More Online

Published September 2009

You’ve got to love the online media. These are some snippets of news that I personally enjoyed reading. A light-hearted deviation off the doom and gloom of the global financial tsunami tangent and other equally serious issues. I’m afraid I can’t really cover ‘Serious’ as well as some of my more talented peers within the writing fraternity. However, ‘Silly’ I can do with my eyes closed.

TAYLOR SWIFT – 1 KANYE WEST – 0

I have always had a teensy inkling that Kanye West was the sort of diva who would make superstars like Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey blush.

Known for consistently throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat and being plagued by controversy, West’s recent behaviour at last week’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards took the cake.

Upset by Taylor Swift’s win over Beyonce in the Best Female Video category, West took to the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech and grabbed the mike, stating that Beyonce was the rightful winner of said award. The audience responded to West’s blatant unprofessionalism and rudeness with a sea of well-deserved boos.

West was immediately criticized by a slew of fans and celebrities, with US President Barrack Obama likening West’s behaviour to that of a donkey’s bottom – in an off-the-record comment of course.

While he may be going through the motions of the grovelling gauntlet and apologizing every which way he can on his website, on TV shows and to Taylor Swift herself, it has to be said that people generally seem to be getting more than a little fed up with childish antics. Several music stations around the world even enforced a ‘No Kanye’ day in what could be described as a global lockdown, if you like.

It is interesting to note that this is not the first time West has stomped his foot like the proverbial child many of us see him as. During the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2006, he failed to win for Best Video. No points for guessing what came next. West went on stage as the award was being presented to winners Justice and Simian and proclaimed that he should have won instead. I’ve begun to see a pattern here.

A long fall from grace for the man who was once dubbed ‘the hottest MC in the game’. A Grammy award winning artist whose tracks were tightly eclectic has now become very simply erratic to me.

13 YEAD OLD TAKES FASHION WORLD BY STORM

Chances are you won’t have heard of Tevi Gevinson. It’s quite alright, I only just found out about this ‘tween myself. While her peers and counterparts may be busy with usual teenage issues, 13 year old Gevinson is the toast of the international fashion circuit and is currently being feted by some of the best designers in the world.

How did this happen? Simple. Apparently the girl has an amazing eye for trends and detail. Her blog, Style Rookie, can count on gushing fan love from fashion commanders such as Yohji Yamamoto and Marc Jacobs to name a few.

Taken directly from her blog is her very own self-description :

“Tiny 13 year old dork that sits inside all day wearing awkward jackets and pretty hats. Scatters black petals on Rei Kawakubo's doorsteps and serenades her in rap. Rather cynical and cute as a drained rat.”

Some would find that charming. Others, vaguely disturbing. Apart from the cute touches of self-depreciating humour, it doesn’t change the fact that this girl knows fashion. Gevinson is a pro when it comes to her takes of the newest lines and is fast becoming a front-row regular at fashion shows. Her writing is sharp, witty and accurate. Nary a trace of teenage angst is present while she deconstructs and analyses design and form.

Could this tiny waif with the oversized glasses and zany wardrobe become the next Anna Wintour? Well, it’s always a possibility.

Visit: tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com

TOO RAUNCHY FOR MALAYSIA

I kid you not, this is the title for an article I read on MSN Malaysia by one Nicholas Chow. It is an entertaining list of artists that have been restricted from performing in Malaysia, or have had to change aspects of their show to appease certain groups.

The newest head to roll off the figurative chopping block was tennybopping Danish group Michael Learns To Rock. While I can’t speak with authority on their songlists and albums, I can however state that MLTR is no Judas Priest (Brit Heavy Metal band) and I’m hard pressed to believe that there would be misbehaviour of any kind from MLTR concertgoers. It’s as funny to me as imagining gangs of little five year olds at a Barney (purple dinosaur) show running riot and engaging in thuggish activities of the lout variety.

Other artists and groups that received warnings and strong caution prior to performing but went ahead and rocked out regardless: Linkin Park, Mariah Carey, The Pussycat Dolls, Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani.

The article also listed Rihanna down as a small group was protesting her indecent dress as an affront to Asian values. However days prior to her concert Rihanna suffered injuries at the hands of her then-boyfriend Chris Brown in the infamous incident which I’m sure we’re all aware of.

And interestingly enough, Beyonce is now set to perform in KL next month after her 2007 gig faced similar problems over indecent dress and provocative dance moves

One can only wonder what next week’s news will bring.