Friday Video #32: Rufus at Borders

Here is Rufus Wainwright performing "Sanssouci" (from his just-released Release The Stars CD) at an in-store appearance at the Borders in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on May 19, 2007, which I was lucky to attend and see. I'll tell you more about what happened when I come back from my vacation down the beach. Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

Friday Video #31: Verka Serduchka at Eurovision

Can a drag queen from the Ukraine become a sensation in Europe? Well Verka Serduchka has done just that. Last weekend at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 she performed an accordian techno number titled "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" and it went over very well--it finished in second place. A fun goofy number indeed. (First place went to "Molitva" by Marjia Serifovic from Seria, who's an out lesbian.)

Speaking of Eurovision, NBC has bought the US rights to the show and now is developing World Vision: An American Anthem. If the American version does get off the ground, could this mean that there's a chance a drag queen or out gay person could win or place highly in the contest like they can in the European original version? Hopefully there can be a slight better chance than, say, American Idol (Hello, pink elephant in the room called Clay Aiken)!

New Madonna Track

What do I think about the new Madonna track "Hey You," which has been done for the Live Earth concerts on July 7, and that you can download via MSN.com? Not bad. It aims to be orchestral pop, something that you wouldn't expect considering that this was produced by her and Pharrell, the Neptunes producer who she has been working with on her upcoming album. Feels a bit rushed though--if they spent a little more time working on this, it would make a nice power ballad for commercial radio. If anything, this will at least quiet down the hardcore Madonna fans who think that she's selling out by current working with big name hip-hop artists. "Hey You" is only be available as an online download, so if you're a Madonna fan...

HEY YOU

Lady Bunny Interview

For the latest installment of my PhillyGayCalendar.com column, I did an interviw with Lady Bunny, who does a great, irreverent, yet politically aware blog, and who will be appearing at The Raven in New Hope, Pa. on Sunday May 20 as part of their Gay Pride weekend known as New Hope Celebrates. Here is an excerpt from there, where she talks about writing on her blog:

"Well, if your blog is entertaining you draw people to your site by constantly updating it with new entries. Even if your site is gorgeous, no one wants to come and look at the same thing everyday. But I have been on the road for weeks so I've been a VERY lazy blogger recently. But I repent! I'm sure that that horror Jerry Falwell will get me going on the ol' blog. I also have just gotten back from working in London and Paris and have some fun pics from the gigs which I'll be posting soon. And here's a pic of Dennis Rodman getting the "booty" at Treasure Island hotel in Vegas last Friday. I was his "date" for his birthday party at Scores--the straight strip club! Nuts!"

Planet Out/Advocate/Gay.com Company Collapsing

Planet OutInc., the big gay company that owns PlanetOut.com, Gay.com, The Advocate and Out magazines, as well as the RSVP all-gay cruise line, recently announced that if they don't get an infusion of cash by the end of the year, it will be shutting down. Over the past decade they bought out each gay magazine and website and in the process became the dominant media company (monopoly?) for the gay community. But they wound up overextending themselves, and now if things don't get better it looks like there won't be much of a nationwide gay print news media left. (And what would be left of it? Instinct? The Guide?) Remember the story about not putting all your eggs in one basket? Looks like that's happened with Planet Out Inc. and this country's gay news print media.

Friday Video #30: Bjork and the Sugarcubes

Since Bjork's latest album Volta was released this week, I thought that it'd be interesting to show the music video that first made me aware of her. In early 1988 I saw a video on USA Network's music program Night Flight, "Coldsweat," which featured her band the Sugarcubes. The track is featured on their debut album Life's Too Good. Fellow band member Einar Orn, who plays trumpet and was the band's other vocalist, co-stars with Bjork in the video.

Friday Video #29: Scarlett and the Mary Chain

Lots of interesting things happened at the Coachella music festival last weekend. Here's a clip of the Jesus and the Mary Chain performing "Just Like Honey," with actress Scarlett Johannson helping out on vocals. (Interesting trivia: "Just Like Honey" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2003 film Lost In Translation, the film that made Scarlett a star.)

Equality Forum Weekend 2007

After a trying week with some health issues I've hopefully put behind me (which I'll probably post about in the future), looks like I'll be busy in Philly this weekend with this year's Equality Forum. Saturday night at the Bike Stop there's the Cinco de Mayo/IML Send Off Party for Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2007 John Loesch, thrown by both the Philadelphians MC and the Liberty Bears. On Sunday there the SundayOUT! Street Festival, where I'll be working behind the PhillyGayCalendar.com desk from 3 to 4pm. And that same evening from 6 to 10pm the Liberty Bears will be throwing their Post-Cinco de Mayo Social at the pit of the Bike Stop. Hope to see you around!