What's new at FDQ?
Our latest issue is all about music. As a music lover, I also enjoy having a few vinyl musicians in my collection. Long before I collected dolls, I had a run of Elvis mania, and that grew from music and album cover art to odds and ends like Elvis cologne and TCB shotglasses. When Hasbro introduced their trio of vinyl "Elvii" as I like to call them, they went right on the shelves with my other obsession, Barbie. While not every musician inspired doll has come home with me, I do appreciate the varied and eclectic assortment available to collectors at every price point and size.
One set I always wanted as a kid were the Donny and Marie Osmond dolls by Mattel. I never did get them as a child, but I did win a customized Marie Osmond giftset one year at Grant A Wish, created by our very talented contributor, Paul Bruce. Several years ago I had the change to sit down and speak with Marie Osmond at Toy Fair, and she admitted she didn't really love the dolls. Her head looked too big, she recalled and Donny's was too small. Once I took another look at the set, I saw that she was absolutely right. I wondered if her own doll design career was sparked by righting that wrong? Never got to ask her that.
There are truly dolls from every genre of music, some sublime, some downright ridiculous. For every well crafted Mattel Elvis, there is an equally bizarre Vanilla Ice or Elton John. Generally the female artists fare better, like Reba McIntyre, or the Cher series, also by Mattel. But some of the Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and LeeAnn Rimes(!) could use a little work.
No matter; it's still fun to have a veritible Grammy Awards show on you shelf if you love music. While doll artists like Magia2000 create their own Madonna dolls, I would like to see a few of my favorites officially produced. Gaga is obvious, with her vinyl gowns and outrageous headgear. I would love to see if anyone could do justice to Adele, with her lovely hair and gorgeous mane, not to mention her lush, real girl's figure. Janelle Monae would be adorable and even though she has been out of th spotlight for a while, Shirley Manson always seemed like a perfect type for a doll. I could even see Tonner doing the cast of "Nashville". All good looking, and who wouldn't want to play with Connie Britton's amazing hair? There is a tumblr site dedicated to her hair already, why not a vinyl doppelganger, too?
So crank up your iPod, put on your favorite tunes and enjoy the issue!