I Found Some Blog...by Cher Scholar

Album Delays Makes the Place Behind My Eyes Hurt (& Steve Martin)

Cher, left, talking to her fans.

So it would seem Cher's album is delayed until fall and this is making the spot behind my eyes hurt not because I can't live without a new Cher album this month, but because we have to keep talking about it coming out all this much longer. They say in "new marketing" that you should create a buzz for your product on social media before it comes out. This is a good case study about how that can fall apart if the product doesn't come out on time. If Cher were just silently working on a new album, we wouldn't have a fan meltdown and we wouldn't have a Cher meltdown, one that may or may not have been either legitimate or dishy depending upon who describes it.

I don't know but I just need to lay down.

The Cher-Album-Delay Twitter stories:

• http://idolator.com/7444061/cher-album-delay-twitter
• http://www.contactmusic.com/news/cher-angry-about-album-delay_3533717

Contact Music took the shout-down more literally, "Cher confirmed it will now be moved back until after Summer in an angry reaction to fans...Cher expressed her disappointment in further Tweets, which have since been deleted." But Idolator said it was "all in good fun" (ah, yes) with tweets like "AM OLDER THAN FIRE,& TWICE AS HOT !"

Sigh.

Anyway, let's talk about me. I am the first one to say I would like a new Cher album about now because Mr. Cher Scholar and I are going through a shitty time with our transition out of Santa Fe, New Mexico. But I will have to console myself with my 40-something other Cher albums and the other billion or so consumer products at my disposal, starting with the new a new DVD my friend brought me a few weekends ago, Steve Martin: The Television Stuff. I loved this DVD so much I wrote a 7-page essay about it for Ape Culture. Not only do I think early Steve Martin work was ironic and brilliant, I draw a direct connection between his meta-stand-up and the ironic Generation X meta-writers Dave Eggers, David Foster Wallace and Douglas Copeland.

I've talked occasionally about how Steve Martin was a writer on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and friends with Teri Garr. He talks about this in his book Born Standing Up. In the DVD commentary of this set, he talks more about being a TV writer for The Smothers Brothers, Sonny & Cher and Cher, saying it was always his hope to become a regular comedic actor on one of those shows but it never happened. I once mourned that fact that Martin's humor never made it to Sonny & Cher skits, but now I think his own stand-up shows were exactly where he needed to break out and maybe The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was not a good fit for his kind of abstract pieces.

This week Cher scholar Dishy sent me a 45 of a song I had never heard before, Sonny singing "I'll Change." Later I found this clip of Sonny singing "My Way" which I sent to Mr. Cher Scholar to cheer him up today. It worked.

Let's all look at Cher in some silly pants and vow to get over these dramatic obstacles in our lives.

• A photo roll of Cher in wacky pants at the Balmain Fashion Show in Paris

Cher at British fashion designer Gareth Pugh's fall-winter fashion presentation

Cher at Gareth Pugh's show and her tweet about it

Another story about the Pugh show

Cher shopping in Paris with Fergie

More Cher shopping with Fergie: Mr. Paparazzi says: "We love a random celebrity friendship, and here’s one that is particularly so....She and Cher hit some of Paris’ most upmarket boutiques and were obviously out to splash some cash; they left one designer store wearing a completely different ensemble than the ones they entered it in."

See? The world isn't coming to an end.

 

Periphery News: Condo for Sale, Thinner Chaz, Hot Allman Wife

Cher Digs For Sale

What would a three-to-four year period be without a former Cher residence not going up for sale? I imagine a strange Chertopia forming, where every house in the western world is bought by Cher and redesigned to be resold looking Mediterranean, medieval, middle-eastern or in some way Cher like. A homogeneous Levittown-cum-Chertown.

 

 

 

 

 

Just look at those Cher windows and tell me I'm wrong!

Cher is now selling her two-story remodeled condo in Sierra Towers in LA, ending her relationship with a residence along the lines of a similar pattern: she met it, bought it, changed it over (dating phase), photographed herself in it for Architectural Digest (wedding photos), and then decided they should both see other people, hopefully with a net gain for herself of 1 million dollars.

Allegedly her condo is the only two-story condo in the building, with neighbors such at Courtney Cox, Elton John and Joan Collins. She bought it in 2006 for $4.5 million and is listing it at $5.5 million.

If you're interested in moving in, the building boasts a 24/7 concierge service, a gym, a pool, a sundeck and her condo has panoramic views.

Stories:

• http://www.hauteliving.com/2013/02/cher-selling-west-hollywood-duplex-for-5.5-million/341964/
• http://chernews.blogspot.com/2013/02/cher-has-listed-hollywood-condominium.html

Chaz Diet

In other news, Contactnews is reporting that Cher's son Chaz has lost 43 pounds. From the picture, it appears to be true: http://www.contactmusic.com/news/chaz-bono-loses-43-pounds-on-health-kick_3513240

The photo caption claims Chaz is walking with his girl friend. She looks strikingly similar to Heidi Shink. If so, are they dating again or did the caption mean to say girl [space] friend?

Hot Rock Star Ex-Wives

The site Ultimate Classic Rock has named Cher one of the Hottest Rock Star Ex-Wives: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/cher-hottest-rockstar-ex-wives/

...although they admit she's "a legend in her own right." This is a nice nod coming from a classic rock site, I think. Did you know Allman has now racked up 6 wives? As Mother to Cher Scholar would say to Mr. Allman if she ever met him with this factoid, "maybe it's you."

The picture to the right is from the Richard Avedon photos that became the cover of her Dark Lady album in 1974, a year before she met Gregg Allman, before she was to become the ex-girlfriend of David Geffen. I look forward to the list that accumulates the hottest gay beards.

 

Get Well Cards for Cher's Mum and Kitty

There was news last week that both Cher's mom and cat were under the weather. For Cher's mother, Cher News reported that Georgia was recovering from a bout with pneumonia. Pneumonia can be very scary. Even scarier for Cher, apparently Georgia wants to start tweeting. Recently Cher tweeted that her mom was "Much better. I'm going to her house, and let her tweet, but I will be on iPad. I can't trust her, in one minute, she'll be showing naked baby pictures."

That's funny. But things sounded more critical with Cher's beloved cat, Mr. Big.

ContactMusic reported that Cher tweeted:

"Mr. Big is sick in hosp (hospital). My friend Kat is with him, she's top heart Dr (doctor). I was crying... The weird thing is I never think about him sick! He was almost dead when we found him in Detroit, but after that he has never been sick."

Cher posted a number of pictures of Mr. Big and later admitted the cat was starting to show signs of improvement: "Mr Big in his little oxygen tent, getting his Iv of meds (medication) wrapped in blanket, but he's still eating! Nurses love him... Kat, his heart Dr. says he will be well enough 2 (to) have echocardiogram (a heart scan) tomorrow. Says he's feeling better after meds (sic) & oxygen! Better is good!..

"I'm great in an emergency, but I cry when it's over & everything is fine!"

I hope Georgia and Mr. Big get well soon. Then if Cher won't let Georgia put naked baby-Cher pictures on Twitter, we can get Mr. Big up and tweeting instead. Imagine the tweets that little guy could send us.

Inventing David Geffen to Air on PBS Next Week

David Geffen's biopic airs November 20th. Last week Cher was at the premiere in support.

On the red carpet she spoke of their relationship saying she was crazy about him and they were in love. When asked if Geffen was gay at the time, Cher responded that at that time in his life, she was the right person for him.

Watch the video and see more pics on Cher World: http://www.cherworld.com/cher-news/cher-attends-american-masters-inventing-david-geffen/

Producer Susan Lacy talks about making the film and Cher's input:

It was a long process. During a period of four years, I was doing interviews [off and on] whenever I could. It turned out it was a really good thing that I could do that. Because the people I really wanted took two years to schedule. It took a long time to get Neil Young, for example, who tours a lot. I think Cher is a huge addition to the film, another person who's very difficult to schedule.

Reviews of the documentary:

• http://siouxcityjournal.com/entertainment/television/american-masters-shines-light-on-david-geffen/article_2159fd64-acd4-5edf-b117-0f8b2bbc0775.html ("Inventing David Geffen -- which makes its television debut Tuesday on most PBS affiliates as part of the American Masters series -- serves as a de facto history of the entertainment business over the past 45 years.")
• http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/american-masters-inventing-david-geffen-review-1.4231026 ("Hugely entertaining profile, especially for show-biz junkies.")
• http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/18/3923335/american-masters-highlights-david.html ("Inventing David Geffen doesn't gloss over the public tantrums Geffen had after Gregg Allman entered the picture; it ignores them completely. No mention is made, either, of Geffen's involvement in severing Cher's business ties from Sonny Bono. After a lot of Cher-related therapy sessions, Geffen decided he needed a change, so he went to work as an executive for Warner Bros.' movie division, stepping on toes left and right.")

List of A-Listers at the event: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/inventing-david-geffen-premiere-la-stars-390374 

Another PBS must-watch is tonight and tomorrow's Ken Burns documentary on the Dust Bowl. It's as relevant today with its arguments over science and man-made disasters.

 

Leaks, X-Factor, Val Kilmer and Cher's Sex Cult

Ugh. So I said I wouldn't talk anymore about this phantom album of Cher's...but then things blew up last week when a version of a song called "Woman's World" was leaked.

It was 15 seconds of speedy dance Cher-shouting. It was all over for a day or so and has since evaporated.

Cher expressed displeasure.

Queerty.com pooh-pooed that saying Cher had no reason to be upset:

"Unfinished or not, this shit sounds amazing. There’s no better way to start your day/week/the rest of your life than a good ole-fashioned diva comeback single." http://www.queerty.com/cher-leak-womans-world-20121022/

Meanwhile, there's a rumor Cher has been signed to appear on the season finale of X-Factor on December 9. 

And Cher tweeted a picture of herself and one-time boyfriend, Val Kilmer (above), after seeing him do his one-man show about Mark Twain called "Citizen Twain" at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. Apparently he had to cancel his second of two shows due to a knee injury. Why didn't he just do Val Kilmer doing Hal Holbrook doing Mark Twain and perform from a chair.

By the way, Mark Twain is my patron saint. I did a photo shoot earlier this year (for an upcoming book) that was an homage to one of Twain's famous photographs:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710127@N07/7397909998/in/set-72157630051090387
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/25710127@N07/7382269780/in/set-72157630051090387

Last but not least, one of the goofiest of Cher tabloid covers appeared this week, Cher Sex Cult Scandal! Torture, Brainwashing, Abuse...Stupid.

On the bright side, the tabloids are still hot for Cher.

Cher Watches X-Factor?

So the fact that Cher watched part of X-Factor is the most shocking piece of this story for me. Maybe someone on staff alerted her to the clip of Ella Henderson singing "Believe" from YouTube. In any case, Cher watched it. did she also see Adam Lambert's Hollywood Week version on American Idol?

 Ella Henderson's version can be seen here. It is pretty swell ballad version.

Cher said:

“Went on Utube 2 c young girl sing Believe!Tears came 2 my eyes! So Touching! a Great version of a Great Song.”

Okay...it was Utube after all. Then Ella said:

“I’m still pinching myself! To have the actual Cher tweet that she’d seen my performance was mind-blowing. “I’ve been smiling all day. It is quite frankly unbelievable. I can’t believe she cried.”

Adam's version was pretty good too. I think it serves this song to be slowed down to a dirge.

Stories:

• http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/192373-ella-henderson-is-stunned-by-news-that-she-made-cher-cry/
• http://www.towleroad.com/2012/09/cherxfactor.html (Ella's amazing audition she wrote herself)
• http://chernews.blogspot.com/2012/09/cher-on-ella-hendersons-x-factor.html
• http://www.cherworld.com/cher-news/cher-praises-x-factor-hopeful-ella/

 

Is Bob Mackie Now a Democratic Strategist?

Excuse my confusion but this morning I woke up to The Bill Press Show on my iPhone radio and was amazed to hear Bob Mackie talking about the Romney campaign.

The same voice, the same laugh, the same vocal patterns and pauses. I couldn't believe it.

Only it wasn't Bob Mackie at all!! It was his vocal doppelganger, a man named Peter Fenn. 

So weird!

 

More about Peter Fenn: http://fenndaily.com/

David Geffen Documentary on PBS

Cher scholar Rob in Michigan sent me the link to a new David Geffen documentary airing soon on PBS:

American Masters: Inventing David Geffen, premiers nationally on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 on PBS (check local listings). It’s an unflinching portrait of Geffen, who narrates his unorthodox rise from working class Brooklyn boy to billionaire entertainment power broker in extensive interviews.

American Masters explores the highs and the lows in Geffen’s professional and personal life through more than 50 new interviews with his friends, colleagues and clients, as well as other media luminaries. Irving Azoff, Jackson Browne, Cher, David Crosby, Clive Davis, Barry Diller, Maureen Dowd, Rahm Emanuel, Nora Ephron, Tom Hanks, Don Henley, Arianna Huffington, Jimmy Iovine, Elton John, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Calvin Klein, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, Mike Nichols, Yoko Ono, Frank Rich, Slash, Steven Spielberg, Jann Wenner, Neil Young, and many others illustrate Geffen’s riveting story.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/david-geffen/inventing-david-geffen/2146/#.UErkRH

To take a step back down memory lane...here are a few photos of Cher and David (many with cowboy hats):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hal David Dies

Burt Bacharach and Hal David composed many awesome hits of the 1960s including Dionne Warwick's "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and Herb Albert's "This Guy's In Love with You." They also made it into the 1980s charts with Naked Eyes'  version of "Always Something There to Remind Me."

Cher recorded Bacharach/ David songs in the 1960s as well. In 1966 she recorded the first version of "Alfie," later made into a hit by Warwick. And in 1968 she tried them again on her album Backstage with the song "This House is Not a Home."

To be honest, I do love Bacharach/David songs but I did not think they were well suited to Cher and her image at the time. Bacharach/David material, although catchy and infectious, seemed very suburban and mainstream. Cher's image was a bit too groovy and even her version of the lite-hippie was still too gritty for these songs. She scored more when she was covering sounds more "alternative" like Sonny's songs, Dylan's gems and other folk-rock ballads.

Personally, I will never forget moving to Los Angeles in early 2002 and ingratiating myself to the streets of the city while singing "and all the stars are parkin cars and pumpin gas."

Boom boom boom!

   

Cher in New Diana Vreeland Documentary

My cousin sent me news that a new Diana Vreeland documentary is scheduled to be released September 21. Diana Vreeland met Cher in 1967 and told her she had "a pointed head." However, it was Vreeland who introduced Cher to modeling in countless Vogue spreads from the late 1960s throughout the 1970s.

In the documentary trailer, Vreeland is credited with the idea of pushing a photo subject's faults, imploring her artists to "make that the most beautiful thing about them."

So brilliant.

And when legal wrangling with Sonny kept Cher off of television in 1974, Cher said it was these modeling projects that kept her afloat.

More information on Cher and Vreeland: http://www.elle.com/fashion/spotlight/fashion-high-notes-446376-5#slide-5

For more information on the movie and to see (clips of Cher) in the trailer:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2186771/She-discovered-Twiggy-advised-Jackie-O-ruled-fashion-long-Anna-Wintour-How-Diana-Vreeland-original-Devil-Wears-Prada.html

How can we forget the following amazing collaborations between Cher, Vreeland and photographer Richard Avedon...

Cher doing one of many interpretations of Native American. Cher scholar Bruce points out that this photo is by Stephen Paley and not Richard Avedon, as part of the late 60s Jackson Highway album photo shoot. But it's super kewl so I'm keeping it up.

 

 

  

 

Cher in 60s mod-mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elaborations on hair poses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Full 1970s awesomeness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More elaborations on hair and some of my favorites, the staircase photos.