By Tammy Scileppi
Two talented women — one from Queens, the other from Manhattan — have teamed up to launch a fun, quirky video for a pop single they wrote called “Barcode.”
The accomplished songsmiths wanted to inject equal doses of humor and playfulness into their newest musical endeavor.
So on a whim, Queens-based songwriter, screenwriter and actress Lori Martini and her good friend, pop singer-songwriter Cassandra Kubinski, conjured up an unusual theme for their catchy new track: barcodes and “hot men.”
“I came to Cassandra with this concept of scanning a guy with a barcode scanner if we thought he was hot,” Martini, a Middle Village resident, said. “Anyway, with men always exploiting women, we felt – why can’t we have some fun and objectify men?”
What makes the “Barcode” sing-along stand out is its fantasy angle, coupled with eye-catching, comic book-style graphics set against a grocery store-like backdrop.
As the story unfolds, a fictional female shopper spots a series of muscular, scantily clad, “make-believe” men, who seem to be popping up everywhere: in store aisles, between shopping carts, and at the cash register.
Throughout the video, the viewer hears Kubinski singing, her breathy voice embracing “Barcode’s” mildly suggestive lyrics.
“Lori had a really cool idea with the idea of scanning people like a barcode. We just took the lyric concept, and the grocery store seemed a fun and appropriate setting for it,” Kubinski said. “It quickly became the story in the song: a girl who goes shopping for some essentials and ends up seeing someone much more delicious.”
Over the years, the die-hard Mets fan has also been a great role model for young people.
Her inspiring song “I’m Not Perfect” was featured on Lifetime TV shows “Dance Moms Miami” and subsequently, “Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition.” The song champions anti-bullying, and its message has encouraged many young girls and boys to accept themselves for who they are.
As a rising screenwriter, she made her mark on the indie film scene with her short, titled “Caught.” Inspired by baseball, her favorite sport, the film explores a family’s dysfunctional relationship, and surprisingly, most of the action takes place on a softball field.
Martini said “Caught” has run the circuit and now she’s trying to get a children’s network to buy the TV pilot she shot for another film.
Martini’s acting credits include a feature role in an episode of the TV series “The Good Wife.”
Her “Believe” music video was released July 1, 2011; coincidentally, the same day that Ruth Roberts, the woman who wrote the original Mets fight song “Meet the Mets” (back in 1969), died.
“Believe” has also been placed on FOX NFL’s Sunday Morning Pre-game show, “Dance Moms” and some other shows.
