MTV Video Music Awards 2011

The MTV Video Music Awards first began as a ceremony to rival the notorious Grammy Awards. The VMA’s first launched in 1984 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler were the evening’s hosts.

This year, the awards were held in the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Steven Friedman MTV President, publicly stated the company’s delight in returning to the City of Angels;

“We are thrilled to return to Los Angeles where the energy of the city will help power the creative spirit of the 28th annual VMAs. The city is the perfect backdrop for all the musical moments, mayhem and magic that make the VMAs such a notorious celebration.”

Selena Gomez is photographed wearing a gown by Julien Mac Donald, gold heels by Brian Atwood, Judith Leiber clutch with gold drop earrings and cuff by Lorraine Schwartz.

The televised event attracts a wide spectrum of viewers; those who anticipate the night’s vocal performances and others who salivate over the ensembles of the music realm’s brightest stars.

Adele, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Pitbull and Cee-Lo Green each glided across the stage to perform the theme tunes to this summer. Whist, the mélange of routines, costumes and melodies utilised to honour the career of Britney Spears was particularly memorable.

Beyoncé chose the red carpet of the Video Music Awards as the moment to publicly announce that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child.

Beyoncé is photographed wearing a burnt orange Lanvin gown from their Autumn 2011 collection with Lorraine Schwartz jewels to accessorise.

Beyoncé performed on stage in a sequined tuxedo jacket, white shirt and fitted pants all by Dolce & Gabbana.

Beyoncé’s former band mate, Kelly Rowland attended the awards in a feather and leather ensemble by Falguni & Shane Peacock with Christian Louboutin Lady Peep Spike heels to match.

Zoe Saldana continued the night’s Little Black Dress trend in a creation by Barbara Bui, the ensemble was accessorised with snake-skin heels also by Barbara Bui, a Lanvin clutch diamond earrings, diamond elephant ring, sapphire ring and gold / onyx bracelet all by Lorraine Schwartz.

Britney Spears was the night’s guest of honour and attended with boyfriend Jason Trawick. Spears was attired in a Moschino romper and low belt with Gina peep-toe calf  boots.

In her first public appearance since her marriage to Kris Humphries, Kim Kardashian chose an alluring sequined gown by Kaufmanfranco for the Video Music Awards.

Miley Cyrus exhibited a mixed print gown by Roberto Cavalli from the designers Pre-Fall 2011 Collection. The songstress paired the ensemble with a Lorraine Schwartz choker and Azzedine Alaia heels.

Demi Lovato attended the award show in a jewel encrusted dress with a plunging neckline by Mandalay.

Victoria Justice appeared on the red carpet in a jewel encrusted mini dress with Giuseppe Zanotti heels

Katie Holmes attending the music event in a halter dress by Azzedine Alaia and suede tan booties by Proenza Schouler.

Once again, Lady Gaga provided the audience with an unexpected form of attire. The New Yorker opened the show with a performance of her current single ‘You and I’ as her male alter-ego Jo Calderone.

Nicki Minaj is photographed wearing an Amato Couture corset, Shojotomo Japan shorts, Tsimori Chisato stockings, an Onch Movement ice cream necklace, Fifi and Romeo plastic cuffs and Duepunti rings. 

Katy Perry collected the most amount of ‘moon men’ last night with three awards in total including the prestigious ‘Video of the Year’. Perry attended the ceremony with her husband Russell Brand and exhibited four different ensembles at the event.

Perry graced the red carpet in an Atelier Versace Autumn 2011 mini dress with Jimmy Choo ‘Beak’ sandals and Lorraine Schwartz’s pink gold and diamond ‘Happy’ bracelet.

Katy Perry presented an award in the show wearing a purple lace Tom Ford gown, the songstress’ purple-hue hair was the perfect accompaniment. 

Finally, Katy Perry collected her award in a Christian Dior Autumn 2011 Couture ensemble paired with a yellow Philip Treacy had and multi-coloured wedges by Giuseppe Zanotti.

For the California Girl’s fourth ensemble, in the press room at the end of the show, Perry wore the ‘Breaking Records’ dress designed by Johnny Wujek for Furne One and Giuseppe Zanotti heels. 

Video of the Year: Firework - Katy Perry

Best Female Video: Born This Way - Lady Gaga

Best Male Video: U Smile - Justin Bieber

Best Hip-Hop Video: Superbass - Nicki Minaj

Best Pop Video: Til The World Ends - Britney Spears

Best Rock Video: Walk - Foo Fighters

Best Collaboration: E.T. - Katy Perry Ft. Kanye West

Best New Artist: Yonkers – Tyler, The Creator

Best Video With A Message: Born This Way - Lady Gaga

Best Art Direction: Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Best Choreography: Run This World (Girls)  - Beyoncé

Best Cinematography: Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Best Direction: Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Best Editing: Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Best Special Effects: E.T. - Katy Perry Ft. Kanye West

The September Issues (Thus Far)

In fashion, the September issue of the realm’s magazines and journals, is the greatest edit in volume and the most prestigious cover of the year.

Complex Magazine:

Image: Complex

Image: Complex

Image: Complex

Beyoncé covers Complex Magazine’s annual ‘Style and Design’ issue.

The cover and editorial were photographed by Thierry Le Gouès. Ebon Heath created the cover’s artistic backdrop, which features the lyrics of Knowles’ hit ‘Run This World (Girls).

The American songstress exhibits edgy designs by Brian Lichtenberg, with styling by Matthew Henson and Peju Faujumore.

Elle UK:

Image: Elle Magazine

Kirsten Dunst features in Elle UK’s September Issue. The cover and editorial are romantic in style with soft colour palettes highlighting Dunst’s fair beauty.

The actress collaborated with photographer David Slijper to create an image of effortless elegance. The subscriber’s edition of the issue is equally alluring.

Image: Elle UK

Rachel Bilson displayed her envious physique and luxurious locks on the September cover of InStyle Makeover. The feature was styled by Brad Goreski and exhibits a daring belted gown by Proenza Schouler.

Instyle Makeover:

Image: Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler, today shared the news that Andrew Rosen of Theory has secured a forty-five percent stake in their company. Rosen has successfully managed and raised the profile of brands such as Alice+Olivia, Gryphon and Rag & Bone.

The designer-duo are the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) 2011 and 2007 Womenswear Designers of the Year.

Vogue UK:

Image: Vogue UK

 Freja Beha Erichson is photographed wearing a sequins Dolce & Gabbana gown with accessories also by the Italian label and a beret by AdHoc.

Image: Vogue UK

Freja Beha Erichson is pictured wearing a tiered organza dress by Alexander McQueen, crystal choker by Lanvin and lace cuffs by House of Snowball. 

Image: Vogue UK

Freja Beha Erichson is shot wearing an embroidered silk shirt and skirt by Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci, tights by Pamela Mann and leather/crystal choker by Lanvin. 

Freja Beha Erichson stars as the protagonist in Vogue UK’s September episode. Famed photographer, Mario Testino shot the editorial and cover. Throughout the issue, Erichson exhibits delicate and romantic pieces by Givenchy, Lanvin and Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Flare Magazine:

Image: Flare

Flare Magazine have titled their September Issue shoot with Jessica Stam ’Naughty or Nice’. Max Abadian was the editorial’s photographer with Elizabeth Cabral styling and Harry Josh tending to Miss Stam’s tresses.

Throughout the issue, the Canadian model is featured in luxury pieces by The Row, Louis Vuitton, Emilio Pucci and Giles.

Jessica Stam covers the magazine in tough statement jewelry by Swarovski, an embellished Vionnet dress and elegant heels by Christian Louboutin.

Vogue Australia:

Image: Vogue Australia

Image: Vogue Australia

Image: Vogue Australia

Katie Fogarty covers Vogue Australia’s September Issue. Kai Z. Feng photographed the ‘Night Watch’ editorial,Naomi Smith is the issue’s fashion editor / stylist with Robert Di Cuia responsible for hair styling and make-up artistry by Benjamin Puckey.

Image: Vogue Australia

Hayden Williams:

Whilst trawling through the internet for fashionable inspiration, an alluring sketch caught my eye.

Hayden Williams, a London fashion design and illustration artist has frequented my news feed with his bright, enchanting sketches. On Williams’ blog, fitting tributes of pop culture icons such as Rihanna and Amy Winehouse are also rather prominent.

One of Hayden’s most recent sketches is particularly special – ‘The September Issue’. The model exhibits an Anna Wintour-esque hair style with designs featuring this season’s trends of checkerboard pattern and tuxedo-inspired tailoring.

Without doubt, Hayden Williams is a promising talent for fashion’s future, it would not be surprising if he soon featured in a Fashion Week near you.

Image: Hayden Williams

This post will be continually updated to include the September Issues which are yet to be released. Check back often!

Oxegen – Music Festival: Day One

Image: Oxegen

Oxegen is Ireland’s biggest music festival and has been attracting hoards of fans since 2004. The MCD promoted event is annually held in Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare.

The Heineken sponsored event platforms Irish and international acts on all five stages; Main Stage, Vodafone Stage, Heineken Green Spheres Stage (which was neither green nor spherical), 2FM Hotpress Academy Stage and Red Bull Electric Ballroom.

This year, the festival welcomed icons such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Black Eyed Peas and the Arctic Monkeys to its main stage.

Friday July 8th - Her Majesty & The Wolves: Heineken Green Spheres Stage

Her Majesty & The Wolves are an electronic / pop duo comprised of Kimberly Wyatt and Spencer Nezey. Wyatt is famed for her membership in the Pussycat Dolls, her feature in Aggro Santos’ track ‘Candy’ and her role as a judge on BBC’s  ‘Got to Dance’. Nezey is the group’s producer and MC and was once a member of Jupiter Rising.

The act is signed to Chime Records and have been established since 2010 but are yet to make a massive impact on the mainstream charts. At Oxegen, the band received an energetic and responsive reception from the small crowd that welcomed them to their Irish venue.

Wyatt performed in a Tinkerbell inspired ensemble but later ditched the wings to comfortably complete her enthusiastic and exhausting dance / vocal set. The band performed an impressive thirty minute set with vocal perfection and rightfully gained numerous fans from their Oxegen appearance.

The only negative was that much of the crowd were unaware of both the band’s tracks and the previous musical career of the act’s lead songstress – had the teenagers of Ireland been aware that a Pussycat Doll was in their presence, the venue would have been significantly more full.

Music Library Requirement: Goodbye, Goodnight

Friday July 8th - Bitches With Wolves: Red Bull Electric Ballroom

Image: Bitches With Wolves

Bitches With Wolves are no strangers to Oxegen. This year’s appearance counted as the group’s third slot at the music festival.

The band performed at the ‘Red Bull Electric Ballroom’, the home of dance music at the festival.

Looking around at the audience which had gathered in the venue, I sensed that many could not be described as the band’s usual ‘crowd’.

However, frontman James O’ Neill won the spectators over, with the group’s up-tempo electronic / dance hits.

Although the band’s most well-known tracks were unfamiliar to the majority, the audience were energetically dancing throughout the set. The crowd was most pleased with the act’s cover version of ‘Toca’s Miracle’.

My personal highlight occurred with O’ Neill’s announcement “Let’s get dramatic”. I was eagerly anticipating my favourite Bitches With Wolves track, ‘Broken Hearts’.

Bitches With Wolves have an incredible stage presence and an ability to force their listener up onto their feet and dance without conscience. Having also seen them perform at Alternative Miss Ireland, the Bitches are definitely one to watch!

Music Library Requirements: Broken Hearts & Good As Gold

Friday July 8th – Tinie Tempah: Vodafone Stage

Image: Film, Fashion & Pop Culture

Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu, more commonly known by his stage name Tinie Tempah performed at Oxegen to a gargantuan crowd of music lovers.

Tempah performed his catalogue of hits to the eager crowd. The responsive audience thoroughly enjoyed ‘Wonderman’, ‘Frisky’ and ‘Pass Out’.

The artist’s performance of  ’Miami 2 Ibiza’ during his set, extinguished many fans’ dreams that the British rapper would collaborate on stage with Swedish House Mafia during their individual set on the Vodafone Stage later that night.

The most bizarre moment of his set occured with Tinie’s demands for a series of mosh pits within the audience. He proceeded to create a soundtrack for the action with a track helpfully titled ‘Mosh Pit’. The song was lyrically unadventurous and the lowest point of Tempah’s set.

As with many of the weekend’s performers and artists, Tempah claimed his Irish ancestry as he drank from a bottle of Jack Daniels on stage. Tinie did caution the audience to not try this at home, he is after-all twenty-two.

Tempah’s set was overall very enjoyable but it is hard not to notice the differences in tonality (and perhaps even quality) between Tinie Tempah performing live and that which is sourced from his record ‘Discovery’.

Music Library Requirement: Pass Out

Friday July 8th – The Script: Main Stage

Prior to attending the weekend’s festivities, I had presumed that The Script’s audience size would be significantly reduced, due to the number of people who were in attendance, at their very recent Irish gigs in the O2 and the Aviva Stadium. I could not have been proven more wrong.

Even the disgusting Irish weather could not persuade festival attendees to remain in their campsites – the Main Stage area was verging on full for their entire set.

The band’s trio; Danny O’ Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power emit an acquainted aura when they perform on Irish soil. One almost feels familial with the capital’s cheeky trio. The audience emotively responded to the group’s homely references and almost instinctively knew all of the lyrics to the band’s set list.

The band’s frontman, O’ Donoghue was pitch-perfect as per usual but unfortunately, I cannot recall all of what the band were doing on stage – I was dancing manically, in my poncho, throughout their set. Danny’s fashion choices where nationally themed as the jacket’s inset was adorned with the Irish tricolor.

Knowing that the band were once attendees at Oxegen, they continue to inspire festival goers and exude much of the genuine authenticity which mainstream charts are lacking in.

Music Library Requirements: Rusty Halo & Science and Faith

Photo: Peter Neill / Oxegen

Friday July 8th – Black Eyed Peas: Main Stage

With the announcement of an immediate break in their collective careers as the ‘Black Eyed Peas’, those who attended their set on Friday night will feel fortunate that they witnessed their final concert together – for 2011 at least.

Having seen the band at the O2 in Dublin during their The E.N.D. tour, much of the show’s staging, costumes and sequence were similar.

Fergie’s vocal abilities are constantly discussed and debated but I was pleasantly surprised with both her solo and feature endeavours. The songstress appeared solo on the stage to perform ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. The audience was visibly moved and provided the loudest vocal accompaniment to Fergie’s solo track than any in the Black Eyed Peas’ repertoire.

Stacey Ferguson was not the only band member to showcase their individual talent, Will.I.Am placed himself on an escalating pedestal in front of the Irish crowd. As he ascended above the audience, the music mogul mixed a collection of tracks which he has both featured in and produced. Will.I.Am did seem to be having minor technical difficulties throughout his set but the applause barometer as he finished, announced the audience’s genuine enjoyment of his work.

The Peas had three – four costume changes each, depending on the band member. During their final change, after Will.I.Am’s individual performance, Benny Benassi’s video for ‘Spaceship’ was projected onto the venue’s large screens. The track which features Kelis and ‘…Peas’ member APL, was played without announcement and left the audience confused. The track was played in its entirety. Many thought the video signaled the conclusion of the Peas’ set. This caused a significant percentage of the audience to dissipate and leave the auditorium space. Minor adjustments could have avoided this atrocity.

The group performed their back catalogue of hits in a speedily fashion. Many would have preferred to hear the entirety of tracks such as ‘My Humps’ rather than a mere acapella chorus.

Overall, the Black Eyed Peas were a welcome guest to Oxegen. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the performance which was soaked in lighting effects, thundering bass lines and melodies which forced the audience to throw a variety of energetic shapes.

Music Library Requirements: Don’t Lie, Imma Be, Rock That Body & Where Is The Love?

Image: Film, Fashion & Pop Culture

The Weekly Playlist #2

This week has been pretty hectic and involved a lot of travelling between my hometown and Dublin. One advantage was that it gave me numerous opportunities to listen to my music catalogue and pick tracks for this week’s playlist. Again this week there’s a mix of genres within the list and the improved weather definitely influenced an upbeat backing track for the playlist.

1. Lady GaGa – Hair

‘Hair’ is the fourth track released on YouTube by Lady GaGa from the ‘Born This Way‘ album. The track has an 80′s vibe and encourages the audience to be as free as their hair. The fast tempo and drum backbeat are the perfect ingredients for a summer hit. GaGa’s little monsters have come out in their droves to purchase the album. The online retailer Amazon has recorded a loss of nearly $3 million as they had been selling the album on offer at 99cents whilst paying Universal Records $9 for the privilege.

2. Her Majesty & The Wolves – Goodbye, Goodnight

‘Goodbye, Goodnight’ is a recent find of mine. It occurred completely by accident when trawling through music videos online. It has since become one of my favourite tracks. At first sight the band seems unknown but the lead singer is in fact Kimberly Wyatt from The Pussycat Dolls. Kimberly also appeared as a judge on the British television show ‘Got to Dance’. Wyatt also featured on the chorus of Aggro Santos‘ hit ‘Candy’. Her Majesty & The Wolves will be performing at Oxegen this summer – it’s one set which I am very much looking forward to.

3. Ghostface Killah, Mark Ronson & Nate Dogg – Ooh Wee (Explicit)

‘Ooh Wee’ featured on the official soundtrack for the film ‘Honey’ which debuted Jessica Alba as both a reputable actress and dancer. Ghostface and Nate Dogg provide smooth rhymes and a chorus that you will learn within seconds. For me, nothing says summer like a Mark Ronson hit. The trumpet, horns and brass orchestration only compliment the moods that sunshine brings. In the coming weeks the sequel ‘Honey 2′ will hit the silver screen, that soundtrack has a lot to compete with.

4. Nicki Minaj – Girls Fall Like Dominoes (Explicit)

Nicki Minaj, a controversial artist amongst the music industry. Much like Marmite, you either love her or you hate her. Me, I am completely obsessed. Her latest track features a chorus previous released by ‘The Big Pink’ simply entitled ‘Dominoes’. From the album ‘Pink Friday’, Minaj has attempted to create an anthem for the ladies, calling out the female race from the four corners of the earth. One of the most iconic aspects of the track is that Minaj lists off several of her famous acquaintances. She mentions icons such as Lil Wayne, Drake, Madonna, Donatella Versace, Beyoncé, Grace Jones, the Kardashian sisters, M.I.A, Ciara and even Angelina Jolie. Lady GaGa proved the potency and value of product placement in her music videos, it seems Nicki is proving the effectiveness of enlisting your comrades within lyrics.

5. The Smiths – This Charming Man

The most archaic song on this week’s playlist remains to be one of my favourites. This track pre-dates my own birth but it is true, the music of the past inspires that of the future. Morrisey leads The Smiths in one of their most well known tracks which is essential for every music library this summer. The Smiths received a great wave of popularity when mentioned by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the indie film ‘500 Days of Summer’. ‘This Charming Man’ will get everyone in the mood for the festivals and activities during the summer sunshine. It is an excellent choice when one’s palette is no longer appeased by the sweetness the popular music genre often has to offer.

Enjoy the sunshine and as always recommendations for next week’s Playlist are most welcome!