Tag Archives: White Stripes

Frost Loves…Sofia Coppola

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Sofia Coppola- Icon.

She may never be completely separated from that surname (would she want to be?) but she sure is doing a good enough job of making a name for herself in spite of, not because of, dads, brothers, cousins or aunts.

Her style, her photography and her beautiful films are uniquely hers. They waft of her. Her sensitivity and quiet forcefulness. She has won over James wood and Bill Murray. As well as countless other critics and movie fans. No mean feat. She won an Best Writer, Original screenplay Oscar for Lost in Translation in 2003.

I remember seeing a short film she made called ‘lick the star’ and thinking this woman is going places. I raved about her to anyone who would listen. Her last film, Somewhere, was a very European film. Nothing really happened apart from human emotion.

There was always her photography, which was in, amongst other magazines, Nova and Allure. Her clothing range Milk Fed, and then there was the High Octane series for comedy central with her good friend Zoë Cassavetes, her appearances in music videos such as the Chemical Brothers (her favourite band), Elektrobank which was directed by then boyfriend now ex-husband Spike Jonze. In the video Sofia plays a gymnast. She is directing her own music videos now. Who can forget her video for the white stripes ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself.’ In which she persuaded Kate Moss (another friend) to pole dance in a black bikini? All shot in black and white.

Her association with Marc Jacobs (she is his muse. Even having one of his bags named after her and starring in his advertisements. ) As well as other creative talent, she seems to be at the centre of a new creative movement. A movement which also includes such people as Wes Anderson, Lance Acord, her ex-husband Spike Jonze, Zoë Cassavetes, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Tamra Davis who is married to Mike Diamond and gave Spike Jonze his first breaks and her brother Roman, who directed his own film CQ in 200, which Sofia appeared in. It all seems to tie together from person to person.

She was born in 1971 and baptized into cinema as a baby boy in The Godfather and said recently that she remembers parts of her life more by which movie they were than anything else. Sofia and her two brothers, Gio,who tragically died in a boating accident when she was 15, leaving behind a daughter Gia and fiancée Jacqueline de la fontaine (Who went on to marry Peter Getty and is now divorcing him and wants $300,000 a month maintenance after she found a full frontal picture of a neighbour on his computer), and Roman (who is one of the new wave of music video directors and also writes and directs his own films), traveled around with mum, Eleanor a documentary director, and dad, Francis as he worked on his movies.

Movies of cinematic greatness like The Conversation, Apocalypse Now and the Godfathers all of which Sofia was in. more prominently in Godfather III for which she was unfairly lambasted by critics with a unrelenting harshness which seems to have lasted, if only to a slightly lesser degree to this day.

This is why Sofia Coppola inspires me. Why I describe her as an icon. She is herself she makes no excuses. Yes her surnames Coppola take it or leave it and she does not pretend to be one of the boys, does not yell. She gets what she wants the way she wants. She has survived a hell of a lot. Was vilified in public and came up to prove them all wrong with sheer talent, guts and determination. It is because she has her own influential style, because she has conquered. Because she is talented and unique and a true artist and even more importantly. She proved all the bastards wrong.

Sofia is 40 now. Has two children and recently married Thomas Mars, of hip band Phoenix, in a celebrity studded wedding in Italy. She is still a fashion icon, still making movies.

Sofia Coppola is definitely one to watch. As she may yet become one of the most prominent and influential directors of our time.

The White Stripes: Already Forgotten?

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The White Stripes have officially announced their break-up.

In a statement on their website, the Detroit due explained that “the reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as Meg and Jack are fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.” The statement goes on to mention that Third Man Records, the record label set up by Jack White, would continue to release unheard studio and live recordings through their Vault Subscription record club.

The band consisted of Jack White (vocals , guitar and keyboards) and Meg White (drums) who were previously married, although they divorced amicably in 2000 after less than four years of marriage. Two people, big noise. The whole sound was certainly greater than the sum of their parts with just guitars, drums, voice and keyboards.

They released their eponymous debut album in 1999 on anti-music industry record label, Sympathy for the Record Industry, although it wasn’t until their third album, White Blood Cells, released in 2001, that the duo enjoyed their first significant success, selling over 500,000 copies of the record. The band’s next album, Elephant, came along in 2003 and was their first on major label, V2. It was also their first UK chart-topping album and eventually went double platinum.

Since Elephant, the band have released two more albums, Get Behind Me Satan in 2005 and Icky Thump in 2007, toured the world over and been blessed with a whole host of awards, accolades, fans and critical acclaim. In 2007, however, the band cancelled all remaining touring commitments after it was revealed Meg was suffering from acute anxiety problems. Although not hinted at in their statement, it is thought that these problems are behind the reason they called it a day.

Having not released a record since 2007, the splitting up of the White Stripes will not come as a great shock to many. However, Jack White has certainly kept himself busy since that time. He continues to run his Third Man record label, produces records by the label’s bands and still finds time to write, record and tour with both The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. It is unclear what Meg White’s next moves will be, having kept a very low profile since the tours were cancelled.

In a postscript to their fans, and clearly with one eye on their legacy, the band explain: “The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”