Made in Brazil

The Final Three

After watching David Cook's final performance on American Idol last night, you know he wants to win.

"A chihuahua trying to be a tiger," but even with the freaky stage dad you can't help but to want to vote for Archuleta. I am fairly certain that we will be seeing him on the finals (and that he will win).

The hairstylist finally managed to do something fabulous with Syesha Mercado's hair. Unfortunately, and in spite of a pretty decent performance, I don't think he will get a chance to repeat the look on her again next week.

A Semana: Kylie And Madonna On Tour, Tom Ford, SJP, And The iPhone

Kylie Minogue unleashed her KylieX2008 Tour in Paris this past Tuesday, and it looks like it is as camp as you would expect it to be. Why can't a Brazilian producer bring the show to São Paulo?

According to Billboard.com, Madonna's tour to promote Hard Candy will kick off on August 23 on Cardiff, Wales, and will include between 50 to 60 shows total. Dates for the "Sticky and Sweet Tour" (yes, that is what Madonna is calling it this time) have been announced today, and Brazil is not yet on the schedule even though there is already a Brazilian site claiming to have tickets for a December 9 date in Rio. Since the New York concerts coincide with my birthday, you know what I want as a gift.

Madonna's Hard Candy debuted on the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart, while Leona Lewis' debut single Bleeding Love regained the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Marc Jacobs took his hot new date (who just so happens to be Brazilian) to the Met Costume Institute Gala.

Ohlala mag has brand new pictures of Edilson Nascimento.

Check out the cover of the new adult Abercrombie & Fitch catalog.

Tom Ford is expected to land in São Paulo around May 18 for the launch of his boutique inside Daslu. One can only hope he will stay for Gay Pride.

Sarah Jessica Parker is also expected in São Paulo for the grand opening of the massive Cidade Jardim mall, for which she got a reportedly $600K to star in the ad campaign. My friend Ricardo told me to read her interview on New York magazine this week, and I suggest you do the same.

No airport hangars this season: the Chanel Cruise 2008 collection will be shown at the Raleigh hotel in Miami Beach on May 15.

The illegally unblocked iPhone has become a huge status symbol in Brazil in the past few months. I know more people here than in New York who have purchased one, even though most of the phone's functions are not supported by national carriers. Luckily for all the illegal iPhone users, Claro announced yesterday that it is in talks with Apple to become the official distributor of the phone in the country by the end of the year.

I tested an iPhone for a week last year, but decided to stick to my Blackberry instead, so the gadget I am really coveting now is the new Blackberry 900, which will feature 3G technology.

The Battle Of The Davids

It has been clear from the beginning that David Archuleta and David Cook would make it to the finals this season on AI. After last night performances, I am pretty sure that even Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado know that.

So which David is it gonna be? Even though I thought Cook would dominate on rock and roll night, Archuleta was by far my favorite.

A Semana: Gay Publications, Tourism, Kaká, And Rihanna

Brazil's newest gay publication called AIMÉ has apparently already been released, but nobody I know has seen an actual issue of the magazine. So far all that has surfaced is the cover with ex-Big Brother Brazil Fernando Fernandes.

Tourism minister Marta Suplicy stated this week that the government needs to implement more gay friendly policies in order for Brazil to start attracting more gay tourists than Argentina. Unfortunately the minister did not propose any solutions to the problem other than suggesting more support to the gay pride parades which take place in São Paulo, Rio, and Salvador. Now how about trying to make the country more safe in general for tourists, then focusing on the gay agenda?

Ford and V Man began their nationwide model search at the Diesel store in Union Square in New York this week, and Models.com has caught some of the action on video.

I am loving the cover of the new issue of OUT magazine featuring the 2008 Hot List, as well as some of the hottest male models around (unfortunately no Brazilians).

Soccer player Kaká is the only Brazilian featured on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people.

Talking about lists, head over to AfterElton and vote for who you think should make it to this year's list of the to 100 Hottest Guys.

DNA magazine launched DNAmobi online.

Singer Ricky Martin has reportedly paid US$8 million for an island off the coast of Rio, which I hope will lead to more pictures of him in speedos.

Maroon 5 and Rihanna team up in "If I Never See Your Face Again".

Brazilian funk group Bonde do Role will be performing at Europa in Brooklyn on May 14. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Web.

Madam Andreia Schwartz will be hosting a party tonight at nightclub The House in Rio to celebrate the release of the May issue of Sexy magazine, for which she posed naked.

Model Izabel Goulart will be meeting fans and signing photos tomorrow afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at the Armani Exchange store in SoHo. Armani Exchange will be donating 10% of total sales at the store tomorrow to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, so make sure to stop by, shop, and email me pictures.

A Semana: Andreia Schwartz, Superheroes, Hard Candy, And Gay Pride

Andreia Schwartz is milking her 15 minutes of fame. After being deported from the US a month ago, she posed wearing nothing but an I (Heart) NY shirt for the May issue of Brazilian men's magazine Sexy. Madam Schwartz is also shopping for someone to write her biography, and working on a miniseries for TV properly entitled Lady Manhattan.

Talking about sexy spreads, the latest issue of Genre features hot male models in underwear at the beach.

16-year-old Wanessa is the latest Brazilian featured as Model Of The Week at Models.com.

Model Caroline Trentini graces the cover of Korean W.

Tim Gunn wants Nina Garcia back on Project Runway, and so do I.

Style.com has a really cool take on the upcoming Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibit, which opens at the Met Costume Institute on May 7.

Madonna's Hard Candy finally dropped today. I have been listening to the album a lot, and so far I am digging She's Not Me, Incredible, and Dance 2night. If you are still skeptical about Madonna's venture into hip hop, make sure to read the album review from the NYT. Her Roseland concert will air live tomorrow night on MSN.

CSS has put its new track Rat Is Dead (Rage) up for free download on the web.

Singer Rufus Wainwright signed a deal with the Gay Pride Association of São Paulo to promote his concerts in the country, which will coincide with Gay Pride weekend.

Tickets for Gay Pride parties at The Week are already on sale. You can purchase them online in advance at Ingresso Rapido.

This Is How You Do It

After some mentoring from Mariah Carey last week, the American Idol contestants got a real lesson in singing from X-Factor winner Leona Lewis last night.

She must be feeling on top of the world right now. More on last night's American Idol elimination after the jump.

Think Of Me (Archuleta Mix)

It is all about the Davids on American Idol, and both of them put out the best performances last night, in the show mentored by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Now why am I not surprised that Baby Archuleta picked Think Of Me from The Phantom Of The Opera?

Mr. Weber's first comments about the song are priceless. Overall though I think David Cook did a better job (with a song actually written for a male performer). Click here to watch him.

It's Time To Put Your Hands Up

As most of you probably know, Madonna's Hard Candy leaked online (on purpose or not), and is everywhere by now. After listening to it several times with little to none expectations of Madonna's venture into hip hop, the one thing I can say is that it sure sounds like she had fun recording this album. Hard Candy is cool, upbeat, and a perfect follow-up to Confessions. I had my share of doubts about Madonna's collabo with the likes of Timbaland and Pharrell, especially after Madonna's unsuccessful attempt to rap on American Life. Luckily Madonna proved me wrong, and did again what she does best: made her collaborators step out of the box and create a sound that would fit her, and her alone. Hard Candy is not Madonna's hip-hop album, it is a disco-hop album, not safe and not expected. It is not her best work to date, but its infectious beats and lyrics will definitely get you dancing. Make sure to pick up a copy next week when it is released.

I also suggest that you check out what my buddy Arjan had to say about the album.

Mariah's Idol Night

Nothing better to promote the release of Mariah Carey's new album than seven Idol finalists belting out her songs last night. My favorites? David Cook and Baby Archuleta.

Now forgive me for saying this, but as talented as the contestants are this season, they would disappear in a heartbeat if they had had to perform next to Leona Lewis in the show.

Praying For Time

I absolutely love Carrie Underwood, so I needed to post her Idol Gives Back performance from last night. Enjoy.

Brazilianizing Broadway

Sexy Brazilian opera singer Paulo Szot is making quite a splash on his Broadway debut in the Lincoln Center Theater's revival of South Pacific. Head over to the NYT to listen to an interview with him.

An Inspirational Song

David Archuleta is just not gonna drop the ball at this point.

A Semana: Hard Candy, Project Runway, SJP, Gianecchini, And Raquel

Arjan Writes has an exclusive review of Madonna's Hard Candy, and news about the next Killers album, set to be produced by Confessions On A Dancefloor's Stuart Price.

Leona Lewis' debut album Spirit hits stores today. Get a copy asap.

Brazilian designer Mario Queiroz launched a new men's jewelry line at BaselWorld last week.

Alexander McQueen opens his first LA boutique today.

Casting for the second season of Brazil's Next Top Model has already started. Am hoping Sony will also cast a new panel of judges to make the show more fun and camp.

It looks like Project Runway is saying Auf Wiedersehen to Bravo, and moving to Lifetime.

Rumor has it that Sarah Jessica Parker was tapped to star in the ad campaign for São Paulo's Shopping Cidade Jardim, which opens its doors for the first time this May.

I love the fact that actor Reynaldo Gianecchini reads the paper shirtless every morning by the window of his apartment in Rio (and that Extra has pictures of it).

How do I get my hands on the new Handbook while I am in Brazil?

Ohlala interviews Michael Lucas.

Models.com has more pictures of La Zimmermann in the new issue of Hercules.

A Semana: Mariah, Madonna, Leona, Rufus, And Gisele

Mimi did it again. Touch My Body reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, becoming her 18th chart-topper, and making her the solo artist with the most #1 hits ever in Billboard's history. The single also broke a record with 286,000 digital downloads in its debut week.

Madonna's latest promotional blitz involves not only the cover of American Elle, but also of its British franchise. Thanks to download sales, her new single 4 Minutes jumped to the 3rd slot on the Billboard 100 this week.

I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of the American release of Leona Lewis' debut Spirit, and I am absolutely in love with the two new exclusive tracks Forgive Me and Misses Glass. You can stream the entire album on MTV's The Leak before it hits stores next week.

Rufus Wainwright has four shows confirmed in Brazil in May. He plays Rio on the 7th, São Paulo on the 9th, Belo Horizonte on the 10th, and Brasília on the 13th.

Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch announced that the sale of his label to fashion conglomerate I'M Holding did not go through as confirmed earlier this year, and that he is no longer the creative director for jeanswear label Zoomp.

Gisele scores yet another campaign as the face of Brazilian jeweler Vivara.

Model Flavia de Oliveira stars in the new ad campaign for Brazilian designer Priscilla Darolt.

Soon-to-become status symbol: Beckham's golden iPhone.

I can't believe I always end up missing the fun stuff in New York. If you are in the city though, make sure to get tickets to Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which takes place on April 9th, and send me pictures of the boys.

Dolly Partchuleta

David Archuleta is not really cut out to do country songs, but he totally pulled it off last night performing Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Memories.

Don't you just love that Michael Kors was in the audience?

I have to also give props though to Syesha Mercado, for having the balls to sing I Will Always Love You, and to Michael Johns for putting out the best performance of the night.

And yes, I had to watch the whole show on YouTube now that am in Brazil. Here is what I missed on Dancing With The Stars (truly genius).

A Semana: Megga Fun, Kanye West, Madonna, And Isabeli

Nightclub Megga Fun opened in São Paulo last Saturday, offering another alternative to the traditional Babylon party at The Week. Reviews from the blogosphere were pretty diverse, so I am going to check it out by myself next time I am in the city and let you guys know how I feel about it (with photos and videos as usual).

Talking about The Week, Erick Morillo will be spinning at the club in São Paulo this Friday. Tony Moran commands the party on Saturday.

Made In Brazil was picked as one of Typepad Featured Blogs last week, which I thought was pretty cool.

The boys from Ohlala went tanning for a cause with Work Out star Jackie Warren. I can't believe I will miss the premiere of the show now that am in Brazil.

Kanye West unveiled yet another amazing video, this time for Homecoming. I am wondering if the video for Flashing Lights ever got any play because of its content.

Madonna's Hard Candy blitz is gearing up with rumors of a possible live performance at Roseland in New York on April 28 or 29. Make sure to check out exclusive screen caps from the video for 4 Minutes, to listen to the Junkie XL mix of the single, and to preview Madonna's Elle cover. The video premieres this week.

CSS' lead singer Lovefoxxx stars in the new campaign for Luella Bartley's collection for surfwear label O'Neil.

Model Isabeli Fontana's big return to the runways this season is paying off. I hear she is booked for the new ad campaigns for Valentino, Cavalli, and Belstaff.

Talking about castings, this was the talk of the town last week. And it is true.

A Semana: Models, Seal, Leona, Beyoncé, And A Big Gay Wedding

Brazilian model Raphael Lacchine is on his way to Milan to shoot the new Diesel underwear campaign.

Raquel Zimmermann teamed up with Kaiser Karl for yet another Fendi ad campaign, and Models.com managed to capture the shoot on video.

Model Aline Weber, who you may remember as look #1 on Balenciaga, just shot a 26-page spread for Numéro, and is in LA shooting the new Moschino campaign with David Bailey.

Seal performed in São Paulo last night after being away from Brazilian stages for 16 years. He plays in the city again tonight.

Both Justin Timberlake and Shakira have canceled their upcoming performances in Brazil.

Leona Lewis' debut single Bleeding Love just broke into the #1 spot at Billboard's Hot 100, making her the first British female solo artist in 21 years to achieve this milestone. I told you she was gonna be huge.

Beautiful Nigthmare: a new track by Beyoncé makes its way to YouTube.

Ricky Martin (in muscle bear version) gives naked thrill in hotel sauna.

Ohlala Mag goes backstage at a fashion show in Brooklyn.

São Paulo will host a big gay wedding on April 10. 30-year-old Felipe Campos and 24-year-old Rafael Cordeiro will sign a partnership agreement in a ceremony for over 1,000 guests, done candomblé style. The couple hopes to raise awareness of gay marriage with the big bash, and possibly inspire other couples to do the same.

Quick thank you note to my friends Billy and Matthew for The Little Black Book Of Style I got on Monday. I love it and can't believe you guys did that. Now if you could only get Nina Garcia to pose with a Made In Brazil sign.

Picking The Wrong Song

Forgive me, but you just don't attempt to perform Alone at American Idol after Carrie Underwood (more than) nailed it seasons ago. It is time for Ramiele Malubay to go home. Watch it and compare.

The highlight of last night's show was David Archuleta's introduction video showing him dancing with his little sister. Talk about stage parents. As for David's choice of song, all I am going to say is that it also goes with the title of this post.

I am going to be expecting something amazing next week.

Brazilianizer Of The Week: Seal

Seal held a press conference today in São Paulo to promote the Brazilian leg of his tour in support of his latest album System. This is the first time in 16 years that the singer plays the country. During the conference, he complained about paparazzi attacks in America, and was a little annoyed with the translator which accompanied him.

Seal performs in São Paulo tomorrow and Thursday, in Rio on the 29th, in Curitiba on the 1st, and in Porto Alegre on the 3rd.

The Leonization Of America (With A Bonus Mix)

Last week she did Oprah, and her debut single Bleeding Love broke into the Top 10 at Billboard's Hot 100. Last night Leona Lewis continued her American takeover with a performance on the Tonight Show.

And since I was told I could (legally) do it, here is a free download of one of my favorite mixes of the song:
Bleeding Love (Moto Blanco Full Vocal Mix)

Yes, I am obsessed with her. Deal with it.

The Beatles Again?

I don't know who had the idea of having another Beatles week at American Idol. The show turned out to be a mess, and if it weren't for the Davids (Cook and Archuleta) it would have been painful to watch. I don't think most of the contestants managed to connect to what they were singing about. It was flat and sterile for the most part.

David Archuleta, clearly my favorite this season, got it together this week with his rendition of Long and Winding Road, and delivered just what we would expect from him, not missing any lyrics.

A Semana: The Shape Issue, The Hulk, Madonna, And Big Brother Brazil

Gisele is at it again. And by at it I mean a Vogue cover in which she poses next to a leading man. The last time it happened was with George Clooney. This April it is Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, and I love the result.

The preview for The Incredible Hulk, which was partially shot in Brazil last year, has hit the web.

Check out the cover artwork for Madonna's upcoming album Hard Candy.

Fergie performed in São Paulo yesterday thanks to her deal with Motorola.

My TV crush of the year, Big Brother's Rafinha, scored the leadership on the show this week, meaning there is no way he will be up for elimination next Tuesday.

On an interview to Ego yesterday, openly gay Big Brother contestant Marcelo claimed he was actually bisexual and fell in love with a girl on the cast of the show. He still has 14 minutes and counting.

DJ Scotty Thomson will be making its way to Brazil again for a performance at Le Boy in Rio on March 28.

If you are in Rio, make sure to stop by photographer Pedro Stephan's exhibit Entre Amigos & Amores at Centro Cultural da Justiça Federal. It opens on Monday at 7pm and goes until April 27, featuring over 100 pictures depicting the gay scene in Rio.

Preview the second issue of Bello Mag, which features some beautiful pics of model Evan Wadle by Greg Vaughan.

He Still Has Time To Work It Out

David Archuleta can sing and probably already has a record deal in the works, but the kid messed it up bad last night on American Idol performing We Can Work It Out. Still he is my favorite contestant this season, and I hope he will step it up next time.

My favorite performance from last night was actually Let it Be by Brooke White, but overall the show was pretty boring. I sort of miss Danny Noriega in purple extensions.

A Semana: Gisele, CFDA, Madonna, Bears, And A New Mega Club

Gisele's bum is up for sale, sort of. Christie's New York will be auctioning a collection of photography from collector Gert Elfering next month, and portrait of Gisele by Irving Penn is expected to go for over $30,000.

A pregnant Alessandra Ambrósio was in Rio this past weekend shooting the new campaign for UK retailer Next, and RG Vogue has pictures.

The 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards nominees were announced, and Brazilian Francisco Costa got a nod for Womenswear Designer Of The Year for his work at Calvin Klein. He is up against Proenza Schouler and Marc Jacobs. The ceremony will take place June 2.

Tom Ford, who was nominated for a CFDA for Menswear Designer Of The Year, is going to father a child in 2008.

Uniqlo invited four international designers to create capsule collections. Brazilian Juliana Jabour was one of them, so expect lots of striped jersey dresses hitting the stores this month.

Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Justin Timberlake last night: "The world is full of Madonna wannabes. I might have even dated a couple. But there truly is only one Madonna."

Seal will be touring Brazil from March 26 to April 3, with shows scheduled in São Paulo, Rio, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre.

The recent boom in the Brazilian gay bear market will result in the opening of a new bar in São Paulo right around Gay Pride in May. There are already three bear parties happening in the country: Bearland, Woof, and Ursound.

Another massive gay club is set to open in São Paulo later this month, on March 29. Created by the owners of Bubu Lounge, Megga Fun will open on Saturdays only, meaning it will be an alternative to the muscle boys who do not want to go to The Week. The club will hold 3,000 people.

Openly gay Big Brother Brazil contestant Marcelo is up for elimination tonight against my crush Rafinha. I am voting for Marcelo to go as Rafinha is the only reason to watch the show. Besides that, Marcelo is just too freaking annoying.

A Semana: Camila Alves, Santoro, American Idol, And Madonna In Brazil

Want a bag designed by the future mother of Matthew McConaughey's baby? You can order one starting this month. According to RG Vogue, Brazilian model Camila Alves is launching a website to feature her line of Muxo bags. Prices will range from US$500 ro $1350, and all bags will be hand-sewn by Camila herself, her mother, and a few assistants. There are even men's styles in case you guys are interested.

Actor Rodrigo Santoro is back on the market: him and gf Ellen Jabour have officially called it quits.

Ana Beatriz Barros posed for footwear brand Drummond for the second season in a row.

Tom Ford is a busy coverboy these days. Now when is he going to pose naked again?

You have to watch Justice's new video for DVNO. It is logomania at its best.

Love that I finally got to watch American Idol live now that am in New York. Is it just me or is this the gayest season ever? David Hernandez's stripper past has been brought to surface, Danny Noriega almost performed in heels, and I developed a major crush on Luke Menard. Needles to say, I liked David Archuleta's performance, but I do want to see him perform something a little more upbeat (and flamboyant).

Rumor has it that Madonna will be including Brazil on her next tour. I can't wait to watch the video for 4 Minutes To Save The World, which will apparently pick up from where Hung Up ended.

Brazilianizing Britney

Brazilian comedians Vesgo and Silvio have been having a field day with Ms. Spears since last week, when they even made it to X17 Online for harassing the singer at one of her famous runs for Starbucks.

This week they are still on a Britney hunt, and managed to score yet another moment with her yesterday. The singer, however, refused to accept their mystery gift (a pink wig and a much needed pair of panties).

Watch some of the saga on video here and here. More pics at Estrelando.

Shhhh...

Madonna's 4 Minutes To Save The World leaked online.

And so a new promotional blitz begins.

Dança do Créu Is The New Macarena

The funk Dança do Créu invented by MC Créu took Brazil (and more specifically Rio) by storm this summer, but it was not until I saw it performed by Cia. Kebra-I that I decided to mention it here.

You gotta watch the whole thing. The best part is when the boys speed it up.

For an instructional video on how to dance the Créu, click here. And just to prove this has become a national craze, I have selected some other videos of hot Brazilian boys performing the choreography, which you can watch after the jump.

Born To Sing

David Archuleta performed Imagine last night on American Idol.