Out There: June 2010 Archives
Never in a thousand million years would I ever have expected to write anything about him. Music was always for the others to write. Maybe I could tiptoe toward cabaret, but that's because Bobby and Blossom warbled words I had already memorized as script for my own performing life -- singing lustfully, wrenchingly, privately. You see, I have no voice, but the person looking back at me in the mirror will make you weep with his.Yet I was asked, and being just a guy who can't say no, I complied. Jackson's been dead a year. I like "death bump" better than "death bounce" because there's some danger implied.
Here's my Jackson piece today in Obit Mag.
And when I say now that I was the first on my block to watch MTV, believe me. Anyone, voice or not, can watch anything. That's culture.
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Dear readers, I just received the following email ("this message was sent to Jeff"):
Moscow Ballet seeks freelance writers to produce 200-400 word blurbs on Moscow Ballet and the following subjects: health, fashion, European culture, accessories, jewelry, motherhood, travel and perfume. Remuneration of $15 per accepted story paid within 5 business days. Send letter of interest and contact information to sally@nutcracker.com. www.nutcracker.com.
Now, I knew this sort of thing went on, but treated the fact as if it were a faint dead-mouse smell I could learn to ignore. How sad and awful, then, to see the desperate game up close, fake criticism for less, much less than a dime a word: 10 cents a dance, a nickel a schtickle, a penny for our thoughts.
And what exactly is a ballet blurb, a pirouette post, a terpsichorean tweet? Short can be sweet, to be sure, but praise for hire must always taste bitter, sour. And what a charming lesson for all those sugar-plum girls and boys out there in the dark.
I suppose that absurd string of other writing pearls lends itself to Dada thoughts. Health and jewelry. Motherhood and accessories. Culture and cows.
Does anyone know of additional cultural organizations that do the same thing?
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