New url for Peach Buzz
Bookmark this new url for Peach Buzz.. We have moved to Wordpress!
Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 22 > Entry
Singer gets lyrical over body image
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Like John Mayer’s song “Daughters” and James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful,” Indiana singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin’s debut single, “Beautiful Disaster,” already has female listeners weak in the knees.
The piano-and-string-laden ballad lyrically tackles the issues of self-worth and body image among young women. Before he took the stage to play a mini-set of songs from his debut album, “Indiana,” for folks at Star 94’s Petapalooza in Suwanee over the weekend, McLaughlin explained the song’s origins.
“I was flying from Indiana to Los Angeles for a songwriting session, and I stopped in one of those airport candy stores for a Rolling Stone,” McLaughlin, 25, told us. “Suddenly, I’m staring at this stick-thin model on the cover of this women’s magazine, and I did a double take. I thought the photo was connected to a story about models being too thin. But there was no story. This image was being presented as the norm.”
The single is also featured in the film “Georgia Rule.”
“Everyone has a girlfriend or a sister who has these issues of feeling inadequate, compared to these insane magazine covers,” he says. “And you end up feeling totally helpless. You can tell them, ‘You look beautiful’ and all that, but they’re not listening. They don’t believe you. Those other images out there are way more prevalent.”
McLaughlin says that his own self-esteem issues also played a part in the song’s creation. “I think everybody has them. For me, it was struggles with wanting to be Brad Pitt or wanting to be taller.” (We’re assuming that Wal-Mart has banned the sales of mirrors in Indiana … .)
The recently shot video for “Beautiful Disaster” re-creates that horror show commonly referred to as school picture day. “It’s relatable because everybody dreads it,” he says. “I was in the retake line every year!”
Later, onstage with a piano, McLaughlin introduced an enthusiastic crowd of families and pets to material from “Indiana,” including a song titled “Human.” Introducing the tune, McLaughlin surveyed the dogs playing fetch in the grass in front of him and cracked, “Um, no offense to those of you out there who aren’t.”
JOLIE’S ADMIRATION
Angelina Jolie, who plays the widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter and former Atlantan Daniel Pearl in “A Mighty Heart,” said she was overwhelmed by Mariane Pearl’s inner strength and her ability to let go of hatred.
“For me, so much of why this film was important to do is because I highly doubt there is anybody in this room who has more reason to hold hate inside herself than Mariane, and she doesn’t,” Jolie told reporters Monday at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
“She is a very compassionate, thoughtful person who looks to dialogue to change things, to make things better. … That is, I think, a lesson for all of us,” the 31-year-old actress said.
“A Mighty Heart,” directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on Mariane Pearl’s memoir of the same name.
Jolie’s character breaks down only once in the movie — near the end — when she learns of her husband’s death.
“I was very, very nervous to get it right,” Jolie said of her role.
Jolie’s partner, Brad Pitt, the movie’s co-producer, was also at Cannes for the premiere.
Pitt said everyone involved “felt great responsibility” for the film.
Pearl said her friendship with Jolie grew over the course of the project.
“I think about the fact that my son will see the film one day, and this is a great moment of pain for me,” Pearl said. “And this role was played by somebody who loves me, and it means a lot to me.”
ATLANTA’S OWN
Fish fans, click on this: www.georgiaaquarium.org/
exploretheaquarium/webcams.aspx.
The link takes you to some wiggly little zebra sharks hatched this year at the Georgia Aquarium. They’re living in a tank apart from the big fishes that live in Ocean Voyager, where the youngsters began life in seed pods deposited by a female zebra shark. The baby sharks— pups, they’re called — are in good health. When they get bigger, some may join their older peers in Ocean Voyager, or get sent to other aquariums.
For more information about the Georgia Aquarium, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.
BAD GUY ALERT
Since he got whacked on “The Sopranos,” actor Michael Imperioli has time to attend this Saturday’s “Sopranos Party” at Atlanta’s Fever nightclub. Promoters sent us details Monday on the party, to be hosted by the Emmy winner tied to the looming end of the HBO mob drama. Fellow “Sopranos” actor Steven Schirripa will join Imperioli for the evening. VIP reservations are strongly encouraged. Info: feveratl.com.
UNCLE BUBBA’S COMIN’, Y’ALL
If you’re related to Savannah restaurateur Paula Deen, chances are excellent that you have a book to promote. Hence, the Food Network phenom’s baby brother Earl “Uncle Bubba” Hiers’ event June 5. Hiers will sign copies of “Uncle Bubba’s Savannah Seafood: More Than 100 Down-Home Southern Recipes for Good Food and Good Times” (Simon & Schuster, $24) at Borders in Buckhead at 7:30 p.m. And, yes, we checked. Those chargrilled oysters Hiers has prepared on his sister’s show? The recipe is included in the tome, along with childhood photos, family stories and a back cover portrait of Bubba and his famous sibling.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor-director Richard Benjamin is 69. Actress Barbara Parkins (“Peyton Place,” “Valley of the Dolls”) is 65. Songwriter Bernie Taupin is 57. Singer Morrissey is 48. Singer Johnny Gill is 41. Model Naomi Campbell is 37. Actress Anna Belknap (“CSI: NY”) is 35. Singer Donell Jones is 34.
Contributing: Mark Davis and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Permalink | |
