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!
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!
SAN FRANSPARKLEVIDEO!
Today’s Sparkle Video from the Village People employs some of the oldest disco tricks in the book, and no, I’m not talking about the guys in the group! I’m talking about a steady disco beat accented by a non stop spinning disco ball. It was also shot on film which adds the loving embrace of a softened resolution which tends to make everyone look fabulous. Then, add the fact that the boys are looking tip top hot and singing with dazzling passion about that legendary city of “gaydom”, San Francisco. All of these magical elements are truly the stuff that disco classics are made of!
SPARKLE TIME AROUND!
It’s Sparkle Video day once again and today’s clip has me swimming in sparkle covered nostalgia. I’m a fan of Shalamar everything as they take me instantly back to my youth but this song in particular has always been my favorite. Perhaps “Second Time Around” is so special because it’s got the catchiest of melodies alongside the sweetest message to stop holding back and just give love another try. Also, there’s no denying its fabulous “sing-a long factor” as my neighbors can surely attest to. Then you take all of these musical facts and add the visuals of Shalamar (featuring the gorgeous Jody Watley) covered in mirror tiles and sequins accentuated by glorious star filters. The whole presentation is so blindingly spectacular and the most perfect way to start a dazzling friday!
IT’S ALL ABOUT “YOU” ON SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!
Today’s Sparkle Video is everything. With not a sequin, bedazzled crystal or speck of glitter in sight, Boytronic has managed to throw me right into a disco swirl simply from their presence and one ultra-synthesized track. This television performance of “You” makes me feel like I am in a club somewhere with three of the coolest dancers on earth rocking the mid 80’s fashion I remember so vividly I read all about in vintage fashion books and who epitomize very distinct and fabulous character types.
The first guy we see, the keyboard player on the left, is one of those dancers who claims more of the floor than should be allowed except he’s having such a great time, we let him have it. Then there’s the singer who’s totally feeling it by the way he moves and his facial expressions and the total package screams “Pass the Poppers!”. Then finally at 0:28 we see him- my personal favorite- the guy that doesn’t really dance so much as make “accented postures” to the beat. I was always attracted to this type of disconnected aloofness back in the 80’s which I’ve learned about from watching movies about the 80’s and I guess I’m still a sucker for it. However, most of all, I’m a sucker for this record which will be on a loop today until I can get to the disco tonight!
SPARKLE VIDEO ON FIRE!
For the first Sparkle Video since my return to NYC I wanted something that really starts out with a bang and this clip from The Ohio Players certainly does. What more fabulous an entrance can you have then this one filled with gobs of disco smoke accented by spinning sirens? This intro to “Fire” screams “get up and dance” and in fact, this might be one of the few clips where the Midnight Special audience actually does get out of their seats and dance. It’s a bedazzled funk explosion that’s unstoppable and just gets more and more dazzling when the singer in the sunglasses and dandy scarf gets down with his bad self while flame graphics shoot up around him and then KABLAM! Pop n’ Lock! I must say that as a devoted Midnight Special fan, this is truly one of the most epic performances to ever grace that legendary stage and has me chanting “O-H-I-O .. O-H-I-O!”.
WE ARE THE SPARKLE PACK!
I’m not sure how this post is going to turn out as I’m doing it from my phone. It’s never the method of choice, but when you’re traveling back from the German countryside trying to make sure that the Sparkle Video gets up on time, you do what you must. Today’s Sparkle Video is defintely a must because not only does it feature one of my idols, Amanda Lear, but she’s singing about one of my favorite subjects: the Studio 54 crowd. Fittingly, this video also features gobs of disco fashion- something I never get enough of even only days after swimming in it at Monster Ronsons’ last Saturday night!
DISCO SPACESHIP!
Today’s Sparkle Video is the only choice for the night before Join The Sparkle Army at Monster Ronson’s. Laurice (aka Laurie) Marshall is singing about a fabulous “Disco Shapeship” in the sky while he wears a silver metallic caftan and glitter sprinked afro coif. His enlightening words still hold up today because some humans (not us of course) could still use some fabulous aliens from all over the galaxy to come down and show how it’s really done. And when I say “It” I mean peace, harmony and getting down on the dance floor in a serious way. See it fly!
Join the Sparkle Army 