R.I.P.

Benazir Bhutto
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and the country's current opposition leader. She was assassinated today at a political rally in Rawalpindi. This is a sad and troubling day that will have a greater impact later.

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Red alert in Pakistan

image source: www.harrywalker.com

The Queen's Christmas Speech

Queen Elizabeth, a.k.a The Queen of England, gave her annual Christmas speech this year but posted it to YouTube simultaneously with the television broadcast. It was 50 years ago that she first delivered her speech via television and noted "...the speed at which things are changing all around us."

To an American, what the English Royalty have to say may mean only 'rubbish', but the English are deeply enthralled by this once-a-year chance to listen to the Queen speak. Al Gore can't even command this kind of audience.



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Queen Elizabeth's first televised broadcast 1957

Holiday Message

Song: Carol Of The Bells - The Bird And The Bee
Download it from iTunes

Hillary's Presents

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Hillary Clinton's website
Contribute to Hillary

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The Hillary I Know

2007 Shortlist Music Prize

The 2007 nominees for the Shorlist Music Prize were announced yesterday (Dec. 21). Albums released between January and November 2007 and not yet having been rated gold by the RIAA for shipments in the US for 500,000+ were eligible.

IAB mentions that are nominees are Feist, M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Iron & Wine, Keren Ann, Of Montreal, Peter Bjorn & John, PJ Harvey and The Bird and The Bee.

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The Shorlist of Music

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RIAA Certifications on Billboard

RollingStone's Top 50 Albums of 2007

RollingStone, in addition to Q, has released their idea of the top 50 albums of 2007. There are some surprises, at least in my opinion. The top 10 is posted below.

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RollingStone's Top 50 Albums of 2007

1. M.I.A. - Kala
2. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3. Jay-Z - American Gangster
4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
5. Kanye West - Graduation
6. Radiohead - In Rainbows
7. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
8. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
9. Against Me! - New Wave
10. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Q Magazine's 'The 50 Best Albums of 2007'

Q Magazine has posted their choices for the top 50 albums of the last year. You can also send your top 5 album choices to Q@emap.com and you'll be entered for a prize. They will compile the submissions into the Q Reader's Top 10 next year (2008). Below is the top 10.

I have heard or own most of the albums in the top 10 including Arcade Fire. But number one?? Does Chris Martin's name reside in Q's masthead? Arcade Fire is as overrated as their groupie-band, Coldplay. But I am happy to see The Boss and Arctic Monkeys back for critical acclaim in addition to Rufus Wainwright, even if I think his latest album is weak.

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Q Magazine's 'The 50 Best Albums of 2007'

Neon Bible THE ARCADE FIRE Average user rating: More>

Icky Thump THE WHITE STRIPES Average user rating: More>

Favourite Worst Nightmare ARCTIC MONKEYS Average user rating: More>

In Rainbows RADIOHEAD Average user rating: More>

The Good, The Bad & The Queen THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN Average user rating: More>

Magic BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Average user rating: More>

Because Of The Times KINGS OF LEON Average user rating: More>

Wincing The Night Away THE SHINS Average user rating: More>

Boys And Girls In America THE HOLD STEADY Average user rating: More>

Release The Stars RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Average user rating: More>

Big Art Group [B!G News] 2007

Caden Manson and Big Art Group have published the goings on with their organization via newsletter. If you are lucky enough to be in the same location across the pond be sure to check them out.

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Big Art Group website
Big Art Group on MySpace

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The Wooster Group
Rob Roth on YouTube

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Dear Friends of Big Art Group, Thanks for being such an important influence and all the generous donations last year. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on our past years’ activities, plans for the future and to invite you to become a part of the experimentation and performance by considering a year-end tax-deductible contribution to Big Art Group this season. No amount is too small -- and every amount makes a big difference. We need your financial support to continue to bring experimental American performance to audiences worldwide! Best Wishes for the New Year, Caden Manson & Jemma Neslon   2007 Wrap Up We started off ‘07 by presenting DEAD SET #3 at the Kitchen with some of the best reviews we’ve received yet from the New York Press: TimeOut NY called the piece “visually and sonically ravishing...leaving you rattled, amazed and perhaps a little queasy;” and the NYTimes described the performance as “an orgy of spectacle...live theater itself seems under assault." The production was a partnership with the Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin, MAC Creteil and the Festival d’Automne in Paris. After our successful run in NYC we toured the piece to Belgium, Germany and Austria. Last spring the company took an exciting new direction with THE PEOPLE. After a residency in Polverigi, Italy, Big Art Group produced a site specific performance that involved the community of this close-knit italian town. The results were so positive that we’ll be repeating the project at Theater der Welt in Germany next June 2008.   2008 In January we start another big year with a commissioned premiere of “CINEMA FURY: THE IMITATION” as part of the 100th anniversary of The Hebbel Am Ufer in Berlin. We are very pleased and honored that the Hebbel commissioned us to help celebrate their anniversary. For 2008 we are working on two other new projects, SOS (a coproduction with the Vienna Festival) and THE PEOPLE for Theater der Welt 2008 in Halle, Germany. Both promise to be as creative and innovative as our audiences have come to expect!   HELP MAKE THE WORK HAPPEN Your individual donation makes all this possible. We need your help to achieve our goals. We need funds for equipment, rents, salaries, and other day-to-day operations as well as for the continuous cycle of creation and experimentation. Please send a check, or even easier, donate online via the links below. Checks can be mailed to Big Art Group, PO BOX 1034, New York, NY 10276. Please support the arts, creativity, and critical thinking and make a contribution to Big Art Group. Donate -->   BIG ART SPACE Are you on Myspace? We are! Come join our page for an inside look at Big Art Group. Check back often for pictures and video of us on tour and in rehearsal. Big Art Space ->   INTERN Join an international dynamic team of interns working with Big Art Group.   We offer internships based around your interests as well as needs for the company. We are also always looking to expand our base of performers and lighting, set, and costume designers, please send work samples and resumés to info(at)bigartgroup(dot)com. Always include a cover letter to let us know your specific interests and experience. INTERN ->   CHECK OUT If you're in NYC this January, check out these other performances... Under The Radar Festival (January 9 - 20, 2008) Crime or Emergency (Janaury 11-13, 2008) Everyone (January 14 & 15, 2008) Maybe Forever (January 30 - Febuary 2, 2008)   THANK YOU! Thanks to our funders, supporters, co-producers, and host theatres who made Big Art Group 2007 possible: Theaterworks - Singapore, Hebbel Am Ufer, Festival d’Automne, MAC Creteil, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Donau Festival, de Singel, Inteatro, IFA, The Greenwall Foundation, Kings Fountain Foundation, ONDA, Florence Gould Foundation and étant donnés: The French-American Fund for the Performing Arts, James Davison, and Diane White. Board of Directors • James Davison • Cyd Margulies • Caden Manson • Jemma Nelson • Kim Gill Caden Manson / Big Art Group Caden Manson & Jemma Nelson - Artistic Directors PO BOX 1034, New York, New York, 10276 www.bigartgroup.com

2007 End Of The Year Songs

Working from home warrants a lot of time to listen to music and I mostly tend to play my 'Current Music' playlist in iTunes. While I am concentrating on work there are songs that wrestle with my subconscious, causing me to come to and take notice. I have compiled these tunes that have been swimming in my head for the past month and a half, into one playlist called '2007 End of the Year Songs'. I think these songs are the best from the best of the best.

	Bat for Lashes What's a Girl to Do?	Creepy, sad and so well executed. One of the best songs, videos and bands of 2007.
	Duran Duran Falling Down	Classic Duran Duran yet with a contemporary sound.
	Beirut Cliquot	Sexy and classic-sounding French village music from a musical savant just barely old enough to drink.
	The Bird And The Bee Carol of the Bells	The enigmatic re-do of the classic Christmas carol (with lyrics!). The only thing wrong with this song is that it is the only child of a non-existent album.
	Erasure Sucker for Love	Yes, Erasure.
	Jarvis Cocker Running the World	A poignant song sung with the right ingredients of the rock-n-roll spirit and pop catch.
	Just Jack Starz In Their Eyes	Everyone wants to be a pop star. Even Just Jack.
	KT Tunstall Saving My Face	As usual, I love the album that is not the commercial success of the two. Give it a try...
	Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs Different Drum	A brilliant pairing of artists that find their voice in the songs of the 60s. This song still applies to life today.
	Pink Crash & Burn	This is a bonus track on I'm Not Dead that has become the mantra of my personal life. Pink describes the busy and demanding rock star life from an airplane, massaging it into the positive spin of "I'll never crash and burn."
	Iron & Wine House By the Sea	I am immediately withdrawn into the world of Gordon Lightfoot and Dan Fogelberg but with an alternative music spin. This is good working music.
	Bruce Springsteen Radio Nowhere	I am a product of the 80s and damn proud of it. Unfortunately this also means my 'first experience' with a lot of classic music acts is disgraced with some of their worst music. The Boss is in this category and I am happy to change my mind with his latest effort.
	Tegan and Sara The Con	This song is like an Indiana Jones movie; it starts with quick opening credits that dive straight into non-stop action. If inclined, check out the brutally honest lyrics online.
	Rilo Kiley The Angels Hung Around	I don't know why this album is so different from Rilo Kiley's others. This song sounds like a classic 70s country song sung with the crystal clear voice of a Southern Belle.
	Maria McKee Late December	Maria is the best musician alive and probably one of the most forgotten if ever known. Of course, she is my number one.
	M.I.A. Paper Planes	Controversial? You decide. War profiteering epitomized into children's voices, gunshots and the 'cha-ching' of a cash register.
	Lavender Diamond Open Your Heart	Channeling Olivia Newton-John circa the mid to late 70s. If you like this song, get the album. If you want to keep liking the album, don't ever watch the band's videos on YouTube.

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