One night with Perez Hilton
- Nov 03, 2008
Lady Gaga, Yo Majesty, Sharon Jones and Semi Precious Weapons @ the Blogger's private CMJ Party
This dude Perez Hilton (http://www.perezhilton.com) got famous in the United States from changing his name to mimic one of America's dumbest, talentless starlets and then writing about American's dumbest, talentless startlets. (Hey if you were born Mario Lavandeira, you may have changed your name as well). But in the meantime, the jester Perez Hilton has gotta pretty discerning taste in music and is known to make or break an artist's career just by dropping one fated MP3 onto his mega-star blog.
So on Friday, everyone was all ears on who Perez had chosen to play at his showcase here in NYC. Let's be clear: Perez doesn't appear to judge musicians for their music. He's a celebrity blogger for god sake! Simply, he likes artists who put on a grand show first and foremost, those who are Madonna or Prince style icons and entertainers, similar to how his website likes celebrities who bred good gossip, regardless of moral composition or even acting chops... But evidently, none of this matter; over a thousand industry kids and b-list celebrities (and a couple of kids who won free tickets on his blog) shuffled into Highline Ballroom in Manhattan's Meatpacking District... to see what sort of musical meat Perez could pack.
First up? The always stellar Sharon Jones easily showed who was boss with an armful of soul and jazz songs, backed by her blues band The Dap Kings. She remained a lady, even though Perez had doused her band with an intro: "They're about to get your pussies wet!" At the same time, at 52, she's still a flirt and crowd-teaser, as she proceeded to invite every drag queen and naive girl in the audience (and trust me, there were many in the crowd) onstage and then hauling a cute boy onstage with whom to flirt.
Next up, Yo Majesty the lesbian rap duo that is fiery and fierce came on with two boy toys dressed in capes and kilts. While Sharon got the crowd grooving, the femme fatale MCs from Miami got the crowd feisty â“ jumping to and from either corner of the stage, hand-slapping and shouting out to all the chicks in the house.
Third, came the slightly atrocious, glam rock front Semi Precious Weapons. Their music is bloody awful (they actually have a song "her hair, her hair, her hair is on fire" which is a pathetic cover to "House Is On Fire" by The Blood Hound Gang.) But the lead singer is a effeminate faux rock character, the kind who paints himself with eyeliner, calls everyone bitches and thinks he's prettier than every girl in the room. In other words, he's god damn hilarious. And though you wanted to hate them, everyone seemed to laugh with fascination.....as though he fed their fetish for fake fabulousness.
Lastly, Lady Gaga. This is a chick who is a Perez favorite and about to invade your MTV any day now if she hasn't already. Like Madonna or Britney Spears before her, she's willing to do anything to get famous- especially if it involves cat suits, mild stripping, dance teams, and lip syncing. The chick came out in full space-ship suit and tights, with blond extensions, 10 backup dancers and a glowing crystal stick. She's got a rock-solid body and attitude....(notice we did not comment on her musical skills). And the kids went WILD. If you like dance music, her song "Just Dance" will easily invade your head and burn off brain cells for a couple days. We warn you, just like you love to hate Perez Hilton or Paris Hilton before him, you'll love to hate this blond chick with ambition.
Though we wish the line-up had been backwards, (who dares headline for Sharon Jones? A chick with blond extensions, a glowing crystal stick and 4 inch heels? Really?), between the free flowing, organic energy drinks (sponsored by Guru) and the "talent," we were left dancing gleefully till way past bedtime... and bidding a kind thanks to the "icon" known as Perez Hilton.
This dude Perez Hilton (http://www.perezhilton.com) got famous in the United States from changing his name to mimic one of America's dumbest, talentless starlets and then writing about American's dumbest, talentless startlets. (Hey if you were born Mario Lavandeira, you may have changed your name as well). But in the meantime, the jester Perez Hilton has gotta pretty discerning taste in music and is known to make or break an artist's career just by dropping one fated MP3 onto his mega-star blog.
So on Friday, everyone was all ears on who Perez had chosen to play at his showcase here in NYC. Let's be clear: Perez doesn't appear to judge musicians for their music. He's a celebrity blogger for god sake! Simply, he likes artists who put on a grand show first and foremost, those who are Madonna or Prince style icons and entertainers, similar to how his website likes celebrities who bred good gossip, regardless of moral composition or even acting chops... But evidently, none of this matter; over a thousand industry kids and b-list celebrities (and a couple of kids who won free tickets on his blog) shuffled into Highline Ballroom in Manhattan's Meatpacking District... to see what sort of musical meat Perez could pack.
First up? The always stellar Sharon Jones easily showed who was boss with an armful of soul and jazz songs, backed by her blues band The Dap Kings. She remained a lady, even though Perez had doused her band with an intro: "They're about to get your pussies wet!" At the same time, at 52, she's still a flirt and crowd-teaser, as she proceeded to invite every drag queen and naive girl in the audience (and trust me, there were many in the crowd) onstage and then hauling a cute boy onstage with whom to flirt.
Next up, Yo Majesty the lesbian rap duo that is fiery and fierce came on with two boy toys dressed in capes and kilts. While Sharon got the crowd grooving, the femme fatale MCs from Miami got the crowd feisty â“ jumping to and from either corner of the stage, hand-slapping and shouting out to all the chicks in the house.
Third, came the slightly atrocious, glam rock front Semi Precious Weapons. Their music is bloody awful (they actually have a song "her hair, her hair, her hair is on fire" which is a pathetic cover to "House Is On Fire" by The Blood Hound Gang.) But the lead singer is a effeminate faux rock character, the kind who paints himself with eyeliner, calls everyone bitches and thinks he's prettier than every girl in the room. In other words, he's god damn hilarious. And though you wanted to hate them, everyone seemed to laugh with fascination.....as though he fed their fetish for fake fabulousness.
Lastly, Lady Gaga. This is a chick who is a Perez favorite and about to invade your MTV any day now if she hasn't already. Like Madonna or Britney Spears before her, she's willing to do anything to get famous- especially if it involves cat suits, mild stripping, dance teams, and lip syncing. The chick came out in full space-ship suit and tights, with blond extensions, 10 backup dancers and a glowing crystal stick. She's got a rock-solid body and attitude....(notice we did not comment on her musical skills). And the kids went WILD. If you like dance music, her song "Just Dance" will easily invade your head and burn off brain cells for a couple days. We warn you, just like you love to hate Perez Hilton or Paris Hilton before him, you'll love to hate this blond chick with ambition.
Though we wish the line-up had been backwards, (who dares headline for Sharon Jones? A chick with blond extensions, a glowing crystal stick and 4 inch heels? Really?), between the free flowing, organic energy drinks (sponsored by Guru) and the "talent," we were left dancing gleefully till way past bedtime... and bidding a kind thanks to the "icon" known as Perez Hilton.
