CELEBRITIES

Queen of reinvention

Polly Vernon says the music career is all about the makeover

According to the first lore of pop, the speediest way to reinvigorate flagging fan fascination is with a physical transformation of fabulous proportions. Hire new writers, engineer a smart collaboration with a cachet producer of the Pharrell Williams variety, create a thoroughly innovative sound if you must; you'll maybe score some critical acclaim. But find an achingly hip stylist, get new hair, adopt a radical frock concept, and bam! Re-ignited target demographic passion. Re-established cultural currency. And so we find ourselves caught in the burning moment of a pop reinvention frenzy. Witness Britney Spears, cover story on this month's W magazine. Where once there was wholesome, clear-eyed gloss, jersey crop tops and residual pinkness, there is now only monochrome, sub-bondage bustiers, two-tone white-trash hair and grubbiness around the edges. The fringe is heavy, the eyes are glazed, the cleavage is pneumatic, but in a pole dancing - as opposed to cheerleading - way. The impact of this whole nouvelle slut statement is heightened considerably by the accompanying interview.

Elsewhere, Kylie Minogue, who has spent the last two-and-a-half years thoroughly embracing the myriad possibilities of vintage, the thrift find, the fluoro wristband and other out-and-out sexy trash trappings, cashed it all in during Paris couture fashion week for a front row seat at the Channel show. How very refined and grown-up and chic and not at all Love At First Sight. A new artistic direction in the offing? And then there's Victoria Beckham, who has collaborated with Rock-a-fella and gone hip-hop in a last ditch attempt to sell two singles more than she did last time (in blatant disregard for the fact that the only reinvention we'd welcome from her is to publicity-shy homemaker who lives in quiet acceptance of her own failing talent). And Kaci, formerly a 14-year-old wannabe clean Britney type, who has reappeared on the scene with an Avril Lavigne-effect grunge look and accessory angst-ridden sound. Where it goes from here is anyone's guess. Only this much is certain: it will go somewhere. And then somewhere else again. Oh, and those suffering from incipient reinvention fatigue should pull themselves together and remember - this is pop! This is what it's all about! Guardian Reports.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

WORLD WHO'S WHO Of American Female Singers/Entertainers And English Singing Artists

(The Greatest American Female Singers/Entertainers And English Singing Artists From The 19th Century To Present)

GREATEST AMERICAN FEMALE SINGERS/ENTERTAINERS OF ALL TIME. FROM THE COTTON FIELDS SINGER TO THE PRIMA DONA!

The Pre-Colonial Music: Historical Origins. 1606-1776 The Colonial Era. Mappimundi Colonial Music. Religious Music. Sacred Harp Singing. The 17^th Century Music. The 18^th Century Music. The French-Indian War Music. The 1812 Early Cowboys Music. The Sea Shanties and Song of the Sea Music. The 1776-1860 Revolutionary War/Post-Colonial Era Music. The Negro Spiritual Music. The First Afro-American Singers. The Frankie Sullivan Quimby Phenomenon. The Music of 1865-1925 Era. The Early American Folk Music. Early American Gospel Music. The Southern Gospel and Early American Quartet Music. The Ragtime Music. Early Broadway Musicals. The Early Burlesque Music. The Early Jazz Era. The Old Time Music. Early Days of the Minstrelry Music. Opera in America: The Very Beginning, etc.

VOLUME I: THE 2003 INTERNATIONAL ARTS YEARBOOK-WACJ BI-ANNUAL SPECIAL EDITION. FEATURING APPROXIMATELY 1000 ARTISTS, STARS , LEGENDS AND CELEBRITIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. ART/PAINTING: THE BEST PAINTERS OF 2003 THE BEST SINGERS/ENTERTAINERS OF 2003