FLASHDANCE The Musical

You knew it had to happen (especially after KIA's commercials starring Mark Kelly made Michael Sembello's "Maniac" popular all over again... LOL)

FLASHDANCE the movie is now FLASHDANCE the stage musical and about to tour the UK. Giorgio Moroder, composer of the main theme song, has reworked the tunes for the production. “Maniac”, “Manhunt”, “Gloria”, “I Love Rock and Roll” and the Academy Award winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling” are all part of the show.

Here's the info from the THEATRE ROYAL (UK), which will be premiering it from Jul 19th to Aug 2nd:

"The first ever tour of the World Premiere production of FLASHDANCE is set to take Plymouth by storm!

Set in Pittsburgh, USA, FLASHDANCE tells the story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

The show features an iconic score including the smash hit "Maniac", along with “Manhunt”, "Gloria", “I Love Rock & Roll” and the Academy Award winning title track "Flashdance - What a Feeling".

Full of pulsating raw energy and breathtaking choreography by Arlene Phillips (Grease, Strictly Come Dancing, Starlight Express, Saturday Night Fever) FLASHDANCE is an unmistakably unique musical about holding onto your dreams and love against all the odds. It promises to be the musical event of the year – so take your passion and make it happen!"

(Funny how the official Theatre Royal site tells you more about the crew than the cast. Hmmm...)

How Sad is This?

The U.S. version of Britain's OK! has taken particular interest in Britney Spears, putting her picture on the cover 54 times in the 103 issues since early 2006, all to push up circulation and profits. (They're not the only one - just the loudest in proclaiming how well they're taking advantage of the situation...)

According to Sarah Ivens, OK!'s U.S. Editor, "An editor's dream is to have a real life soap opera unraveling in front of you, and Britney provides that every week." The magazine even has a 10-person team in LA devoted to just Spears coverage. "We're on constant Britney alert." Yeeesh.

Now wonder the poor girl can't seem to get out the downward spiral she's been in, not when you have magazines devoted to making money off every bad thing they can print and proud of it. They didn't originally make her drink or do drugs or whatever else she's doing to mess up her life, but man, are they devoted to making sure she continues to have those problems in spades.

Now wonder I stopped subscribing to ANY "entertainment" magazines. Their idea of entertainment and mine diverged quite a while back. (I like hearing about new movies & TV shows & people helping out at charitable events or rescuing others, not dwelling on drunken nights out, or reveling in arrests and suicides, accidental or otherwise...)

I've never really been a big fan of Britney's singing (I only like 'Ooops, I Did It Again') and never felt she was that great of a role model once she 'got hot' but I will be very sad if they manage to push her over the final edge and into oblivion. (Anyone remember what happened to 'the Golden Goose'?)

Radiohead - IN RAINBOWS - New Year's Eve Film

To celebrate the upcoming new year, Radiohead released a great new video called SCOTCH MIST on YouTube for New Year's Eve 2007 where they play every song from their new album, IN RAINBOWS. It's a fascinating look at how they record their music and a chance to preview the album before you buy it.

Check out the video (but be warned - it runs almost a full hour!):

(A film with Radiohead in it made for New Year's Eve, 2007. Features every song on their new album IN RAINBOWS, the "physical manifestation" out now in stores.)

Happy New Year!

May all your favorite singers/songwriters come out with great new music this year, may your favorite bands tour near your home, and may you and your family and friends have a healthy, happy, prosperous and fun 2008!