Smurfs Up...where are they now?

Who could ever forget the smurfs?

First coined at the dinner table by a friend asking creator Peyo if he could "passe-moi le schtroumpf", in english "pass me the smurf". He was actually asking for salt but he and many million others got a lot more than that!

Born in 1958 the smurfs were originally secondary characters in a story about Johan & Peewit published in "Le Journal de Spirou", but just as with The Simpsons first appearing in the Tracey Ullman Show, the smurfs became stars in their own right.

In case you had a deprived childhood:

• The Smurfs live in mushroom houses somewhere in the forests of medieval Europe
• They are 3 apples tall and love to eat smurfberries
• They live in harmony with mother nature and every smurf has their own individual task to help the community. Here is a list of smurf characters and the role they played in the community
• Papa Smurf, 542 years old, is their leader and looks after the communities welfare

The best thing about the smurfs was their own unique language, just as many people in our world use swear words in every sentence the Smurfs used the word "smurf" extensively. How funny it would be if humans said the word "human" in place of swear words, "human off", "human you" or "human yeah"!

The smurf language has become pop culture and has not seen it's day. Family Guy featured an episode of the Smurfs on The Griffins TV -

Smurf 1: Hey did you have a good time last night?

Smurf 2: Smurf-tacular!

Smurf 1: Yeah, I saw you leave with Smurfette

Smurf 2: Oh man, as soon as we got out of the bar she started smurfing me

Smurf 1: Shut the Smurf up. Right in the smurfing car-park?

Smurf 2: Smurf yeah

Smurf 1: Oh that is freaking Smurf!

So apart from the smurf language, where are The Smurfs now?

The 256 episodes of the smurfs are still being watched in over 30 million countries, over 10 million copies of the Smurfs CD's have been sold in the last 3 years "and with the new style and the increasing range of Smurfimedia coming out, the little blue men are sure to have plenty of surprises for fans in the years to come". The biggest surprise...a 3 part Smurfology coming to cinemas near you in 2008! Paramount and Nickelodean will be putting on the show with a script from Herb Ratner and producer Jordan Kerner. The 2008 release will commemorate 50 years of smurfing around!

Bob Dylan Remixed and Retrospectived

There is a first for everything and Mark Ronson's 'Re-Version' of Bob Dylan is not only a first for Dylan remixes but in my mind it's also a first for decent remixes of music from the 60's.

After years of rejecting all offers to remix his catalogue, Dylan, 66, has decided that a dancefloor makeover is the best way to introduce his upcoming 51 track retrospective coined "DYLAN" to a younger generation. You will be able to get your hands on a copy (legally) in October.

The 're-version of Dylan's not so famous "Most Likely You Go Your Way" had it's debut on BBC earlier this month and Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe played the track twice within an hour. The track is that good that even DJ St. Andrew played a sample of the track more than twice!

The Unexpected Radio Slot of Yesterday

My good friend Kate from The Australian Republican Movement organised for me to DJ for ANU Bush week yesterday.

The story goes that we turned up with no speakers and lucky for us RawFM were broadcasting live through a nice big sound system. One collaboration later and my good friend Jitwam Sinha and myself were broadcast all over Australia!

It was quite a nice afternoon - nice people, nice soundsystem and nice music!

Computer Music From The Jazz Diaries

An interesting post by my friend at The Jazz Diaries - The first ever compilation made solely on a computer, which was later sampled by Radiohead in "Idioteque". Look out for there new album which is "scarier than OK Computer"

Are The Wilcannia Mob M.I.A?

A few years back I was lucky enough to see The Wilcannia Mob perform their one hit wonder "Down River" at Homebake. Since then though they have escaped my record collection and mind, you could say they have been M.I.A (missing in action), but alas they have just recently come back into existence with the announcement of M.I.A's new album "Kala" which features a re-edit of the original!

I haven't heard the M.I.A version but I will be heading down the record shop on the 20th of August to satisfy my curious ears.

Production of the re-edit has been done by Australian hip hop artist Morganics, who has spent the better part of his life travelling Australia healing and teaching through Hip-Hop and running social outreach programs in jails, schools and outback communities. The Wilcannia Mob has been one of his more well known projects.

He is also running a hip hop theatre show dubbed "Survival Tactics" featuring the likes of Maya Jupiter. In the show he uses hip hop music, rap, graffiti, beatboxing, breakdancing and scratching to tell a meaningful story about issues faced by youth today. The show costs $25 and this includes a free mix CD on arrival!

Dates
18th - 21st July: Melbourne, Arts House
25th - 28th July: Brisbane, Powerhouse
7th - 10th August: Sydney, Sydney Opera House

Border Community

Border Community is James Holden's stalwart record label for music "that doesnt fit in a category". It's all "about providing djs with the tools to innovate".

Artists Released include:
James Holden
Dextro
Lazy Fat People
Extrawelt
Nathan Fake
Petter
Ron Trent

A cool thing about the community (border) is the artworks used for the vinyl labels is all submitted by fans and community members.

My favourite is the cover for Holden's "The Idiots Are Winning" ep painted by Gregory Dourde:

Lego Fantasy

Memory lane is coming back in late 2008 thanks to the new "Lego Universe" project.

“By merging the online world of social interaction with the LEGO concept of play, LEGO Universe will provide our community with an entirely new way to experience LEGO and connect with other players in a fun and imaginative setting.”

Promises include customizable characters, the complete Lego collection and expansive community and collaborative features.

Hooray!

Manworks Design is..."the right idea and perfect realisation"

Manworks Design a.k.a Studio MWD wad founded in 2006 and has all the freshness of a one year old bundle of joy.

The sole parents Sergey & Yaroslav have strong beliefs about what creativity is... "Industrial design for us is the right idea and perfect realisation".

They also follow simple steps throughout the creative process to collaborate effectively.