Madonna Miles Away ON-X Mixes

Ok, so Madonna's 'Miles Away' is getting remixed left and right, and the latest is the ON-X mixes (radio & club remixes) by Patrik & Rolie. Listen to the mix at their myspace page.

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Old Collages

I’ve come across this image as I was organizing and cleaning up my hard disk and files. I created this ‘collage’ a couple of years ago. I was bored one afternoon and had some time on my hand so I decided to create a custom desktop wallpaper image for my PC. It was pretty random, and not really artistic or carefully done as you can see. I just used images from albums I was listening to, a couple of images about my country Syria and my city Aleppo, and even a pic of my nephew pointing his finger and laughing at me. I figured I’d post it here before it goes to trash. Now that I look at it, I get motivated about creating a new one that reflects my current state and mood. Let’s see if I get around to doing it. I will post it here as well.

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Levi's "First Time" Suggestive Commercial

A very cheeky and suggestive commercial from Levi's that ends up about something much more innocent than the 'First Time' you have in mind. It is part of their 501 'Live Unbuttoned' campaign and is created by BBH, London with director Fredrik Bond.

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Adidas Originals Celebrity House Party

New Adidas Originals commercial by Montreal ad agency Sid Lee featuring celebrities and athletes that helped shape the Adidas brand, including David Beckham, Katy Perry, Kevin Garnett, Missy Elliott, and Mark Gonzale among others. The spot was created with creative director Kristian Manchester, art director Laura Kim, and copywriter Ron Wilfred Macdonald.

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Tricky Advertising

They look like ads for luxurious fashion items or accessories but in fact, they are ads for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Their point? “Food shouldn’t feel like a luxury.” 

Ad campaign credits:

Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago 

Executive Creative Director: Bob Winter, Reed Collins 

Art Director: Stephanie Simpson 

Copywriter: Dave Derrick 

Photographer: Liz Von Hoene 

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No Regrets

One of Robbie Williams' best songs gets even better on the hands of the Pet Shop Boys. Enjoy.

>> Robbie Williams - No Regrets (Pet Shop Boys Mix)
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Fashiontography Vol. 1

I have really enjoyed the first week of my new fashion photography blog, Fashiontography. I kind of wish I started it earlier, but hey, better late than never. If you haven’t visited it, please make sure to do so and bookmark it for the coolest and most fascinating new fashion editorials.

 

This past week, the photoshoots I posted there include, ‘The Land of The Rising Sun’ by Hedi Slimane in Vogue Hommes Japan, ‘Cat Power’ in V Magazine,  ‘Evolution of The Species’ in Elle Italia, ‘Cruisin’ With Kirsty’ in V Magazine, Beyonce by Bruce Weber, and many more that you can see all at Fashiontography.

 

+ Fashiontography

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A Song To All My Lovers (lovers, lovers, lover...)

I never wanted you to live here, I only asked if you would stay

I never minded that you slept here, I thought that you would go away

I never minded talking to you... Can I only turn you off?

I never really even loved you, I'm just really insecure

I never really even cared, never tasted that pure

I don't think I ever liked you, I just had some time

I don't think I'd be that sorry...

You never listened to me, and you never had the time

We never loved each other, and I'm always making you cry

SONG >> Dave Navarro - Avoiding The Angel

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Heartless Video by Kanye West

I love the new music video for the song Heartless by Kanye West. Directed by Hype Williams, the animated video pays tribute to the 1981 film American Pop by Ralph Bakshi and uses a similar method of rotoscoping. Rotoscoping is an animation technique which involves the process of tracing over live-action film movement, frame by frame. The result is amazing.

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Queen Rania Spoofs Letterman on YouTube

Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan spoofed David Letterman's Top 10 while accepting the first ever YouTube Visionary Award at the YouTube Live event. It's pretty funny.

Make sure to visit Queen Rania's official YouTube Channel which is, "Dedicated to breaking down stereotypes about the Arab and Muslim worlds and to bridging the East-West divide." You can see many videos that answer questions from YouTubers and try to start a positive change. 

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Arabic Music For The Broken Hearts

Nancy Ajram - Inta Eih (What are you?)

They say music is an international language that doesn't need translation. After receiving many requests from readers and friends to post an Arabic music video, I wanted to share two Arabic music videos that I love. Both arabic songs are a couple of years old about the subject of being cheated on and having a broken heart and they come with pretty cool music video clips. 

If you want the English transcript translation of the above song, you can watch another YouTube version here (I didn't use it because the video quality wasn't as good as the one I used). The second video below already has the English translation. The English translation might not be perfect, and it's probably impossible to find a direct translation for some of the expressions and terms, but at least you will get to know what the song is talking about. The above song is from Lebanon while the one below is from Syria.

Assala Nasri - Asfa (I'm Sorry)

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Aggressive Violent Photoshoots

Check out this cluster of more than a dozen violent and aggressive themed photoshoots I wrote at Trend Hunter magazine. It features the work of iconic photographer Steven Klein with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Chad White, Marlyin Manson and other editorials and advertising campaigns that utilize shockverting and violence. Click above image to see them all.

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Melissa Plastic Dreams Shoe Ad Campaign

These are five exquisite print ads and five fantastic commercials from the Melissa Palstic Dreams campaign by Casa Darwin, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The ads include one about the Melissa x Zaha Hadid shoe design collaboration. The campaign transcends advertising into a form of art. Absolutely brilliant!

See 2 more ads and 2 more commercials below.

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Stupid Advertising :: Condomi Condoms

This is a pretty funny but ultimately ineffective ad campaign by DRAFTFCB KOBZA, Austria for Condomi Condoms that "tastes likes real fruit". OUCH!!! I say the ads are stupid because who would want to buy these condoms if it will get their 'banana' bitten off...

Campaign Credits:

Photographer: Werner Linsberger

Creative Director: Patrik Partl/Andreas Gesierich 

Copywriter: Florian Schwab 

Art Director: Andreas Gesierich/Daniel Senitschnig (Jr. AD) 

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Nuns by Oleg Dou

Nuns is a fascinating photography series by Russian photographer Oleg Dou. His work and art direction really fascinates me, and I like to think of the models here as Vampire Nuns! See four more below.

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Mix :: What is weird for you?

Check out the ad campaign for Mix (Sexual Diversity Film Festival) with the tagline, "What is weird for you?" here at Trend Hunter.


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McDonald's Yawn Bus Stop Billboard

Brilliant McDonald's bus stop billboard ad uses lentocular image printing technology to create an animation of a guy yawning then putting a Big Mac in his mouth. The yawning idea is used to promote the fact that McDonald's is open 24 hours and you can eat at any time. Pretty cool!

See previously featured creative McDonald's ads: McD Hatching Egg, McD Rock'n'Fries, McD Puzzle Billboard, McD Sheltervertising,  offensive McD ad?, McD Wake Up Toys, 2 Minamilist McD ads.

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Bum Like FIFA

I just came upon this very cool version of Bum Like You, one of the best songs of Robyn's last album. This version is from the FIFA 2008 soundtrack. I never heard about it but it is very nice.

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Coffee Obsession :: Le Cafe' by Oldelaf & Mr D

This post is dedicated to all the coffee lovers :). 

I've come across this very cool animated music video for the fun song Le Café by French band Oldelaf and Mr D from their LP L'album de la maturité. The music video is directed by Stephanie Marguerite and Emilie Tarascou.

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25 Fun & Sizzling Phone Ads & Commercials

Click the above image for a super fun slideshow I created at Trend Hunter magazine of 25 mobile phone ads and commercials that range between the creative, cool, funny and totally hot!

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New Blog Announcement

 

If you are familiar with The Arab Aquarius, you know that fashion photography is one of my favorite blogging topics. I started this blog back in January 2008 as an outlet to share what I find cool and interesting. This includes music, fashion, art, advertising, photography, design and just about anything.

 

After posting many editorials and fashion photoshoots both here at The Arab Aquarius and at Trend Hunter magazine, I figured it is time to start a blog that is devoted to this niche of fashion photography. Say hello to Fashiontography. Fashiontography will be all about fashion photography, which includes fashion editorials, magazine covers, fashion ad campaigns and photoshoots.

 

I hope you like the new blog, bookmark it and enjoy many creative fashion photography posts in the future.

 

The Arab Aquarius remains my main blog, and photography will still be a big part of its new content, but fashion photography in particular will  be the niche of Fashiontography.

 

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Cosmetic Transformations by Kyla Legard

We always hear about the negatives of plastic surgery, so I was glad to read an article about it being put to good use and potentially changing lives.

 

The article I am referring to is written by Jeremy Gutsche, the founder and editor in chief of TrendHunter.com, about Cosmetic Transformations a company that, “changes lives through cutting edge medical tattoos that cover scars, restore eye brows and even redraw nipples onto breast cancer survivors.”

 

Read Jeremy’s full article here and visit the site of Cosmetic Transformations. There is no need for people who fought cancer or an accident not to restore their confidence and enjoy their life.

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ATTENTION: Be adviced, this fashion editorial entitled "Dogging" by photographer Steven Meisel in the new November/December issue of V Magazine is very controversial and pretty much not suitable for viewing at work. Even though it does not feature nudity, the subject and depiction might be too much for some readers, so be warned.

The editorial was shot for Vogue Italia, but it was deemed too racy for the publication. Funnily enough, it has been picked up by American publication, V Magazine. The funny part is that Vogue Italia features much more explicit and controversial themes that include nudity and violence. So it's funny that an American publication is running something too racy for VI.

Anyway, so what is this "Dogging" editorial theme about? Well, turns out that dogging is an increasingly popular trend for young couples in the UK in which they have sex in semi-public places (such as the car, movie theater....). I reckon the dogging name comes from 'dogging a bullet' and avoiding getting caught. At least that's what I figure. If any British readers have more info, please enlighten us in the comments below.

The editorial features models: Daul Kim, Anna Selezenva, Anna Maria Jagodzinska, Iris Strubegger, Natalia Chebanenko, Alban Blondiaux, Callum Turner, Daran Bunch, Jeremy Simpson, Rory Greer, Stephen Mabry, and Tyler Riggs. The photography of Steven Meisel is brilliant as usual with some beautiful shots of the sky and scenery at night.

 

 

 

+ more photography

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Music :: Killer Fun

One of my favorite bands, The Killers, performed an unlikely cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.

 

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E-mail To Say I Love You

 

Nobody has ever measured,

even poets,

how much a heart can hold.

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Fashion Photography :: Istanbul

 

Istanbul is a beautiful fashion editorial shot by the amazing photography duo of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and styled by Alex White for W Magazine. It features model Lara Stone in some of the hottest new fashion creations from Salvatore Ferragamo, Narciso Rodriguez, Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. I love how the ancient streets and buildings of Istanbul, Turkey provide the backdrop for these expensive and stylish creations. The choice of black and white photography is also to be commended. Great job guys.

 

See 10 more pictures from the photospread below, and make sure to check out another Middle Eastern-themed W Magazine editorial, Cairo, here

 

 

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2UNFOLD Transforming Laptop Bag

I WANT THIS BAG.

2UNFOLD is my dream notebook bag that is very functional  but remains stylish at the same time. It is handmade in Italy and can be transformed into 8 different designs (briefcase, shoulder bag, safe bag, rucksack, leather courier, canvas courier, leather clutch and canvas clutch).

Ofcourse, this limited edition is pretty expensive (350 Euros), so I can never afford it with a smile…

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Reborn To Be Alive :: Get Inside Who?

“Becoming a donor is probably your only chance to get inside her.” Say what???

Yup, this is how Reborn To be Alive, an organ donation foundation in Belgium entices young male donors, by danggling a hot sexy girl in her lingerie in front of them in men's magazine, P-Magazine.

Classy!

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MTV & VIVA For PETA Animal Rights

German Music channels MTV and VIVA recently did this campaign for PETA to raise awareness of animal rights and the way caged animals suffer in captivity. VJs and hosts from MTV and VIVA stripped naked and posed as caged animals with artistic body paint.

See four more images of this campaign below.

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Gears of War 2 Promo :: Last Day

 

T.A.G., San Francisco has created this captivating commercial for Microsoft Xbox Gears of War 2. The video ad, “Last Day”, is directed by Joe Kosinski and features an animated sequence of a soldier’s last day at the war zone. The animation is excellently complemented with the choice of the song “How It Ends” by Devotchka as a soundtrack.

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Amazing Photography :: Best Wild Animal Photos of 2008

 

The National Geographic has released the winning images of the Best Wild Animal Photos of 2008 . Enjoy three more below.

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Creative Artistic Technology :: Interactive Mirror

Interactive Mirror from Alpay Kasal on Vimeo.

Interactive Mirror is a very cool research project by Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios and Sam Ewen of Interference Inc. that combines a mirror with a touchscreen interactive technology. Watch the video to see it in action.

 

Here’s the project’s site.

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Punk’d :: Sarah Palin Prank Call

 

Sarah Palin got punk’d hardcore by two Canadian comedians, Sebastien Trudel and Marc-Antoine Audette, who are well known for pranking politicians and famous people such as French president Jacques Chirac, Mick Jagger, and Bill Gates. I will not spoil the plot for you, but let me say that this Sarah Palin prank call is one of the funniest thing’s I’ve heard in a long long time. Enjoy the prank call audio in the video below.

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Incredible Art :: Moving Gear’s Heart

A captivating piece of mechanized art. You gotta watch the video to see it in action. Brilliant. Kinda reminds me of what I did to a couple of hearts… I’M SORRY.

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