TAYLOR SWIFT UN-WELCOME AS NYC AMBASSADOR
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G.H.Harding
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| Taylor Swift |
SWIFT JUSTICE --- That was fast. Soon after pop star Taylor Swift announced last week that she was New York’s new Global Welcome Ambassador the backlash kicked in, as self-proclaimed New Yorkers expressed their, unhappiness with the Big Apple’s new pitch woman.
While the Tennessee-raised Swift now lives in downtown Manhattan and is a regular presence on New York City’s party circuit, she was taken to task for apparently not possessing enough grit.
"Does she know how much to add to a Metro Card to end up without a few cents trapped on it?" NY1 anchorman Pat Kiernan asked the Daily News. "Does she know which hot dog vendor sells the ‘Recession Special?’ Does she know that 44th Ave., 44th Rd. and 44th Dr. are all parallel streets in Queens? Does she know who Dr. Zizmor is?"
NYC and Co. (the city’s official tourist bureau) introduced its new ambassador with several videos featuring Swift helping to explain New York to tourists, such as by offering the correct pronunciation of Houston Street and defining what a bodega is.
The new campaign conveniently coincides with the release of Swift’s new single, "Welcome to New York," which celebrates the nation’s biggest and most diverse city. Still, that didn't stop people from posting negative comments on NYC and Co.’s Facebook page about bringing Swift on board to help sell New York City.
This may be another case of careful-what-you-wish-for when recruiting celebrity spokespeople or—and this gets our vote—there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Hey, we're writing about it!!!!
Indeed, the city’s tourism bureau should send thank-you notes to some of the New Yorkers who are now disparaging Swift as a spokesperson for New York City. The backlash is only going to get the decision more media impressions, more exposure and more opportunity to get the message out (and, the tourism bureau hopes, bring more out-of-town wallets to New York City).
The backlash even plays into why people are enamored by the Big Apple in the first place. People love to complain about complainers. Maybe true-Long Islanders like Seinfeld or Debbie Gibson, or Spike Lee and Alec Baldwin, might be better choices, but would they generate as much ink?
Call us crazy, but this may be all by design—and a lesson for communicators who are willing to suffer some criticism (all in good fun) if it means spreading the message. Hail Taylor!
OPEN DOORS --- Fans of The Doors will savor the never-before-released documentary film produced by the band, titled Feast of Friends; the intimate and rare look at the explosive rock band after 45 years, is finally being released.
Shelved due to lead singer Jim Morrison’s legal issues, the uncompleted film was only ever seen at a few film festivals and was never completed. Eagle Rock Entertainment and Doors Property, have painstakingly remastered the audio and video and compiled bonus footage as well as an historic British documentary called The Doors Are Open.
In April of 1968, filming began for what would become the first and only film produced about The Doors, by The Doors. Funded by the band and helmed by friend and fellow film graduate Paul Ferrara, the footage shot for this film would become the well from which the majority of future documentaries and music videos about the band would draw. This film became Feast of Friends, as Ferrara thought it was a great lyric to use for the title. Other than a few appearances in film festivals the following year, an official release would never be seen.
If not for a poor quality bootleg copy circulated among collectors and eventually via the Internet, the film’s existence would have scarcely been known beyond the circle of die Doors fans. By many accounts, the original source of that bootleg is thought to have been Morrison’s own copy, which he hand-carried when he moved to Paris in 1971 after recording what would be The Doors’ final album. Concealed in a paper bag and forgotten at a friend’s house, Morrison would never reclaim it, as he passed suddenly a few days later.
Feast of Friends offers a cinematic look at The Doors on the road during their summer 1968 tour. While never completed, as the production funding was abruptly cut due to the band’s political problems stemming from Jim’s arrest in Miami, the film provides a stylistic approach in true 60’s cinéma vérité style.
The film is comprised of concert performances which are inter cut with fly-on-the-wall footage of the group in their natural habitat - playful, sensitive, chaotic and touching. Other than a few appearances in film festivals in 1968, this is the first official release. Completely restored from the original negative, as supervised by Morrison, the film has been color-corrected and mastered in high definition with the soundtrack totally remixed and remastered by long-time Doors co-producer/engineer Bruce Botnick.
As well as the full version of Feast of Friends, the release contains several important bonus features. The first is Feast of Friends: Encore. A newly produced feature using footage shot for the production, Encore is a complimentary piece that provides a deeper look into the life of the band during this period as they tour, record, travel and even vacation together.
Encore showcases the band’s recording process as the group record one of their biggest hits, “Wild Child.” Viewers will follow the band as they break from touring to sight see, play poker in their hotel room and witness an unedited interaction with Jim and the Minister at Large who attempts to determine “just what the hell it is (they’re) doing.”
Fans will also see a newly unearthed solo backstage performance by a singing Robby Krieger, a poem by Jim Morrison (while, in the background, you can hear Ray Manzarek’s piano work on “Love Street”), a never-before-seen altercation with legendary photographer Richard Avedon, a tranquil scene of Jim and his friends at peace in the cool waters of the Kern River, and much more.
Also included is The Doors Are Open – A British TV documentary originally aired on December 17th, 1968, focused around the band’s performance at London’s Roundhouse, which took place just days after the completion of filming for Feast of Friends. Interspersed with the band’s music are intense scenes from the Vietnam War, political leaders, and riots back in the States. The Doors Are Open highlights the political relevance of The Doors’ opinionated lyrics and iconic sound while giving context to the tumultuous times in which they were living.
Feast of Friends paints a chaotic yet gentle picture of the humanistic side of The Doors seldom captured by anyone. At one moment Morrison is fighting off legions of ravenous fans while at the same time taunting them to keep pressing on.
These films represent the most requested visuals from The Doors via fan polls worldwide, finally presented together in stunning style; Feast of Friends is an historical piece of 60’s film making that presents, yet again, the group in the forefront of music icons. A must-see for sure.
CLOSING NOTES --- Todd Rundgren’s second night tonight at B. B. King’s. Wonder if he'll perform “Black Maria” from his classic Something/Anything album. Details Wednesday …
Adam Lambert showed his fangs while transforming into the Wolf Man while attending his 2014 Halloween Bash at Bootsy Bellows on Friday in Hollywood.
The 32-year-old multi-hyphenate was joined at the party by Kelly Osbourne and other celeb guests. Howl at the Moon! On my way to the party!! Adam wrote on Instagram earlier in the day …
Finally caught Gone Girl yesterday. What a lugubrious waste of time. I just didn't care for it at all. Honestly, my respect for director David Fincher fell a notch or two. Even Ben Affleck, whose work I have always admired, especially his The Town, was saddled with a totally silly script and Rosamund Pike’s character was not to be believed. The only slightly redeeming performance was by, of all people, Tyler Perry. Two hours I will never get back. If you haven't yet seen this one, stay away … save your money …
SIGHTINGS --- PR-pasha David Salidor at Williamburg's Semilla; which opened only 11 days ago; and, Micky Dolenz, Harry Shearer and 'Weird Al' Yankovik at last night's Stan Freberg celebration at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.
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