQUA
• Claire De Lune (Remix)
• Love Is A Battlefield • Pat Benetar
• Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence • Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Purple Rose Minuet • Susumu Yokota
• When Under Ether • PJ Harvey
• Yeah Yeah • Bodyrox
• ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
• Contact • Edwin Starr
• Play Me • Neil Diamond
• Supernature • Cerrone
• ANNA SUI
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy • The Andrews Sisters
• Cherchez La Femme • Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band
• Dashboard • Modest Mouse
• If Looks Could Kill • Camera Obscura
• J Dilla • Lightworks
• Kids Just Wanna Have Fun • The Legends
• Love Is Coming Back • John Phillips
• ARMANI PRIVE
• To The Music • Colder
• Ramalama • Roisin Murphy
• BALENCIAGA
• Storm • Vanessa Mae / Vivaldi
• BALMAIN
• Lovestoned • Justin Timberlake
• BCBG
• Marry Happy • Kate Nash
• Mouthwash • Kate Nash
• Play • Kate Nash
• We Get on • Kate Nash
• BURBERRY
• Child In Time • Deep Purple
• I Put A Spell On You • Creedence Clearwater
• You Do Something To Me • Paul Weller
• CALVIN KLEIN
• Running To The Ghost • James Blackshaw Square
• Teardrop • Massive Attack
• CAROLINA HERRERA
• Eurovision • Lovekevins
• My Moon, My Man • Feist
• Tonight I Have To Leave It • Shout Out Louds
• DIOR COUTURE
• Crosstown Traffic • Jimmy Hendrix
• Black Dog • Led Zeppelin
• Whole Lotta Love • Led Zeppelin
• American Woman • The Guess Who
• CHANEL COUTURE
• Running Up That Hill • The Chromatics
• CHANEL RTW
• Be My Baby • The Ronettes
• Melody Day • Caribou
• Don’t Worry Baby • The Beach Boys
• The Last Time • Andrew Oldham Orchestra / The Rolling Stones
• CHLOÉ RTW
• Bucky Done Gun • M.I.A
• Jimmy • M.I.A
• Miss Broadway • Glass Candy
• CHRISTOPHER KANE
• Law Of Life • Farah
• Miss Broadway • Glass Candy
• Wild Thing • The Troggs
• DSQUARED
• Gotta Work • Amerie
• Shut Up & Drive • Rihanna
• Umbrella • Rihanna
• DIESEL
• Come Around • Timbaland ft. M•I•A
• Damn Girl • Kid Sister
• Fancy Footwork • Chromeo
• Lovestoned (Remix) • Justin Timberlake
• Overpowered • Róisín Murphy
• DIOR
• 100 Different Ways • Girls Aloud
• Anytime You Like • Robyn
• Englishman In New York • Sting
• DOLCE & GABBANA
• Donʼt Stop The Music • Rihanna
• Mamakossa • Back To Basics ft. KFT
• Under My Thumb • The Rolling Stones
• DONNA KARAN
• Inside & Out • Feist
• GIVENCHY
• Heartbeats • The Knife
• GIVENCHY COUTURE
• Digital Versicolor • Glass Candy
• March of the Montagues and Capulets • Prokofiev
• GUCCI
• Heart of Glass • Blondie
• Keys To The City • The Go! Team
• Love Cats • The Cure
• Overpowered • Róisín Murphy
• Psycho: Prelude • Bernard Herrmann
• HERMÈS
• Ever So Lonely (Dance Remix) • Sheila Chandra
• Ever So Lonely • Sheila Chandra
• Mathar (Dawsonʼs Dub) • Indian Vibes
• Mishra Dub 5 • TJ Rehmi
• Mother Tongue • Dead Can Dance
• Sacred Stones • Sheila Chandra
• Speaking In Tongues III • Sheila Chandra
• HUGO BOSS
• Bullets • Tunng
• Close To Me • The Cure
• Heart It Races • Architecture In Helsinki
• ISSA
• Get This Party Started • Shirley Bassey
• Iʼm Crazy Ê»Bout My Baby • G-Swing ft. The Cotton Kids
• Kiss (White Label) • Gloster
• On Broadway • Mighty Yo
• Sex Bomb • Max Raabe
• What A Wonderful World • Louis Armstrong
• JEREMYLAING
• The Platform On The Ocean • Arthur Russell
• Dark Side Of The Spoon” • Alexander Robotnick
• Rosenband • Kelley Polar
• J MENDEL
• Tears Dry On Their Own (Al Usher Mix) • Amy Winehouse
• JIL SANDER
• Two Of Us • Supermayer
• Vitalic
• JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER
• Boyz • M.I.A
• Fog Bound • Klaus Badelt
• Hussel • M.I.A
• Kings Of The Wild Frontier • Adam And The Ants
• Up Is Down • Hanz Zimmer
• JOHN GALLIANO
• Here Comes The Rain Again (Future Of Vision Remix) • The Eurythmics
• How Will I Know (Remix) • Whitney Houston
• I Feel For You • Bob Sinclair
• Jack You Off • Robyn
• Tears Dry On their Own (Al Usher Remix) • Amy Winehouse
• KARL LAGERFELD
• Get Innocuous • LCD Soundsystem
• Prince Harry • Soho Dolls
• The Boys • Dragonette
• LACOSTE
• Baby Let Me Kiss You • Fern Kinney
• Cool In The Pool • Holger Czukay
• Decollage • The Honeymoon Killers
• Steam Away • The Flying Lizzards
• Sunset Laser • Cheval Fou
• LANVIN
• Fireworks • Siouxsie and the Banshees
• LOUIS VUITTON
• Lex • Ratatat
• Stronger • Kanye West
• Technologic • Daft Punk
• Touch It • Busta Rhymes
• LUCA LUCA
• Gronlandic • Of Montreal
• MARC JACOBS
• Bolero • Ravel
• MARC BY MARC JACOBS
• Control (Dirty) • Kid Sister
• I Don’t Love You • White Trash
• Ice Cream (The Hooks Remix) • New Young Pony Club
• Kidʼs Stuff (Pt. 1) • Aaron LaCrate
• You Could Easily Have Me • Metronomy
• MATTHEW WILLIAMSON
• Prince
• MAX AZRIA
• Beware • Ann Peebles
• Come To Mama • Ann Peebles
• Doctor Love Power • Ann Peebles
• I Canʼt Stand The Rain • Ann Peebles
• Itʼs A Manʼs Manʼs Manʼs World • James Brown
• MICHAEL KORS
• Grace Kelly • Mika
• I Don’t Feeling Like Dancin • Scissor Sisters
• Love Today • Mika
• Xanadu • Olivia Newton-John
• MISSONI
• It’s A Man’s World • James Brown & Joss Stone
• MISS SIXTY
• Bomb • New Young Pony Club
• Overpowered • Róisín Murphy
• NARCISO RODRIGUEZ
• I Feel You • Depeche Mode (Helmet At The Helm Mix)
• I Feel You • Depeche Mode (Lifeʼs Too Short Mix)
• I Feel You • Depeche Mode (Seven Inch Mix)
• I Feel You • Depeche Mode (Throb Mix)
• PAUL & JOE
• 7 Heures Du Matin • Jacqueline Taïeb
• This Is My Life (Disco Mix) • Shirley Bassey
• PAUL SMITH
• Cool In The Pool • Holger Czukay
• Fizheuer Zieheuer • Villalobos
• Hula Saw • Bill Posters
• Jazz Break • Richard Hartley
• Julie Christie Interview • Julie Christie
• PETER SOM
• Australia • The Shins
• Chasing Cars • Snow Patrol
• I Love You • The Pipettes
• Satellite • Guster
• You Got Your Cherry Bomb • The Spoon
• RALPH LAUREN
• Boring • The Pierces
• ROBERTO CAVALLI
• Ceremony • New Order (Marie Antoinette Soundtrack)
• Plainsong • The Cure
• Playground Love • Air
• RODARTE
• Beach • Miracle Fortress
• Being Boiled (Fast Version) • Human League
• Franz Schubert • Kraftwerk
• Have You Seen In Your Dreams? • Miracle Fortress
• To The East • Electrelane
• Tram 21 • Electrelane
• SONIA RYKIEL
• Iʼm Waiting For My Man • Vanessa Paradis
• JʼAime Regarder Les Filles • Patrick Coutin
• Marie Douceur (Paint It Black) • Marie Laforêt
• Mellow Yellow • Donovan
• Paint It Black • Chris Farlowe
• Puisque Vous Partez En Voyage • Jacques Dutronc & Françoise Hardy
• STELLA MCCARTNEY
• Paper Planes • M.I.A
• TULEH
• Unfinished Sympathy • Massive Attack
• VALENTINO
• Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above • CSS
• Slappers • Dani Siciliano
• Didn’t Anybody Tell You • Dani Siciliano
• VERSACE
• Bamboo Banger • M.I.A
• Easy • Trick & Kubic
• Perfect • Princess Superstar
• Sleep Deprivation • Simian Mobile Disco
• Yeah Yeah • Bodyrox
• VIKTOR & ROLF
• Close To You • The Carpenters
• YVES SAINT-LAURENT (MEN)
• Les Jardins (de l’Bouli) • Lo Moda
• Ready To Go • Lo Moda
• YVES SAINT-LAURENT
• Bird Flu • M.I.A
• Sleeping Beauty • Patrick Wilson
• Juju Space Jazz • Brian Eno
• ZAC POSEN
• Movers & Shakers • Matthew Herbert

FASHION WEEK SOUNDTRACKS – AUTUMN / WINTER 2008
Updated 3 March 2008

Including

• Milan ready-to-wear
• Paris ready-to-wear
• London ready-to-wear
• New York ready-to-wear
• New York menswear
• Milan menswear
• Paris menswear
• Paris couture

• ABAETE RTW
• M79 • Vampire Weekend
• The 15th • Fischerspooner
• It Dawned On Me • Calla
• ALEXANDER MCQUEEN MEN
• A Forest • The Cure
• Echo & The Bunnymen
• Hey Jude • The Beatles
• ALEXANDER MCQUEEN RTW
• This Charming Man (Smiths Cover) • The Vitamin String Quartet
• Come as You Are (Nirvana Cover) • The Vitamin String Quartet
• ALEXANDER WANG
• Bamboo Banga • M.I.A
• ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH RTW
• Language Is A Virus • Laurie Anderson
• The Day The Devil • Laurie Anderson
• ANNA SUI RTW
• Carrots • Panda Bear
• Christine • Siouxsie And The Banshees
• Comfy in Nautica • Panda Bear
• Kiss Them for Me • Siouxsie And The Banshees
• Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds • The Beatles
• ANGEL SANCHEZ RTW
• Eclipse • Onur Ozer
• ANN-SOFIE BAC RTW
• Tom & Jerry cartoon soundtracks
• ANTONIO AZZUOLO
• Crimson & Clover • Tommy James & The Shondells
• ARAKS
• Karma Coma • Massive Attack
• Bring On The Lucie • John Lennon
• BADGLEY MISCHKA RTW
• Beatific • Glass candy
• Broken English • Marianne Faithfull
• Sweetest Hangover • The Associates
• BALENCIAGA RTW
• Flashing Lights • Kanye West
• BCBG MAX AZRIA RTW
• Boring • The Pierces
• Boy In A Rock And Roll Band • The Pierces
• Kill Kill Kill • The Pierces
• The Lights On • The Pierces
• BETSEY JOHNSON RTW
• Birthday • The Beatles
• Blitzkrieg Bop • The Ramones
• Chick Habit • April March
• God Save The Queen • Sex Pistols
• Life During Wartime • The Talking Heads
• Low Rider • War
• Patty Hearst • Stereo Total
• Pretty Baby • Blondie
• That’s Not My Name • The Ting Tings
• BILL BLASS RTW
• Enjoy The Silence (Various mixes) • Depeche Mode
• BLUMARINE RTW
• Hold On • Hot Chip
• Groove Is In the Heart • Dee-Lite
• Be My Baby • Vanessa Paradis
• When I Hear Music • Diplo
• Beatific • Glass Candy
• Take Control • Amerie
• Da Funk • Daft Punk
• BOTTEGA VENETA RTW
• Superstar • Lupe Fiasco
• BURBERRY PRORSUM RTW
• The Man In The Iron Mask • Billy Bragg
• Getting Away with it • James
• Just for Tonight • One Night Only
• Act of Remembrance • The Proclaimers
• CALVIN KLEIN MEN
• URA Fever • The Kills
• CARLOS MIELE RTW
• Talk Amongst Yourselves • Grand National
• Dare (Chab Remix) • Gorillaz
• CARMEN MARC VALVO RTW
• Satin Chic – Goldfrapp
• Two Hearts • Kylie Minogue
• The Temptress • The Flies
• Speakerphone • Kylie Minogue
• Fun For Me • Moloko
• CAROLINA HERRERA RTW
• M79 • Vampire Weekend
• Walcott • Vampire Weekend
• CAROLINE CHARLES RTW
• (Dylan Howe Live)
• CHANEL RTW
• Blind • Hercules & Love Affair
• CHLOE RTW
• Girl On Fire • Santogold
• CHRISTIAN DIOR RTW
• Mrs. Robinson • Simon & Garfunkel
• Son Of A Preacher Man • Dusty Springfield
• Say You Donʼt Mind • Colin Blunstone
• See-Line Woman • Feist
• Get Up Get Out • Jamelia
• CHRISTOPHER KANE RTW
• Goodbye Horses • Q Lazzarus
• COMME DES GARCONS RTW
• Back To Black • Amy Winehouse
• Rehab • Amy Winehouse
• COSTELLO TAGLIAPIETRO
• Isolation • Joy Division
• Your Silent Face • New Order
• CUSTO BARCELONA RTW
• Crank That • Soulja Boy
• COSTUME NATIONAL MEN
• In Rainbow • Radiohead
• DIANE VON FURSTENBERG RTW
• Candyman • Christina Aguilera
• No Diggity • Blackstreet
• Two Hearts • Kylie Minogue
• DIESEL RTW
• Blue Jean • David Bowie
• Fashion • David Bowie
• Girls On Film • Duran Duran
• Sheʼs A Model • Kraftwerk
• That’s Not My Name • The Ting Tings
• DKNY
• Kidnapped by Neptune • Scout Niblett
• U.R.A Fever • The Kills
• DOLCE & GABBANA MEN
• Iʼm Free • The Rolling Stones
• Sheʼs A Rainbow • The Rolling Stones
• DOLCE & GABBANA RTW
• Blame It On the Boogie • Michael Jackson
• Fashion • David Bowie
• Rock DJ • Robbie Williams
• Under Pressure • David Bowie & Queen
• DOO.RI RTW
• Someone Great • LCD Soundsystem
• Nite • The Chromatics
• La Ritournelle • Sebastien Tellier
• D SQUARED MEN
• 11.59 • Blondie
• Dance This Mess Around • B52s
• Gimme More • Britney Spears
• Hanging On The Telephone • Blondie
• Jet Boy Jet Girl • The Damned
• Legacy • Michael Callen
• London Bridge • Fergie
• London Bridge Is Falling Down • The Last Days Of Jesus
• One Step Beyond • Madness
• Still Waiting • Sum 41
• DUCKIE BROWN RTW
• (No music)
• EMILIO DE LA MORENA RTW
• Blood • The Editors
• ERDEM RTW
• (Live classical music)
• ERIN FETHERSTON RTW
• Horse and I • Bats for Lashes
• Heartbeat • Annie
• Jaymay • You are the Only One
• Little Bit • Lykke Li
• Oh My God
• • Ida Maria
• Only Love Can Break Your Heart
• • Saint Etienne
• FENDI RTW
• Fade To Grey • Visage
• Da Da Da • Trio
• Car (Remix) • Gary Numan
• GASPARD YURKIEVICH RTW
• Black & Gold • Sam Sparro & Dani Siciliano
• GIORGIO ARMANI MEN
• Paper Aeroplane • Angus & Julia Stone
• I’m On Fire • Bruce Springsteen
• Barbi in Love • Barbq
• GIVENCHY RTW
• Cumbia Sobre El Rio • Celso Pina
• 2046 Main Theme with Percussion • Shigeru Umebayashi.
• GUCCI MEN
• Kingdom • Dave Gahan
• 15 Step • Radiohead
• GUCCI RTW
• 15 Step • Radiohead
• Knocking On Heaven’s Door • Antony & The Johnsons
• Tranquilize • The Killers ft. Lou Reed
• March of the Montagues and the Capulets • Prokofiev
• HALSTON RTW
• Let Me Kiss You • Nancy Sinatra
• HEART TRUTH
• America • Westside Story
• Groove is in the heart • Dee-lite
• Heart • Eddie Fisher
• Heart And Soul • T’Pau
• Heart Beat Rock • Kylie Minogue
• Heart Of Glass • Blondie
• Home In Your Heart • The Derek Truck Band
• Hungry Heart • Bruce Springsteen
• New York New York • Liza Minnelli (live)
• Queen Of Hearts • Juice Newton
• There Must Be An Angel • The Eurythmics
• Two Hearts • Kylie Minogue
• Two Hearts • Phil Collins
• Unchain My Heart (Dance Mix) • Joe Cocker
• Young Hearts Run Free • Kym Mazelle
• HERVÉ LEGER BY MAX AZRIA
• Bunny • Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle
• Rosemary’s Lullaby • Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle
• Sing Sing • Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle
• HUSSEIN CHALAYAN RTW
• (Live a cappella music)
• JEAN PAUL GAULTIER RTW
• Thriller • Michael Jackson
• JENS LAUGESEN RTW
• A&E (Maps Remix Instrumental) • Goldfrapp
• Max • Winona
• Jurassico • Nemesi
• If Only • Winona
• Atlas’ (DJ Koze remix) • Battles
• Dream On (Dave Clarke remix) • Depeche Mode
• You Can Dance I Can’t • Winona
• Dead Sound • The Raveonettes
• JEREMY LAING RTW
• Digital Versicolor • Glass Candy
• New York Story • Lee Douglas
• Blind • Hercules & Love Affair
• JOHN GALLIANO MEN
• Proud Mary • Tina Turner
• JOHN VARVATOS MEN
• Baba O’Riley • The Who
• Good Times, Bad Times • Led Zeppelin
• House of the Rising Sun • Frigid Pink
• Now I’m Here • Queen
• Top of the World • Cheap Trick
• Ziggy Stardust • David Bowie
• JONATHAN SAUNDERS RTW
• Tickets • Ricardo Tobar
• Purple Somersault (Prins Thomas remix) • Wild Rumpus
• Estoril • Booka Shade
• White Diamond • Hatchback
• Subway • Low Life
• El Sunset • Ricardo Tobar
• A Paw In My Face • The Field
• Always Something Better • Trentemoller
• Unfinished Sympathy • Massive Attack
• JUST CAVALLI RTW
• You Are the Space Invader (An Optimo Espacio Mix) • Prinzhorn Dance School
• Like Something 4 Porno! • Felix da Housecat
• Fool for Love (Sebastian Remix) • Das Pop
• www.agendainc.com
• KENZO RTW
• (Live chamber music)
• Brush on Silk • John Williams
• KRIS VAN ASSCHE MEN
• (Live string music)
• LACOSTE
• Lean With It • Mr. Vegas
• Paper Planes • M.I.A
• LELA ROSE
• Electric Feel • MGMT
• Girls And Boys In Love • The Rumble Strips
• Happiness • Goldfrapp
• Love Cats • Jamie Cullum
• LOUIS VUITTON MEN
• Piano music
• LOUIS VUITTON RTW
• Fratres • Arvo Part
• MARA HOFFMAN
• Paper Planes • M.I.A
• Hot Sand • Shocking Blue
• MARC BY MARC JACOBS RTW
• You Didnʼt Care • Neilʼs Children
• MARC JACOBS RTW
• Rather Ripped • Sonic Youth (live)
• Kool Thing • Sonic Youth (live)
• MATTHEW WILLIAMSON RTW
• Crash And Burn Girl • Robyn
• Les Artistes • Santogold
• MICHAEL KORS RTW/MEN
• Bette Davis Eyes • Kim Carnes
• Hollywood • Madonna
• Me & Mr. Jones • Amy Winehouse
• Tears Dry on Their Own (Al Usher Mix) • Amy Winehouse
• Valerie • Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse
• MISS SIXTY
• Dans Le Bois • Electronicat
• Immigrant Song • Led Zeppelin
• NAUTICA MEN
• Break • The Cinematics
• Lonely By Your Side • Azzido Da Bass
• No Cars Go • Arcade Fire
• Sailors • Morton Valence
• Shadowplay • The Killers
• NICOLE FARHI
• Musica Ricercata • György Ligeti (From Eyes Wide Shut)
• Fidelity • Regina Spektor
• Hotel Song • Regina Spektor
• Trio In E Flat Major • Schubert
• The Hunger • Denny Jaeger & Michel Rubini
• Fallen Snow (The Teenagers Remix) • Au Revoir Simone
• NICOLE MILLER RTW
• Si J’Etais Un Homme • Princess Aniès
• Sister Rose • Ian Brown
• OSCAR DE LA RENTA
• Us • Regina Spektor
• Fidelity • Regina Spektor
• OSMAN YOUSEFZADA RTW
• Nine Lives • Midnight Juggernauts
• La Grotta • Professor Genius
• Pulstar • Hypnosis
• Utopia • Giorgio Moroder
• Mer Du Japon • Air
• Song Of Summer • Delius
• Shadows • Midnight Juggernauts
• Earth • Darkel
• Transeuropa Express • PL
• Dark & Long • Underworld
• Nine Lives • Midnight Juggernauts
• PAUL SMITH RTW
• La Javanaise • Serge Gainsbourg
• Tainted Dub • Soft Cell
• Mambo Miam Miam • Serge Gainsbourg
• L’ Eau A La Bouche • Serge Gainsbourg
• Chacha Du Loup • Serge Gainsbourg
• Seedy Films • Soft Cell
• Hot On The Heels Of Love • Throbbing Gristle
• Torch (12” Mix) • Soft Cell
• Tainted Love • Soft Cell
• La Javanaise • Serge Gainsbourg
• PERRY ELLIS
• Everybody’s Got Something To Hide • Kristin Hersh
• Everybody’s Got Something To Hide • The Beatles
• Sound And Vision • David Bowie
• The Heinrich Maneuver • Interpol
• PETER SOM
• Kids • MGMT
• PETER JENSEN RTW
• Nuts In May (excerpt) • Mike Leigh
• The Rhythmic Danube • The Grimethorpe Colliery Band
• The Photo Song • Holger Czukay
• Pepper Box • The Peppers
• Pacific 202 • Acid Brass
• Les Jumeaux • Michel Legrand
• Hogwash • Fred Viola
• Letʼs Get Brutal • Acid Brass
• The Sounds Of Tomorrow • Space Child
• Hello Goodbye • The Band Of Yorkshire Imperial Metals
• PRADA MEN
• Fizheuer Zieheuer • Ricardo Villalobos
• Moi Lolita (Dig Up Elvis Version) • Julian Dore
• PRADA RTW
• Battlefield
• RAF SIMONS MEN
• Soundtrack of Daniel Motion
• Burial
• RAG AND BONE
• Radiohead
• RALPH LAUREN RTW
• (Specially commissioned track) • Other Side
• All I Want • Rose More
• Gypsy • Fleetwood Mac
• Fall • Sahra
• Lyinʼ Eyes • The Eagles
• Sweetheart • ACM
• REYES
• Starlett Johansson • Teenagers
• RICHARD CHAI RTW
• Poster of a Girl • Metric
• ROBERTO CAVALLI MEN
• Funky Horse • Le Vibrazioni
• Painted On My Heart • The Cult
• ROCK & REPUBLIC
• (Live band plus…)
• A Day In The Life • The Beatles
• Layla • Eric Clapton
• Locomotive Breath • Jethro Tull
• Love Reign O’er Me • The Who
• Tuesday Afternoon • The Moody Blues
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps • The Beatles
• RODARTE RTW
• Back to Nature • Fad Gadget
• Bela Lugosiʼs Dead (Instrumental) • Bauhaus
• Lorelei • Cocteau Twins
• M.e. • Gary Numan
• Rain (Instrumental) • Tones on Tale
• ROKSANDA ILINCIC RTW
• The Approach • Ingram Marshall
• Escape • Ingram Marshall
• Piano Concerto #23 in A (Adagio) • Mozart
• Petite Ouverture A Danser • Satie
• Poems Without Words II • Anne Clark
• Track 6 • Chopin
• 3ère Sarabande • Chopin
• Gnossienne N°3 • B.J. Cole
• Track 17 • Chopin
• Antiphon • Richard Hickox
• I Could Be Happy • Altered Images
• SASS & BIDE
• Itʼs A Living Thing • ELO
• Over And Over • Hot Chip
• Sheʼs A Rainbow • The Rolling Stones
• The Block Party • Left Eye
• SEAN JOHN RTW
• Superstar • Lupe Fiasco
• SINHA-STANIC RTW
• Taste • Magik Markers
• Just Like Heaven • A.F.I
• STELLA MCCARTNEY
• Cheap & Cheerful • The Kills
• Ditch That • The Dream
• American Boy • Estelle feat. Kanye
• Pump Up The Jam • Technotronic
• Shake A Fist • Hot Chp
• TEMPERLEY RTW
• You Know I’m No Good (Remix) • Amy Winehouse
• THAKOON RTW
• Losing My Edge • LCD Soundsystem
• TOMMY HILFIGER
• Seen That Face Before (Remix) • Grace Jones
• TULEH RTW
• American Life • Madonna
• Come As You Are • Nirvana
• The Way I Are (Instrumental) • Timbaland
• TRACY REESE
• This is a Man’s World • James Brown
• VERA WANG RTW
• Atoms For Peace (Four Tet Remix)
• Sheʼs Not There • The Zombies
• Sinking Pinks • Subtle
• Tango • Igor Stravinsky
• Time Of The Season • The Zombies
• Weird Fishes/Arpeggi • Radiohead
• VERSACE MEN
• Elle Et Moi • Max Berlin
• Stress • Justice
• VERSACE RTW
• Blind • Hercules & Love Affair
• Joe Le Taxi • Hanayo
• Wanna Make Out • Glimmers ft. Princess Superstar
• VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL RTW
• Totentanz • Maksim
• Lo Sceicco Bianco • Nino Rota
• Make It Rain • Tom Waits
• Circus Of Death • The Human League
• Just Couldnʼt Tie Me Down • The Black Keys
• Geraldine • Glasvegas
• Cherie Cherie • Suicide
• Upside Down • The Tropics Of Cancer
• Helau • Butch
• Prova D’orchestra • Nino Rota
• Burning Car • John Foxx
• Kamandaʼs Response • Two Lone Swordsmen
• I Sit On Acid (Soulwax remix) • The Lords Of Acid
• I Clowns • Nino Rota
• YVES SAINT-LAURENT MEN
• Strangers • Portishead
• Symphony No. 4 “Heroes” • Philip Glass
• Sound of Silver • LCD Soundsystem
• YVES SAINT-LAURENT RTW
• Someone Great • LCD Soundsystem
• 45:33 • LCD Soundsystem
• YOHJI YAMAMOTO RTW
• (Yohji Yamamoto played guitar himself!)
• ZAC POSEN RTW
• The Step And The Walk • The Duke Spirit
• U.R.A. Fever • The Kills

Joelle’s Tips:

Watch Video: Suzy Menkes talks about the power of Amy Winehouse on the world of fashion:

“ Amy Whinehouse Fashion Trend ” at the International Herald Tribune

It should have been criminal, but if you wanted to watch the Police from the fifth row, dead center at their opening Madison Square Garden concert Aug. 1, you had to get ready to cough up an astronomical $11,500 per ticket.

And better move fast. There were only four seats available there from national ticket brokerage house TicketsNow for the Police’s reunion tour. Scooping up the entire block was setting you back $46,000. If Sting and the boys would play 23 songs over two hours, ticket holders will be paying $500 a tune, or $96 a minute.“The reason there’s mega-excitement about this tour is because it’s once in a lifetime. They haven’t played together for 23 and after this, they may never play together again,” sayed Mike Domek, CEO and founder of Chicago-based TicketsNow. “The fans buying tickets from us range from college age to boomers in their 50s and 60s who loved this music when it came out and could afford now seeing them up close if they wanted to. That drived up the price of these tickets.”

TicketsNow does not set prices, but represents smaller brokers who are offering tickets that have either been purchased from individuals or are placed on consignment. If the $11,500 tickets sell, it will set a new record for TicketsNow. A 25-seat luxury box for the Super Bowl in Miami this year went for $250,000 – a mere $10,000 a seat. But for the record, Domek thought the price would come down. At StubHub, the top orchestra seats were listed before a day before the concert at a mere $8,824.If you were willing to watch from a distance, Craigslist had a number of seats ranging from $275 to $900.

TicketsNow had some in section 409 (read: nosebleed) for $115.While the Aug. 1 and Aug. 3 Police concerts at MSG and the Aug. 5 show at Giants Stadium were all sold out, there was still a chance to snag a ticket the old-fashioned way.On Saturday at 9 a.m., tickets for the just-announced Police Halloween ball at the Garden for October 31 went on sale.Your ticket bought you more than a seat – you may just have won the lottery.

Joelle’sPicks:

Sources: Rock Fans feel sting by Dan Aquilante / New York Post

The Albums: The very best of Sting and the Police at Amazon Songs from the Labirinth ( music by John Dowland) beauitiful !!!! at Amazon