Aquarius Superstar

Aquarius singer-songwriter Sean Tillman seems like an anomaly in the musical Hall of Fame with his strutting sexuality and overtly suggestive music as Har Mar Superstar. There's also the issue of his use of multiple musical personas (see Sean Tillman and Sean Na Na), which can be rocker dudish (as Sean Tillman in Calvin Krime) and sweetly popish (as with Sean Na Na). It's unusual for Aquarians to be so bluntly sexual and certainly to do so through adopted personas. This is generally the territory of Geminis, Capricorns, and Aries. But when placed in a different context, it makes absolute sense.

Tillman's presentations are less personification than manifestation. What he's seemingly doing is manifesting the Aquarian id, much like Madonna manifests the Leo id. Tillman's Har Mar Superstar isn't so much a hedonist, as he is an expressionist. He dances provocatively and semi-nude and often encourages the same in his audience. His aesthetic is exposure vs. composure, so he's often not frocked in costumes, reciting otherworldly passages, or hiding behind his personas. If anything, he's exposing the underpinnings of his (and our) sensuality with Har Mar Superstar.

In a recent SoundProof Magazine interview, Tillman describes Har Mar Superstar's aim thus: "My whole show is about getting everyone in the audience to let go of their real lives and go wild for a night. I think people see me move with wild abandon and they feel like they should too. I'm more of a ringleader than anything at that point."

Though Tillman considers himself only part of a much larger show, it should be noted that there are Aquarian singer-songwriters who can fully embrace the novelty of a persona for a much longer extended period of time. But like Tillman, they eventually become disenchanted or feel limited by these personas and move on into a more educational role. It seems that when it really comes down to it, it's always about what can be most instructive to a larger audience for these Aquarians and not about the need to titillate or arouse on an individual basis.

Har Mar Superstar's latest and fourth album, Dark Touches, came out in October 2009. Until his next album, enjoy this song that was originally penned for Britney Spears, or check out his appearance in the recently released film Whip It!, or catch him live now that he's currently on tour.

The Inorganic Aquarian

[Please ignore the absurd reverse "Mandingo" psychology behind this movie poster--I know that it's difficult to do]

I've been on an Aquarians in film movie-watching kick as of late. Yesterday I Netflixed my way through Robert Altman's Persona-esque film 3 Women (like most experimental directors, Altman was born on a cusp, February 20 to be exact) and the double-Aquarius Christina Ricci-Justin Timberlake sleeper Black Snake Moan. It seems like a strange pairing and neither film has much in common with the other and were filmed 30 years apart, but the afternoon spent watching both films back to back proved providential.

In the 2003 Criterion DVD commentary for his 1977 film, Altman spent a great deal of his time on tangential asides about process. At times these tangents were repetitive and wildly meandering, but for the most part his commentary was riddled with unique insights that were stunning in their clarity as to the subject of what is real and what isn't. One such insight was the proposition that today's actors are more behaviorists than not. It's as if, he said, they are drawing attention to the fact that they've memorized the behavior and nothing comes across organically.

The performances by Timberlake and Ricci in Black Snake Moan exemplify Altman's point. As much writhing and spitting as Ricci does, it still feels as though one is watching an actress portraying a character rather than watching the character develop through story. In essence, it's overacted. The mannerisms are too desperate and emotions are too obtusely displayed--and that's the good acting. Timberlake takes it one step further with a face that seems to be begging the camera to believe him.

Watching their performances got me to thinking about when the last time was that I saw an Aquarius actor truly embody another character. With most Aquarius actors, you get the sense that they've memorized body language and emotional patterns and are forcefully projecting them. You get the sense that they're not quite convinced themselves. More important, you get the sense that they're just on the brink of cracking themselves up with how well they're doing.

Most Aquarian actors generally carry a slight smirk that gives them away. I'm thinking of folks like Christian Bale, Burt Reynolds, Newman, Fawcett, Travolta, etc. Most of them have made a career out of their famous smirks and have a difficult time "playing it straight." But when you think about it, it's to be expected. I'm not going to say that Aquarians don't lie--many are quite good at it--but I will say that the majority of Aquarians don't enjoy lying. So, you can gather that the art of lying--acting--doesn't come natural to them.

Perhaps they make better directors than they do actors. There's no shortage of Aquarian directors. And that, too, makes a lot of sense. Seeking the truth is so much easier to do behind the camera than in front of it and Aquarians are better at showing how behavior affects us than they are at portraying it.

Kate McGarrigle

Mother of Martha and Rufus Wainwright, sister of Anna McGarrigle, amazing musician, and fellow Aquarius Kate McGarrigle passed away Monday, but not before doing her part, like Farrah Fawcett, to change the face of cancer support. Click here to find out how to make a donation to the Kate McGarrigle Fund.

Opening a Can of Aquarian Whoop Ass

Who is the Best Aquarian in the World? At this point in time, my vote is for Aquarian Keith Oblermann, born January 27, who delivered the most seething response to the "Haitian Problem" statements of the Pat Robertsons and Rush Limbaughs out there. His particular form of Aquarian Whoop Ass tingled my spine. See if it does the same for you, and thank you Mr. Olbermann!

Aquarian Bachelor

If you've been living under a stone and haven't been made privy to the media blizzard that follows these things, you probably haven't heard that Aquarian Jake Pavelka, born January 27, is the newest reality star of The Bachelor.

Put aside your natural disdain for reality-show contestants and just focus on the dude behind the spray tan and the Dudley Do-Right smile. Pavelka shows all the public signs of a typical Aquarius: he's talkative, charming, respectful, and not so surprisingly in aviation. At 31, he's a commercial airline pilot and has been for nine years. Already he wins points in my book for having a kick-ass job that I'm drooling with jealousy over.

It's true that he's a Christian conservative, which isn't exactly the marker of a typical Aquarius, but unlike his fellow Christian conservatives (see Palin, Beck, Chaney, Reagan, et al), he doesn't seem out to beat anyone over the head with his beliefs (or perhaps the producers just don't highlight this aspect), he's from Dallas (these traits seem to be prerequisites of most Dallas natives), and he seems like a pretty decent guy--give or take a little expected plasticity in his "Mr. Perfect" media persona. (Take a look at that photo, though, is there not a little snarl forming around the edges of that smile? It's subtle but from one Aquarius to another, I think he knows how cheesy that shot was).

So it's surprising to see the level of venom being lobbed at Pavelka. The choicest insults label him bland, fake, and unmanly (Because there's something so unmanly about a pilot in charge of millions of peoples' lives, I'm guessing! Damn you Sully Sullenberger!), with the general consensus being that he's a manipulative sap. As a fellow Aquarian, and as a truly sappy one, as well, (deep breath: it's a reality show, people! Unbunch your panties!) I have to admit reading the insults stung and made me a little verklempt.

I'm sure every Aquarius out there has been called one or more of these things. I'll wager that I've been called each one of these at least once, sometimes more, particularly by signs that I'll politely deem a little more "self-regarding." Fake? Check. I sincerely believe in being respectful and decent to people, no matter my wants, mood, or needs. I also value the idea of karma, and "act" accordingly. Oddly enough, when I'm being most "true" or "real" is when this is often lobbed my way. Unmanly/Unwomanly? I think every Aquarius that I know has been picked on for this. It generally happens because we refuse to follow the herd-mentality of stereotypes. (For Pavelka, this insult was lobbed when he broke down in tears on-camera. Because, you know, crying is for sissies--said the emotionally damaged men who left their equally emotionally damaged children behind).

But I think the thing that riled me most about this was the insult that Pavelka was bland. There's nothing bland about a pilot. There's nothing bland about a guy who likes to build things in his spare time. And there's nothing bland about a guy who likes adventure. When I hear bland, I think what they really mean is this: like most Aquarians, I do not go out of my way to "act out."

When people say this, I also think that they mean glamor, in the sense of inspiring those high emotions in other. It's true that Aquarius is one of the least glamorous star signs out there. They can inspire creativity and artistic expression in others, but it's generally of the more organic, message-driven sort. They are not nearly as dramatic or invested in any one form of expression as, say, Scorpio, Leo, and Aries. So, often they are accused of being bland or--with the same snide breath--accused of putting on an act because they're not being as blatantly selfish.

What I see in Pavelka is a disciplined Aquarius (the undisciplined Aquarians are a different story) who has worked very hard to be as decent as he can be and one who is perhaps very aware that he's representing the larger ideal of a decent guy. He may be boring, but he's not bland. A little too safe, maybe. A tad bit media whorish, yes. And a little too white middle American, possibly. But this is a "reality" show, isn't it?

For recaps of the latest episodes (meaning you don't have to watch it!), check out Chris Harrison's blog at EW.

Miep Gies

Aquarian Miep Gies died today. I am reminded of a saying in a hazily remembered late-night film that brought me to uncontrollable tears. "Well my dear," said an unknown character in this film, "don't you know that everyone has a purpose?"

Aquarian Profile: Jenny Lumet

You've probably never heard of Jenny Lumet, but you may have heard of her father Sidney Lumet and her grandmother Lena Horne.

Lumet, born February 2, is a screenwriter who released her brilliant gem of a film Rachel Getting Married in September 2008.

Filmed by Aquarius-Pisces cusp director Jonathan Demme, the movie is a look into the relationship between a drug-addicted daughter and her family when she returns home after a stint in rehab.

It sounds like familiar ground that Lumet is treading here, but where it veers from more precocious and twee films of this same topic is in its multilayered portrayal of characters who are not the typical walking and talking metaphors for good and evil. They are complex, world-weary, and damaged in believable ways. These characters have soul that goes beyond quirky vignettes (I'm looking at you, Juno and The Royal Tannenbaums).

Demme does an excellent job with the script, filming the movie in a fluttery, home-movie manner and wrangling up a really incredible supporting cast: Debra Winger as the mother and Robyn Hitchcock as a wedding performer, anyone? TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe as the groom?! Wait--Tunde Adebimpe as the groom singing an a cappella Neil Young cover ("Unknown Legend") to his bride at the alter. Unbelievable. And the wedding itself is perhaps the stuff of Aquarian dreams: multicultural, esoteric, colorful, nuanced, musical, and beautifully chaotic.

The film has been praised for its subtle elegance and on-target depiction of millennial ennui and arrogance, but it's also been criticized for being one of the most relentless films about family dysfunction.

What it is is honest in a way that I think only an Aquarian can show honesty--without turning away. So, it can come across as suffocatingly real. Depending on which side of the criticism line you fall, this could be the worst movie you've ever seen or the best movie you'll ever see on this subject.

My vote is for the latter. I cannot wait to see what Lumet writes next. In the meantime, Rachel Getting Married is available for instant viewing via Netflix.