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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Fergie, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 3 of 3
1. This will make BEA a little more interesting - "role model" Fergie sells out ex-husband

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and "author" of Helping Hand Books: Emily’s First Day at School will be the Master of Ceremonies for the BEA Children's Author Breakfast. Other books in what sounds like a ground-breaking series are Ashley Learns About Strangers, Matthew and the Bullies, and Michael and His New Baby Brother. More books are planned.

I wonder if they will now include Sarah Learns About Betrayal. Because today the AP reports "Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson said Sunday she was "very sorry" for her lapse of judgment after she was recording apparently offering to sell access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew in return for 500,000 pounds ($724,000)."

The rest of the story.

At the time the book deal was announced in March, Frances Gilbert, VP, Publisher of Sterling Children's Books, said, "The Duchess has shown us that one can face life's challenges with grace and strength. What better role model to share her wisdom about how to navigate the twists and turns of today's family?"

What better role model indeed?

My initial reaction to the deal.

One of my first LJ posts was about Fergie.



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2. Just what the world needs: Duchess of York to "write" children's books

The Duchess of York and Sterling Children's Books will publish Helping Hand Books, a series designed to help children understand personal and social issues that affect them growing up, including starting school, coping with bullying and learning about strangers.

I know it's wrong to say that when I read that I threw up in my mouth a little. Even leaving aside the open question as to who is really writing the books, I just find Fergie off-putting.

One of the very first posts I ever made to LiveJournal was back in 2006, and it was about an interview she gave to Ladies Home Journal. She said, "Did you know I'm going to have my own radio show? Maybe on Sirius. And my own TV show! And I've just signed a deal with St. Martins Press to write a historical novel - the next Gone with the Wind. I sold it without one chapter written! It's all in my head. My heroine is Lady Margaret, with red hair, and it takes place in the south of Ireland in 1759. I am Lady Margaret at the end of the day. It will be Pride and Prejudice meets 24!"

Let's fast forward a bit: book - cancelled. Radio show - pretty sure that never happened. TV show - can find no mention of it.

My original post.

There are so many talented writers out there. But they aren't getting deals to do 12-part series books on some very overworked topics.



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3. You say "commercial" like it's a bad thing: reflections on the Black Eyed Peas and their new Album The E.N.D.


I was nervous about the new Black Eyed Peas album. Though I enjoy “Boom Boom Pow” and “Imma Bee”—the singles they released as teasers to the album—both fall into the category I discussed in my last article “Is Cockiness Passé?” They are original and danceable songs, but much of the lyrics fall into that dated, self-aggrandizing category I am so tired of. Like “I’m so 3008 you’re so 2000 and late” from “Boom Boom Pow,” or “Imma be looking all fly and shit, Imma be the flyest chick” from…well, the song is obvious. But after spending the last two weeks listening to it over and over again I am very pleasantly surprised: it is a solid and creatively diverse album. No, it doesn’t have the raw quality of the early Peas, this is clearly a commercial venture, but it is a damn good one. And I was pleased to see that they tapped internal talent rather than relying heavily on outside artists as they had in the past.

And speaking of internal talent, I have to admit, I like Fergie. Though her solo work leaves something to be desired I always thought she was a smart addition to the group. I know there was an uproar at one point because supposedly someone isolated her singing (as they did with Linda McCartney) and it was awful, and from there it was deduced that she was merely a decorative and token pair of breasts for the group. There’s SO much I hate about this accusation. First of all, they never accuse men of such things (no one accused Taboo of being a dancing penis, and John Legend he ain’t). Secondly, since when is rap or hip hop about singing? Last I checked it was more spoken than sung and didn’t require the vocal stylings or acrobatics of a Marc Anthony. It is more about personality and story, and I think Fergie is as well-suited as her male counterparts to tell these stories.

In keeping with the BEP’s philosophy, the songs are not about drugs or hos or pimp-slapping (though they still have a sophomoric obsession with women’s body parts there are thankfully no revisits to the murky depths of “My Humps”) and the collection is positive to the point of being downright cheery. There are several party anthems—“Rock That Body,” “I Gotta Feeling,” “Party All the Time,” “Rockin to the Beat”—relationship songs—“Meet Me Halfway” and “Missing You”—and even mild social commentary in “Now Generation” (which has a strong 80s new wave vibe) and “One Tribe.” I was particularly pleased with how the melancholy story of “Missing You” then segues to “Ring-a-Ling,” the techno but quite lyrical song about a late night booty call.

There is all kind of speculation that the title The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies), implies this is the last album from the group. Much though I adore the Black Eyed Peas, that would be okay because I imagine that this creative energy won’t die but will rather go in four unique directions with solo work, production, movies and more. I am particularly looking forward to hearing the forthcoming solo albums from the less publicized members Taboo and my favorite, Apl De Ap. I really enjoyed the cultural insights of “The Apl Song” (off of Elephunk) and “Bebot” (from Monkey Business) and am always impressed with the depth and introspection of his rap. But if they do stay together I hope they continue to grow and evolve. For one, they’re getting older (they’re all in their mid-30s) and personally I find artists in their 40s or 50s singing songs about partying all night long kind of depressing (yes, that includes you Mick Jagger, I mean for Christ’s sake, you’re 65!).

I’m sure critics will slam the Peas for this unapologetically commercial record, but I feel this is was a natural progression for them. My IPod has not played anything else since its release and though I ‘m not sure how long it will endure or whether it will ever be considered “important,” it is relentlessly listenable, catchy and really quite fabulous. I’ve said before I think that will.i.am is the greatest musical genius of the last twenty years (though Wyclef is a close second) and for this BEP fan, he and his crew didn’t disappoint with this release either.

1 Comments on You say "commercial" like it's a bad thing: reflections on the Black Eyed Peas and their new Album The E.N.D., last added: 6/21/2009
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