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I say everyone here at the office is a lil’ obsessive. Lulu will stay up until 2 am on a school night rereading Nancy Drew mysteries, Chris will see some Old Navy commercial, then turn to me and say, “Put your shoes on. We’re going to buy Performance Fleece NOW!!!” and me, well, it seems each week I’ve got a new crush. On Tuesday I can’t stop talking about Vinnie and his tampon cases and then by Sunday I suddenly must know everything about Claire Grogan of 80’s band Altered Images. Whatever did we do before Google? Actually, I remember. When I was a kid I would go to the library each week and carry out mini research projects. I’d scroll through the microfiche to learn all I possibly could about Doug and Suzie Tompkins of Esprit or check out back issues of any magazine that mentioned the CK model Josie Borain. But I’d also have these weird fascinations with people in my every day life, like Alice the lunchlady who had the word “Elvis” inscribed in her gold tooth. Those subjects were more difficult to discover, but not really. I’d simply interview them for my zine “Hurricane.” We’d talk up a storm! Turns out working at a high school is the perfect set-up for Elvis fans. This way you’ve got summers off and never miss your yearly pilgrimage to Graceland to honor the King on August 16th, the day of his untimely passing... Point is, you can learn a lot from a crush. Best case scenario, your life will completely be changed. Try to remember that the next time you see some cute boy or girl on the bus and then let shyness get the best of you. I’m living proof! I met Chris and Lulu at a birthday party in 1996 and now can’t imagine what I would be doing without them. There would be no fredflare.com, that’s for sure. This year for my birthday those two gave me my very own column which you are reading right now! (Thanks, guys.) This is where you’ll learn about some of my all-time fave people as well as a few new discoveries. I’m actually pretty shy myself but here you’ll find me to be a real people person! I’ll give raves, I’ll gush and every coupla weeks I’ll tell you a secret crush... Email me anytime at keith@fredflare.com and tell me yours. I’d love to hear from you! Xoxox, Keith |
Chris and I picked it up the same day we got Britney’s In the Zone. (We also bought Madonna’s Remixed and Revisited, Pink’s Try This and Olivia’s Greatest Hits so yes, we’re really really gay...) While we waited in line to purch the merch, I found myself staring at the cover, gazing into Kylie’s smoky eyes and admiring her perfectly tousled Brigitte Bardot hair and, well, I couldn’t help it, I just fell in love with her all over again. She’s my good time girl crush! Even though we didn’t officially meet until late one night in a hotel room a couple of years ago when I first saw the video for “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”, she’s been a major star in Europe since forever. I remember when I spent my junior year of high school in France in 1989 everyone was talking about “la belle Keeelee Meenoooogue...” Oh la la! Her latest single “Slow” is actually her seventh No. 1 in the UK, making her the longest-running female solo chartopper in that country. (That’s longer than you-know-who from 1987 to 2003.) She has been pretty much on top of her game for over fifteen years. Not many peeps can say that... And this record is as fun and current as ever, all the while featuring awesome 80’s electro and funk influences from the past. Imagine an Olivia collabo with Fischersponner, Prince and Lisa Lisa and you get an idea of the vibe. Why, there’s even a duet with Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, another pop dreamboat from back in the day. Are you going out tonight to some hot Holiday soirée? I recommend playing this jam while you’re putting your party clothes on! Get ready, you’re about to have one great night. Hey, what have been some of your fave records this year? Please drop me an email at keith@fredflare.com with a mini review. The best response to arrive before Dec 19th will win a free copy of Kylie’s latest. And I promise I’ll post some of your comments this time! I love hearing from you! 12/04/03 |
