The Musicians- Vudu Collection

Let's get into the fantastic Musicians in my collection. Musicians are indicated by the guitar, others by the boombox accessory, but they add style to the Vuduverse.

The first musician I received was Zack#4590.  

You can see him repping the skelly band shirt, dealing with his blue angsty teenage self, rocking the mohawk, holding his sweet guitar.

He has a special place in my heart. When I first envisioned him, he sat at the end of his bed, just plucking the strings. With a stitched mouth, he communicates primarily through music. 

I see him working on lyrics for a few hours, tunes for hours, no sense of time. Eventually, I will need to create a project for him, maybe a talent show!

At first, he was my only musician, and I started thinking it might be cool to create a band if I could get a few of these together as a group. At the ATM, I learned how to sort Vudu's by traits, and I saw lots of options. One was beyond dazzling, but the ADA required was worth almost 3000USD.

Maybe I would just focus on getting unique traits. I looked around the store. 

I saw one with a boombox, also pretty expensive compared to some of the other traits. 

Perhaps I should focus on the colors of the dolls?

Thousands of features to consider, but I was pretty flush with ADA.

Next, I picked up JamBeret. 

Her aesthetic really spoke to me; she had grey anklets like Zack and a sweet guitar; oh yes, my musicians were going to be amazing. 

Look at the reds. All I could imagine was strawberry jam. The word association flowed. Jazzberry jam, strawberry hat, red jelly stage lit background. Berry dress, ready for a show. 

I tried to imagine what she played: Strawberry Fields forever, no. Raspberry Beret? Something with some punch, some pop, some fire. 

I'll have her show off her style later in today's blog.

Then I collected "My Lili." I named this doll after a beautiful soul who has brought such pleasure to my world through her voice and lyrics, and I wanted to commemorate that gift here. 

I'll introduce you readers to the soulful artist through her YouTube Channel; listen here: Lili Furfaro, and I hope you enjoy falling under her spell. 

As for songs that emotionally hit me like a ton of bricks, try Bright, Seasons, Bare-Bones, and Pain and Pleasure. It'll be an extra treat if you already follow the D&D TTRPG show Critical Role and loved season 2. If not, you have everything to gain from watching it, from the beginning. Just in your free time, in the background, as a podcast even.

Kitty Boom Boom is a party in a picture.

I see a "militaristic lady wearing dominatrix lipstick and a kitty shirt, subtly advertising her willingness to party by carrying her boombox." 

My mind moves to a gritty street section in Berlin where similarly dressed party-goers are funneling into an old warehouse. The sound from the outside is silent, but the moment the door opens, we are blasted with noise. A doorkeeper decides who is cool enough to enter and who needs to sit out. Of course, Kitty walks right through that queue without a pause. She goes to a warehouse segment where the walls are painted in blacklight graffiti, where a disco ball is hit with RBG lights.

Welcome to Kitty and Jazberry's work. Click play.

I think Kitty has Matt's missing orange cuffs, frankly. As far as symbolism, I think she brings energy and a time in youth where you are still carefree. Trying out identities until you are ready to settle into the mold of your choosing.

 Dropping next out of the musician queue was a surprise, an artist wearing the CURSE OF THE EAST

Shirt. I couldn't think of a better example for an artist representing the Vudu Brigada project than the Lebanese Yasmine Hamdan singer, songwriter, and actress who now resides in Paris. If you follow the link, it will take you to an in-studio performance and interview. Born in 1976 in the middle of the civil war, she has a lot to share. 

I hope that people of the West learn more about the people of the East and that sales of the shirts help artists recover after the terrible bombings in Beirut.

It was 2020, and they still need your help. There are many ways to be of service:

The Lebanese Red Cross is the leading provider of ambulance services in Lebanon. The British Red Cross has also set up an emergency fund.

The United Nations’ World Food Program provides food to people displaced or made homeless. Lebanon imports nearly 85 percent of its food, and the port of Beirut, the epicenter of the explosion, played a central role in that supply chain. With the port severely damaged, food prices are beyond many. You can donate here.

Humanity and Inclusion had 100 workers in Lebanon, including physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers. They are focused on post-surgical therapy in Beirut following the explosion. 

International Medical Corps, The humanitarian aid organization, provides health services to Syrian refugees in Lebanon and vulnerable Lebanese.

Islamic Relief, which specializes in food aid and emergency response, is helping to put a supply chain in place in Beirut. 

Save the Children warned that over 900,000 people, including more than 550,000 children, did not have enough money to buy essential goods like food. With the situation likely to worsen after the explosion and with the ongoing toll of Covid, they launched Lebanon’s children relief fund, to which you can donate here.

UNICEF, the United Nations agency specializing in aid to children, provides medical and vaccine supplies in Beirut and supplies drinking water to rescue workers at the Beirut port. Its on-the-ground team provided counseling to children traumatized by the blast,

Impact Lebanon, a nonprofit organization, set up a crowdfunding campaign to help organizations on the ground. The group had raised over $3 million and donated the first $100,000 to the Lebanese Red Cross.

The health care organization Project HOPE is bringing medical supplies and protective gear to Beirut and assisting the authorities on the ground.

These agencies and many others do not only need help when the disaster strikes but need aid all year round. Please make sure part of your heart is shared with the world outside of your bubble as well.

Maybe all the musical Vudus can come to the Vuduverse and play a benefit concert?

Next: The Saga of Trix