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!”.
WEEKEND FOR THE WEEKEND!
Apologies Soldiers- with only 8 days left to go before we embark on our legendary evening together on November 10, there hasn’t been much time for writing. Mostly due to putting the finishing touches on my sparkle outfit which always takes a bit of time, but in the middle of Hurricane Sandy it’s taking a bit longer than usual. However, as you all know, I never miss a Sparkle Video day because it’s something I look forward to all week and today’s clip is another example of that fabulosity we love. The shimmering ladies of Class Action are dressed in THE height of 80’s disco fashion- from the clothing silhouettes to the gold dripped everything and especially the use of head bands (yes- we all wore them!). It’s all accented with the only accessory one needs to make a point on the dance floor.. . a laser. Topped off with this funky cover of “Weekend” makes this one of my favorite videos of all time!
HOLD YOUR SPARKLE VIDEO!
Today’s sparkle video features disco legend Celi Bee and her back up dancers performing “Hold Your Horses” in a fierce spandex explosion. Celi is one of my style icons with her slicked hair, disco-tastic makeup and fabulous fashion sense. She’s like a living, breathing Fiorucci illustration that twists, moves and poses on a stage of flashing lights that makes her rhinestone accents blink and sparkle madly. It’s perfection as it should be, especially in 1979, the year of disco!
SPARKLE ARMY 2012!
My good friend Monster Ronson and I get so excited while putting together another fabulous Join The Sparkle Army party that sometimes we make a little video so that everyone else can get excited too. This sparkling advertisement turned out to be such a delightful disco commercial for our night of dazzling on the dance floor that it was the obvious choice for today’s Sparkle Video. It features Berlin’s own nightlife superstars Joost & Jackee Word in sparkling outfits, gobs of glitter from outer space and yours truly, Da General. Enjoy Soldiers- and I hope to see you all on November 10!
DO YOU FEEL LIKE A SPARKLE VIDEO?
Have I mentioned I was in the KC & The Sunshine Band Fan Club as a child? I’m sure I have and today’s Sparkle Video is a perfect example why. First I have to mention the Donny & Marie Show because I love everything about it: the 70’s “light up” set design, the sparkling glamor of the siblings and an extra special HOLLA for Marie’s super chic short hair! However, that’s nothing compared to the sparkle onslaught behind the curtain. Harry Wayne Casey and his band are a bedazzled force to be reckoned with as they move and shake all over that stage asking “Do You Feel Alright?”. One thing’s for sure, and that’s that they totally feel alright because each and every one of them is dazzling in their famous colorful rhinestone outfits. They even brought along two lovely ladies dressed in the height of disco fashion just to drive their message of fabulosity home. Message received KC! Message received!
SPARKLE VIDEOS SAVED MY LIFE
Today’s Sparkle Video is a classic among classics and easily one of the most legendary dance tracks of all time. It’s also a very special song to yours truly and brings back many dazzling memories, but I won’t bore you with the sparkling details. Let’s just sum it up by saying it was after hours, they had a jukebox and I had a lot of coins. Which means “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” got played a lot and it was a magical soundtrack to a magical morning! Yes, that bar was filled with gobs of happy dancing people, because who could resist that trance-like bass line that moves in motion just like Indeep‘s glorious 80’s disco chic? No one!
SPARKLE VIDEOS GET ME HOT!
I’ve recently realized that I need more Jimmy Bo Horne in my life and and what better time to start than Sparkle Video day. “You Get Me Hot” is 4 minutes and 5 seconds of pure “I dare you to sit down while you listen to this” funk, which is taken to the max by a room full of ultra cool Soul Train dancers. So cool, that even though there is nary a sequin in sight on the dance floor, everyone of them sparkles in a wave of brightness that is truly magical. Then there’s the man, Mr. Horne, who is beaming at us through a mirrored disco ball which is a dazzling vintage effect that I hope comes back into television fashion very soon (I know American Idol could sure use the ratings boost!). I think I’m going to spend today playing this on a loop because I can’t get enough nor can I sit down because even though it’s only morning, Living Room Disco is in full effect thanks to Jimmy Bo!
Join the Sparkle Army 