I’ve recommended my good friend and your fellow reader Pedram’s blog in past, it has however been in hiatus in past 365 days but returned with new direction! Check it out!
As a reminder, if you are a blogger (with actual content and not a file-sharing blog) then by all means share it with me and others by dropping me an e-mail with the link. Whether its art or articles or any kind of other intellectual properties, your blogging would actually be a contribution to our Iranian culture and community on the Internet! In particular those who do not read or write Persian but still would love to connect culturally. Do dare, there is no risk! Worst case scenario you stop or take a break. No serious losses involved. I personally have been blogging in more than three years now, so if there is anything you would like to know about the format just ask away. I’ll gladly assist you! Now, start blogging!
The season 3 of Mad Men has just ended and as another testimony to this TV-series’ popular cultural influence several fashion houses have officially announced Mad Men-inspired lines to hit the streets next year! Some have already launched their shark grey “Don Draper” suits.
The truth is that even though this show’s production quality is impeccable much of its stylistic appeal is thanks to Don Draper and his pivotal character. Let’s just say that Mad Men IS Don Draper! But while the character looks like perfection personified and basically oozes charisma Jon Hamm, the actor playing him, couldn’t be further away from the fictive persona he portrays. Look at the pictures below, while Don Draper looks sharp like a billion dollar God of power and style Jon Hamm looks like a …hobo basically! I don’t think that I have ever seen such dramatic difference between an actor and the character he plays. At least not this way around, its like as if Don Draper has been roughed up to play Jon Hamm! I think, just like Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, this will be one of those cases where an actor’s on-screen ego will become so larger than the actor himself that it will become a professional burden and he wont get any other roles because of the unshakable personification!
The state radio intends to debate the underground music in the “Shabestane” program. This will be a critical review and a comparative study of the legal and illegal productions, the producer Ali Aminipour says.
Just like I feared the cover image and design were revised and the disappointment became a fact! Not a huge one, nonetheless a disappointment like all her previous albums. The poor content of the booklet is even worse! The musical content of the album however is much better than its appearance, some decent productions there. Too bad I can’t stay mad at her for too long! hehe
This shot is NOT included, just to piss me off I’m sure!lol
To celebrate the birthday of Imam Reza a brand new compilation is released. This various artist compilation is the first of its kind since its popularity peak during the rebirth of POP music back in 1997. Entitled “Hasht (8)” it features eight artists who each preform their homages to the eight Imam of the Shiites. Hami, Mohsen Chavoshi, Reza Sadeghi, Reza Yazadani and Ali Ashabi are the more famous stars in the line up. I have previously approached the religious POP phenomenon in the blog and the tributes to this particular holy icon in several LA-artists’ album reviews.
At the same time Benyamin Bahadori’s manger Rajabpour announced that he will be releasing a two-track single with both songs praising the eight Imam. There have been rumors about Benyamin creating an entire collection for holy icons, which is boosted by this recent announcement. This is not the first time Benyamin and his lyricist Farid Ahmadi have been creating religious POP hymns!
In recent week we have been informed about Sirvan’s debut concert and also its sudden cancellation. I must say that once I saw that promo poster without time and place popping up, I just knew this was going to be announced canceled pretty soon! It was to me a potential publicity stunt, considering Sirvan’s recent moves to exposure! Sirvan along with Benyamin top the line of stars who have just discovered that the use of the media for publicity purposes is much more likley in the domestic context, if it gets to be about controversies rather than conventional promotion. At first rumor had that Ershaad had suddenly canceled the whole event, then (before it got out of hand?) Sirvan announced the place of this supposed event and praised the ministry for all its POP-friendly efforts and support in recent year, instead accusing the “organizer” for not having submitted a request for the permit, despite four months of preparation and practice for him and his band. Now the questions is, would someone like Sirvan remain silent about a debut concert which was supposedly planned and practiced with a big band four months in advance, ’til just a while before the concert?! No promotion?! And if there was so many months of planning and preparation then why was the time and location left out?! It all just doesn’t add up to anything but a publicity stunt! Then again, its the domestic industry so you never know!
I’m loving this HOT photo set of Sepideh, shot by Siros Kerdouni. Like I’ve said before Sepideh is a beautiful, talented and sexy woman who is not afraid of showcasing what she has got! Unlike many who decide to do the same, but instead with what they DO NOT got! This kind of confidence is a quality I have always applauded and supported in all artists, both female and male. Even non-artists for that matter! For the entire set and more please visit Sepideh’s myspace.
You better buckle up! Because we’re about to go full throttle!! After having delivered the Bia2 iPhone Apps and the Bia2 Android App we are eager to serve all of you BlackBerry owners out there! This will be a treat for either model of the four BlackBerry devices, namely BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Tour and last but not least the fresh new BlackBerry Storm with its touchscreen! Welcome ya’ll to the family! Do we even need to mention that this is the FIRST and ONLY Iranian BlackBerry App on the market?! Didn’t think so! Enjoy!
If you enjoy artists like Natasha Bedingfield or similar kind of voices delivering similar kind of music then I recommend you to check out Amanda Jenssen. This song is on the softer side of her spectrum, but it fits the morning mood of my autumn!
This former Swedish Idol contestant has just released her second album which I picked up earlier today. Mainly because of its digipak design (and the pic below, hehe) but there is something about this kind of voice that appeals to me in an off-beat kind of way!
In case you haven’t noticed I happen to have a fetish for scarfs! Some are crazy about ties I am nuts about scarfs. I guess it’s one of the remains from the New-Romantic era, that is left and living in me. You can work many ways with a scarf when creating a look, both tie and drape them. I collect them, in all colors and patterns that become me and my wardrobe. My main rule as both fashion aficionado and painting artist when it comes to picking a scarf that represents me is that it gets to be the single outstanding detail and showpiece in the whole attire. The pièce de résistance, the highlight and show-stopper that commands the attention of any room! While you should by default color-coordinate, you don’t need to make your entire outfit match. Liven up by adding a punch of color and character to your image with a scarf. This almost florescent turquoise delight is my latest inquisition and as you can see it is like a drop of jumping color on the basic black ensemble. Some rather avoid such vibrant colors in order to merge in the crowd, yours-truly however loves to stand out … in case you haven’t noticed!lol
This is a candid shot of me taken in the morning (thats why I smile!lol) a few days ago, the cold is a fact in Sweden by now so it’s all about dressing accordingly. I think you already know the winter coat and the brand new leather case, accompanying the blue attention-seeker!
Hamid Askari’s follow up to the successful debut “Coma” is finally out after months of postponing. The album shares the same arranger as Benyamin’s “85″ and that is to be noticed in many songs’ resemblance and elements’ recycling! It’s not unusual with such kind of sequels in Western world of music in order to mark a return to a certain theme and style, however not as a direct follow up to a debut! “Coma 2″ even shares the cover design of its first part.
I’ve watched “Moon”. In its barely one and a half hour of running time it has not a single element and twist that we sci-fi fans haven’t seen before, one way or the other. However not like this! In-between its generic sci-fi facade there is a philosophical manifest embedded and hidden. Here is the trailer but WARNING is in order since it spoils the “twist” of the movie!
This is a poetic allegory to life, an answer to the existential question raised by the enlightened man. The inner dialog leading to the revealing of the ultimate truth: who are you and what are you in the grand scheme of things called life? Now that is not an easy topic to take on, let alone answer! Amazingly this rather humble movie does it like few have done in past. “Moon” takes you all the way to the dark side of the moon in order to show you the dark side of life in perspective! A romantic approach to reality. Needless to say is this hidden gem that is getting a discrete release highly recommended, however only to those with an eye for the hidden and a deeper understanding for the profounder meanings. Because on the sci-fi side there is not much new to look at.
“950000 miles from home, the hardest thing to face… is yourself.”
The debuting Germany-based rapper P.CANTELL is currently working on his album “P.CANTELL - A Journey To Iran” for a release in the German market. Of which “A Million Shadows” featuring Ian Hooper is the first released track, something he likes to call a soundtrack to the revolution. The album is more like an auditive movie where the listener is taken on a journey through Iran, thats why the songs have location names in brackets, cause every song takes place at a certain location. Find out more on pcantell.de. By the way, I noticed that he also does some blogging! Well done!
Behnam Safavi whose debut album was released recently admits that he has composed several religious pieces. I am a professional songwriter he says, I have created everything from children’s music to pop songs. I did have a piece on Hamid Askari’s debut, he points out. Regarding his album “Tamanna” Safavi says that the album was initially halted by Ershaad because of the music video being aired on satellite stations. However this postponing made him reconsider the album and consequently only two of the original tracks were preserved, while a whole new album was created based on the song “Tamanna”’s popularity! On his elaborate collaboration with Sirvan he says that he could have created the entire album singlehandedly, however he does not believe in the long-term prosperity of such kind of actions. Sirvan started off arranging two tracks, meanwhile we got close and our friendship grew so strong that I learned his ways and he mine, Safavi explains. Sirvan loves and wants to deliver ROCK, I have the same passion for Iranian POP music. This album is the result of this close encounter and fusion, he adds. He says that his intention is to deliver Iranian music dressed in Western outfit. Thats why his tracks are shorter than the Iranian standard. I want the listener to actually “want” to listen to the song again and again, Safavi argues, not to get bored by it. Short just like with western tracks as I myself listen to Vangelis, J. M. Jarre and Yanni, just instrumental (and short?!!) Western music. Safavi says that he could have used the same influences in his music, however he does not believe in the mass-appeal of such music. Perhaps in future he will, he admits. However this is my style and I will not change it in the next album just for the sake of changing. Definitely not because it gets associated with Reza Sadeghi’s signature style! Actually Sadeghi was the very first who congratulated me and says that he loves the album, Safavi makes clear. I like fame and I don’t think that there is any celebrity who can honestly say that he doesn’t like to be famous, however I don’t try too hard to get famous. Furthermore Safavi adds that he doesn’t think its healthy to wait when you work with music, because things can get outdated fast and while your two years old album is in line for a permit the underground singers have the advantage to deliver fresh and up-to-date music! That’s the legal artists’ biggest problem, Safavi concludes.
The official trailer is out! Finally! It looks like they’ve done a hell of job translating the unique and characterizing visual features of The Sands of Times game trilogy into the movie. New photo showing Sir Kingsley looking the part as expected!
As previously mentioned I’m a big fan of the games and so far this looks exactly the way I would have wanted for the game to look like as a movie.
Needless to say is the anticipation even higher now, especially after the trailer confirming all the buzz! Not to mention the anticipation for seeing the gorgeous miss Arterton joining prince Dastan in this adventure as the heroine Tamina!
How do you like my brand new trilby hat? I love “Blood In, Blood Out (Bound By Honor)” and have as long as I can remember wanted a “Vatos Locos” hat (thus the pose). Now I’ve found one! In H&M’s new collection. If you have no idea what I am talking about and happen to like gangster movies then do catch this epic flick. It’s the poor man’s “God Father”! Came in early 90’s, flew under radar and exploded in a massive underground wave of fans and fanatics! I have it on DVD but still find myself watching it when TV reruns it, often at midnights. Watch the trailer, don’t let yourself be put off by the B-style edit and music since its far from the actual film. And see if you can spot my hat in it!
If you found my description and review of “Cashback” interesting or even had a chance to watch the movie and appreciate it the way I did, then by no means let “500 Days of Summer” slip by unwatched!
How I loved this one! It was as if it was custom-made for me! A romantic movie for my taste, realistically charming. The aesthetic style and the philosophical tone were completely in tune and enhanced by the beautiful soundtrack. Joseph and Zooey’s chemistry was made in the indie heaven, the perfect match!
I must say that “500 Days of Summer” is not for everyone, it is after all “not a love story”! However if you enjoy movies like “Cashback” then this is highly recommended. One of my absolute favorites this year. And it’s not because I happen to have a huge crush on the offbeatly adorable and quirky cute Zooey Deschanel at the moment! I could be recommending it just because of those big bright blue eyes, but I’m not!
In recent week we have been informed about Sirvan’s debut concert and also its sudden cancellation. I must say that once I saw that promo poster without time and place popping up, I just knew this was going to be announced canceled pretty soon! It was to me a potential publicity stunt, considering Sirvan’s recent moves to exposure! Sirvan along with Benyamin top the line of stars who have just discovered that the use of the media for publicity purposes is much more likley in the domestic context, if it gets to be about controversies rather than conventional promotion. At first rumor had that Ershaad had suddenly canceled the whole event, then (before it got out of hand?) Sirvan announced the place of this supposed event and praised the ministry for all its POP-friendly efforts and support in recent year, instead accusing the “organizer” for not having submitted a request for the permit, despite four months of preparation and practice for him and his band. Now the questions is, would someone like Sirvan remain silent about a debut concert which was supposedly planned and practiced with a big band four months in advance, ’til just a while before the concert?! No promotion?! And if there was so many months of planning and preparation then why was the time and location left out?! It all just doesn’t add up to anything but a publicity stunt! Then again, its the domestic industry so you never know!
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