LA CARMINA TRAVEL TV HOSTING REEL. ORIGINS OF THE NAME: ARMY OF LOVERS LA CAMILLA, LA CARLOTTA, ITALIAN OCCULT FASHION ICON MARCHESA LUISA CASATI.
I often receive the question: where does the name La Carmina come from? Voila the tale of my name’s blood and glitter-splattered origins. (As for La Carmina’s real name? Age? Boyfriend? That’s a mystery…)
The name “La Carmina” was bestowed upon me in 2007 by Basil Farrow’s father. It’s a spin on La Camilla, the lead singer of Italo Disco Swedish glam camp band, Army of Lovers. When you watch the disco-Rococo Crucified music video, you’ll see why the name fits.
But there are other “La Ca___” in history, and they tend to be decadent diva types. You probably know of La Carlotta, the prima donna in Phantom of the Opera. She storms around the opera house in tiered dresses and too-tight corsets, shattering eardrums and slapping her minions with a giant feathered fan.
And then there’s La Casati (Marchesa Casati Stampa di Soncino), whose morbid eccentricity and spend-thrift ways scandalized Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The Italian heiress lived in a Gothic Art Deco manor where peacocks and monkeys roamed freely. She threw opulent soirees that would put Queen’s Freddy Mercury to shame. Once, La Casati wore a dress of white feathers, streaked with fresh blood – yes! Another time, she draped live snakes around her neck and led two cheetahs on a leash, while being waited upon by male slaves wearing nothing but gold leaf – double yes!
Erte, Jean Cocteau, Picasso and Man Ray called the dark lady their muse. But she frittered away her inheritance and ended up living as a crazy bag lady in London. Rumor has it that La Casati would rummage through garbage bins to find feathers for her hair, and scraps of fabric for her moth-eaten coats.
I leave you with two quotes from Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (HIGHLY recommended): “Lives full of drama, masked balls, orgiastic revels…” / “In the city, with the noises of the streets, the hum of the theaters, and the bright lights of the balls, they were leading lives where the heart had space to expand, the senses to blossom.“
Huge hug for 13-year-old Caitlyn Banfield, who sent me these adorable drawings. My Scottish Fold cat is dressed as a ghost and says “Wahh, mama is so kawaii!” I’m happy to feature your artwork / fanart on my site; just send me an email. I try to reply to as many comments as I can, so don’t be scared to leave one.
Finally, I compiled a reel of my travel TV hosting work, which you can see above and on YouTube. It includes CNN, Travel Channel Bizarre Foods, NHK, Today Show. I have more TV / hosting gigs in the works — very excited! If you’d like me to work with me in any capacity, shoot me an email.
Do you have a nickname? If so, how did the name affix itself to you?
Japanese Word of the Day: Ryoko = Travel
Song of the Day: I can’t stop listening to this New Beat / Industrial / EBM music stream. SO good, especially halfway through when the song goes “Lix! Erandeauch! Lungband!” You can hear more at Endurance club night, every second Saturday at London’s Club Alibi (more info here.)
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LA CARMINA
53 Comments
Ahahahah! I knew it! I’ve long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.
Ahahahah! I knew it! I’ve long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.
Edit: Oops, double post! Mmmm, I think I’ll watch “Give My Life” now… everything about Army of Lovers is simply Rococo-excess perfect, no?
glad to see you’re doing well! :)
How did your success start? give us a bio! or like a ‘My Youtube Story’
aww this is cute
Great video. :)
<3 U!!
oh wow! I love the inspiration behind the name!
It fit so well!
La Casati is so interesting!
I first came across her name in a book about Goth… so fascinating, her life!
Love the inspiration! My nickname is Denni. It was given to me by my 7th grade teachers, who couldn’t pronounce my full name (Denamisbragah, ugh) Even though I told them to refer to me as Dena, my social studies teacher still called me that. It has been stuck ever since, and I used it for my unknown blog: http://visualkeifreakazoid.blogspot.com/
Cute cute! <3
La Casati seems like a woman of my taste ~^^
but she fades to nothingness if compared to the viscousness La Carmina has accomplished ~^^
Heheeheh! You and me both, darling!
Ahahahah! I knew it! I've long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.
Ahahahah! I knew it! I've long speculated on the La Camilla/La Carmina connection. I feel culturally justified. And oddly enough, I was struck by the urge to watch “Crucified” first thing this morning.
glad to see you're doing well! :)
How did your success start? give us a bio! or like a 'My Youtube Story'
aww this is cute
Great video. :)
<3 U!!
oh wow! I love the inspiration behind the name!
La Casati is so interesting!
Love the inspiration! My nickname is Denni. It was given to me by my 7th grade teachers, who couldn't pronounce my full name (Denamisbragah, ugh) Even though I told them to refer to me as Dena, my social studies teacher still called me that. It has been stuck ever since, and I used it for my unknown blog: http://visualkeifreakazoid.blogspot.com/
La Casati seems like a woman of my taste ~^^
but she fades to nothingness if compared to the viscousness La Carmina has accomplished ~^^
That painting of La Casati is wonderful!
this was so intriguing 2 find out about…I have often wondered about the name La Carmina but never asked. definately alot of interesting La C’s throughout time…though ur the best. ;)
& those drawings r so cute! lol
haha you are the sweetest. ;)
well thank you ^-^
Thanks I worked hard on drwing the pics ^_^
You’re very talented! <3 Do keep it up!
I want that to be my life…. why isn’t that my life?
That painting of La Casati is wonderful!
this was so intriguing 2 find out about…I have often wondered about the name La Carmina but never asked. definately alot of interesting La C's throughout time…though ur the best. ;)
& those drawings r so cute! lol
I first came across her name in a book about Goth… so fascinating, her life!
It fit so well!
Cute cute! <3
Heheeheh! You and me both, darling!
haha you are the sweetest. ;)
I want that to be my life…. why isn't that my life?
Thanks I worked hard on drwing the pics ^_^
You're very talented! <3 Do keep it up!
Your show reel looks great. Love the Creatures!
well thank you ^-^
Your show reel looks great. Love the Creatures!
Gothic lolita rulez!!!!!
A string of Pearls,they go with anything !!!
Gothic lolita rulez!!!!!
A string of Pearls,they go with anything !!!
“The Liberty NutCase”
It dates back to the early nineties when the web was full of Political Debate Walls and the E/N crowd. I’m a staunch Libertarian who constantly argued in minimal Government interference in the everyday lives of Sovereign Individual American’s Personal and Economic Freedoms.
In one ongoing debate, a Republicrat or Domnican called me a Nut Case to which I replied, “yes I am about Liberty and this nut case will fight for your right to call me names when you no longer have anything of substance left to say…” (or something along those lines, it was nigh 20 years ago.)
That’s how that Moniker was born.
“The Liberty NutCase”
It dates back to the early nineties when the web was full of Political Debate Walls and the E/N crowd. I'm a staunch Libertarian who constantly argued in minimal Government interference in the everyday lives of Sovereign Individual American's Personal and Economic Freedoms.
In one ongoing debate, a Republicrat or Domnican called me a Nut Case to which I replied, “yes I am about Liberty and this nut case will fight for your right to call me names when you no longer have anything of substance left to say…” (or something along those lines, it was nigh 20 years ago.)
That's how that Moniker was born.
This is the great blog, I’m reading them for a while,
thanks for the new posts!