Nouveau Girl Blog

Movers and Shakers

Posted on February 25th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Celebrity, Music, Transgender, Video.

Sony Taking Transgendered Band Mainstream

 
A girl band of transsexuals who model themselves on the Spice Girls are hoping to change social attitudes and achieve pop chart success in Thailand.
 

Venus Flytrap

 

Hot, Cool, Posh, Naughty and Sweet
hope to be an inspiration for young ladyboys
and anyone confused about their sexuality.

 
 
"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty" -Posh Venus

 
I stumbled across a news story about this group yesterday.  As I read about these women, the more I became interested knowing their full story.

Well a little Google here, a little Google there, quick search of YouTube, and POW!  I had a pretty cool story to share… and a decent new pop song as a bonus.
 
Thailand is believed to have one of the largest transsexual populations in the world. Academics estimate at least 10,000 live in Thailand, though some put the figure 10 times higher.

Even the conservative number would mean that per capita, Thailand has many more transsexuals than most developed countries.

Executives at Sony seeing a prospective market niche and potential to attract a mainstream audience, launched a development project to create the next female pop group sensation. 

Mirroring the creation of The Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls but with an added twist… a female pop group with all transgendered members.

The company auditioned over 100 performers before selecting the five women who’d become the worlds first transgendered pop group signed to a mainstream record deal.

After signing on the doted line, the women spent the next twelve months undergoing intense singing, acting and dance lessons.  In addition to sharping their skills as entertainers, a great deal of time was spent creating an image for the group. The group was being fast-tracked; their debut required style and polish equal to any seasoned mainstream pop group.

In the fall of 2006, the group began a public relation campaign in the months leading up to their debut album release.  TV and radio interviews, public events, award show appearances, and a high-profile Marie Claire cover photo and feature article helped build the public’s anticipation.

Their first album, "Visa for Love," was released in December and Sony’s director for artists and repertoire Amonrat Homhoul says the company is pleased with the groups success.

"The response has been good, even if their songs aren’t in the charts yet."

The groups first single and music video has been in heavy rotation and continue to gain interest.  A growing fan base has also earned the girls a lucrative concert deal, and recently they’ve enjoyed repeat play on Bangkok’s SkyTrain rail network.

For Sony this is a purely commercial venture by a company looking to exploit a niche market in Thailand.

However, for the group members, they have broader goals and see a more important impact they could have on society in Thailand.

In a Buddhist society which prides itself on tolerance, ladyboys, known as "katoey" in Thai, enjoy wide acceptance.

Many Thais believe being a ladyboy is the result of bad karma — paying in this lifetime for misdeeds in former ones — and that ladyboys deserve pity, not blame.

While many transgendered women in Western nations might see the acceptance given to their counter-parts in Thailand as a kind of nirvana, the reality is far from perfect.

Transgender people are often represented in the media and in public Thai life, but they can still draw negative attention.

Social mobility is severely restricted and employment opportunities are generally limited.  More often than not their only option of work is dancing as exotic entertainers in cabaret revues.

Laws in Thailand are also heavily stacked against transgender people. They are not covered by rape laws, and are not allowed to marry.

The women want to sweep aside the common image of ladyboys as cabaret queens or tourist curiosities and join the mainstream of international pop.  Being seen as roll models is something each take very seriously and are dedicated to promoting tolerance and inclusion of transsexuals in Thailand.

The band’s dream is that the music’s appeal will extend to beyond the cabaret clubs tucked away in seedy red-light districts.

"I hope we are paving the way for other ladyboys. I hope society will be more open for them so that they can work, because they are able to work," said Krerkkong Suanyot, or Posh Venus.

Krerkkong, who has degrees in food science and humanities and is studying for a masters in political science, said she hopes her experience with the band will help earn recognition for other transsexuals.

The group does have a nagging concern that their rising celebrity might be based more on who they are, rather than how they sing.

"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty"

 
Ladies and gentlemen… performing their hit single, ‘Visa for Love‘, and making their Nouveau Girl Blog debut, please join in giving a warm welcome to… Venus Flytrap:
 
 

 
 
OK, what did you think?
 
Maybe I’m having an 80’s flashback induced by the song’s vaguely familiar hook, but it’s not too bad. Kinda catchy… I bet after a few listens it will get stuck in my head… visa for love… do you want me to stay… da da da… visa for love… too late.  
 

Related Links

Offical Site: Venus Flytrap
Fan Site: Venus Flytrap [lots of pictures & videos]
MySpace: Venus Flytrap [unofficial]

YouTube: Music Video - Visa for Love
YouTube: Music Video - Cause I’m Your Lady
YouTube: TV Performance - Medley at At Ten

Book: Personal Narratives of Thailand’s Transgendered Youth
Personal Home Page: My life as ladyboy in Bangkok
Wikipedia: Kathoey - Thailand Ladyboy

Reuters UK: Thai ladyboy band hopes to hit the high notes
Gay New Zealand: Thailand: Transgender band’s record deal
Yahoo! News: Spicy Thai "ladyboy" band aims…
Pink News UK: Thai Spice Girls Preach Transsexual Power
UK Gay: Ladyboy-band sign to Sony

 

 
 
  -April

2 comments.

Nothin’ Funnier Then a Beating

Posted on February 24th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Celebrity, Ignorant, LGBT, Transgender, Video.

I sent the following e-mail to George Takei regarding an episode of the Jimmy Kimmel show that aired after showing Mr. Takei’s PSA video:
 
 

Hello Mr. Takei,

I want express my appreciation for the fantastic PSA video you did regarding Tim Hardaway.  You stood up to the bully and his ignorant statement, spanked him on national television, and made Hardaway look ignorant and silly.  You’ve become the clear winner in the court of public opinion.

The PSA video clip I’ve seen was cut from a segment of the Jimmy Kimmel Show.  I’m not sure if you produced it in conjunction with the show or not, but if you did I’d like to know if you’d address something from an episode following the airing of your PSA video.

On February 21st, Jimmy Kimmel had Rebecca Romijn as a guest to discuss her new roll as a transgendered character on ABC’s ‘Ugly Betty’.  During the interview he mocked transgendered men and women, made jokes while showing photos of several transgendered women, then wrapped up his "jokes" by reading from a book where a transgendered woman is hit with an ax.  All for laughs… real funny.

As a transgendered woman, I’ve faced the threat of violence and didn’t find the humor Mr. Kimmel thinks is there.  Mr. Kimmel’s "joke" hits close to home, even here in the tolerant San Francisco area, Gwen Araujo was beaten to death by a group of men… just like his "joke".

If you have any contact with the producers of the Jimmy Kimmel show, I’d appreciate bring attention to the fact that violence toward anyone is not funny - and that includes the LGBT community.

Here’s the segment from the 2/21/07 Jimmy Kimmel Show:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhf_uF3pgnU

All the best,

 -April

P.S. "Naked Time" is one of my favorite StarTrek episodes!

 
 
(h/t Pam’s House Blend)
 
 
 

Links

Pam’s House Blend: Jimmy Kimmel Jokes About Violence…
Shakespeare’s Sister: Know what’s hilarious?
After Elton: Best. Gay. Week. Ever.

George Takei: PSA: Tolerance

Gwen Araujo: Justice for Gwen Araujo
Transgender Law Center: Gwen Araujo

YouTube: Jimmy Kimmel, Mocking & Beating the Transgendered is Funny
ABC Television: Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Wikipedia: Gwen Araujo
Wikipedia: Jimmy Kimmel

Home Page: George Takei

  -April

0 comments.

PSA: Tolerance

Posted on February 21st, 2007 by April.
Categories: Humor, Video.

George Takei appears in this new public service anouncement for tolerance.

Live long and prosper.
 
 
  -April

0 comments.

Osama Teen Hunger Force

Posted on February 16th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Homeland Security, Humor, Video.

This just in.

Al Jazeera releases video of a terrorist group planning the Boston area Mooninites attack.

The video clearly shows Boston was the target of terrorists and not a gorilla marketing campaign that some would like to believe.

[via collegehumor.com]

.end

0 comments.

The Mooninites Go To Boston

Posted on February 14th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Homeland Security, Media, Politics, Stupid, Unhinged, Video.

The players

	The Cartoon
	The Sign (front) - Off
	The Sign (back) - Off
	The Sign - On

The Movie

Behold, the coordinated campaign of terror wreaked upon Boston Mooninite agents Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens as it unfurls!  (update: This video is now being used as evidence against them.)

Mooninite Links

Flickr: Mooninites Sign Photoset

Opinion: Bruce Schneier - "Non-Terrorist Embarrassment in Boston"

Reporting: Wired - "Did Peter Beredovsky Really Break The Law?"
Reporting: Wired - "Mooninite Bombs Made Of Batteries and Wires"
Reporting: Wired - "Arrests Made In Mooninite Plot To Blow Up Boston"
Reporting: KOMO TV - "‘Suspicious’ light devices found in Seattle"

eBay: Buy a Mooninites Sign (this one sold for $1275)

Wikipedia: Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Wikipedia: Keystone Cops

.end

0 comments.

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