10 Years of "Scissor Sisters" - An appreciation.

"Scissor Sisters" by Scissor Sisters

10 years ago this week saw the release of what is still my favourite album of all time.

I was 13 years old. My father went on a road trip down the east coast of the US with his best mate. Both of them moustachioed and riding Harleys (such badasses) and there I was pleading with my father to bring this album back with him for me, as it was released stateside long before it was released here in the U.K.

In my childlike naiveté I was excited to hear more from Scissor Sisters, they seemed fun, I heard their haunting cover of "Comfortably Numb" first and it was unlike anything I'd ever heard before and then I heard "Laura", the intro to which I thought sounded like the theme music to Thomas the Tank Engine, which was nice.

Beyond the children's TV similarities, the album was a sweet shop of camp and nostalgically referential treats. A blend of 70s Disco and 80s Rock some how sounded modern. It felt raw, a glittery sequin blade cutting through 90s and early 00s pop, it was like nothing else at the time. Having grown up listening to Elton John, the prospect of a modernised, more explicit, but equally as flamboyant act was too tantalising for words.

"Scissor Sisters" was the first album I ever knew every single word to. Every word of every song memorised and sang aloud. Coincidentally, it was also the very first album on which I genuinely  loved every track and could listen to it from start to finish without skipping. Man, I wore that CD out in my Sony Walkman. I'm surprised it still works (the CD that is, the Walkman is sadly, long gone *longing face*)

Gaga for i-D s/s 2011

Photographed by Mariano Vivanco.

The Manifesto of Mother Monster

Lady Gaga's music video for her already anthemic single 'Born This Way' has been released and it's a 70s sci-fi rock musical of wonder! Presenting herself as a God of a new race of being, with protruding temples, cheekbones and shoulder blades Gaga looks svelte and lean in her black bikini.

Being created, reminiscent of the Queen with a hundred heads in the movie 'Return To Oz'.

Gaga's famous for the warping of gender barriers and this video is no exception. My favourite look of the video is the Thierry Mugler inspired 'skull' face with long pink hair and a suit with powerful, strong shoulder pads, naturally.

Her last look is an almost outright homage to Madonna. The light on her face, the gap in the teeth, with all the controversy 'Born This Way' for resembling Madonna's hit 'Express Yourself' it is clear that Gaga is still playing the fame game, and eager to get people talking!

This video, quite simply, needs to be a feature length sci-fi musical.

Take A Sip

For those of you who are always thirsty for more, don't forget to check out my Tumblr.

http://romanticallyjack.tumblr.com/

Life is somewhat hectic at the moment and I find myself updating that more often.

Enjoy my sweets.

New Obsession Alert III - Jessie J

British recording artist Jessie J seems to have come from nowhere. Catapulted into success with her hit single 'Do it Like A Dude' and her with her follow up single 'Price Tag' sure to storm the UK charts this week, she even has people across the pond falling for her, with the US market notoriously hard to break, could Jessie be the UK's ambassador for new music?

Yes please.

Jessie can currently be seen gracing the cover of RWD magazine

It's not just her music that have got people talking, I have a serious style crush on this girl. Not afraid to have fun, not afraid to look feminine or masculine, her look is young, fresh but, like the attitude, still fiercely sexy. Personally I think this is down to her using many a young designer in her videos, notably some up and coming British designers, in particular my personal friend Hasan Hejazi who has dressed Diana Vickers, Paloma Faith, Marina Diamandis (of Marina and the Diamonds) not to mention HRH Kylie Minogue.

Jessie J wearing Hasan Hejazi SS11 in her video for 'Price Tag'

Another topic on everyone's lips is... well... her lips which are fast becoming somewhat of a trademark with fans the world over imitating her latest lip looks.

Whether they're spiked (as in the 'Do It Like A Dude video below)

or mirrored, as they appear in the promo pictures of her second single 'Price Tag' (below)

or even a subtle gold leaf floral detail that is set to appear on the cover of her upcoming debut album (below) 'Who You Are' released on February 28th and available to pre-order NOW.

Jessie J's future is inevitably bright, be sure to follow her and the incredibly talented Hasan Hejazi, who is set for big things in the fashion world, on Twitter at -

http://twitter.com/jessiejofficial

and

http://twitter.com/hasanhejazi

Clone Jett

Marios Schwab's ready to wear spring/summer 2011 collection saw models sporting the same 'do made famous by iconic rocker Joan Jett....

I'm undecided. They just remind me of old fancy dress wigs.... and Kristen Stewart.

Loved the collection though.

Goddamned

On Wednesday October 20th my friend Robyn and I ventured to Camden town to see Jay Brannan live in concert. Ever since stumbling upon his youtube videos 2 years ago I have been an avid fan and was determined to see him on his UK tour since I missed him the last time he was here.

The gig was wonderful. Jay played all the songs I wanted him to, (including his goosebump-creating cover of 'Zombie' originally recorded by The Crannberries) especially 'Can't Have It All' being possibly one of my favourite songs of all time and inspired the very name of this blog -

"If these walls could talk they'd probably cry out for mercy,

until I'm outlined in chalk I'll be romantically thirsty"

And of course he couldn't have had a gig without performing his most well-known song 'Soda Shop' which can be found on the soundtrack of the movie Shortbus in which he also stars. I must also mention that Jay was supported by singer/songwriter Chris Pureka who was so endearing, warm and charismatic, her songs were acoustic and emotional works of beauty!

I also had the honour of meeting the man himself before and after he performed (I didn't get a picture with him before he performed so simply had to approach him afterwards). He was grateful, somewhat shy, soft spoken and so friendly. I was not disappointed in the slightest.

The most surprising thing for me was that, before the gig I assumed hearing him live would be pretty much the same as listening to him on my iPod, turns out that when you're within six feet of Jay Brannan, sat with his guitar singing his heart out, you really get to hear his lyrics, you develop a new understanding of them and some songs that you simply enjoyed, now have resonance with you that they never would have had if you had not seen him live. One song in particular with a new-found resonance is 'Half Boyfriend' (lyrics below).

So the moral of this story is that if you're not familiar with Jay Brannan - you should be. Google him, check out his music on itunes, follow him on Twitter, 'Like' him on Facebook and subscribe to his youtube channel which he regularly updates with news, original songs, newly written material and spellbinding covers.

'Half Boyfriend' from the album 'Goddamned'

I don't know where we're going
But I know we've gone too far
And I hope it isn't showing,
But I think I love you
And I can't believe you're leaving
Just when I let you in
And when you had me believing
I could feel again

I could give a million reasons
Why we should not be friends
Our moods change like the seasons
My mood ends your mood begins
And you're a tease, you're a cockblocker
You're a loud mouth bitch and a big talker,
But that's okay.
You'll grow up someday.

You're the pill I never wanted to take.
An anti-misanthrope
Mine was the heart I never thought you would be break
My one hope was that I'd survive you

I've shown up for you in ways that boy never would
But I know you'll go back to him and maybe you should
But I hope you don't go backwards
‘Cause I'm going on ahead
And one day you'll wish that you had stuck with me instead

You're the pill I never wanted to take.
An anti-misanthrope
Mine was the heart I never thought you would be break
My one hope was that I'd survive you

As I wander through Union Square
I remember when you followed me there
You were the stalker I kind of wanted to have
Being your half-boyfriend was only half bad

You're the pill I never wanted to take.
An anti-misanthrope
Mine was the heart I never thought you would be break
My one hope was that I'd survive you.

Gaga The Grey

Gaga + Nick Knight + Nicola Formichetti

Am I dreaming?

The Gospel According To Gaga: Part I

"I'm a hard girl, loving me is like chewing on pearls."

"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you any more."

"I'd sooner die than have my fans see me out of a pair of heels."

"A glamorous life is quite different to a life of luxury. I don’t need luxury. For years, I was practically broke but I was still very vain and glamorous. And I still am."

"I'm from New York. I will kill to get what I need."

"US Weekly putting me on the worst dressed list? I don't care. If Karl Lagerfeld called me an ugly hag, then I'd be upset. Because it's Karl Lagerfeld."

"I'm just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time."

♥

Don't Call My Name

She strikes again.  I love the Alejandro video. Her best yet.

Aesthetically it's raw and edgy, Gaga's made a clear effort to stay clear of the polished and glamorous. It's dark and dystopian, like if Tim Burton merged Edward Scissorhands and Lemony Snicket's A Serious of Unfortunate Events, with Evita and

a Madonna tribute act.

Even with breath-taking Haus of Gaga attire and custom made McQueen garments - it didn't blow me away. It is however, different from her previous work, further enforcing her status as a Queen of Transformation.

I may be slightly biased, as I will never have a bad word said against Lady Gaga (the new Queen of Pop) but there's no denying her creativity and innovation, so I'm expecting to see a lot more latex, black cloaks and bowl cuts around from now on...

...and that's just from the boys...

Fade To Grey

Finally managed to get round to watching the BBC docu-drama "Worried About The Boy" about Boy George's rise to fame and drug-fuelled demise.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it, the music, the styling and photography were beautiful. It seemed authentic and unpretentious. It also made the song "Fade To Grey" by Visage get stuck in my head for an obscene amount of time, which was surprisingly enjoyable.

A New Romantic revival please?

I also realised that I'm slightly in love with Douglas Booth, who played George.

I read somewhere that he's 18 years-old which is mildly horrifying, but he looks older... so it's ok.