Scary Spice is back, and makes out with herself in new music video

I *am* scared!

George Michael’s White Light music video explains his unlikely survival

I have famously bad taste in music. And an abiding love for George Michael: the music, the lyrics, the stubble. This song addresses his recent brush with death.

And there’s always lovely music at summer festivals

Festival music is repetitive, rhythmic, and trance inducing. The music reminds me of rice fields, nature, and a mythic agrarian life.

 

Summer festivals combine sacred, music, and eye candy

Not to mention group masochism to carry those heavy “portable” shrines.

Nipples, uniforms, & body paint featured at Sept 11 anti-nuke protest in Tokyo

Tokyo Moe could not have done better. Hats off to James Hadfield for the most fetishistic possible photograph of the Sept 11 anti-nuke demonstration in Tokyo. Nipples, uniforms, and body paint (plus lots of costumes and music) marked the 6 month anniversary of Fukushima’s nuclear disaster.

This photo seems to be saying that while it may be dangerous to live in Japan right now, it sure has a lot of visual stimuli as compensation.

(Source).

Das Racist rhymes & raps

This morning I made a happy discovery, Das Racist, a rap group formed by Wesleyan graduates. I love them! This year they released two free “mixtapes,” Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man.

Okinawa dance and music at Tokyo Pride Parade

This Okinawa dance and music group is a regular participant at Tokyo pride events. They performed at the stage during Tokyo Pride Parade and the following day at the Shinjuku ni-chome festival or omatsuri (more on that soon).

I caught some photos of their rehearsing prior to the performance, a video of the performance, and their getting out of costume afterwards.

Parade and stage images from Tokyo Pride Parade

This was the 7th Tokyo Pride Parade, and unlike last year’s “festival” it included a walk through Shibuya and Meiji Jingu Mae. It was odd how the police and organizers allowed traffic between the floats, but it was fun to see the startled reactions of the Saturday shoppers.

Parade supporters lined up on this pedestrian bridge to cheer the marchers. It was cool to see seniors, women, foreigners, and a mix of all types of people.

The stage show was also fun. Great people watching, and some fun music and dancing, along with a transsexual politician. I love how everything was signed for the deaf.

Pokemon butt at beer vendor in Tokyo Pride Parade

I had a fantastic time at the Tokyo Pride Parade on Saturday. Despite the August heat and humidity, the atmosphere, costumes, and Okinawan music were joyous. The hubb and two good friends joined me and about 10,000 people in Yoyogi and then marching through Shibuya and Meiji Jingu Mae.

I don’t have time to sort through all the photos (and several videos), but I want to post my favorite photo today. There were about eight middle-aged Pokemon wearing furry but revealing outfits.

I hope that these adult Pokemon prompted some awkward child-parent questions during the parade! Here they are lined up for canned beer.

If you’re in Tokyo, you can check out the “gay matsuri” festival from 4 pm to 7 pm on Sunday in Ni-chome. It’s a street fair organized by the bar owners, with promises of a portable shrine carried by lesbians, music and performances.

Israeli and US soldiers make videos during occupation

There’s been a lot of controversy over this recently released video of Israeli soldiers dancing to Kesha’s Tik Tok while patrolling Hebron. Some critics complain of a lack of respect towards the people whose land they are illegally occupying. On the other hand, I think for every minute they are rehearsing their dance moves and editing their video, at least no one is being shot, harassed or intimidated.

A similar video came out of Afghanistan where US soldiers re-made Lady Gaga’s Telephone. The dancing is hilarious, as are the props. The higgly piggly background to their music making is surprisingly “real.” But again, at least as long as they are focused on music, dancing, and videos, no one is being killed.

Finally, I always have a soft spot for treason. Apparently Private Bradley Manning breached military security in Iraq and downloaded “150,000 diplomatic cables, as well as secret videos and a PowerPoint presentation.” One video he shared was a helicopter attack in Baghdad where the pilots were speaking gleefully about killing people. It’s hilarious that “military intelligence” (sic) prevents the use of thumb drives, but many of the computers have compact disk drives. Private Manning hummed Lady Gaga songs and pretended to be listening to her music when he was copying the files. NICE!