I love funk just as much as the next General, however today’s Sparkle Video was chosen for one reason only: the sparkle outfit to end all sparkle outfits. I’m gagging over the most singular sensation of head-to-toe sequins I have ever seen! The singer from Graham Central Station is a vision in glittering silver made all the more sublime by bell sleeves, matching pants and a commanding rhinestone necklace (I’ll be honest, I could live without the wig, but I’ll never deny a Soldier their right to fabulously big hair). I think that “Can You Handle It” is the perfect name for a song sung by one wearing this ultra-dazzling ensemble because not only can I handle it, but I want it. Bad.
ONCE UPON A SPARKLE VIDEO
Today’s Sparkle Video is true perfection because not only does it feature our beloved queen, Donna Summer, but it also has a fabulous intro about the positive effects that going to the disco can have in one’s life. This should be shown in schools all over the world so that future generations will understand the importance of flashing lights, disco balls and laser beams- plus I’m sure it’s what Donna would’ve wanted. I’m also sure that if we could speak to Donna now, she would say that her one regret in life was not wearing enough sparkle outfits, as many of her performance clips are “sans sequins” like this one. However, that never stopped her from shining bright like a glittering diamond! I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since her passing, and I don’t think it gets any easier to believe she’s gone, but thankfully we have these videos to enjoy and celebrate her eternal beauty and also to remind us that we are not Donna Summer, and therefore, sparkling is required at all times – especially on the dance floor.
SOLID GOLD SPARKLE!
Today’s Sparkle Video is a “mash-up” edit of an extended disco classic married to various Solid Gold countdowns featuring the show’s sexy dancers with fabulous hair and gobs of satin, sequins and glittering pizzazz. It’s the fashion show of my dreams set to the sparkling sound of “Souvenirs” by Voyage and accented by the swirling light from disco balls. I want this to run in a loop all day, everyday- then my life would truly be complete.
THE SPARKLE VIDEO HALL OF FAME!
Today’s clip features a group that is our first inductee into The Sparkle Video Hall Of Fame. Boney M has graced our Fridays several times over the years, and will continue to do so with their never ending supply of musical classics and wardrobe filled with infinite disco fashion– and this particular version of “Rasputin” is all about the FASHION! Everyone in the group looks dazzling wearing a gorgeous shade of purple, the color of royalty, accented by thousands of sparkling sequins. It’s like a runway show featuring nothing but the most supreme disco fashion with swingy “dance floor” fabrics, asymmetrical shoulders and my personal favorite, the dramatic “bat wing” effect. All of this glamour on one stage is further dramatized by the background of a majestic staircase and a stage filled the gobs of smoke. HELLO.
SPARKLE VIDEO’S ALIVE!
Today’s Sparkle Video is one of the most invigorating, life-affirming extravanganzas I’ve seen in a while (well since last Friday anyway). I mean, is it me or is Saphir performing on a stage decorated exactly like my dream home? Colored neon, rotating disco lights, and murky smoke billowing around the boys who are wearing a fabulous combo of satin/headband/mustache fashion. “I Am Alive” is, as of this moment, my new favorite song and I’m designating it as the official summer anthem of 2013 for its sparkling ability to make me want to hop on a plane to Berlin immediately… or at least get me to the nearest dance floor pronto!
SPARKLE MACHINE HEAVEN!
Today’s Sparkle Video is something I like to call, “Off Da Chain!”, featuring The Commodores. Yes Soldiers, The Commodores, who even though their outfits have always sparkled madly, are mostly known for their sweet and sometimes tear-jerking ballads like “Three Times A Lady”, “Sail On” and “Lady”. However, there was a time long before the pop charts when they were full of funk, and as witnessed by this clip from a fabulously stage-lit Soul Train, that they were outright “trippin’-on-acid-y” . This instrumental performance of “Machine Gun” is two minutes and 36 seconds of heaven, watching the guys get down in their blue bedazzled jumpsuits accented with fluttering white feathers and magically lit with glorious star filters. The whole thing makes me wish I could jump in a time machine and head over to the studio so I could bug-out on the dance floor and, if I’m extra lucky, maybe even get in on a line dance!
TENDER SPARKLE VIDEO!
Dearest Soldiers,
A hearty apology for getting today’s Sparkle Video posted so late. Due to an emergency, I got a bit sidetracked as one can. However, as always, I have promised to never, ever let a sparkling Friday go by without a dazzling clip! So here we have the luminous Miss Kate and Miss Cindy from one of my all-time favorite groups, The B-52’s in various assortments of glitter and sequins, shaking and grooving in a way that always makes me smile. I hope it does for you too!
SPARKLE YOUR A@$ !!!
Today’s Sparkle Video is a bit of a departure from our usual favorites, rock n’ roll and disco. It’s a funky soul groove featuring that masked superhero of sexually explicit music, Blowfly. “Shake Your Ass” features Mr. Fly, aka Clarence Reid, in various scenarios urging people to “get on up” and dance. As always, he’s dressed in his trademark shimmering gold outfit, undercover mask and required fabulous cape- all accented by glorious sparking sequins. I’ve seen him perform live a couple of times and he never disappoints in both sparkle and shock factors. In fact, this is the only clip I could have chosen for today because all of the others are triple X-rated! You’ll have to look those up on your own Soldiers, ’cause Da General likes to keep it squeaky clean around here… sort of.
SPARKLE VIDEO FANTASY
Today’s Sparkle Video is a continuing celebration of the fabulous 80’s and each member of this group represents visual details of this decade that was so fun and exciting. Asymmetrical hairstyles, baggy pants and Keytars for boys and belted over-sized blouses on top of leggings accented by mismatched fingerless gloves and a multitude of bracelets for the girls. These elements plus a good steady dance beat make Lian Ross’s “Fantasy” more than a just time capsule – it’s the totally 80’s package!
PRECIOUS SPARKLE VIDEO!
I’m not sure how I made it through the 80’s learned about all the fabulous music from the 80’s without ever hearing this song, but now that I’ve found it I will never let go because I’m OBSESSED. Sure, sure- there’s gobs of flashing lights, outfits of metallic brocade amongst other supreme 80’s fashion and even a gong, but I’m smitten with today’s Sparkle Video from Fox on Fox for other reasons. One is that they’re an obvious precursor to Army of Lovers, of whom I’m also a fan, but also because “Precious Little Diamonds” has truly latched on to me like no other song. Perhaps there’s no way to not love a song about diamonds, but I think it’s more about the down-tempo groove laying sensuously below falsetto vocals and a heavy bass line. Yup- that’s it.
Join the Sparkle Army 