Today’s Sparkle Video is a supreme gift of happiness from the very first sight of it. I think hamsters as pets being all the rage around this time in history may have been the inspiration for this human-sized habitrail, and in turn, I think this video probably inspired what we know now as “ball-pit” jungle gyms for children. I mean, who doesn’t want to go swirl around in that magical tunnel of brightly colored orbs? And let’s face it, you put the ladies of Abba in mini dresses embellished with sequins in front of anything and it all seems to make sense somehow, doesn’t it?
JUST FOR YOU, SOLDIERS!
Today’s Sparkle video is so jam packed with dazzle you’re going to need sunglasses! I chose “Just For You” because I want to make up for the fact that lately, I’ve been unable to post about all the fascinating things I usually do because of extra demands on my time. However, as you know Soldiers, Da General is truly devoted to delivering Friday Sparkle Videos no matter what. My apologies go out to all of you gagging for the next installment of Great Moments in Disco Fashion History and I hope to be back on track very soon. In the meantime, enjoy this masterpiece of sparkle fabulosity- but seriously, could we expect anything less from a group called The Glitter Band? I think not.
SPARKLE BEAT, IT’S A LOVE BEAT!
Sibling groups were extremely popular in the 70’s and 80’s and today’s Sparkle Video features the adorable DeFranco Family starring super cutie Tony on lead vocals. This teen heart throb along with his brothers and sisters are wearing outfits I’m pretty sure were made by Mom. I must say that I applaud her genius idea of using sparkling animal appliques and then adding more extra bedazzled gems- fabulous touch! Here they’re movin’ and groovin’ on colorful pinball looking stage singing their biggest hit ever, “Heartbeat”. It sure is a love beat and still catchy as ever!
SPARKLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS?
What could be more disco that today’s Sparkle video featuring Patsy Gallant in a shimmering metallic gold outfit, rocking a supreme flip “do” and singing sweetly about her “Sugar Daddy”?’ In fact, I think if you Google “disco”, this clip is what sprouts up as the official definition- especially at 2:00. That’s when the lusciousness really kicks as the backup dancers, both male and female, enter the stage and it goes disco light crazy! Now I don’t speak French, but it was 1977, so I’m guessing it’s something like, “‘Oh Sugar Daddy, enough furs, enough diamonds! Please, truly all I want is to dazzle on the dance floor with you tonight- and lots, lots of champagne… and you’ll pay for it all, my darling lover!”. Something like that.
Happy Birthday Charo!
Today the Sparkle Army wishes a dazzling Happy Birthday to one of my all time heroes- Charo! Not only is she a sexy bombshell with big hair and curves to die for, but she’s charming, lovable and funny too. Her famous “Cuchi Cuchi” career has spanned over 40 years making appearances on all the TV shoes that ever mattered including the Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, the Tonight Show and most recently, RuPaul’s Drag Race. This Spanish songstress is equally known and celebrated for her guitar playing talents and I’m sure this will come as no shock to you Soldiers, but her hits “Dance A Little Bit Closer” and “You’re Just The Right Size” are in heavy rotation at Da General’s living room disco. With an endless supply of sparkle outfits and a big heart of gold that fights for the rights of animals, Charo will always be a hero and today we honor her with a grand Sparkle Army Birthday Salute!
YOU’RE OUT OF… SPARKLE VIDEOS?
For today’s Sparkle Video I have selected my true love, Boy George, singing the haunting “Out of Fashion”. This song always gives me chills because being the Dazzler I am, the thought of one’s moment, anyone’s moment, being “over” is just too much to bear. However, looking at The Boy in all his majesty with his body swaying like the legend he is, heals me instantly. Dressed to the nines (holla bedazzled pants!) and topped with his trademark hat- he’s also wearing the absolute best sparkle makeup Da General has ever seen! His asymmetrical mask jam packed with green and gold glitter and accented by dramatic false lashes and gem encrusted eyeliner has me writhing between emotions of admirational gagging and pure seething jealousy (which, by the way, is how I decide if something is fabulous). He really is the only person in the world that can say things like “you’re a living tragedy” and “you wore me out” and make it sound so beautiful.
I’M CRAZY LIKE A SPARKLE VIDEO!
Happy New Year Soldiers! It’s the very first Sparkle Video of 2013 and to celebrate I’ve selected this pizazz filled live footage of Boney M. in concert. While I love each and every Boney M video out there, this is extra special because instead of the standard TV appearance with prerecorded music, here we get to see them in their full force of FAB-U-LOUS! Bobby in his glorious cape and the ladies in their sparkling best are backed by an equally dazzling band of musicians. Seeing them perform all together on this stage has truly brought my love for them to a whole ‘nother level! This concert is beyond magical and it includes many of the classics such as “Love for Sale”, “Take The Heat Off Me” and the blockbuster smash hit “Daddy Cool”. We also get to hear some spoken banter to the Viennese audience so it’s in German, which makes it extra hot. Please can someone just make a time machine already ‘cuz I need to be at this concert right now, up front, dancing my sparkles off pronto!
MY HAND OVER MY SPARKLE VIDEO!
Only the legendary Marc Almond could combine sequin overload and ballerinas with a beautiful romantic ballad and come away with something so magical. Thanks to his never ending supply of sparkle outfits, he is a regular on Sparkle Video day, but this is truly one of his most glittering ensembles ever. The fact that it wasn’t enough just to wear sparkles from head to toe and that he chose to add exploding dazzle graphics all over him to accentuate the look confirms once again why he is one of my favorite artists of all time. Now, take all of that and throw in the voice of an angel from heaven and you’ve got yourself a KABLAM!
Flashback Christmas Medleys
Let the celebrations begin! Well, actually the parties started on December 1st really, however now it’s officially Christmas Eve. That means it’s time to crack open the champagne, fire up the fire, get the disco ball spinning and put some Flashback Christmas Medleys on the stereo. These are some of the best holiday disco arrangements I’ve heard and they’re so sparkly sounding that they’ve inspired me to wear full sequins tonight (like I wasn’t going to anyway!). Wishing all the fabulous Sparkle Soldiers everywhere a dazzlingly magical Holiday!
SPARKLE PROPGANDA!
Today’s Sparkle Video puts me in rocket ship and transports me straight back to the 80’s where I’m dancing to mysterious and moody synth music while moving my arms in weird motions just like everyone else on the dance floor (or so someone told me about this who was alive back then anyway). Propoganda’s “P Machine” is truly one of those haunting songs that delivers tingle after tingle, but then I take a look at this clip and get slightly distracted. I mean, why are these ladies dressed like librarians?. Can you imagine the effect a couple of glistening black catsuits adorned with space collars and cuffs would have added to this stage of turning gears and sparkling pyrotechnics? I certainly can- I see it very clearly and it’s Kablam-tastic!
Join the Sparkle Army 