Posts Tagged celebrity
Fiji Water fuels the Music Industry
Posted by Wilson in Fiji Water, celebrity, music, water on June 10th, 2009
We all know the famous water brand that’s taken our country’s name all around the world. Fiji Water has come a long way in its bid to rule the bottled water world, and its marketing prowess is nothing to sneeze at. Its presence in Hollywood We’ve all freaked out when the bottle appeared on Friends. Heck, I practically had a fit when I saw the Fiji Water vending machine in that episode of X-Files when Scully waits at a train station for Mulder. I swear it was right there at the train station. I wasn’t thinking, “Oh dear, I wonder if dear mysterious monotone Mulder will show up for his one true love Scully?” No. I was spazzing out, grabbing anyone nearby by the collar and screaming, “OMIGODWTFBBQ DID YOU SEE THE FUCKING FIJI WATER MACHINE THINGO AT THE TRAIN STATION? QUICK! SCREENSHOT!”
Right.
There’s no denying that Fiji Water has the Hollywood crowd, with famous actors such as Junior James T Kirk and Brad Pitt seen out in public with the bottle close by. The Music Industry too is no slacker. Bottled water and public performance go hand in hand and in a strange way, sort of makes sense. Singing, especially in concerts with either the glaring mid-day sun on your face, or the bright, insect-attracting floodlights giving you accidental tan, is a tiring, sweaty job. So hydration is top on the list of necessary life items, besides pizza and the drug dealer’s speed dial button.
If you want to see what these singing celebrities order during their tours/performances, look no further, The Smoking Gun has a comprehensive list of famous singers and their list of travel demands a.k.a. Tour Riders. And one of the interesting things is how popular Fiji Water is amongst the bottled water request line up. Some of the more famous performers who’ve requested Fiji Water include:
Ok not Kelly Clarkson in particular, who prefers Dasani Water, but her rock band, who ask for a whooping 24 bottles of Fiji Water. In a rather unusual show of un-rockmanship, her list of needs is rather…small. Like, post 2008 world economy crash small. Which is quite funny, since her record sales show a different tale.
What I said about Kelly Clarkson? I take it back. Either Mandy Moore’s trying to compete with Kelly on the ‘who’s on the hobo diet?’ competition, or the printer ran out of ink when it got past item 7. Thank goodness 8 bottles of Fiji Water was at the top.
Granted the list said Fiji Water or Volci but still. As an aside, I was glad that some other singer/group aside from the current list of girl pop stars was on the list. And it was one of my favourite rock bands to boot! Now I can rock out to their tunes, knowing that they rock out with Fiji Water. As an added bonus, their tour rider write up is pretty hilarious, and is up there with the Iggy Pop one.
My personal favourite, Mary’s Tour Rider states most emphatically that her room must have “…10 1.5 litre bottles of FIJI water (absolutely, positively must be FIJI).” Like…absolutely. Or else there’ll be a whole lotta drama.
Top 5 Posts of 2008
Ah 2008.
2008 was many things to many people, but to this blog, some things never change, especially in Fiji. Sure, we’ve got dark times ahead with our somewhat soured relationship with New Zealand, but then again, when were we ever good friends with them to begin with? The way I saw it, we were always enemies, since Rugby brings out the worst in their devoted followers 
Also, the world economy took a hit, and soon we’ll be all feeling the familiar pinch of tight pockets and careful budgeting.
Also, the world economy took a hit, and soon we’ll be all feeling the familiar pinch of tight pockets and careful budgeting.But it wasn’t all doom and gloom you know. In terms of the much under appreciated sport of rugby league, the Fiji Bati fired up the hearts and minds of fijians everywhere when they made a surprising run at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, showcasing a quality of rugby that echoed the awesome performance of the Rugby Union World Cup 2007. Fiji also took a step towards Hollywood popularity when they designated the pacific as “Bulawood“. Oh. And we got another hurricane.
And throughout all the posts (or the lack thereof), you’ve always commented, letting us know just what you think of whatever was posted, agreements, disagreements, flames, trolls, the work. Here are the top 5 posts of the year by feedback:
It was all about 2007 apparently. The mandatory lookback at our humble beginnings, our noobish attempts at blogging, the unwittingly popular posts about crazy air hostesses, 2007 was a year that heralded a new local blog into the somewhat sparsely populated blogging scene (save for the contraversial, army hating regulars). It happened. And there was no turning back.
OMG a dilemma! It was the weekend of weekends, with a showdown between two events that locals were preparing to follow and adhere to. Earth Hour, the initiative to save the world from its eco-gulping inhabitants, was going to be started around the same time as our beloved Hong Kong 7s matches, and a pros and cons list had to be drawn up to decide who was the ultimate winner. Of course, a cursory glance at the game times revealed that Fiji’s matches were roughly 2 hours ahead of Earth Hour. So in the end, both parties won. Rare.
Fiji has only just being exposed to the West and all its ways in the past few centuries, and seems to haven taken most of the influence in its stride. Franchise in all its glory has not been left behind, and has taken residence with an almost enviable ease. However, a few have since hiccuped and closed shop, due to either near impossible competition (all hail Comsol the mighty dvd distributor of pirate dvds), bad business decisions, or just plain bad luck.
Heh. Best photo of 2008 in my humble opinion, which is mostly overrated, and never paid any attention, but I digress. Vodafone and Digicel, both warring business houses in the field of easy phones and bright splashy full page advertising, go out of their way to grab the consumer’s easily lost attention, though Digicel went one step further, and brought in chubby R&B crooner Sean Kingston on their opening day. Of course, never one to lose sight of any opportunity, Vodafone staff somehow managed a photo with the star when he landed, with the digicel staff nowhere to be found. Lols ensured.
In a very pote kind of way as well. World famous magician and all round slick haired Harry Houdini visited our shores back in 1910 and upon seeing some locals perform a diving trick, bested them at their own game. I can just picture it. The local divers, after being made to look like fools, scratch the back of their heads, grin, and swear silently before going off to town to shoot a few games of billiard and curse at all tourists in general. At least that is what I’d do. Early 1900’s or not.
With that behind us, I’m certainly looking forward to what surprises 2009 has in store for us all. Stay safe this festive season.
5 Minutes with the Maestro
Image source: www.scrumoftheearth.com
“Hey guess what?”
Most mornings don’t usually begin with a question like that. It’s either a “Io – ” head-straight-to-workstation or a “Yadra” head-straight-to-workstation start. It’s the morning, what’d you expect? Coffee and a bright eyed PA to greet you with a sunshine smile and the morning paper? Not in my version. Or paygrade.
I had just entered the office. It was a sunny Wednesday morning, and my late night WoW sessions didn’t bode too well with my somewhat rebellious bodyclock. Entering the front door, I was greeted, nay, assaulted by the company secretary, M. She grabbed my hand and practically yelled the question at me, wild-eyed with excitement.
“Hey hey guess what?”
I groaned as loud as I possibly could, trying in vain to dissuade her morning hype with my late night darkcloud of a mood. No luck.
“Guess what guess what?”
“What M?” I started to walk towards the kitchen, excited secretary in tow. “Caaaiiittta thing sa morning saraga and you already want to take my hand and play baseball with the thing. What- “
“Serevi’s coming to the office!”
I stopped cold.
“…Who?”
By now she knew I was listening to her, and pressed her attack.
“You know that Serevi is coming to our office today saraga this morning? For one photoshoot?”
Needless to say I was shocked.
“Serevi? Serevi ga Serevi?”
I jiggled my feet in a lame attempt of a goose step.
“That Serevi?”
“Yes! That Serevi! The one and only!”
M laughed and clapped her hands in a fit of girly excitement. My jaw dropped and I had to surpress the urge to abandon my age bracket join in nilly-willy with the mini-celebration.
“Holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit,” my mind raced. I needed to record this monumental moment. I was going to see the King of the oval ball, the maestro of the pitch, the legend of a nation that revered all that was sevens and rugby-ish.
I was going to meet Serevi.
The question that raced through my head first off was, if you’re going to meet someone famous, and you wanted a piece of history to take home with you, what would have been the best memorabilia/surface to have signed?
I did a quick mental check:
Rugby t-shirt: None. Nada. I came to work in my bloody ’save-the-whales’ hippy t-shirt and jeans. It was Wednesday, so of course I was in my mid-week crisis wardrobe mode. And I didn’t think I’d have want Serevi to sign on some dinky whale. I liked that shirt.
Rugby Ball: This would have been really great as something to be signed on, if only there was a ball within the premises. Unfortunately, being a fairly straight forward desk and computer office, sports was somewhat of a foreign notion to most of the staff. So that was quickly struck off the list.
Rugby Poster: Any self respecting rugby fan will tell you that their wall must and I stress, must have at least one poster that depicts the oval ball in action in order to prove their dedication towards the only manly sports in the pacific. Bonus points if its those cool adidas All Blacks posters with them turning lions into fur coats. Alas, this was not my room, and no rugby posters were within reach. Sad I know.
Female Breasts: of which I had none. Last time I checked. But judging by the adulating gaze that M would be giving Serevi, I’m sure hers would have been supplied free of charge, pen or no pen.
Flat Stomach: No luck here as well. Fiji Bitter has seen to that.
After racking my brains for what seemed like an eternity, it finally hit me and I resisted the urge to punch myself in the kidney for not thinking of the solution earlier.
A photograph!
I needed a camera. And quick.
To be continued…
Digicel to open in Fiji, brings R&B Crooner
Posted by Wilson in advertising, celebrity, music, rumour on September 25th, 2008
Digicel, the upcoming gargentuous thorn-in-the-side to mega-corp Vodafone, is due to officially open its doors next week Wednesday, 1st of October here in Fiji, bringing to an end the years long monopoly Vodafone had on the local mobile phone industry.
While this may sound like good news to some, the more interesting tid bit of info was which musical artist they’d bring to entertain/disuade the locals during opening day. More marketing then friendly peace offerings to the competition before beginning cut throat business, Digicel is known for impressive, near festival quality opening shows in the countries it opens in.
source: www.matangitonga.to
A free concert, massive promotions, the works.
As impressive as it sounds, I was more interested in who Digicel would bring to Fiji for their mega opening ceremony. Since a repeat of Shaggy’s performance here wouldn’t be original, let alone fair to the friendly tongans (malo to ya’ll tongan readers – yes all 2 of you (: ), any musician was fair game.
After some asking around, a fair bit of bribing and buddy building relationships over booze and grog, rumours have began to surface over who exactly Digicel is bringing to our much hallowed shores for the night’s entertainment. Bear in mind this isn’t official until actually officially announced by Digicel themselves, but a spin on the rumour mill will add a bit of fun to the mix.
Yes, thats right. Rumour has it that we’re getting the chubby chase of hip hop, the rolly polly of R&B, Sean Kingston, singer of such hits as beautiful girls, love like this and What is it.
Surprised? A little bit. Perhaps I was hoping for the return of the UK super reggae band UB40, since their previous concert here in Fiji was more awesome then booze induced sex anywhere. But hey, if it’s a free show, then what’s there to complain about? This, with Vodafone’s car razy promo, signals the beginning of more mega promos on the horizon.
Who were you hoping for?
EDIT: Well, there you have it.
While Sammy G and Mr Grin were of little surprise (I have a feeling this concert will look great on their resume), KatchaFire was somewhat out of the blue.
Also…the Millenium Orchestra? Unless this Orchestra does UB40 covers, I’m not quite sure how they’ll fit into the grand scheme of Hip Hop/Reggae/Rap performances come Wednesday, but I’m always open to surprises 
Filler Post till I get my Net Connection Back
Shifted recently but still haven’t set up my net, so I’m posting this as filler, or to let you know that no, I haven’t yet abandoned this blog. Not until I get my net up and start raiding seriously in them 25 man dungeons before WOTLK – .
Ahem.
If you are a fan of Heroes, and you find the japanese mainboy Masi Oka quite the funny guy, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised that he is kinda funny in real life as well.
Here’s a clip from teh internet teeveez that has Stop Time Boy fishing out from the crystal blue waters of Fiji something that doesn’t quite seem at home in the sea…
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