Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

The MOTHERLOAD

The word for today is “motherload” because that’s exactly what today’s Sparkle Video is.  “Dancing Queen” features the ladies of ABBA in the outfits: slinky sequin catsuits with matching neckties(?) and boots.  Their disco ball-esque set is so effective at drawing you in to the mood as swirling dancers move all around them like a dream.  At approximately 2:56, the “light-up dance floor” on the stage kicks in for a dazzling grand finale and then to top it off..it’s a karaoke video!  All this is just too much Soldiers, and when I say “too much” I mean perfect.  The motherload.

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

FUNK YEAH! IT’S SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

Today’s Sparkle Video from Rokotto rocks my whole entire being.  Aside from being one of the most well outfitted bands to grace a stage, they sing the only gospel that matters in this world.   Listening to the golden sequined singer preach that “There is just one way that people come together- it’s in the music that we play”  has me screaming “AMEN!”.   In fact, this sparkle-tastic performance of “Funk Theory” makes me not only proud to be a believer in the Word of Glitter, but also in the magical power of music and dance and, most importantly,  a believer that there are more of us than them- but ain’t that what funk is all about?

…. and by the way if I might add… Join The Sparkle Army on November 19, 2011 at Monster Ronson’s where we will praise, praise, praise!

 

Da General Movies, Music

The Stud

 

Recently, I had the pleasure of watching “The Stud”, a disco-tastic film released in 1978 which stars Joan Collins as a married, wealthy and bitchy woman who enjoys fabulous clothes, dancing at the disco and sex, sex and more sex.  The other main character in this marvelous time capsule is Tony, who runs her nightclub and also is her lover, but at the same time sleeps with pretty much everyone (ahhh the 70’s!). It would be hard not to enjoy a movie set up on this alluring premise, but what’s even more exciting is the music starting right from the opening sequence with a dazzling orchestrated theme song by the Biddu Orchestra.  Some other classics on the soundtrack are “Native New Yorker”, “Let’s Go Disco”, “That’s The Way I Like It” and the overly fabulous  “Cocomotion”.  It also looks like we’re not the only ones who like both kinds of music, rock n’ roll and disco, as hits like “Love Is The Drug” and “Love is Like Oxygen” are also included.  I guess great minds really do think alike!

Da General Music

Space Dance

This has got to be the most fabulous album cover of all time.  For this 1978 release,  Motown Sounds went with the most dazzling concept that could soon be a reality, that is, if we demand it.  After all, NASA is already working on Space Beer for space travel, so wouldn’t the most logical means of getting to that party be this glorious transparent vessel complete with light-up dance floor and gobs of dancing partygoers?  Although, it’s hard to tell from this illustration where the bar is, but I can assure you it’s there because this album is delightfully sparkly and filled with my favorite kind of disco.  You know, the orchestrated strings and percussion arrangements layed over a classic disco beat that I simply gag over kind- just perfect for a trip through the universe!  Oh.. and if you’re worried about what to say to any loved ones you might be leaving behind on this journey, just take a line from one of the tracks on this album:

“It’s not that I don’t love you, it’s not that I don’t care.. it’s just that you don’t like to party like I do babe”

….aww yeah.

Da General Fashion

Great Moments in Disco Fashion History: Satin Pantsuits

How much fun is this Shulton cologne ad?  The sleek look of Satin is something we’ve forgotton about in modern times, but it was everywhere in 1978 and this couple is at the height of Disco Fashion! There is nothing the Advertising Creatives didn’t include in this image- flashing lights, roller skates, billowing smoke… oh except that the fragrance is called “Blue Jeans” and no ones wearing any- but hey- it was the 70’s. You certainly can’t expect people to stay up all night SPARKLING AT THE DISCO and then write things that make sense.  How do I know this?  Printed in the lower left hand corner is “Photographed at New York, New York Discotheque”… you do the math.

By the way- New York, New York is one of the lesser talked about clubs from NYC’s disco heyday and during my research, I located this FAB photo of the club in real action- SUPERB!  This discovery has inspired me to include a new blog category in the future, so now you can look forward to more posts about historic clubs along with other random things I find fascinating. KABLAM!

(photocredit : I currently do not know the source of this photo, but once I locate it, will credit it properly- apologies for now!)