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Last posts

Elegance and sirloin. Its relationship, if any

Mónica Boixeda Malagueño, Only-Be

When we utter the word “elegance”, we think of great divas: Angela Molina, Luz Casal, Concha Piquer, Yma Zumaca or Eartha Kitt, to name a few. Never think to Belen Esteban, Fabio McNamara, Torrebruno or La Terremoto de Alcorcon as deserving of such distinction. I doubt whether one is born or made smart and, even more, after a phrase I heard in this post. Unfairly valuing the qualities of the characters that strut in front of our noses, someone said: “…don’t be wrong, the elegance is the result of several generations based on sirloin”. God, it left me speechless. Soon that horrible phrase came to mind: “the fruit never falls far from the tree”, which bring up the qualities of a person whose skills and credentials are printed as characteristic of their family lineage. Whether we like or not, the pharmacist´s son will inherit the pharmacy, the professor’s, the chair and the noble’s, these absurd monarchical regimes, their titles and wealth. Wealth and elegance should not come together, but it is true that in the biographies of many representatives of the “elegance” -as they appear in our cultural imagination- there are historical accounts that connect to past with little or no economic pain. The same Royal Academy, increasingly unrealistic and disappointing, defines the word “elegant” as endowed with grace, nobility -where most of us fail- and simplicity, where most of noble people fail. But the most revealing of the definitions which is provided for “elegance”, relates to how to express beautiful thoughts. And there is where elegance and sirloin have their run. Because, although it is also defined as... read more

Nacho Vegas gives up drugs and performs in Barcelona

Mónica Boixeda Barcelonian, Only-Be

The Zona Sucia is his fifth album, after three years of his brilliant Manifesto Disaster Nacho Vegas comes back and wins again. From his beginnings with Manta Ray I followed everything this Spaniard made, with almost religious conviction. Please note, the taste does not go indie, you know I am totally for blues, but it is precisely here where Nacho gets to sink his way to build characters in his subjects is of high quality, as well as with an endearing simplicity, as a friend says: “he embraces you and warms you”. La Zona Sucia is that side of the formula 1 highway where there is waste. What is this album about then? You guessed it! About loss, heartbreak, the end of romance, the one who leaves. But La Zona Sucia has few of dark, despite its shadow, it glows, gives hope, lightens. Album of just 44 minutes, ready for two sides of vinyl, La Zona Sucia meets a mature Nacho Vegas from a musical point of view, with more synthesis and a lot of energy. How standing the lack of love in good mood? Just listen to songs like “La gran broma final”, “Reloj sin manecillas”, “Perplejidad, and you’ll have the answer.”Lo que comen las brujas” will make you cry thinking of your mother just arrived from the store with candies. Trust me. Curiously this album came out February 14. Nacho says he tried to avoid it, but everything, sure, everything that is avoided is what pursues us most. As stated in the lyrics of “La Comedia Humana”: and if I look at you we don’t talk, although... read more

Hoptimum Festival: Hip hop in Paris

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Parisian

Between the 4th – 26th of March, the festival Hoptimum will be bringing to Paris its eclectic mix of dance, rap and graffiti. It´s a thirteen night long party, and takes place in east Paris, an area long associated with urban and hip hop cultures, and will this year be themed around music from South Africa and Vietnam. Other fresh new editions to the festival this year include the collaboration of Marie-Agnes Gillot, the Ópera de Paris’ prima ballerina, with the performance Les Rares Différences. Considered an innovator of contemporary dance, she was attracted to hip hop for its strong rhythmic harmony, as she has explained in interviews; “I’ve learnt a lot from hip hop, especially disassociation of movement.” In it’s mere 30 minutes, Les Rares Differences packs in classical dance, hip hop, along with extra atmosphere provided by music from Willie Bobo, Nunernik Otto, Bela Bartok and Gabriel Fauré. It will be on the 5th March, in Lagny-sur-Marne. The hip hop movement was born in the United States in the 70s, growing out of the Afro-American and Latino street cultures of New York’s poorer neighbourhoods. Hip hop culture is made up of four types of artistic expression – Mcing or rapping, Djing or turntable, breakdance or Bboying, and all types of graffiti. Those who were part of the original hip hop culture saw themselves as anti-establishment, and fighting against social and racial discrimination. The festival isn’t just political, but sensual too, as seen in Sébastien Ramirez and Hyun-Hung Wang´s Amor & Psyche, winner of the Special Prize in Osaka in 2009. Two choreographers, they have created a dance... read more