A while back there were photos circulating the interwebs of Brad Pitt filming a commercial for Japanese cellphone company SoftBank. The clip was just released and in it we see Brad Pitt playing personal servant to famous Polynesian sumo wrestler Yokozuna Musashimaru (given name Fiamalu Penitani).
Ain’t it cute?
British teens Eilish (l) and Declan (r) experiment with Manba
Manba is a form of the Ganguro or Yamanba style that became popular with twenty-something Japanese women in the early 1990’s as a form of rebellion against the more traditional view of beauty in the east of a porcelain skin doll. The most shocking of this statement is the heavily tanned skin, white lips, and neon colored hair followers sport. For them it is a form of expression.
Now that message has been picked up by a growing number of British people fascinated with Japanese culture and how they express individuality. The BBC interviewed two British teenagers, Eilish and Declan, to find out what got them started with this trend.
“Declan and Eilish say they have been accused of racism for darkening their skin in this way, but they say this could not be further from the truth.
Eilish insists that she is ‘not mocking anybody’ and Declan asks, ‘what black person looks like this?’
Another member of the group says that she does not like her white skin and covers up if she is unable to get a spray tan.
‘I just think it looks good – nowadays it’s more popular to be tanned,’ Declan adds.”
Call me crazy but I always thought Rick James and Tim Curry looked alike. Maybe it was the sleepy eyes? Or could it have been the flamboyancy?
l - r: Smith, Ross, Walker, Urie
For those Panic at the Disco fans – no need to start pulling your eyelashes out. According to their official website, it appears lead singer Brenden Urie (he’s Hawaiian on his mother’s side. Go figure!) and co-founder/drummer Spencer Smith are still members while co-founder/guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker are venturing off to do their own thing.
“Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve. Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that parting ways is truly what is best for each of us. We are all excited for the future, you should be too.”
Gone Too Soon
In memory of the late-great legend that was Michael Jackson here are two clips only highlighting the surface that was his long, extensive, and inspirational career.
First is Michael, with the also legendary Diana Ross, lending his vocal as well as his acting talent in 1978’s The Wiz singing Ease On Down The Road. He played The Scarecrow with an innocence and sweet nature where, I think, the gave an audience a peek on the performer himself.
The second video, below, shows Michael with his brothers The Jacksons in the special effects laden Can You Feel It from 1980. This was after the success of his Off the Wall album, but before 1982’s Thriller which would catapult him to superstardom.
Having died unexpectedly and at a young age, it was a shock to me as well as many throughout the world who was touched by his music and spectacular performances. These videos are just two of the many songs that I’ve loved throughout the years whether I heard it on viynl, cassette tapes, the radio, cd’s, or my mp3 player. He will be deeply missed, but his music will live on as they no doubt will keep inspiring older fans as well as the millions of new ones yet to hear his albums.
Playing around with little sister Janet
The Young, Black, and Fabulous blog spotted Lilakoi Moon aka Lisa Bonet stepping out with her two youngest children, from partner Jason Momoa, in tow. Lilakoi carried her almost-two-year old Lola Iolani while a nanny(?) held Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha.
They’re both so cute! And I am so jealous of Lilakoi still looking youthful with her post-baby glow. Link!
Name: Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe
DOB: March 8, 1973 in Vienna Austria
Claim to fame: I would say he gained a lot of attention when he appeared in Showtime’s series “Soul Food” based on the hit movie of the same name. He played Damon, the biracial (Black and White) trilingual (German, French, and Portuguese) blue-collar worker who falls in love with an older woman (played by his future wife Nicole Ari-Parker).
Background: Every since I saw him in TLC’s “Red Light Special” video way back in 1994 (before he started shaving his head), I wanted to know who that handsome man was. Turns out he and his Soul Food character Damon share a somewhat similar background.
Boris was born in Austria, but was raised in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg (specifically Freiburg) to a German mother and a Ghanian father. He is also multilingual as he speaks fluent German, English, French, and Spanish. While attending the Virginia Commonwealth University, he aspired to be a professional tennis player but back ailments unfortunately took him out of the game. Luckily, for fans, this change of events led to his becoming a model and later into acting.
"Glad I skipped work to come here today"
This is 2 Live Crew appearing on the Phil Donahue show back in 1990 performing “Face Down Ass Up” (so, yeah, turn down your speakers if you’re at work).
I love some of the audience members reactions!
If you’re too young to remember the Phil Donahue show – Jerry Springer it was not. Donahue still had some controversial guests, but rarely was there an expected fight. Most of his audience consisted primarily of the older, conservative type so I’m sure they weren’t ready for the gyrations and booty poppin’ that was on display. This is hilarious!
"It's all about the paper"
I’m about a year late, but I just caught wind of this comedic web series “The Clean Up Crew”. Its basically, like, if you were to combine The Office and CSI. Taking comedy and the mockumentary set-up and combining it with the latter’s crime scene blood and guts.
The show follows the daily occurrences of a crime scene clean up crew as they deal with the competing businesses, snotty detectives, and just with each other.
My favorite crew member is the strong, but silent type Ofato (played with great comedic timing by Samoan actor Tyler Tuione). Too bad his character doesn’t say anything, but Tuione uses it to his advantage by getting his point across through his facial expressions. I think he does a better acting job than his counterparts with speaking roles.
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO WATCH ALL OF THEIR EPISODES
Now that Season 18, Survivor: Tocantins, has wrapped fans of the show wondered what exotic locale would be chosen for the next series. Survivor 19, which is currently accepting applications, will be set on the island of Samoa. There’s no word yet on how teams will be split up this time or what, if any, twists will be involved.
This will be the fifth series set within the Polynesian Triangle. Previous seasons included the Marquesas, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, and Fiji.
I rolled my eyes when the announcer says (and video is shown) “…and a fierce warrior culture” though. Yeah, most people from around the world come from a warrior culture but the trailer is portraying this as if it’s still going on to this day. C’mon now. Oh, and I hope Jeff Probst works on his pronunciation of “Samoa” before the season actually airs. Haha.
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