produzentin held hostage, again. Gates of Shimbulak takeover:

Gates of Shimbulak has just discovered its fandom for tvo´s fascinating two hour live coverage of Spelling Bee!
North Americans must be used to this ritual, but for us Shimbulakians the procedure was strange and fascinating.
Hundred teenagers on a dimly lit stage under a churchlike dome, one by one spelling words like “Zeppelin“, “suture” or “tulip“. The kids questions: “Which part of speech?”, “What is the definition?”, “Could you put it in a sentence?” and the answers by the pronouncer are repeated over and over again, until the right spelling is delivered. The verdict “incorrect” spoken by an extra harsh announcer, sorting out contestants after only one attempt. The unusual, concentrated seriousness only interrupted inbetween rounds by the desperate TV host, trying to turn it into a sport event by talking fast and breathless. In vain!

Among the many reasons why this S-P-E-C-T-A-C-L-E beats every other recent TV experience by far:

• being slow and repetetive, it has a lulling effect; it adds layers and layers of trancelike hypnosis A-C-C-U-M-U-L-A-T-I-N-G into pure, unfiltered suspense.
• the admirable calmness of the pronouncer, Tina Srebotnjak, who has to repeat the same definitions over and over again while remaining motherly reassuring.
• you have the feeling of learning brilliant new words (unluckily, our heads are like S-I-E-V-E-S, so we forgot them all right away).
• and of course the spelling bee contestants themselves and their emphaty inviting clever- and nerdiness. Gates of Shimbulak could identify with every single one of them!

Which spelling bee are you? Make your choice from just some of this years Ontario contestants:

It was massive. Brad had his birthday party on Saturday. I djed and got a microphone as a surprise gift. I sang over each and every song I played, thinking my voice would blend in just fine.

After the bar closed, it was still very warm outside, so we decided to walk home (but I still think my so called friends wanted to make a quick dollar and sell me as a tranny hooker).

More pictures after the jump.

My new executive look (inspired by Marna)

Read all of "Walking Back Home"

See I don’t have the time
For the haters

I know. I know, it might seem unbelievable but I have never been to a Mariah concert.
Until this August. Mariah comes to Toronto and I got a ticket in row 8.

I’m so excited. I can’t sleep anymore. I think I’m going to wear my Honey B. Fly fanclub shirt (Mimi’s OFFICIAL fanclub) for the show of the year.

I have uploaded a few pictures to flickr.

You can see me totally knocked out at gay pride Frankfurt in 2002 (I think someone poured something in my drinks) and at my summer party 2003.

I had Rinderzunge at Xmas 2003: it was delicious. To be honest, I have had ox tongue many times, but only when Jesus is born.

Some recent pictures were taken in Toronto. In case you wondered: What is produzentin doing all day long? Well, she took pictures of magnolia trees.

Anyway, have a look at all the sets.
Oh, before I forget, there is a picture of a sea cucumber taking a shit.

i hope you like the site’s new official look.

I don’t know why it took so long. Napoleon Dynamite hit the German movie theaters last Thursday. If you haven’t seen the film already, now is a good time. But maybe it is überhyped because it is so kultig in North America, I don’t know.

I got my first write-up in Toronto. And I thought I could keep the hat secret to myself.
Thanks to Kevin of Daily Dose.

I don’t remember how I was introduced to her. But I believe it was through V., whom I now think of as my first boyfriend. V. was an american soldier, based in Butzbach near Frankfurt and listened to the freshest US american r&b and house music. This was back in 1993, the Martha Wash album (and until today her only proper solo effort) had just been released. When we drove to Butzbach, it was blaring out of the speakers. I was in love. And shocked at first, thinking that my friends would judge me, because at that time the music sounded gayer than gay gayness to me. But I couldn’t help it. I was hooked.

Just fyi, after he dumped me, I never went back to the Butzbach army barracks, but I listened to Martha:
I have replayed the memories of you in my mind
Where you just killing time?
(Now That You’re Gone)

This album not only became one of my all time favorites, featuring fantastic vocal house (with some of the production by Todd Terry), soulful ballads, r&b and pop. With Give It To You it has one of my favorite videos ever. Directed by Marcus Nispel, who is probably best known for George Michael’s Killer/Papa Was A Rolling Stone clip, the video is pure delight. Miss Wash wiggles and giggles herself through the tasty hunks. It’s a bit blurry on youtube, but I have been waiting for ages for it to show up.

Martha started her career together with Izora Armstead as back up singers for disco-drag-diva Sylvester. They called themselves Two Tons of Fun, released two albums, changed their name to The Weather Girls and we all know what happened next.

At the beginning of the 90ties Martha appeared on a lot of records but was hardly seen. She was deemed to fat to appear in the promo pictures and videos by italo-piano-house-group Black Box. If you knew Martha’s voice, you recognized her from the first second by listening to Strike It Up, I Don’t Know Anybody Else or Everybody, Everybody. She is also behind some C & C Music Factory hits, such as Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).
Only after she sued all of them, she got proper credit and a record contract which lead to her triumphant solo release. The three singles Carry On, Give It To You and Runaround shot to the top of the US american dance charts. The album features a cover version of the Two Tons Of Fun slow jam classic, Just Us, reworked into a dance floor anthem cut in two: Just Us (Dancin’) and Just Us (Singin’).

When I moved to Toronto, I forgot to put Martha on my iPod, but suddenly I felt a heavenly urge to hear MW. I went to the next best used record store and as it is with a lot of great CDs, they are available in the cut-out bin. For a second I wanted to complain: This album is too good to be sold for $3, you have to sell it for $50 or even $500.

In the meantime I have been listening to the 14 gems quite often. As I am so in love with Martha’s immaculate, powerful & soulful voice, the album and the production doesn’t sound dated to me. Maybe it isn’t. Of course, I love the lyrics too. Everything.

Martha released a 12″, You Lift Me Up, last year on her own label, Purple Rose. I heard she is working on a full length album. You know I can’t wait.

Buy Martha’s solo album: ca / de
Martha Wash official page

So when you’re searching for that rainbow
I will help you find it
(Someone Who Believes In You)

Mariah did it again. She recorded ringtones for a special promotion.

My favorites are:
Hi Note
Stalker’s Anthem (Definitely Not Picking Up)
Speak (with Jack)
I’ll use all three of them in heavy rotation. Now I only hope that she turns the tones into songs and releases The Ringtone Album.

We had a great time at the first Hotnuts party at the Beaver. Thank you so much.
All pictures after the jump.

Zsa Zsa

Read all of "Hotnuts at the Beaver"

Disco set by James Murphy of the DFA (via).
It has Theo Parrish, Stevie Wonder and what not.
I like it. A bit. I only want to listen to mix one.

Listen and afterwards come to Hotnuts. Get wet.

My friend Anthony sent me an email this morning, subject: holy shit.

Viktor & Rolf will do a fashion collaboration with H&M this fall, just as Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney did in recent years.

I will run to the next H&M now and nag them with questions when the V&R line will be available. I can only hope they come up with an answer.

I don’t know why Paris Hilton get’s dissed for the song. I love this sample. That’s hot!

And her label is called Heiress Records.
Step back all you haters.
I can’t wait for the album, I hope it’s all r&b and hip hop.

Everytime I turn around
The boys fighting over me
Everytime I step out the house
They wanna fi-ight over me