crush
 
 
 
If you’re a fan of this site then it should come as no surprise when
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
  
 
Have you heard Kylie’s new record Body Language?

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



DIARY ARCHIVES: fred friends Top Model's Sarah Vonderhaar, Jack Mackenroth, Think Pink writer Lisa Clark, Kit Pistol, Au Revoir Simone, Supayana, What the Buck, Peter Bjorn and John, Ratatat, next BIG thing! 2007, shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell, Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone, heartist Chris Uphues, Alison Kelly of Dahl, Stephanie Deleau of Noisette, Marilyn Patrizio of M.Partizio, Liam Sullivan of Kelly "Shoes", Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, next BIG thing! 2006, Jill Bliss, next BIG thing! 2005, Loop NYC's China Young, Sukie, The Donnas, Vinnie's Tampon Case, Leah Tinari, Peach Berzerk, The Sperber twins, Jennifer Worick, Cody, Patch NYC 2, Chip Wass, Angela Adams, Venue, Jack and Lulu 2, All Girl Summer Fun Band, 31 Corn Lane, Charlotte Ronson, Three by Three Seattle, Princess Tina, Imperial Teen, Built by Wendy 2, Dana Carlson, Sweden, Jack and Lulu 1, Bob's Your Uncle, Mary Ping & Jonathan Adler, E-Z Living, Built by Wendy 1, Endicott Five, Patch NYC 1, media blitz Mod*Mom, Aya Kanai from Nylon, Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, Samantha Moeller of Missbehave, Marie Kare of The Sampler, Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas, Martha Stewart Kids' Jodi Levine, BUST's Debbie Stoller, YM's Elizabeth Kiester, Cargo's Ariel Foxman, teeter on tour back to brooklyn, she's so rad, double handsome, wild pony, enchanted treehouse, beanz-n- rice, wide open road, crush Teeter Sperber, Kelis, Jennifer Garner, Kylie Minogue, Charlie Brown, Scarlett Johansson, employee of the month Julie, Jen, Sammy Joe & Joe Sammy, Amy, Vanessa, Tim, Anne, Chanel, Josh, Lauren, Diane, Charles, Lillian, nancy drew review the haunted bridge, the whispering statue, the mystery of the ivory charm, the message in the hollow oak, the clue of the broken locket, password to larkspur lane, the sign of the twisted candles, nancy's mysterious letter, the clue in the diary, the secret of red gate farm, the secret of shadow ranch, the mystery at lilac inn, the bungalow mystery, the hidden staircase, the secret of the old clock, lulu in the city lulu luvs, extra! extra! read all about it!, pink Christmas, thanks, new york!, single in the city, spooky lulu, roller girl, jersey girl, no lights, big city, it was a "red hot" summer!, miss independence, billyburg shopping guide, lulu and the kitty, in like a lion, out like a lamb, my best friend joe, hotpants!, the queen of brooklyn, summer in the city, the anniversary party, garbage & neighbors & mice...oh my!, lulu in the city, cheap & cheerful give thanks, hula hoops, a piece of pi, cupcakes, fred fleur, tommy: mini mode happy summer days, it's a mod, mod world, good night, sweet dreams, my girl, keep on marching, one fine day, supermodels Dana's Lucky magazine shoot, hi-fi holiday honeys, supermodel Hillary's Warhol, fallfabulous, supermodel challenge, covergirls, fred on tour Paris Dispatch: Eiffel Awesomeness, Paris Dispatch: Just Strollin', Paris Dispatch: From Colette w/ Love, Paris Dispatch: Marie & The Moulin, Paris Dispatch: Bonjour, Peeps!, behind the music, San Fredcisco, LA Flare, chartoppers: the 80's 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, chartoppers: madonna Hard Candy, Confessions on a Dance Floor, reinvention tour recap, reinvention contest winners, Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, top 50 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, window shopping 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, sales and events Carnival of Cute: Holiday 2006, Fall Sample Sale 2006, Pool Party 2006, Holiday Sale 2003, let's skate, Holiday Sale 2002, Holiday Sale 2001, Holiday Sale 2000, Spring Sale 2000