The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project 2011

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project took place around the world on Saturday night. While Madonna had herself a boogie (above) at the event in The States, in Australia, Anna Lunoe and Italian DJ Alex Gaudino took the party to Melbourne.

Guadino, who has recently collaborated with Kelly Rowland and is a leading name in the dance music industry, exclusively told Bobbysix.com, "When the idea first came up, I was curious. Then when I found out more about the concept, I was honored to be able to “represent” Italy along with other artists taking part. I think it’s an original and exciting framework for music and culture. Really great."

Here are a few shots from Melbs:

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project - Now Pharrell joins the fun!

Not content with getting Madonna on board, Smirnoff have also secured an exclusive collaboration with global music and culture icon Pharrell Willliams, who you may have seen featuring in a brand new TV and online advertising campaign created especially for Australia.

Pharrell, a master collaborator himself, leads the campaign from start to finish, as the viewer is taken on a journey of how his mixes are created. He explains how the best music can be made only when the artist starts with a blank canvas. He builds his track Truth or Dare by adding layer upon layer of elements, one at a time – the beat, the groove, the vocals – the result, a full impact mix that you can’t help dancing to.

In case you hadn't worked it out already, the inspiration of the campaign stems from the way a bartender mixes a drink. Excited to be part of the initiative, Pharrell says, “What really works the best is when opposites attract. This is how I work when I collaborate with talented musicians, I take the true substance of their sound and mix it with what I think complements it best. I like how Smirnoff present a pure vodka, perfect for mixing – this is what I try to do with my music, so I agreed to be a part of this campaign.”

Want to see more than the above clip? Head to the Smirnoff Australia Facebook page to check out exclusive “Behind The Scenes” footage from the shoot including interviews with musicians involved. Also, an added feature of the campaign will be that whilst viewing the commercial on TV, smart phone users will be able to use the Shazam app to access additional footage and further information on the campaign from an exclusive micro website – a first for a TV commercial in Australia. Snazzy, hey?

Madonna joins the party as The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project goes massive!

We've been in transit for a few days, so it was an amazing surprise to arrive back at Bobbysix Towers to find the biggest parcel we've ever received waiting on our doorstep. In fact, it wasn't even a parcel, but a crate (see further down the page) filled with all manner of goodies relating to the latest installment of The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project.

Included in the crate was a globe, which will come in handy as this year's project is taking the party to all corners of the earth. If you thought 2010's event, which saw 14 countries swap nightlife, was ambitious, then, twelve months on, things are set to go MASSIVE. This time round, the audacious goal is to get 10 million people to discover, share and swap the most original nightlife experiences in, get this, 50 countries. Five-zero.

Oh, and if that weren't big enough, then they've only gone and got Madonna on board. No biggie. She's only, like, the biggest female pop star of all time. As part of the Nightlife Exchange Project, she'll be on the lookout for a new dancer to join her next tour.

As well as submitting ideas on what makes their country's nightlife special, fans can enter an exclusive dance competition online. Madonna will attend one of the selected Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project experiences where finalists will compete in front of her for the winning spot. The winner may get the opportunity to join the queen of pop on her next tour as one of her dancers. "What attracted me to the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project is the combination of participating in the celebration of nightlife around the world and the opportunity to discover the world's best unknown dancers," said Madonna. "The best dancers are always in the clubs looking for the most original experience, just like Smirnoff is doing."

If Madonna is seeking someone who slowly shifts their weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other while not really knowing what to do with their hands, then she need look no further than the dags at Bobbysix.com. Just sayin'.

The submission process for the dance competition runs until October 10th. To enter, hopefuls must submit a 60-second dance video. For details on the dance submission process visit Smirnoff's Facebook page (Aussies go here, Brits go here).

The 50 countries participating in the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project include: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. Better get that globe out. 

Madonna - Celebration

From the early pop genius of Rescue Me and Lucky Star, through the blonde bombshell years of Vogue and Express Yourself to her William Orbit collaborations and beyond, Celebration is a comprehensive journey through the Queen of Pop’s career.

The album boasts a new single, Celebration, co-produced by Oakenfold and Madonna and another brand new track. Okay, so neither song is worth writing home about but, generally, this double album - digitally re-mastered from the original tapes - offers classic hit after classic hit. The re-mastering has given the songs a fresh new edge and they serve to remind what a massive influence she has had on pop culture over the past quarter of a century. Today’s pretenders to her throne seem watered down and hackneyed in comparison. She might be knocking on a bit now but, simply, the likes of Lady GaGa aren't fit to shine Madonna's shoes.