Project CBRunway 4: Challenge 3 Voting Thread [Archive]

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:18 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/mattbib/Hosted_Images/projectcbrunway4Med.png
Welcome to the runway!

PLEASE VOTE for the entry you feel best completes the challenge. Voting should not be based solely on art ability. Ultimately, however, voting is completely subjective. The designer(s) with the least amount of votes may be eliminated.

NOTE: Only registered CBR members with a posting history may vote. Participants may vote for themselves. However any votes from posters sharing any IP addresses will be discounted, no exceptions. Any fraudulent voting will result in disqualification and a possible permanent forum ban.

CHALLENGE 3: SONGBIRDS

For your next challenge you must design a superhero identity for a female musician based on the title of one of her singles.

You will be judged on originality and creativity, and how well your character represents the artist and song title you choose. Your outfit may consist of natural or synthetic materials.

In addition to the required written description explaining material, functionality and design inspiration, you should include a short description of how and why your character represents the song title you pick.

Unfortunately Shade101 was unable to submit a design so he is out.

Please vote using the poll, then feel free to make comments or ask questions about this challenge or these designs within this thread. Now let's start the show...

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:25 AM

http://ozbot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c4e3753ef0111690e5044970c-800wi
Headmistress
Inspired by the song Can't Get You Out of My Head, meet Kylie Minogue-- the Headmistress! You see, Kylie's song was in fact autobiographical-- she literally couldn't get someone out of her waking dreams and sleeping thoughts, until she tapped into her power to physically enter the dreamspace and force the guy out! Now, she uses her songs to enter the dreamscape as the world's dream-hunter extraordinare, often with her back-up chorus line of Headcases!

Kylie's costume has a few elements from the Head video's plunging neckline but it's largely based on general elements of current fashion with a decidedly 80s color scheme to keep her with her "roots." (The white robes/sarong is only lined with color, as is the cape.) Her stockings/shoes are sheer with the words "la la la" repeated in the pattern, as in the song I've chosen. She makes no apologies for how she appears in the dreamscape-- as someone who regularly out-Madonnas Madonna and has gone on record saying "There's been no tragedy in my life, only tragic outfits."

Lyrics
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your loving is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about

Every night, every day
Just to be there in your arms
Won't you stay
Won't you lay
Stay forever and ever and ever and ever

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

I just can't get you out of my head
Boy your love is all I think about
I just can't get you out of my head
Boy it's more than I dare to think about

There's a dark secret in me
Don't leave me locked in your heart
Set me free
Feel the need in me
Set me free
Stay forever
And ever and ever and ever

La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

I just can't get you out of my head
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I just can't get you out of my head
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I just can't get you out of my head
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I just can't get you out of my head
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:31 AM

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7135/shadowsofthenight.jpg
Shadows of the Night
The song is about the very romantic notion that people in love can get away from their troubles by running off into the night together. So, my character needed a romantic look. Her top is inspired by the very romantic fashions of the Elizabethan era. It is made from luxurious midnight blue velvet and silver trimmings. The primary collar has sparkling stars, which magically twinkle, and rotate. The second collar is a manifestation of her shadow powers, for dramatic effect. Her accessories are nighttime icons, stars and the moon. However, Pat Benatar is known for her tough, leading lady persona, so all of these feminine touches are juxstaposed against her very rock and roll black leather pants and black leather lace-up boots. She wears a silver cuff on her wrist.

Lyrics
We're running with the Shadows Of The Night
So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They'll come true in the end

You said - oh girl, it's a cold world
When you keep it all to yourself
I said you can't hide on the inside
All the pain you've ever felt
Ransom my heart, but baby don't look back
Cause we got nobody else

We're running with the Shadows of the Night
So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They'll come true in the end

You know that sometimes, it feels like
It's all moving way too fast
Use every alibi and words you deny
That love ain't meant to last
You can cry tough baby, it's all right
You can let me down easy, but not tonight

We're running with the Shadows of the Night
So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They'll come true in the end

We're running with the Shadows of the Night
So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They'll come true in the end
And now the hands of time are standin' still
Midnight Angel, won't you say you will

We're running with the Shadows of the Night
So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They'll come true in the end

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:37 AM

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/psiwar/CBR03XX.jpg

Electric Youth
On the Japan leg of Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth tour, a freakish tech accident with her mic suddenly initiated a Galactic Resonance - sending her headfirst into a parallel dimension where Super Sentais really exist. This parallel dimension, currently ravaged by the evil Metal Shock Empire, is protected by a young team of fighters called Storm Squadron Windranger (Arashi Sentai Uindorenja). Debbie's arrival did not go unnoticed, she was immediately abducted and held prisoner by the empire inside the Iron Fortress. Ultimately, she was rescued by the Windrangers, but not without a casualty - one the squadron members, Blue Wind, sacrificed himself so the team can escape. Deeply saddened by these turn of events, Debbie opted to stay for a while and help fight against the Empire until a new Blue Wind is found. She was then armed with the Star Protect Bracelet (creates a force field around her body) and the Heart Electric Galactophone (a weapon that taps into the energies of the galactic resonance) to help her in their quest.

I thought it'd be ridiculous if i gave Ms. Gibson electric powers and just left it at that, so I tried to focus on what the song, Electric Youth, meant to me - and build a concept/character from there. Basically, the song is telling me about youth and it's potential power to change/create the future through their dreams etc...and since Ms. Gibson already has this camp for talented young people, I thought it'd be perfect to translate it to the super-hero genre. So I gave her this upstart squad and let her be their older sister of sorts until they reach a goal...and because I was watching 80's super sentai series and sailormoon on dvd - i thought it's be cuter to have them anime-like. (imagine anime-debbie doing a sailormoon-like attack executions but instead of shouting incantations before her attack, she sings a line or two from one of her songs)

Now that i've gone anime, it'd be hard to re-create Ms. Gibson's likeness - so for her look, I just stuck with her trademark hat during that time, and some late 80's clothing (red violet khaki like shorts, leggings etc...) but gave her that force field creator to protect her.

Lyrics
Zappin' it to ya
The pressure's everywhere
Goin' right through ya
The fever's in the air
Oh yeah, it's there!
Don't underestimate the power
Of a lifetime ahead

Electric youth
Feel the power, you see the energy
Comin' up
Coming on strong
The future only belongs
To the future itself/in the hands of itself
And the future is
Electric youth
It's true you can't fight it
Live by it
The next generation...

It's electric

We've got the most time
To make the world go round
Oh, can you spare a dime?
Place your bet on our sound
Come back to town
Don't lose sight of potential mastermind
Remember when you were young

Electric youth
Feel the power, you see the energy
Comin' up
Coming on strong
The future only belongs
To the future itself/in the hands of itself
And the future is
Electric youth
It's true you can't fight it
Live by it
The next generation...

It's electric

We do what comes naturally (naturally!)
You see now
Wait for the possibility
Don't you see a strong resemblance
To yourself?(oh...)
Don't you think what we say is important?
Whatever it may be...
The fun is gonna start with me
'cause I'm bringing it back...

Electric youth
Feel the power, you see the energy
Comin' up
Coming on strong
The future only belongs
To the future itself/in the hands of itself
And the future is
Electric youth
It's true you can't fight it
Live by it
The next generation...

It's electrifying

Take it Fred!

Electric youth
Feel the power, you see the energy
Comin' up
Coming on strong
The future only belongs
To the future itself/in the hands of itself
And the future is
Electric youth
It's true you can't fight it
Live by it
The next generation...

It's electric, it's electric, it's electric

Electric youth
Feel the power, you see the energy
Comin' up
Coming on strong
The future only belongs
To the future itself/in the hands of itself
And the future is
Electric youth
It's true you can't fight it
Live by it
The next generation...

It's electric

Inflation
Flirtation
Relaxation
Elation
Generation of
An electric youth!

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:43 AM

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t182/CaironIX/madgecrap2copy.jpg

Ray of Light
The ability to inspire and give hope. A super-muse if you will.

The costume is based on the various looks Madonna has had over the years:
- From the early years I incorporated the cross into her costume. Madonna wouldn't be Madonna if she didn't flirt with religion.
- From her years as an executive bitch, I gave her the skirt. Think of it as the extension on a long coat.
- The boots and the leather belts are from her days as a dominatrix.
- There is of course her more recent yoga-crotch shot. She's wearing a sleeveless jacket because she needs to show off her bulging biceps.
- The jacket is also inspired by those old varsity jackets, the ones you see on footballplayers in high school, a nod to when she flirted with the good old days. Like when she did True Blue.
- The pattern of the half-skirt and cross are a reference to her more softer sides, the days when she was doing Bedtime Stories.

Lyrics
Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone

And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Faster than the speeding light she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began
She's got herself a little piece of heaven
Waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one

And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light

Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone

And I feel
Quicker than a ray of light
Then gone for
Someone else shall be there
Through the endless years

She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe

And I feel
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Quicker than a ray of light she's flying
Quicker than a ray of light I'm flying

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:48 AM

http://50footrobot.com/ComicProjectRunway/Beyonce_EGO.jpg

Ego
For this challenge I used Beyonce's every changing look and her song "Ego" as inspiration.
The song to me is about confidence. Beyonce's Superheroine persona, "EGO", is all about in your face confidence, bright shine, and radiance of light and personality. EGO got her powers from an otherwordly being of pure energy who co-inhabits her body. EGO uses energy manipulation to shock and temporarily blind her opponents. The energy that exists inside her manifests as an alien-looking "angel" around her. When her power is fully active, on-lookers have been known to comment that "she was just to beautiful to look at."

Her costume is made of metal augmented gloves and boots. Sequined material for the top and skirts, with leather pants underneath.

Lyrics
Aw, baby, how you doing?
You know I'ma cut right
to the chase, huh?
Some women were made
But me, myself?
I like to think that I was created
For a special purpose
You know?
What's more special than YOU?
You feel me?

It’s on, baby let's get lost
You don't need to call
in to work cause you the boss
For real, want you to
show me how you feel
I consider myself a colossal big deal, Why?
Well, you got the key to my heart
But you ain't gonna need it
I'd rather you open up my body
And show me secrets you
didn't know was inside
No need for me to lie

It’s too big (big)
It’s too wide (wide)
It’s too strong (strong)
It won't fit (fit)
It’s too much (much)
It's too tough (tough)
He talk like this cause
he can back it up
He got a big ego
Such a huge ego
But, I love his big ego
It’s too much
He walk like this cause
he can back it up

Usually I'm humble
Right now, I don't choose
You can leave with me
Or, you could have the blues
Some call it arrogant
I call it confident
You decide when you find out
what I'm working with
Damn, I know
I'm killing you with them legs
Better yet, them thighs
Matter of fact its' my
smile, or maybe my eyes?
Boy, you a sight to see
Kinda sutt'n like me

It’s too big (big)
It’s too wide (wide)
It’s too strong (strong)
It won't fit (fit)
It’s too much (much)
It’s too tough (tough)
I talk like this cause
I can back it up
I got a big ego
Such a huge ego
But, he love my big ego
It’s too much
I walk like this cause
I can back it up

I, I walk like this cause
I can back it up
I, I talk like this cause
I can back it up
I, I, I can back it up,
I can back it up
I Walk like this cause
I can back it up

It’s too big (big)
It’s too wide (wide)
It’s too strong (strong)
It won't fit (fit)
It’s too much (much)
It’s too tough (tough)
He talk like this cause
he can back it up
He got a big ego
Such a huge ego...such a huge ego
But, I love his big ego
It’s too much
He walk like this cause
he can back it up

Ego so BIG you must admit
I got every reason to feel
like I'm that BITCH
Ego so strong, if you ain't know?
I don't need no beat, I can
sing it with piano...

mattbib

03-24-2009, 10:52 AM

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii281/Randylbishop/cher2.gif

All I Really Want to Do
I really felt like I was given the opportunity to play God with her a little bit. How are you supposed to design an iconic costume for someone who has surrounded herself with great (and not so great) fashion designers her entire life? I found myself trying to answer that by thinking more about her powers than what she would wear.

Once I settled on All I Really Want To Do, you'd better Believe I decided to interpret the title with the rule being that Cher could take powers from the imagery from titles of all of her songs. This meant she needed Cher Cuffs for when she needs to say "I've Got You Babe." But essentially, she is presented here as a Half Breed Dark Lady with War Paint and Soft Feathers , a pistol Just Like Jesse James' and a C-shaped conch buckle on her holster belt. To keep her safe, she has her bulletproof Heart of Stone on her chest. To get around, she drives Geronimo's Cadillac, which, as I understand it, is Hell on Wheels. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves don't stand a chance with her Train of Thought! I Walk on Guilded Splinters was inspiration for the footwear, and If I Could Turn Back Time is inspiration for the wristwatch. I imagine that to be the root of her powers, so she can be Alive Again if she dies or gets Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered.
I really hope that this entry is a Dead Ringer for Love from all you voters! :biggrin:

Lyrics
Now I aint lookin
To compete with you
Beat on, cheat on, mistreat you
Simplify you, classify you
Deny, defy, mystify you

All I really want to do
Is baby, be friends with you
Baby, be friends with you

Now I aint lookin
To fight with you
Frighten you or uptight you
Drag you down or drain you down
Chain you down or bring you down

All I really want to do
Is baby, be friends with you
Baby, be friends with you

I aint lookin to block you up
Dock or rock or lock you up
Analyze you, categorize you
Finalize or advertise you

All I really want to do
Is baby, be friends with you
Baby, be friends with you

I dont want to straight- face you up
Race or chase or track or trace you
Or disgrace you or displace you
Or define you or confine you

All I really want to do
Is baby, be friends with you
Baby, be friends with you

Now I dont want to meet your kin
Make you spin or do you in
Or select you or dissect you
Or inspect you or reject you

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:17 AM

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa53/spaghettikiss/CBR-02-SONGSTRESS.gif

Girls Just Want to Have Fun
The concept here is very simple. FUNFETTI, a.k.a. Cyndi Lauper, has the power to make people stop whatever they are doing, whether it’s working, fighting or crying, and immediately start dancing. I’m not talking a tango or a rhomba…but an all out 80’s dance party kind of dance. Through the use of her magical confetti that spews not only from her hands but her magically fabulous, white trash side ponytail, Funfetti can forcefully inspire dance in a single downtrodden man or in armies waging war.

I wanted to use the most iconic of all of Cyndi’s songs and just have fun with this. The lyrics simply stated that mom, dad and boys just didn’t understand…THIS girl just wanted to have fun. It was Cyndi’s anthem that she wanted to share, that having a good time, no matter what, was the most important thing. Now, as FUNFETTI she can make it happen in ways even her infectious (albeit silly) music couldn’t

Cyndi Lauper wasn’t just 80’s fabulous, she was white trash, thrift store, scuffed up and dirty 80’s fabulous and she made it work. I wanted to design something that she might have made herself from patent leather she bought in thrift stores and I wanted her to have her scuff marks and ripped stockings. I figure that her identity wouldn’t stay secret for long and she wouldn’t want it to.

As for the head dress, I looked at a dozen or so hair styles of Cyndi’s from over her 80’s career and tried to design a rubbery substitute that represented the base mean of all of her hairdos…meaning the bouffant top, the teased bangs and the side pnytail with little purple wisp, only now in a protective patent leather.

Lyrics
I come home in the morning light
My mother says when you gonna live your life right
Oh mother dear we're not the fortunate ones
And girls just want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

The phone rings in the middle of the night
My father yells what you gonna do with your life
Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one
But girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have--

That's all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls-- they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have

That's all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls--they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun,
They want to have fun,
They want to have fun...

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:20 AM

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/97/cbrfunkyinferno.jpg

Disco Inferno
When the clouds of darkness gather, Tina Turner hears the cries of the people. She hears the music in the air, she knows there’s still a party somewhere, and she summons the funkadelic power of the disco inferno burning in every partygoer’s soul. The music keeps her dancing, and when the boogie starts to explode within her, starting a love explosion that transforms her into Funky Inferno. Who needs another hero? No one, when Funky Inferno makes the scene! She don’t wanna fight, but when the spark gets hot and the heat is on, rising to the top, she’s stronger than the wind, can fly one hundred stories high, and can use the chain reaction to storm the fortress of evil and burn the mutha down! Burn the mutha down!

Lyrics
To my surprise one hundred storeys high
People getting loose now, getting down on the roof
Folks screaming, out of control
It was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode
I heard somebody say

(burn baby burn) disco inferno
(burn baby burn) burn that mother down
(burn baby burn) disco inferno
(burn baby burn) burn that mother down

Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
I couldnt get enough, so I had to self-destruct
The heat was on, rising to the top
Everybody is going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say

(burn baby burn) disco inferno
(burn baby burn) burn that mother down
(burn baby burn) disco inferno
(burn baby burn) burn that mother down

Up above my head
I hear music in the air
That makes me know
Theres a party somewhere

(just cant stop) when my spark gets hot
(just cant stop) when my spark gets hot GA_googleFillSlot("lyricsfreak-300x50-btf");

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:23 AM

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/eg_marsh/comic%20art/challenge3final.jpg

One Way or Another
While performing one night in the summer of 1983, Debbie Harry of the band Blondie was electrocuted in a freak onstage accident! The shock should have been enough to kill her, but through one of the many miracles of “super-science” she survived! It wasn’t long before discovered the amazing changes that her body had undergone: She could now split into two individual and distinct entities, each with its own personality and powers! One could rip you to shreds with its speed, strength, nigh invulnerability and aggressive attitude! The other form of Debbie could use its ghost-like form to pass through any wall and seduce the minds of men with nothing more than a look! It wasn’t long before the Pentagon realized the asset a being with Debbie’s incredible ability to be in two places at the same time would be in the tracking and apprehending of America’s enemies at home and abroad! Debbie was brought in under the cover story of Blondie’s “breakup” and became the lone agent in Operation: One Way or Another! For years she traveled the globe saving the world time and again, knowing that her only weakness was that her two forms must recombine every night at 11:59 or they would fade away forever! However, the enemies of freedom grew to be too many in number for even a woman with two bodies by 1996, and Debbie was allowed to retire! She resumed her career with Blondie, leaving America’s safety to the newly reformed Strikeforce: K.I.S.S.!

I used the song One Way or Another as the springboard for this idea. I liked the idea of a superhero that can stalk her enemies by literally going in two directions at once: one way or another (bad pun, I know). It also gave me room to give Debbie Harry a diverse range of powers without having one lone person seeming overpowered. Splitting her into two bodies with two very different skill sets also opened up more cheesy references to defeating foes “one way or another.”

As for the design itself, I wanted the two Debbies’ looks to reflect how different they are. “Tough Debbie” uses bold colors and blacks for contrast to make her look like more of a physical presence. “Ghost Debbie” stays with lighter colors and very little contrast, as well as being transparent. This is all to play up the intangibility of “Ghost Debbie.” I wanted some elements to connect the two Debbies, so I gave them matching belts as an obvious reference point. The belts are based on a belt that Debbie Harry wore in a photo shoot, and when I saw it I realized it was superhero-ish and over the top enough to use without too many changes. Other parallels are the bare arms and the skirts that taper down to one side. I reversed the arm that was bare and the direction of the taper on each costume to further accentuate the distorted mirror image concept of having two personalities.

The materials of the costumes are based on things Debbie Harry has worn over her career. Most of the outfits of the late 1970s and 1980s New Wave movement were pretty outlandish, so I took elements from her various outfits and mashed them together: a jacket from one photo with fur trim from another and a shirt from a music video, for example. After that, it was a matter of adding little touches (spikes on the jacket, tears in the stockings, etc.) to superhero up the looks and further get across the personality of each Debbie. I also wanted to give them each a “mask” without being too literal. “Tough Debbie” got a streak of New Wave face paint over her eyes, while “Ghost Debbie” got a tattered veil to add a little mystery to what exactly she does with her eyes to mesmerize men.

Lyrics
One way or another I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I'm gonna win ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I'm gonna see ya
I'm gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha
One day, maybe next week
I'm gonna meetcha, I'm gonna meetcha, I'll meetcha
I will drive past your house
And if the lights are all down
I'll see who's around

One way or another I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I'm gonna win ya
I'll getcha, I'll getcha
One way or another I'm gonna see ya
I'm gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha
One day, maybe next week
I'm gonna meetcha, I'll meetcha

And if the lights are all out
I'll follow your bus downtown
See who's hanging out

One way or another I'm gonna lose ya
I'm gonna give you the slip, a slip of the lip or another
I'm gonna lose ya, I'm gonna trick ya
One way or another I'm gonna lose ya
I'm gonna trick ya trick ya trick ya trick ya
One way or another I'm gonna lose ya
I'm gonna give you the slip

I'll walk down the mall
Stand over by the wall
Where I can see it all
Find out who ya call
Lead you to the supermarket checkout
Some specials and rat food, get lost in the crowd

One way or another I'm gonna getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha getcha
getcha getcha
(Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)
One way or another I'm gonna getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha getcha
getcha getcha
(Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)
One way or another I'm gonna getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha getcha
getcha getcha
(Where I can see it all, find out who ya call)

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:26 AM

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo309/mohofrappe/Hot-Stuff.png

Hot Stuff
What's really goddamned amazing about Donna Summer is what a sexpot
she is. We're all familiar with Bad Girls, and if you're my age, you've
seen Zoolander, and you're aware of No Doubt cooing Love to Love You
Baby. But when I let myself become totally immersed by the raw wonder
of Donna Summer this weekend, I really reveled in what a gorgeous
sexbomb extraodinaire she was.

As Hot Stuff, Donna Summer is a powerhouse of strength! Fueled by her
sex drive, Donna's lust correlates to her super strength, drawing a
parallel between her gyrating hips and her rotating left hooks!

Although Donna's back in the music world with her new album, it was
the disco queen of yesteryear that I really wanted to capture. The
first video I saw was a concert of Last Dance. The slow ballad was a
warm start, and then the music kicked and Donna swirled with the
music! Shoulders shaking, rocking hips, and that luscious, luscious
hair, it was the epitome of Donna!

toot toot
ahh, beep beep

I put her on hold before it came time to play again and I really threw
myself into it with zeal. Videos and concerts for a whole lot of her
hits really let me know who Donna really was, which was something I
needed before I could draw any empowered black woman.

on the radio
woah-oh-oh-oh

Donna's a real sexbomb hot stuff and I really like that about her.
Inbetween lyrics and beats, she peppers (and also pours) moans and
sighs and all sorts of oohs and ahhs; her costume should be fun and
sexy, but with the times. I really wanted to remember Donna's
illustrious self because it's such a big part of her -- the sixteen
minute lust track of Love to Love You Baby (nevermind her Serge and
Birkin cover) is a testament to that.

Sparkling and dazzling and fabulous, she's Hot Stuff, and she's
talking about the sad girls.

Lyrics
Sittin' here eatin' my heart out waitin'
Waitin' for some lover to call
Dialed about a thousand numbers lately
Almost rang the phone off the wall

Lookin' for some hot stuff baby this evenin'
I need some hot stuff baby tonight
I want some hot stuff baby this evenin'
Gotta have some hot stuff
Gotta have some lovin' tonight
I need hot stuff
I want some hot stuff
I need some hot stuff

Lookin' for a lover who needs another
Don't want another night on my own
Wanna share my love with a warm blooded lover
Wanna bring a wild man back home

Lookin' for some hot stuff baby this evenin'
I need some hot stuff baby tonight
I want some hot stuff baby this evenin'
Gotta have some hot stuff
Gotta have some lovin' tonight
I need hot stuff
I want some hot stuff
I need some hot stuff

Sittin' here eatin' my heart out, no reason
Won't spend another night on my own
I dialed about a hundred numbers baby
I'm bound to find somebody home

Lookin' for some hot stuff baby this evenin'
I need some hot stuff baby tonight
I want some hot stuff baby this evenin'
Gotta have some hot stuff
Gotta have some lovin' tonight
I need hot stuff
I want some hot stuff
I need some hot stuff

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:28 AM

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/mrcassandranova/stevienickscopy-1.jpg

Landslide
During my research I found that Stevie NIcks enveloped herself in many flowing gowns and in her later years wore a lot of blacks. Since flowing gowns do not translate well into superheroine crime fighter supreme, I decided to integrate flowing aspects into a much more wearable getup. I tried to make it more than a simple top with the shoulders that Atoning hates and with the see throughy front to it. I wanted to keep the pants simpler to make sure they wouldn't draw attention away from the shirt. And yes, miss Nicks can easily fight in heels.

and now, a story:

Stevie Nicks woke up in a cold sweat. It was the year 1974 and she did not know what to do with her life. It wasn't this fear of the future though that woke her up. in actuality it was the blinking lights of three pixies sitting on her night stand. They called themselves the Pixie Chicks and they had used their magical abilities to travel back in time to bestow upon Miss Nicks the most wonderful of gifts. They told her that her music would save millions of lives in the future, but there were those bent on stopping her beats! In order to protect themselves, the pixies granted her the ability to control the earth, the land sliding at her whim. And with that they were off to attend a concert. Now Alone, Stevie picked up her guitar and wrote a song, the name of which people would call her from that day on. Landslide.

Lyrics
I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
and I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
'Till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life~~~
Mmmm mmm mmm

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too
Oh I'm getting older too

Awh, take my love, take it down
Awh, Climb a mountain and turn around
And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide bring it down

And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide bring it down
Oh the landslide bring it down.

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:32 AM

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s201/tylerragan/LaLuna.jpg

La Luna
For some, the goal of becoming a rock star is to immortalize themselves through their music. For Belinda, that wasn’t enough. Early in her career, she came into the possession of a mysterious Little Black Book. Within the book - a way to obtain an extended life. Once a month, on the full moon, it would list the name of a person in close vicinity to the owner, which identified them as supernatural (Usually being a werewolf or some other Big Scary Monster). All that is required of the owner to obtain an additional year to their lifespan is to eliminate the listed person. It is required that the target’s head be blown completely away. The book grants the user increased durability and agility to allow her to flip Head Over Heels. Belinda trained herself in the use of her 2 .357 Smith & Wessons and took on the mantle of the mysterious killer dubbed by the media as “La Luna”, due of the method of elimination and the time of the month that she would strike. Nobody has been able to connect Belinda’s role as La Luna, and believe when I say that Our Lips Are Sealed on the matter…

Everyone thinks of Belinda Carlisle as another squeaky-clean pop star, but her roots in the industry were more in the punk/new wave side of things when the Go-Go’s started out. I wanted La Luna to reflect some of that hard edginess to the character, since I figured a lot of the other entries might not go this route.

I wanted to keep it fairly dark, since she operates only at night, and doesn’t want to draw attention to herself. I wanted her face to be totally concealed to protect her identity, since she’s actually killing people out there, even if they are werewolves. The hair is a pink wig to reflect a new wave feel. The Smith and Wessons are loaded with a variety of silver hollow point bullets, filled with various substances such as holy water, liquid mercury, or liquid silver.

Lyrics
I remember when I met you
All the stars were hanging in mid-air
In those moments nothing mattered
But the way you caught me in your stare

We were walking, we were talking
We were laughing about the state of our lives
How our fates brought us together
As the moon was rising in your eyes

On and on the night was falling
Deep down inside us
On and on a light was shining
Right through

Ah la Luna, la Luna
The night that we fell under the spell of the moon
Ah la Luna, la Luna
The light that will bring me back to you
The light of la Luna

In the hotels, in the cafés
All the world was mad with romance
In the harbour, moonlit water
All the ships were swaying in a dance

Then you held me and you kissed me
And I knew I had to be with you
You didn't ask me, you just took me
To the tiny bed in your tiny room

On and on the band was playing
A song of surrender
On and on, the sun would soon
Break through

Ah la Luna, la Luna
The night that we fell under the spell of the moon
Ah la Luna, la Luna
The light that will bring me back to you

Ah la Luna, la Luna
The night that we fell under the spell of the moon
Ah la Luna, la Luna
The light that will bring me back to you
The light of la Luna

Now I walk along the streets of Marseille
The winter sky is cold and grey
And I don't know why I left you that day
And I don't know where you are

Ah la Luna, la Luna
The night that we fell under the spell of the moon
Ah la Luna, la Luna
The light that will bring me back to you
The light of la Luna

Ah la Luna, la Luna
The night that we fell under the spell of the moon
Ah la Luna, la Luna
The light that will bring me back to you
The light of la Luna

mattbib

03-24-2009, 11:36 AM

http://www.rearaccount.com/crap/lennox.gif

A Whiter Shade of Pale
Decided to go for a Green Hornet/Spirit type look.

Lyrics
We skipped the light Fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray

And so it was that later
As the Miller told his tale
And then a face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

She said there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
And would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well've been closed

And so it was that later
As the Miller told his tale
And then a face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

And so it was that later
As the Miller told his tale
And then a face at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

escapegoat

03-24-2009, 11:43 AM

Oh man! What a crazy round! :biggrin:

Come To Deathstrike

03-24-2009, 11:52 AM

Donna Summer is F*cking fabulous.

Mr.EZ

03-24-2009, 11:56 AM

Wow, really had a tough time with this.

I loved deanlegion's, mthemordant's and Manon's, but I'm voting for escapegoat's because his is the only entry that looks like a super-heroine, and because I really like the phases of the moon cascading down Belinda's suit, which capture the song title chosen perfectly.

Novaya Havoc

03-24-2009, 12:11 PM

VERY cool concept, Bib! Love the entries. Hard round, though, because many singers have classic looks associated with certain songs, and I suspect it's hard to get out of that box.

I had to go with Annie Lennox. Simple, and love the big tie that pulls it off!

Other quick feedback on a few entries:

Kylie:
Cool concept, not getting much of a "superhero" vibe. I think the song selection was tougher than some of the easier ones ("Shocked" or "Red Blooded Woman" come to mind).

Donna Summer:
Love it; very "Captain Marvel." Hot color scheme.

Tina Turner:
Love it; wish there was some "Disco" element in it, rather than just the "Inferno."

Madonna:
Dig it; you pulled it off well for hating Madonna so much! LOL! The cross is a nice touch; not a fan of the plunging crotchline (even if it is a Madonna staple!).

Cyndi Lauper:
Awesome concept and design. Love it!

mattbib

03-24-2009, 12:14 PM

I love the illustration, but I do need to point out that Manon did not provide the required write-up.

atoningunifex

03-24-2009, 12:39 PM

I love the illustration, but I do need to point out that Manon did not provide the required write-up.

Yeah, but Manon also designed a look that doesn't need a ton of explanation and is visually tied to the name of the song.

I'll post my comments later, but I am not overly impressed by this round. I think a lot of people relied on their write-up and didn't make much effort to actually have their designs reflect the name of the song.

mattbib

03-24-2009, 12:51 PM

Yeah, but Manon also designed a look that doesn't need a ton of explanation and is visually tied to the name of the song.
I agree, but that doesn't change the fact that it's part of the submission requirements.

I actually haven't seen most of the designs yet because of my work firewall, so I'll have to reserve judgment on the designs until I get home.

escapegoat

03-24-2009, 01:01 PM

I actually haven't seen most of the designs yet because of my work firewall, so I'll have to reserve judgment on the designs until I get home.

Well, I haveta admit....the blatant full frontal nudity kinda threw me off on Manon's design, but hey....you gotta do what you gotta do to get them votes....it looks like it's paying off for him....

j/k :tongue:

I'm so evil.....

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 03:34 PM

Yeah, but Manon also designed a look that doesn't need a ton of explanation and is visually tied to the name of the song.

I'll post my comments later, but I am not overly impressed by this round. I think a lot of people relied on their write-up and didn't make much effort to actually have their designs reflect the name of the song.

I sorta kinda disagree...I think that there are definately some entries that don't exude their song but I think the ones that do do a great job.

The other tough thing here was apparently getting the vibe of the singer down (by that I DO NOT mean the likeness...somewhat unimportant) I feel like some just feel TOO separate from the personality the singer puts out.

I know that may be the intention for some people but i think this round is way more about being immediate in its recognizability than some other rounds perhaps?

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 03:37 PM

I love the illustration, but I do need to point out that Manon did not provide the required write-up.

Matt...Is it fair to say that MANON did in fact put a very short write up with his drawing? he leaves a lot to infer and perhaps its a shot in the foot but he does describe his design inspiration even if it is in 8 words or less.

I mean, technically speaking of course.

Gene M.

03-24-2009, 03:39 PM

There are a lot of interesting entries this round. I think I'm going to hold off on voting until the end of the round.

Your Imaginary Pal

03-24-2009, 04:17 PM

voted for spaghetti
it sure looks like she's having fun. Nice exuberant image with good energy.
Made me think of Cindi. Though I thought the name was supposed to be the song title.

Good work all round though folks. Escapegoat and Manon get the most honorable of mentions.

bakla

03-24-2009, 04:19 PM

I echo atoning's sentiment. To be frank, it was an interestingly difficult challenge (I had difficulty getting into it myself) but I wanted to be more impressed. I'm holding off on voting until I get a better sense of all of the designs.

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 04:31 PM

Kylie
I think the white with green, orange and purple looks really good and very Kylie, but the black veil and busy black stockings detract. Overall, the costume doesn't really say "Can't Get You Outta My Head" but the write- up helped that, and I love the "head case" illustration.

Debbie Gibson
Aside from the wrist thingy and the tool thingy, this just looks like a regular (anime) girl.

Madonna
She already looks like a superhero, so your task was to make her look like your song choice, "Ray of Light". The artwork indicates rays of light. I think the costume's kinda busy.

Beyonce
Beautiful illustration and I like the aura. The costume's a bit busy and doesn't really say "Ego" to me. It says opulent or extravagant.

Cher
Like Madonna, Cher has looked like a superhero in many of her ensembles, so you needed to exemplify the song choice. I think you chose a really tough one and I don't think it hit the target. It's cool that you rendered a car for the entry, but it was not neccessary at all.

Cyndi Lauper
If I didn't know this was based on Cyndi Lauper, I wouldn't have seen it. The headpiece is weird, but that's not neccessarily a bad thing.

Tina Turner
This one gets points for looking like a superhero. I could see her in an Avengers comic right now! It also gets points for illustrating the song title.

Debbie Harry
I think this one really illustrates its title and you get points for doing 2 designs!

Donna Summer
It looks like something she could have worn back in the day, and she is hot, but it seems like putting a "hot" character in cool blues and purples is a stretch.

Stevie Nicks
I just don't see supehero. I like the red eye make-up, and it's not an everyday look, it's maybe a nightclub look. Also, I don't see "Landslide" at all.

Belinda
She looks like a superhero and "La Luna", so you get points for both!

Annie Lennox
Great illustration and costume design, but I would stick it to you on the write-up!

I'm sure I'll be doing fan art for this round. There were lots of interesting approaches. You can kinda tell from my comments who I might vote for. I'll wait til near the end.

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 04:33 PM

Maybe not our best effort, but this one was the first that required a lot of specific research. I'm sure it will inspire a more in tune approach in future outings. anyway, here were my responces...

Danny Wall: FANTASTIC stockings and a few nice design elements!

Deanlegion: I think you did a great job designing her. It feels like her and oozes a presence that I would imagine she would want to emit.

Aljira: As usual a great illustrations and I LOVE the concept but I think that you may have missed the mark on the actual Debbie design. As we all know I think the interpretation of ‘superhero’ can be stretched pretty far but this doesn’t feel very hero-esque at all. That said, based on concept alone…this was my impulsive favorite and the concept that stuck with me the longest.

EndofTime: I always thought that if you mashed up all of madonna’s styles into one it would have a horrific effect. Thanks for proving me right! This is a great knock on her and I think also does a pretty good job of capturing the singer AND the superhero while taking on your point of view of her.

mthemordant: This is an awesome illustration and I think it has a great heroine feel that suits the song quite well. The thing that it is missing for me is that it doesn’t have the beyonce vibe for me at all. It feels almost medieval and not like anything I can imagine her wearing. Still it’s a beautiful image.

Lewmoxinsghost: Wow you nailed her face well and the design of her outfit is subtle and tight. It MAY be a bit too subtle ( a few more details could take it from an A to and A+ and make it more hero-esque) but I LOVE the bulletproof heart and the native American motif…which brings me to my only real issue, it doesn’t feel quite focused enough. I think I felt like you strayed a bit from the challenge when you took on so many song titles…this could have been a stellar design if it was just for War Paint and Soft Feathers.

spaghettikiss[/b[: heh…I got to draw Cyndi Lauper

[b]CBRown: You definitely got the Hero thing and It SCREAMS Tina Turner all the way…check and check. I do feel that maybe your interpretation of the song could have been pushed a couple of steps further.

Gene M: I like your idea a lot, this would be a cool character and I think it’s a great way to play off the song title (even if it doesn’t relate too much to the content of the song lyrics). I also think that some of the design elements are cool. The shared belt is especially cool and 80’s. I don’t think it feels like a superhero at all though, just an outfit.

Affinity: One again I love your design but this just feels like something she might have worn anyway! It oozes donna summer but doesn’t push her turning her sex drive into physical strength through your design

Kidicarus: It’s a great outfit…especially the top. I really like the shoulders and the front sheer. It doesn’t feel like a hero outfit at all though

deanlegion: Kudos to you for taking the leap and not including the face!!! As usual, your design is one of my favorites. It’s a great hero design and it rules as a take on the song. I just wish there was something that really screamed Belinda to me…w/o including her face of course!

Manon: GREAT illustration and achieves exactly what your description states, I just wish it went a bit deeper.

All that said…I am torn between 3 right now.

Kudos again Matt, these have been very clever and differentiated challenges, everyone so far.

CBikle

03-24-2009, 04:50 PM

I voted for La Luna with Disco Inferno and Ego being close seconds.

All 3 of those characters looked like superheroes and their song-title names worked for me (Ego is almost too simplistic for a super name, but Disco Inferno
was a great choice and sounds like the kind of character you'd see show up in a late 70's/early 80's Marvel comic.

snarkbunny

03-24-2009, 05:21 PM

Danny Wall: Can't Get You Out of My Head (Kylie Mingoue)
I really like the concept of the dream hunter and I quite adore the Headcase dude.
As for Kylie, the stockings are wonderful and you have captured an air of theatrical decadence. I find the shoes (are the stilettos glued to her feet?) and the mask distracting because I keep looking for how they are staying on.

deanlegion: Shadows of the Night (Pat Benatar)
I love the Elizabethan top part. The colour choice is terrific, and the accessories accentuate the night and shadows very well without being overdone. I do find the boots more feminine than tough, though, and I would have liked to see a more biker boot style to really push the "badass romanticism" theme.

Aljira: Electric Youth (Debbie Gibson)
Great job on catching the 80's vibe in the outfit and I love the hat rendition. It's a neat take on the electric aspect of the title.

End of Time: Ray of Light (Madonna)
It really does look like something Madonna would wear, but I don't really get hope or "Ray of Light" from the costume. I think that is due to the amount of black in the outfit, which is a colour I just don't associate with hope.

mthemordant: Ego (Beyoncé)
First thought? I want those boots. I love the boots and gloves and the design really says ego and confidence to me. But somehow it looks rings more like a supervillain than a superhero to me.

LewMoxinsghost: All I Really Want to Do (Cher)
I really like this design as well. It's fun, practical, a little bit campy and I could totally see Cher playing a superhero on a TV series in this. Great job on how you used all the song titles in the writeup.

spaghettikiss: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
This made me smile. The design really captures the fun in the song while keeping the superhero aspects. I love the pink boots and the ripped netting, and you picked a pose that really emphasizes the catchy, bouncy beat.

CBRown: Disco Inferno (Tina Turner)
I can easily see that the inspiration from the song, but I wish there was more disco in the costume (Oh for some glitter) - I do like the old school superhero swimsuit though and thigh-highs.

Gene M.: One Way or Another (Debbie Harry)
I like the concept and I like the way you've contrasted the two looks but still use common elements (asymmetric skirt, the belt) to tie them together.

Affinity: Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
Here's my glitter! I like this costume, it's fun, it's hot, it sings disco.

Kid Icarus: Landslide (Stevie Nicks)
It's a nice outfit and I like how you translated the flowing gowns into the top but I really don't see the "Landslide" or superhero in it.

escapegoat: La Luna (Belinda Carlisle)
It's an eyecatching and memorable design, but I'm not sure there is enough Belinda Carlisle in it.

Manon: A Whiter Shade of Pale (Annie Lennox)
I like the look. It suits the song, it looks like superhero and it's fun but no real writeup.

I'm torn between deanlegion, LewMoxinsghost, and spaghettikiss. I'm going to have to think about this for a while.

Affinity

03-24-2009, 05:44 PM

Seeing all the song lyrics, I'll admit I let myself get lost in Donna and I let the challenge skip by me, concerning choosing a particular song.

I named superheroine Donna "Hot Stuff" as opposed to something like She Loves to Love U Bb or some bizarre stuff, but I really think she has an image that she places in each of her hits. This moaning mama is definitive Donna, as opposed to someone with half a dozen looks and reinventions a la Madonna or Kylie Minogue (where it would be easier to pick and choose from her looks).

The few regrets I have are only in not thrusting myself into the challenge itself more directly.

But I'll be damned if I didn't have fun!

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 06:01 PM

I'm torn between deanlegion, LewMoxinsghost, and spaghettikiss. I'm going to have to think about this for a while.

I am totally torn between dean and lew myself!

mthemordant

03-24-2009, 06:21 PM

Yeah, I had a tough time with this one. I agree with the criticisms.

Man, Escapegoat & Manon really knocked it out of the park on this one!
Great job, everyone!

escapegoat

03-24-2009, 07:09 PM

My top five faves for this round:

Dean Legion’s Shadows of the Night - Excellent job. Not only does this outfit adhere to what I think Pat Benatar would wear as a superhero, but it goes really well with the theme of the song.

Aljira’s Electric Youth – It doesn’t quite ring as a superhero costume, but if anime was as big in the late 80’s as it is now, and Debbie Gibson licensed herself to an anime projec, then this would be the end result. You captured her performer look very well. I also loved how you managed to achieve “Electric Youth” without any electricity whatsoever.

Spagettikisses’Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun – Totally feels like an outfit Cyndi Lauper would wear as a superhero, and her powerset matches perfectly to boot.

Affinity’s Hot Stuff – I think you caught Donna Summers very well here. The only thing that I think didn’t work is the color scheme.

Manon’s Whiter Shade of Pale – A simple design that really captures the fun side of Annie Lennox. I could see her wearing something like this in a music video that calls for her to be a superhero.

atoningunifex

03-24-2009, 07:42 PM

I wasn't really super impressed with this challenge. So I'm a little Nina Garcia in my comments.

Danny Wall- I read your write-up and I get where you're going with the backstory, but I don't really see the costume applying to your chosen backstory. As for the costume: there's a lot of stuff going on (I've noticed you have an occasional fondness for super busy costumes) but I don't think it works well together.

deanlegion- You thought about your song choice and you thought about your singer and I appreciate that. I think going for an Elizabethan top was a bold movie. I don't know that it completely paid off, but I do like this design. And at least it's a better outfit than the one she wore in Love is a Battlefield.

Aljira- I give you credit for creating a believable 80s fashion moment. It looks like something Debbie Gibson would wear. It probably is something Debbie Gibson wore. I don't think it looks superheroic. And I'm not fond of Sailor Moon style characters. Also, why choose Electric Youth and then go out of your way to avoid any electrical connection? You were reaching in the way you explained away the connection.Your backstory could have applied to at least one other Debbie Gibson song title. The whole thing didn't gel for me.

End of Time- I think you spent too much time trying to incorporate as many Madonna looks as possible into your design process. Madonna does constantly recreate herself, but when she does she recreates herself completely and creates a singular look. All these bits thrown together don't work as a whole. And I don't really see how they tie in to Ray of Light the song. I like the boots a lot though.

mthemordant- I like your concept, but I don't think your costume does a good job of representing it. You talk about showing Beyonce as a supremely confident, radiant individual, but your color choices aren't vibrant and the layered look seems to be holding Beyonce in instead of showing her bursting forth.

LewMoxinsghost- Like End of Time, you suffer from "trying too hard to make reference to as many looks as possible" syndrome. I don't think your song choice lent itself to a superheroic identity and I don't think your design was memorable (something Cher always is). You ask in the beginning of your write-up how you're supposed to design something for someone who has surrounded themselves with so many designers- good and bad. Well, that's the challenge. Cher is iconic. Superheroes are iconic. You should have tried harder to be iconic.

Spaghettikiss- You did a good job on this challenge. You nailed Cyndi Lauper's personality and the you incorporated the song well. Good work!

CBRown-You were one of the few designers who actually designed a superhero look and I appreciate that a lot. I think you did a good job of having your design reflect your song choice. I like the boots a lot. I wish you would have chosen a song more associated with Tina Turner tho.

Gene M.- I really like your idea. You did a good job of using the song as a springboard to a finished concept. I like the ghost Debbie a lot. I'm not as find of the non ghost Debbie. The skirt doesn't quite work for me.

Affinity- You chose hot Stuff and had her fueled by her hotness, which I liked. And I liked aspects of the outfit. I really like the sleeves a lot. But, like Aljira, I think you designed an outfit she would have worn in her heyday more than a superhero outfit. Also, I'm not crazy about the superhero panties.

Kid Icarus- There's nothing Stevie Nicks about this. And there's nothing superheroic about it. Stevie Nicks has a very distinctive style and I think you could've taken elements of that style and worked it into an interesting outfit. I'm glad you have immunity this round, because I've been enjoying your work and I want to see more of it. But this is a miss.

Escapegoat- You're getting my vote this round. I like that you designed an actual superhero costume. I liked that you incorporated Belinda Carlisle's punk roots but that you also give a nod to her sell-out. You made multiple song references in your write up but didn't try and shove multiple looks into your design. I think this was the most complete idea this round, that it took a song, a singer and a costume and created something interesting and new.

Manon- I don't mind that you didn't have a write-up. I think you did a good job of representing your idea visually. The only reason you didn't get my vote is because I don't think the bikini top and huge breasts resonate to Annie Lennox. But I love the energy, the choice of using all white and the pants.

crazyredlady

03-24-2009, 07:55 PM

this was insane....
I can say I was surprised by what people came up with but in the end you can only pick one...so I went with Dean, due to the fact that I'm a hopeless Rennie (personally I would have made the skirt a split overskirt...but that's me):wink:

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 08:23 PM

Seeing all the song lyrics, I'll admit I let myself get lost in Donna and I let the challenge skip by me, concerning choosing a particular song.

I used to really have fun with her music. I recall when "Dim All the Lights" was new. There's a really long note near the beginning of the song, and we used to try to sing it and hold it as long as Donna does. It's hard!

I would LOVE to see Affinity's version of ALL of the singers from this challenge, and not even in their superhero costumes. More like fabulous caricatures.

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 08:25 PM

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 08:43 PM

Cyndi Lauper:
Awesome concept and design. Love it!
WOO HOO! thanks for the vote

voted for spaghetti
it sure looks like she's having fun. Nice exuberant image with good energy.
Made me think of Cindi. Though I thought the name was supposed to be the song title. anyway, I really appreciate the vote

Good work all round though folks. Escapegoat and Manon get the most honorable of mentions.
Yay! thanks! I think that the song title seemed vague to me...that said I think you are right and I screwed that up.

Cyndi Lauper
If I didn't know this was based on Cyndi Lauper, I wouldn't have seen it. The headpiece is weird, but that's not neccessarily a bad thing.
hmmm. I was very nervous to enter this one but the one thing I thought was a definate was the clarity of who the singer is. I know the caricature could DEFINITELY been better but my main goal was to give the cyndi lauper vibe. I would really love for you to expand on this comment if you wouldn't mind.

[B]spaghettikiss: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
This made me smile. The design really captures the fun in the song while keeping the superhero aspects. I love the pink boots and the ripped netting, and you picked a pose that really emphasizes the catchy, bouncy beat.

The ripped netting was the last thing I did actualy and I am SOOO glad I did. I also have to admit that it was my wife that gave me the idea for the ripped nets. Thanks Shawna!!

Spagettikisses’Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun – Totally feels like an outfit Cyndi Lauper would wear as a superhero, and her powerset matches perfectly to boot.

Spaghettikiss- You did a good job on this challenge. You nailed Cyndi Lauper's personality and the you incorporated the song well. Good work!

Thanks you two, I REALLY appreciate the vote of confidence from both of you!

oh, and dazz THANKS FOR THE VOTE MAN!!!!!

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 09:00 PM

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 09:18 PM

BTW, I've already done a couple of fan-art sketches, including Cyndi and Madonna.

I'll post them later...

spaghettikiss

03-24-2009, 09:19 PM

spaghetti:
hmmm. I was very nervous to enter this one but the one thing I thought was a definate was the clarity of who the singer is. I know the caricature could DEFINITELY been better but my main goal was to give the cyndi lauper vibe. I would really love for you to expand on this comment if you wouldn't mind.

I should start with the fact that I really love Cyndi Lauper in every way, so I might be a bit protective of her from a fan's point of view.

It was a first impression. When I glance at it, it kinda looks like a modern Carmen Miranda or another old Hollywood performer getting updated as a superhero (hey Matt, how 'bout that idea?). Also, to me, Cyndi's hair was always part of her fashion statement, so to remove that from the design sorta took some of her away. I'm not sure I understood the headpiece(s).

She looks fun, but... I'm sorry.... she looks kinda cheap. :redface: You mentioned white trash a couple of times in your write up, and I just never saw Cyndi that way. I saw her as maybe shabby chic or funky retro new wave. Ripped fishnets are okay, kinda punk rock, but I think there's actually dirt on her too... or is that shading?

Actually, I'd love to see your steampunk, half girl that wants to have fun, half old time machinery treatment on her. There must be a song by her that would fit.

Still, you're so talented, this is just nit picking. It's just my opinion.

First off I don't want you to think I took any offense. You are a great designer and I love your designs, your comment just sparked my curiousity thats all. Your suspisions were right...it is dirt on her. The most recent video I saw of hers (which was only a few days ago by chance actually) was the goonies one. During the time that girls just want to have fun came out she was hanging out with the WWF and her clothes were often ripped and stained. I know she didn't always put off that vibe but yeah it was intentional. that said, thanks for the elaboration, I totally get the comment and understand your crit now. as always, its appreciated

oh, I should totally do a steam punk cyndi...I am just trying to spread the wingies and not use that as a crutch at all

deanlegion

03-24-2009, 09:36 PM

I've scanned my sketch of your design. I'll be posting it in just moments if you'll be around....

Manon

03-24-2009, 11:17 PM

I agree, but that doesn't change the fact that it's part of the submission requirements.

Yeah, I thought explaining how that design tied in with the name would be fairly redundant considering how literal of an interpretation it was. Honestly though, I would've written more about materials and inspiration if i wasn't running so close to the deadline. I'll make sure to have more explicit write-ups in the future.

However, in my defense, Icarus won last time with no write up at all (and if anyone mentioned anything, I looked over it). I know an additional paragraph wasn't required for that round, but I thought the main paragraph still was.

That gave me the impression that the write-ups were of a much lower importance than they apparently are.

Manon- I don't mind that you didn't have a write-up. I think you did a good job of representing your idea visually. The only reason you didn't get my vote is because I don't think the bikini top and huge breasts resonate to Annie Lennox. But I love the energy, the choice of using all white and the pants.

Thanks, atoning, I'm glad you dig it.

The breasts were a miscalculation on my part from some pictures of her in a t-shirt and flattering bra (and that most GIS results were from the shoulders up). I started with smaller breasts when I was using the younger red-haired Lennox for a different song, but when I decided to use her with white hair, I wanted to draw her at her current age and beefed up the breasts some since she has had three pregnancies. I'm the first to say I overdid it though.

I didn't intend for the top to come off as a bikini, but as a cloth (bandages?) wrapped around her breasts. In multiple instances I've seen the motif used when girls try to wrap down their chests to pass off as samurai, but for the love of me I can't think of any of the movies or games now to post an image (I think one of the assassins in Lone Wolf and Cub did it).

I tried to make the exposed skin read more as an "I'm woman, I'm proud" statement than a "look at how sexy I am" statement. (I actually had her topless in an earlier revision with the tie and cloak covering the nipples, trying to push that message, but opted against it as it seemed too gimmicky.)

I had to go with Annie Lennox. Simple, and love the big tie that pulls it off!

Manon’s Whiter Shade of Pale – A simple design that really captures the fun side of Annie Lennox. I could see her wearing something like this in a music video that calls for her to be a superhero.

I'm glad I came up with a design that's gotten such positive feedback. I'm not big on tights-and-capes, and definitely pushed more pulp-hero with this one.

I had a really hard time with this design, and looking from the entries, it seems this was out of a lot of our comfort zones, which is a good thing. Due to vacation, work, and mid-terms, I didn't get a chance to start on this until a few hours before the deadline and I went through three full designs before I settled on this one. I was so disappointed with my first two, I nearly quit.

However, I'm pleasantly surprised with what I put out. I can totally see a warehouse full of stereotypical goons playing cards on a crate of illegal merchandise when the skylight breaks and one goon shouts. "Cheese it, boys, it's the Whiter Shade of Pale!"

I'll post some feedback about everyone's designs tomorrow. I'm disappointed there's no Queen Latifah entry, though.

howyadoin

03-24-2009, 11:23 PM

I'll post my comments later, but I am not overly impressed by this round. I think a lot of people relied on their write-up and didn't make much effort to actually have their designs reflect the name of the song.That's sorta how it felt to me, too.

Also, Madonna's crotch frightens me. I miss the days when she wasn't so manly.

End of Time

03-25-2009, 05:41 AM

Looks like this is going to be the end of the line for me.

:frown:

Jaye

03-25-2009, 07:50 AM

Disco Inferno got my vote. It makes me smile every time I see it; the design totally works as a superhero and I see the title of the song clearly in the design.

My runners up were Pat Benetar and Belinda. Great work everyone, this is a round I keep showing to my friends!

Jaye

Manon

03-25-2009, 09:34 AM

Danny
I must admit that before this, I had no idea who Kylie Minogue was. So far, this has been your strongest illustration, very well drawn. From the two music vids I watched (and the dozen or more outfits she wore in them) I think you could have gone stronger with that bold 80s pop. Your design feels more like a slightly kinkier version of the garb worn by the amazons on Wonder Womans island. I also think the veil is distracting. As for the write-up, I normally don't like stories that rely on the metaphysical stuff like dreamscapes or astral realms, so it doesn't really do it for me.

Dean
Your best this year by far, man. I'm a huge Pat Benatar fan, and you really nailed it there, especially in the face. At first glance, I thought it was a little too 'renaissance fair' for me, but you have enough rock and glam aspects to really balance it out. I especially like the way you colored her skin, it has a watercolor-look to it from the large areas of flat white. This is something I could see her wear on stage, while walking past a s.w.a.t team standoff at a hostage situation, or even in an alley kicking the crap out of muggers. Great job, man.

Aljira
I admit Gibson wasn't the best source material to work from, but your anime treatment really kills this. It's way too sailor moon, not really Gibson at all, and it just looks like stage clothes with a fisher price microphone, not something extraoridinary at all. This really disappointed me, because I thought your entries in the last two challenges were so strong.

End of Time
This is just way too masculine, and the outfit doesn't do anything for me.

M the M
Yet again, you've produced a great illustration which still falls flat design wise. The clothes don't strike me as something Beyonce would wear, and the illustration doesn't embody the personality she gives off at all.

Lew
You really got Cher in the face and attitude. But this look feels too pieced together, and doesn't read that well as a whole, and even for Cher, it's a little too biker trash for my tastes. As for the illustration, the lens flares make it devastatingly painful to look at, I'd stay away from those in the future.

Spaghetti
This is a good idea, with the funfetti and the ability to put people into a teenybopper-party-havin-good-time against their will is something that could be written well. However, the latex hair things, the dirt, and the face really kill it.

CBrown
I like the idea you took with this... dress her up in a outfit and give her powers reminiscent of something you'd see out of a mid-to-late-70s Marvel or DC comic. Illustration-wise, yours feels like Tina Turner, and it's fun I've shown it to friends and had a good laugh. However, design-wise, this is just Tina Turner wearing Ms. Marvel's outfit with a slightly different print and no gloves.

Gene
This doesn't really do anything for me. I see the idea "One Way or Another" therefore she has two costumes that have different feels to them, but they both look pretty bland. And your write-up was way too long. (Perhaps the opposite of mine, which was way too short, eh?) I'm hoping for better from you next round considering yours was my favorite in the first round.

Affinity
This is a fun drawing, I like the proportions, the coloring, and the hips. But it looks more like something that she'd wear on stage or to a club, not something she'd go out to do heroics in. Also, the lips are dangerously close to the racially insensitive pickaninny-caricature seen in characters like Ebony White or Mr. Popo. It definitely doesn't look intentional, but it's something I thought you might want to be aware of.

Icarus
You have a good illustration, but I think you could have gone with a more iconic look for Nicks, I think the flowing gowns aspect could've been worked in a little stronger without costing her anymore functionality than the heels do. It looks more like something Jamie Lee Curtis would've worn when she played the hooker in Trading Places than it does something Stevie Nicks would wear to fight crime.

Goat
After you had such a strong entry last time, I was really disappointed to see this one. The moon-thing is a cool idea, but the novelty of it is the only thing really working here. Design-wise, it looks far too similar to Deadpool and Deadshot. (So much so that both of the people I showed it to were all "that's just a purple Deadpool"). Illustration-wise, you seemed to have made the opposite mistake that I made, and gave her breasts that are ridiculously too small. Also, there's almost no difference in the width of her hips and waist, resulting in what looks like a man in a wig. The other main problem I have with it, is that even if I were to suspend disbelief enough to explain Debbie Gibson dressing up and fighting crime (or hunting monsters), there's no way I could believe that she'd do it in a Rob Liefeld-inspired getup with six shooters.

It really seems like you had the idea you wanted to do and tried to write the write-up around it, like "she has to blow their heads off to explain has guns" "she has to hide her identity to explain the deadpool mask" etc.

All in all.
I like Dean's the best. I really want to like Cbrown's and Spaghetti's because i like the ideas they had a lot, but the execution on both killed them for me. And Goat, yours is a decent design for a monster-hunting assassin, but I just can't see it as Belinda.

Gene M.

03-25-2009, 09:34 AM

Gene M.- I really like your idea. You did a good job of using the song as a springboard to a finished concept. I like the ghost Debbie a lot. I'm not as find of the non ghost Debbie. The skirt doesn't quite work for me.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm not a big fan of Tough Debbie's skirt, either. I've been trying to get new pieces done for a possible gallery exhibition, so this challenge and the last didn't really get the attention they deserved. Working on this one was a lot of fun and it gave me an excuse to listen to lots of Blondie (I looooooove Blondie), though, so I'm thinking of doing another drawing of this entry with a revised skirt that I came up with and some small details added to Ghost Debbie.

Affinity

03-25-2009, 09:48 AM

Affinity
This is a fun drawing, I like the proportions, the coloring, and the hips. But it looks more like something that she'd wear on stage or to a club, not something she'd go out to do heroics in. Also, the lips are dangerously close to the racially insensitive pickaninny-caricature seen in characters like Ebony White or Mr. Popo. It definitely doesn't look intentional, but it's something I thought you might want to be aware of.

I'm working on something with Kid Icarus, and when he was coloring one of the pages he took the white of her mouth as lips and colored them accordingly.

The white is actually her teeth (if you can try and see the top and bottom rows) and the black bar would be her shadowed mouth. So she's grinning like a maniac.

Manon

03-25-2009, 09:51 AM

Affinity

03-25-2009, 09:55 AM

escapegoat

03-25-2009, 09:57 AM

I'm working on something with Kid Icarus, and when he was coloring one of the pages he took the white of her mouth as lips and colored them accordingly.

The white is actually her teeth (if you can try and see the top and bottom rows) and the black bar would be her shadowed mouth. So she's grinning like a maniac.

Yeah, I saw the white as teeth as well, but when Atoning pointed out the other way the visual could be interpreted, I was like "whoa...yeah, I guess some people could interpret it that way..."

The best solution for this would be to either color the lips or in the inside of the mouth to help spearate the two...

End of Time

03-25-2009, 10:26 AM

End of Time: Ray of Light (Madonna)
It really does look like something Madonna would wear, but I don't really get hope or "Ray of Light" from the costume. I think that is due to the amount of black in the outfit, which is a colour I just don't associate with hope.

Ask yourself... when do people need to have hope? When do people need to be inspired?
When the world seems like a dark and desolate place, lacking those qualities completely. Hope without despair is void, inspiration can only come to the uninspired. So with all that darkness in the design. The dark cross, the dark half-skirt... there is a golden pattern woven into it all. Much like a single ray of light in an otherwise utterly dark place. Or like the silver lining around a dark cloud.

End of Time- I think you spent too much time trying to incorporate as many Madonna looks as possible into your design process. Madonna does constantly recreate herself, but when she does she recreates herself completely and creates a singular look. All these bits thrown together don't work as a whole. And I don't really see how they tie in to Ray of Light the song. I like the boots a lot though.

Madonna is one who keeps inventing herself over and over again, but she's never going to lose any of her previous incarnations. Throughout her carreer she has been reminded constantly of her previous incarnations.

When she was a Material Girl she was reminded of her time as a little punky street rat. When she was the corporate bitch she was still seen as the one inspired by Marylin Monroe and reminded of her debut-look. When she was Evita she was still seen as a cold hearted bitch. When she went maternal she was still reminded of her days as a carefree ambitious girl and everything inbetween.

Madonna as a superhero could be dressed in a rubber S&M suit, or something completely conventional. But when has she ever been conventional? When has she ever had one definitive look? Especially these days when she's combining far more styles.

You'll see her on stage in a Yoga outfit with a top hat and a rock guitar. Madonna today is a woman who clashes various loose elements together to create a fractured image of herself. I don't think I can, or want to design something for Madonna that's going to restrain itself to one simple iconic look, simply because she doesn't have a single iconic look. She is all of those earlier incarnations.

I could have gone for making her a shapeshifter, or a Multiple Woman, but that would have been an easy way out. That's the thing with Madonna, everybody expects you to make her tumultuous background into a superhero. I made her more than that, I made her a super-muse, something that transcends herself. Madonna IS the icon, not her costume. Her costume is everything that she once was thrown together, to represent that fractured past.

As for the people who seem to stumble over the fact that she's looking totally butch...

Have you seen the lady recently? She has bulging biceps, she's wearing some mightily unflattering outfits, and she's so trained and toned she's almost lost her boobs. She's a tough gal, and she's showing it physically... (and the girl loves her muscled snatch, because she's thrusting it forward in a whole lotta of pictures these days)

Manon

03-25-2009, 10:43 AM

Have you seen the lady recently? She has bulging biceps, she's wearing some mightily unflattering outfits, and she's so trained and toned she's almost lost her boobs. She's a tough gal, and she's showing it physically

I did a GIS before commenting just to make sure, but I saw nothing that justified the treatment she got. Perhaps you could link to some images?

Manon

03-25-2009, 10:48 AM

LOL. That would be horrible.

Edit; I suppose with all of the black being connected you could see that. The upper and lower lips are black, but so is the mouth. I don't see it as a hot mess of lips, though.

My bad, I wasn't clear. i didn't see it as three lips, I saw it as intended: black on top=lips, black in middle=mouth, black on bottom=lips. It's the top and bottom that I think are giving that impression, but if the mouth or the lips are a different color like you said you're working on, it'd probably take care of it.

End of Time

03-25-2009, 11:37 AM

I did a GIS before commenting just to make sure, but I saw nothing that justified the treatment she got. Perhaps you could link to some images?

Your google fu is weak, young padawan...

Part of my childhood died after seeing this:

http://www.imnotobsessed.com/files/imagecache/main_pic/files/images/madonna_kabbalah_centre_family_01_wenn5168883.jpg

Ultra Vajayjay!

http://www.jim1962.com/Madonna.jpg

Look at her arms...

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/gallery/bodywatch/080623/madonna300.jpg

http://www.meisjemeisje.nl/images/madonna_copy3.jpg

I miss the old graceful madonna

Vogue your way back into our hearts...

Puma

03-25-2009, 11:37 AM

This was really a tough one. A number of artists caught the look of their ladies- Cyndi Lauper and Debbie Gibson really stand out; unfortunately I didn't get much of a superhero vibe from most of the entries. The three that do standout are LewMoxinsghost with Cher, escapegoat with La Luna, and Manon with Annie Lennox. I wish Manon would've included the description with Annie because I really like the look but as he didn't I've narrowed it to two. La Luna is a true superhero type but I didn't get a Belinda 'feel' from her, it could be anyone behind the mask. That narrows it down to my selection, LewMoxinsghost and his badass Cher, cleaning up the streets in her native style.

escapegoat

03-25-2009, 11:52 AM

I miss the old graceful madonna

Vogue your way back into our hearts...

Whoa...she's no Carrot Top, but she's more ripped than I realized! :eek:

Manon

03-25-2009, 11:57 AM

Damn, End of Time.

I stand fully corrected, that's tough.

red-handed

03-25-2009, 12:05 PM

oh wow...
I have so much to say but i have been viewing this on my iPhone and when i type
it ask me to login after i typed all of my critique...
I never feel like retyping it...
but now im at a desktop so...
Could you imagine seeing two disco infernos Though...

anyhoo

deanlegion: Shadows of the Night (Pat Benatar)
So dark and regal, love it...

End of Time: Ray of Light (Madonna)
Love how you incoperated different periods of her career...
spot on...

mthemordant: Ego (Beyoncé)
love it...
I really like the armor aspects beause that is so current Beyoncé
so warrior... so Fierce hehehe...

Manon: A Whiter Shade of Pale (Annie Lennox)
I love the play on color
even though its all white but it works with her pale skin...
her top dosent really work for me and that my only complaint...
its just really odd...

spaghettikiss: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
I like it even though it is a little predictable...
I love the confetti/jubilee (hehehe) powers...

well these are the ones that are giving me a hard time, if only i could vote for all five but alas i cant...

deanlegion

03-25-2009, 01:23 PM

I could have gone for making her a shapeshifter, or a Multiple Woman, but that would have been an easy way out. That's the thing with Madonna, everybody expects you to make her tumultuous background into a superhero. I made her more than that, I made her a super-muse, something that transcends herself. Madonna IS the icon, not her costume. Her costume is everything that she once was thrown together, to represent that fractured past.

The thing is, your task was to create a design based on a song title, not a 20+ year media presentation. This is the same for Lew's Cher design.

The thing is, I really like your drawing, so as a Madonna fan, I was pleased.

LewMoxinsghost

03-25-2009, 02:44 PM

First off thanks everyone for the votes and for the feedback! For sanity reasons, I'm going to try to avoid commenting on mine until the voting is done. Last time I summarized all the perspectives on my design and didn't give my thoughts on what others had designed and so this time I wanted to reverse that.

Danny:
Yours had me laughing immediately. Not because it is bad or anything like that, but because the song you chose was a song that I strongly associate with a girl from my past. Clearly, it's inappropriate for me to give any greater detail than that, and maybe that is for the best. :rolleyes: Moving on... I thought the concept was really cool and lent itself to tons of possibilities. I especially like the "la las" on the hose- that was a stroke of genius. I do think she comes off as a little bit plain overall, and if you were going for a headmistress look I think you failed there. However, I don't think the design overall is a failure at all- but I am just not seeing Kylie when I look at it, either because I'm not that familiar with her look or because it is just not there. I'm an ignorant savage when it comes to pop music anyway. She definitely still looks the part of a hero to me.

Dean-
You bring the fashion. The look is iconic, pleasing and cohesive. But I'm not getting Pat Benatar because I am confused by the the decision to include a crescent moon competing with the star of similar size. It makes me think that she is supposed to be a muslim superheroine or something and that is not what Pat is about. Maybe a singular logo might have worked better, or maybe spreading it out as a pattern, or maybe foregoing it all together. I dunno. I friggin love her boots though.

Al-
I knew you could pull this off! She is sooo cute. Tying Sailer Moon to Debbie Gibson is a natural fit and one I would never, in a million years would have thought of. She also has the same basic formula for a costume that the new Starman has. Regular clothes with a power device of some kind. Nice work, maybe throw in a logo (one of those eighties buttons) because logos say "Superhero" to me.

EOT-
What can I say? I would buy you a beer if I could. It was a tough draw, and you did a decent job. With this one, you were sort of thrust into the role of Jack Napier's plastic surgeon from Burton's Batman so I feel your pain and outrage. She definitely looks like Madonna, she looks heroic, and I can dig the basic design. I have quibbles with the cross extending past her chest to her arms because it looks like she is bound instead of able to freely move her arms about. The plunging crotch is a nice touch but I probably would have extended it upwards as well and made it into a Dagger from Cloak and Dagger kind of thing and just left the design to do a border around the edges of the hole. Nice job, and definitely a good song choice.

Mordant-
Damn nice rendering. Definitely Beyonce, definitely heroic. Great costume, no quibbles other than I have never, ever heard the song. Possibly because I have very random taste in music and while I have not actively avoided Beyonce, I haven't really sought her out either. Anyway, really sweet job on this! I especially love the layered boots and gloves.

Me-
*coughs* moving on...

Spaghettikiss-
Fun! Cyndi Lauper as a superheroine is definitely a world I want to live in. Perfect song choice, great visualization of what her powers would be. The costume is totally Cyndi and totally heroic and believably functional. I might have replaced the skirt with a ballerina skirt just because that is how I remember her, but the skirt you have is probably more practical. Nice work.

CBrown-
Everything Jaye said about yours I agree with. I think you best met the parameters of the challenge, but I am not sure yours is my favorite. I would not have thought to pick this song, but that's cool, or rather, hot that you did. She comes across like a cameo from a 1980s public service comic, which I think is what was wanted.

Gene-
I really loved the conceptualization of this song choice. I think the design on the left is basically fine, but the design on the right doesn't strike me as a seductress. Also, I would have lost all connection to the look on the left and got rid of the belt. There needs to be more contrast between the two looks.

Affinity-
I really love your illustration style. It is really refreshing. She looks just like Donna Summer, but notsomuch a heroine. With the cool color palette, I'm not getting a Hot Stuff connection at all. But I love the rendering utterly and the design works flawlessly as a possible look for Donna Summer to perform onstage... just not sure if she is ready for heroics in this.

Icarus-
Kind of the same thing as Affinity's. Good look, but aside from the colored shadows I have not a hint that Stevie is supposed to be a heroine. Also, the song title of Landslide doesn't come across at all visually. Great likeness however!

Escapegoat-
This is the kind of design from you that makes me wish we could hang out and play RPGs together. She is more Deadpool than Deadpool! I love the pose, the elements of the costume were brilliantly concieved and executed. The phases of the moon was a great idea for this song title. She is loco and I still have no idea who she is- which is how Belinda likes it and needs for it to be for her to operate. Five stars to you, sir.

Manon-
You nailed it. Annie Lennox? Check. Superheroine? Check. I saw her as guest starring with Daredevil immediately for some reason. Fits the Song title? Check. If I were an Annie Lennox fan I would like this design even more. I realize this is totally unfair to you. Nice design, no quibbles whatsoever from me.

I think my top two picks are Mordant's and ESCgoat's.

deanlegion

03-25-2009, 05:26 PM

Dean-
You bring the fashion. The look is iconic, pleasing and cohesive. But I'm not getting Pat Benatar because I am confused by the the decision to include a crescent moon competing with the star of similar size. It makes me think that she is supposed to be a muslim superheroine or something and that is not what Pat is about. Maybe a singular logo might have worked better, or maybe spreading it out as a pattern, or maybe foregoing it all together. I dunno. I friggin love her boots though.

Thanks for pointing out the muslim details. I was simply unaware! It's all just supposed to say "night."

Gene M.

03-25-2009, 08:15 PM

I've got my vote narrowed down to two, barring the need to give myself a self preservation vote. It hasn't been easy (in a good way) trying to find a favorite this round.

mattbib

03-25-2009, 09:54 PM

Okay, my thoughts....

Danny Wall / Kylie
I actually really like the illustration, but it's definitely way too busy. I like the idea of the boots, but I don't think they fit with the rest of the outfit. I feel like I'm looking at two different designs. Also, without reading the write-up I don't really see the song title in your design.

deanlegion / Pat
A very strong illustration, no doubt. I think the design definitely works for the song title, though maybe not as much for Pat Benatar. I almost feel like there needs to be some reds in there, even if it's just in her hair of make-up. I'd have been more convinced too if the leather pants weren't so form-fitting and if she were wearing lower ankle boots. Still, a really nice character design.

Aljira / Debbie
You've given us a great image of Debbie Gibson, but I'm really failing to see any design here whatsoever. This is literally an outfit that Debbie Gibson would have been wearing circa Out of the Blue. This outfit could have been seen on her in any picture from Bop or Tiger Beat in 1988. Also, I'm not getting the song from the design without reading the write-up.

End of Time / Madonna
I actually really like the image for the most part. It's definitely overdesigned, as others have already pointed out, but it definitely is Madonna. However, take away your power effects and I don't see "Ray of Light" in the costume.

mthemordant / Beyoncé
Yours is one I actually really want to like. The design itself is pretty bold and should exude confidence, but your rendering doesn't. I'm thinking it's the color choices. They're just very muted in the image. If you had played up the boldness in the colors and the metallics I think it'd have been better received.

LewMoxinsghost / Cher
You should have spent more time on the outfit and less in trying to include the vehicle. While I guess I could see Cher wearing this I think you under-emphasized her dramatic fashions. I mean, the fringe boots aren't that great looking, and otherwise she's just wearing a black jumper. And again, I'm not feeling the song title from the design.

spaghettikiss / Cyndi
I'm probably the biggest Cyndi Lauper fan around, so I'm not really feeling your design. I get what you're going for, and I definitely see the song title in the image, so good job with that, but I'm not seeing Cyndi so much. Look back at old photos and videos and you'll see, even though her outfits looked thrift shop there was still a chicness to her look that I'm not getting here. I also might've liked to see you try to fit the song to a more current Cyndi (I mean, she hasn't had that look in decades). This outfit might work better on Courtney Love.

CBrown / Tina
Even without the power effects I'd say this costume definitely exudes your song choice. And it exudes Tina Turner. I agree though that it's not that original. It really is essentially Tina in Ms. Marvel's leotard. Better accessorizing and playing with the silhouette might've helped.

Gene M. / Debbie
I like the idea and the designs work with the song and the artist. You're playing with different patterns and materials and they work. Not sure I like the belt, though.

Affinity / Donna
I love your style as always, and this is definitely Donna Summer, but it looks more like something she'd wear on stage in Atlantic City than fighting crime. At first I was going to say the song didn't really fit the outfit, but after thinking about it more it does, though warmer colors might've helped connect the two faster.

Kid Icarus / Stevie
I'm not the hugest Stevie fan, but I don't see her or superhero in this design. This looks like something Pat Benatar would wear. Not a bad outfit, I just don't think it's successful in this challenge.

escapegoat / Belinda
OK. I'm also probably one of the biggest Belinda fans around; I even bought her French album that came out a year ago or so. But I'm not seeing her in this design at all. You mention her punk roots but I'm not seeing that kind of edge either. The weird '90s piping, stripes and pouches really don't work too well for me. That said, I think the design fits the song title perfectly and I love the color choices and the overall presentation.

Manon / Annie
I really love your illustration and the playfulness you bring to it. Something we haven't seen out of Annie in a long time, really (until her latest single, "Shining Light, maybe). Your design fits the song title perfectly. My only fear is that this is more Emma Frost than Annie Lennox. You would have killed this one with a different top.

escapegoat

03-25-2009, 10:13 PM

Belinda
She looks like a superhero and "La Luna", so you get points for both!

Escapegoat- You're getting my vote this round. I like that you designed an actual superhero costume. I liked that you incorporated Belinda Carlisle's punk roots but that you also give a nod to her sell-out. You made multiple song references in your write up but didn't try and shove multiple looks into your design. I think this was the most complete idea this round, that it took a song, a singer and a costume and created something interesting and new.

Thanks guys :smile:

deanlegion: Kudos to you for taking the leap and not including the face!!! As usual, your design is one of my favorites. It’s a great hero design and it rules as a take on the song. I just wish there was something that really screamed Belinda to me…w/o including her face of course!

escapegoat: La Luna (Belinda Carlisle)
It's an eyecatching and memorable design, but I'm not sure there is enough Belinda Carlisle in it.

Yeah, I totally understand the lack of Belinda feel within the design. That was my main concern when coming up with this at the last minute. I was worried that I was gonna get no votes because of the full mask. However, in defense of that area of thought, would a masked killer want herself to be readily identifiable to someone that is well known in the public eye? Probably not…

Goat
After you had such a strong entry last time, I was really disappointed to see this one. The moon-thing is a cool idea, but the novelty of it is the only thing really working here. Design-wise, it looks far too similar to Deadpool and Deadshot. (So much so that both of the people I showed it to were all "that's just a purple Deadpool"). Illustration-wise, you seemed to have made the opposite mistake that I made, and gave her breasts that are ridiculously too small. Also, there's almost no difference in the width of her hips and waist, resulting in what looks like a man in a wig. The other main problem I have with it, is that even if I were to suspend disbelief enough to explain Debbie Gibson dressing up and fighting crime (or hunting monsters), there's no way I could believe that she'd do it in a Rob Liefeld-inspired getup with six shooters.

It really seems like you had the idea you wanted to do and tried to write the write-up around it, like "she has to blow their heads off to explain has guns" "she has to hide her identity to explain the deadpool mask" etc.

escapegoat / Belinda
OK. I'm also probably one of the biggest Belinda fans around; I even bought her French album that came out a year ago or so. But I'm not seeing her in this design at all. You mention her punk roots but I'm not seeing that kind of edge either. The weird '90s piping, stripes and pouches really don't work too well for me. That said, I think the design fits the song title perfectly and I love the color choices and the overall presentation.

While I was inking it, I thought “Hmmm…she’s kinda like a female Deadpool here isn’t she?” Which doesn’t really jive since she was bigger in the 80’s than she was in the 90’s. But I had no way of going back on the design to alter it due to time constraints…

Manon – You’re right…The hips do need to be a bit wider. And while I object to breasts being drawn too big all the time in comic books, Belinda’s breasts are bigger than the ones I drew… :tongue:

Escapegoat-
This is the kind of design from you that makes me wish we could hang out and play RPGs together. She is more Deadpool than Deadpool! I love the pose, the elements of the costume were brilliantly concieved and executed. The phases of the moon was a great idea for this song title. She is loco and I still have no idea who she is- which is how Belinda likes it and needs for it to be for her to operate. Five stars to you, sir.

So at least the Deadpool-ness of the design wasn’t a deterrent to everyone. :smile:
It’s been a looooong time since I’ve played a RPG. I’d spend hours and hours creating characters. Computer games have kinda taken their place. Ahhhh, the good ol’ days… At least there’s City of Heroes.

Manon

03-25-2009, 10:37 PM

I'm disappointed to see Danny with no votes. IMO, his entry was more successful than a handful of others.

Manon – You’re right…The hips do need to be a bit wider. And while I object to breasts being drawn too big all the time in comic books, Belinda’s breasts are bigger than the ones I drew… :tongue:

Yeah, when I saw it, I thought to myself "there's no way her breasts could be that small in comparison to the width of her ribcage" so I did a Google image search, turns out on the first page without safe filter, you get her playboy spread.

I'm opposed to the standard comic proportions as well. (I blame Jim Lee, Image comics, and the 90s in general for the particular look.) However, I normally dig curvier, more supple builds- as is evident in my wonderbeaver entry. Therefore drawing skinny annie lennox was a challenge for me.

deanlegion

03-25-2009, 11:31 PM

It's between Tina and Belinda. I choose.....

Belinda!

Back when I was in high school, I was a fanatic for her... and I liked that she was a little bit chunky/soft. In the video for "Vacation" and she's alone singing, "I still haven't gotten over you yet...." I was sure she was singing right to me.

Sigh... to be so young!

Fan art is imminent!

LewMoxinsghost

03-26-2009, 03:20 AM

Thanks for pointing out the muslim details. I was simply unaware! It's all just supposed to say "night."

It does, I'm just used to reading things into symbols. It isn't really overt, just kind of subliminal. And it's not like it is exactly the muslim symbol, it is just the same elements.

So at least the Deadpool-ness of the design wasn’t a deterrent to everyone. :smile:
It’s been a looooong time since I’ve played a RPG. I’d spend hours and hours creating characters. Computer games have kinda taken their place. Ahhhh, the good ol’ days… At least there’s City of Heroes.

Me too, it's been years... but this settles it. I am going to go out and get City of Heroes now.

***

In the end I went with CBRown. It is far too good a design to have so few votes.

mattbib

03-26-2009, 09:01 AM

Just over an hour of voting left!

mattbib

03-26-2009, 10:31 AM

Hello. Welcome to the Runway. As you know, in fashion and in comic books, one day you're in and the next you're out.

Kid Icarus, voters thought your illustration was nice but they did not feel it reflected either Stevie Nicks or Landslide. You had immunity this challenge. You are in.

Affinity, voters loved your costume even if it didn't really exude superhero. You are in.

Aljira, likewise you gave us a believable eighties outfit that definitely fits Debbie Gibson, but it lacked the look of a superhero. You are in.

mthemordant, another good illustration that doesn't necessarily reflect the song title strongly enough. You are in.

LewMoxinsghost, your design certainly fit the character, but some didn't feel it worked as a whole. Others thought your effects hurt the overall presentation. You are in.

spaghettikiss, voters thought your design was fun and a good visualization, even if it was a bit...dirty. You are in.

deanlegion, yours is a very iconic, fashinable look but some didn't see enough of Pat Benatar. You are in.

Manon, a very strong design that really emoted both artist and song. Voters didn't really like the top that much, and next time be sure to fulfill all submission requirements. You are in.

CBrown, yours was easily the most superhero, if not the most original, and it definitely worked for Tina Turner. You are in.

Gene M., voters really appreciated your concept and thought it reflected your song well, though some didn't like specific design elements and others thought it didn't feel superhero enough. You are in.

escapegoat, voters thought you did the best at looking both superheroic and reflecting the song title, though divided over whether or not it really reflected Belinda Carlisle enough. Congratulations, you are the winner of this challenge. This means you are immune and cannot be eliminated in the next challenge.

End of Time, while your costume was superhero enough, it was overdesigned and didn't reflect the song title enough. Your strategic voting saved you this round. You are in.

Danny Wall, voters genuinely enjoyed your concept, but found the costume to be overly busy and not necessarily tied to your artist or song strongly enough.

Danny Wall...you are out. But be sure to submit an entry for the next challenge in the Play Along at Home thread in case one of the remaining finalists fails to submit theirs.

Auf wiedersehen.

See the rest of you on the runway for the next challenge.

escapegoat

03-26-2009, 11:42 AM

All I have to say is...Wow! When I turned in this submission, I didn't expect it to win this round. A big thank you to everyone who voted for me. I'm just happy to finally win a round after competing in this competition for the last 2 seasons. :smile:

deanlegion

03-26-2009, 11:47 AM

Congrats to egoat and farewellto danny - keep playing along!

LewMoxinsghost

03-26-2009, 01:51 PM

Thank you everyone who gave me a vote! really appreciated that. I kept mum on my design because I agreed too strongly with my critics to try to sell it further. I am a little shocked it got the votes it did.

Not sure if everyone could see the (clearly unnecessary, I agree) car clearly enough. I saw a picture of Cher in Wonder Woman get-up and thought this would be a good indirect tie-in, so I included it. I did want to point out the the details on the Cadillac that got blurred out due to the size. Poor planning on my part. Here is a close up:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii281/Randylbishop/GeronimosCaddy.gif

Mr.EZ

03-26-2009, 02:55 PM

Congrats escapegoat and great work everyone! I truly enjoy getting to be a spectatot to your extreme artistic throwdown.

Affinity

03-27-2009, 01:24 PM

Goat
After you had such a strong entry last time, I was really disappointed to see this one. The moon-thing is a cool idea, but the novelty of it is the only thing really working here. Design-wise, it looks far too similar to Deadpool and Deadshot. (So much so that both of the people I showed it to were all "that's just a purple Deadpool"). Illustration-wise, you seemed to have made the opposite mistake that I made, and gave her breasts that are ridiculously too small. Also, there's almost no difference in the width of her hips and waist, resulting in what looks like a man in a wig. The other main problem I have with it, is that even if I were to suspend disbelief enough to explain Debbie Gibson dressing up and fighting crime (or hunting monsters), there's no way I could believe that she'd do it in a Rob Liefeld-inspired getup with six shooters.

It really seems like you had the idea you wanted to do and tried to write the write-up around it, like "she has to blow their heads off to explain has guns" "she has to hide her identity to explain the deadpool mask" etc.

That lithe, thin, pretty young thing is totally what Goatsie's all about. It's got a lot to do with the charm his designs have, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

escapegoat

03-27-2009, 02:55 PM

That lithe, thin, pretty young thing is totally what Goatsie's all about. It's got a lot to do with the charm his designs have, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Awwww shucks...thanks Finny!
Though I haveta agree with Manon in this instance that I shoulda at least referred to Belinda's female proportions in this round, especially since we don't even see her face! Next time I won't leave my submission til the last minute to avoid missing such details....though it did seemed to work in my favour this time...hmmmm... :smile:

howyadoin

03-27-2009, 03:13 PM

LewMoxinsghost

03-27-2009, 04:06 PM

I think that'd work a lot better if the rendering style on the skull matched that of the rest of the car.

Yep, you're right- it was kind of a rush job. The car was photo reffed, and the ornament was done freehanded. Maybe I should have more implied areas and lines on it like on the car.

Anytime you see me use lens flares it means I'm feeling desparate. :wink:

Kid Icarus

03-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Awwww shucks...thanks Finny!
Though I haveta agree with Manon in this instance that I shoulda at least referred to Belinda's female proportions in this round, especially since we don't even see her face! Next time I won't leave my submission til the last minute to avoid missing such details....though it did seemed to work in my favour this time...hmmmm... :smile:

I agree with Affinity. Also, I think your proportions are part of your overall aesthetic, I don't think your style needs to suffer in order to please people.

Manon

03-27-2009, 08:02 PM

there's a difference between pleasing individual people and recognizing gender-specific anatomical differences. I'm not asking that he draw everyone as a 36-24-36, but he was drawing a specific person (who had a feminine-enough body to model in playboy at the age 42), and he even admitted to not referencing her body's build.

I'm sure Goat's style (which to say I am fond of a lot of his work) would still shine through if he were to deviate from the "drawing women the same as men, but with tennis ball-breasts" I mean, what would've happened if he had been assigned someone as drastically different from that as Queen Latifah?

I guess I'm saying that there's style and there's comfort zone. The artist controls the style, but should not let himself or herself be controlled by their comfort-zone.

escapegoat

03-28-2009, 01:05 AM

I'm sure Goat's style (which to say I am fond of a lot of his work) would still shine through if he were to deviate from the "drawing women the same as men, but with tennis ball-breasts" I mean, what would've happened if he had been assigned someone as drastically different from that as Queen Latifah?

Y'know...come to think of it...I did do a design for Queen Latifah when I found out Shade had to bow out ofhte competition....

...are you ready?

....

....

...

Introducing.....Fly Girl!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s201/tylerragan/LaLuna.jpg

PSYCH!!!!! :tongue:
(I kinda rushed this one too....)

Thanks to all my supporters, but Manon still is in a way right....and if hadn't rushed it, I woulda probably gotten Belinda's proportions down right in my own style if I had been paying more attention..'.nuff said!

Manon

03-28-2009, 01:18 AM

ha!

well played.

LewMoxinsghost

03-28-2009, 02:29 AM

I guess I'm saying that there's style and there's comfort zone. The artist controls the style, but should not let himself or herself be controlled by their comfort-zone.

This is very wise in general. Nice quote.

Danny Wall

03-28-2009, 06:14 AM

Well, that sucks. It sucks that I was out of the country so I had only one day to complete the entry (not that it would have changed that much, I'll admit. I stand by my design.) What really sucks is that I wasn't able to vote for myself, and I told my friend who wasn't a regular poster that he didn't have to vote either since that was "against" the rules. At least I could have forced a tie breaker or something.

It doesn't suck that I was in Thailand on a nearly deserted island working on my scuba diving certification. I'll try to play along at home for the next round but otherwise I'll leave you all to the fun. Thanks for the fun while it lasted! I love this stuff!

danny

Affinity

03-28-2009, 01:22 PM

atoningunifex

03-28-2009, 01:54 PM

howyadoin

03-28-2009, 03:05 PM

Anytime you see me use lens flares it means I'm feeling desparate.Hah. Truer words were never spoken.

bakla

03-28-2009, 03:20 PM

I wrote this out last night, but thought, I should forbear. But I've changed my mind:

there's a difference between pleasing individual people and recognizing gender-specific anatomical differences. I'm not asking that he draw everyone as a 36-24-36, but he was drawing a specific person (who had a feminine-enough body to model in playboy at the age 42), and he even admitted to not referencing her body's build.

I'm sure Goat's style (which to say I am fond of a lot of his work) would still shine through if he were to deviate from the "drawing women the same as men, but with tennis ball-breasts" I mean, what would've happened if he had been assigned someone as drastically different from that as Queen Latifah?

I guess I'm saying that there's style and there's comfort zone. The artist controls the style, but should not let himself or herself be controlled by their comfort-zone.

I think it's unnecessary to tell someone how you think they should draw. The challenge is to design a costume concept and a look, not present a facsimile of the subject. Obviously escapegoat did that enough to the voters' satisfaction. In my 30+ years working in the fashion industry, illustrators and designers rarely draw their subjects' physiques, at most trying to achieve some sort of facial resemblance, but not to the point of portraiture. And in comics, you have successful artists as disparate as Kevin Nowlan and Terry Dodson transforming all the characters to their respective aesthetics (skinny and full figured, respectively, regardless of the character). It's artistic expression - you may or may not like it, and that's fine, and you have the right to state your preferences - but it doesn't mean they should or should not do anything for anyone else's sense of what the art should look like.