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September 04, 2006

90% of success is just showing up

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In fairness to Banksy, he is being quoted in the press to the effect that Paris Hilton will not "get" his latest intervention when what he in fact said was that he "does not know" if she will get it. It being Banky's own first pop release in the form of Paris Hilton samplecore stylings.

The secretive artist has smuggled 500 doctored copies of Paris Hilton's debut album into music stores throughout the UK, where they have sold without the shops' knowledge. In place of Ms Hilton's bubble-gum pop songs, the CDs feature Banksy's own rudimentary compositions. On the cover of the doctored CD, Ms Hilton's dress has been digitally repositioned to reveal her bare breasts; on an inside photo, her head has been replaced with that of her dog.

On the back cover, the original song titles have been replaced with a list of questions: "Why am I famous?", "What have I done?" and "What am I for?"

All of which is mildly witty and reasonably inventive and leaves me wishing I had somehow got my hands on one of these now extremely collectible pieces of pop detritus. Though I fail to see how Banksy's happening "backfires" by inadvertently selling more of Paris' albums. That is, if his point is intellectual or artistic rather than to take a cheap shot at someone younger, wealther and - presumably - prettier than he is. A man whose PR flak describes him as "risking snipers" by tagging Israel's security wall has some gaul to accuse anyone of empty celebrity. In fact, anyone was has a PR flak is perching atop a shaky barricade for this sort sophomoric class war. Though I suppose mocking suicide bombers on the West Bank would take more guts and earn fewer points at Islington dinner parties; it would certainly be far less profitable than joining the international chorus of empty celebrity-envy.

The above image was sampled in its entirety from The Gossip Rag.

Verity Update: Which is all to suggest I am hostile to Banksy when in fact my intent is to defend Paris Hilton. I am actually largely in favour of Banksy and think this new project is fab. Worth a look: Zina Saro-Wiwa is In Search of Banksy. Also, rats and Crude Oils.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at September 4, 2006 08:33 AM

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