Paris Is Burning is one of the defining documentaries of the 1980s. It brought vogueing to the mainstream from the underground black and gay communities of New York City. It's been highly influential in exposing a part of society that was neglected for the better part of the 20th century. RuPaul's sole hit “Supermodel (You Better Work)” cites “Shantay! Sashay!” His TV show Drag Race dedicates a portion to “reading”. Because, reading is what? FUNDAMENTAL! RuPaul would even airlift one of Venus Xtravaganza's read into his single “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous”. Venus declared, “your just an overgrown orangutan!” |
The documentary includes nuggets of wisdom from all walks of life. Octavia Saint Laurent said, “I think all men are dogs (…) they all start barking sooner or later.” Or take Eileen Ford's advice when it comes to modeling, “when people ask you how you feel don't tell them your sick, because they don't really care.” Paris Is Burning is the kind of gem that has to be watched at least once.
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An early predecessor to these type of movies would be Alfred Hitchcock's Pyscho, although only two brutal murder does take away the pyschotic tendencies typical of a slasher. This sub genre is also referred to as “body count films” and “dead teenager films”. Titles that more clearly remove Pyscho from the running.
During the seventies Wes Craven was primarily working with the concept of “exploitation horror”. This is just a fancy way of saying that he capitalized on current trends or fascinations. That would involve lurid material that often involved sex and violence. Both of The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes are cult classics now. The first film dealt with two girls who were taken into the woods and tortured by a murderous gang.
You can thank Wes Craven for launching Johnny Depp in his first major acting role when he casted him in A Nightmare On Elm Street. The film series has had nine revisitations of Freddy Krueger. And, let's not forget when Freddy met Jason in the crossover death match of Freddy vs. Jason. Which, is honestly just cinema gold.
In my own humble homosexual opinion, Scream is Wes Craven's masterpiece. He resurrected a sub genre when it was dying. Slasher's were dead. Horror films weren't doing it. Then, you bring out Scream, which is the most self aware melodrama. It's fantastic. It plays with all the conventions and what's more it knows it.
Right now Fox is playing with it's own eighties inspired slasher series Scream Queens. It would make Wes Craven proud. Scary. Self deprecating and funny as hell.
Unfortunately, Wes Craven passed away this summer at the age of 76 after contracting brain cancer. At least he'll always live on in the recesses of our nightmares.
I feel like the obsession that Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta had with one another was never really expressed well enough. Now don't get me wrong. John Travolta was kind of hot with that cigarette dangling out of his mouth. What happened to him. Neither of them aged particularly well, but Olivia is 66. She looks good, I just feel like John got his face pulled one too many times.
Rewatching this movie as an “adult” I caught so many things. Danny and Kenickie had there three friends. They acted a fool. They were basically the three stooges. All of the T-Birds acted out masculinity. Danny and Kenickie had that moment when they were like “I love you as a bro” and then they pretended to be chill. Because, real men don't have emotions or care about people. Whatever.
The romance between Kenickie and Rizzo is also a lot closer to my heart. Kenickie is supposed to be this bad boy who has all this sex, but he lost his virginity to Rizzo. Do not be mistaken. When there in that car he says “it broke. I bought it in the 7th grade.” He's talking about a condom. He wanted to be cool. That's it. Rizzo decides it doesn't matter and they have sex.
The only time I don't see why he was so insistent was when they were in the drive in movie and he kind of forced himself on her. That seemed unnecessary. It's the kind of thing Danny Zuko was supposed to do and that's why I think he acted on it.
Sandy's friends and the people she aligned herself with were the delinquents. I think this transition was for her. Now, that doesn't mean this isn't problematic, but it's the way it is. It's also ironic that they both tried to change for each other when the theme song of Grease literally says “we can be who we are”.
The dance was pivotal. Marty through herself at the older announcer. Rizzo slayed up and down that fucking gym floor in that red spotted dress. I just love Stockard Channing. Killed it. Of course Danny fucked up again when he let himself dance with Cha Cha, who as Frenchie put it was “the best dancer at St. Bernadette's with the worst reputation.” Cha Cha was hot, though. I blame Danny and I also don't blame him.
The only other thing about this movie that I just adored was how short the boys shorts were. To have been alive in the racist homophobic era of the fifties would have been so much fun.
Someday I hope to also be dressed in skin tight leather. A cigarette in my hand. Cue the music and say “Tell me about it. Stud.” And crush the cigarette under my stiletto. Grease is life goals
Buy Rockferry
If you lived in the UK. These women were inescapable. If you are from the United States of America that answer is a defiant no. My personal favorite from these three was always Duffy. Amy Winehouse next and Adele third. I'm that person who didn't love 21. I can't tell you the number of people who wanted to shoot me for that opinion and the number of people who told me I had no taste in music. I proceeded to read them and articulately discuss the subject citing Amy and Duffy as superior to Adele in every way. Even going as far as to say Feist was better, knowing full well that they had no idea that Feist did not fall under the category of British soul.
Buy "Mercy"
Duffy has retreated since the relative commercial failure of Endlessly. It still was certified gold in the United Kingdom. She has stated that she doesn't like the public spotlight and this might very well mean we'll never have new Duffy music.
Buy Endlessly
Then, 2013 comes around and record producer Albert Hammond reveals that he is working with Duffy. It is now 2015 and where is Duffy? Our beautiful, wailing Welsh soulstress. She's going to get it right this time. I think that's what she's waiting for. Even, if the new music isn't commercial, it's going to be critically lauded.
Surprise of all surprises I have actually been reading over Christmas break. It is probably really hard to believe that I of all people actually enjoy reading. All I talk about is movies and boys and music. The fun stuff. During the semester I do not read anything. That is funny. Trying to maintain focus on The Odyssey and your trashy romance novel at the same time does not pan out.
Right before Christmas I started these two books by David Levithan. One is called Boy Meets Boy and the other is Two Boys Kissing. We are going to flashback and then go forward. It's actually all by accident that I read the books in the order that I did. I really wanted to read Two Boys Kissing first, but for some reason I chose to read Boys Meets Boy. I had both of the books with me, but I chose to read Boy Meets Boy first even though I wanted to read Two Boys Kissing. This may sound like extraneous information it is not.
Buy Boy Meets Boy
Now the reason I'm technically qualifying this as a Throwback Thursday is that Boy Meets Boy just recently had it's ten year anniversary. This was David Levithan's first novel and it's hardly the paramount of what gay literature should be. This book was protested, people tried to ban it, and honestly it's just a story of two boys falling in love.
It's an incredibly optimistic novel. It shows the world as how it should be instead of how it is. There's a nice mixture of representation in the gay community, you have the transgendered cheer leader, the boy coming to terms with his bisexuality, and of course the two main boys themselves. There is however the contrast of Tony. He is the narrators best friend and his parents are very religious. Tony is saintly. He is almost a martyr. The author reveals that Tony is based off a the title character in a song called “Tony” by Patty Griffin. Tony kills himself in the song. David Levithan said that he wanted to rewrite Tony's story. The book is even dedicated to Tony.
Buy "Tony"
Boy Meets Boy is the happiest I've ever felt reading a book. It was only when it was over that I was depressed. I realized or I thought I realized that I would never be that happy. I would always be Tony. The boy who ends up killing himself, I would never be the lead character who's family loves them and supports them.
That is why I probably should not have read Two Boys Kissing next. Thank god that I did, but it was not really a strong game plan. Where Boy Meets Boy is this uplifting novel, Two Boys Kissing is realistic. David Levithan wrote this book almost ten years after Boy Meets Boy.
This novel is important. This novel should be a classic. I don't say that lightly. I am not kidding with you when I say that. This isn't an exaggeration. Two Boys Kissing is the most beautiful book I have ever read in my life. It's also one of the saddest.
The perspective David Levithan uses is very interesting. It tells the story of four groups of boys and it's observed by this omnipresent spirit. I know that sounds strange, I'm not phrasing it well, but this person acts like a chorus in the Greek classics. This unnamed character is gay and is advising and struggling with them. Everything about this book is triggering if you are gay. I understood every single character. I understand that Craig and Harry want to show the world that it's okay to be gay. I can relate to Neil and Peter, even though I've never been in a relationship. Avery despite being transgendered is the most relate able character. He deals with body issues that even the most secure of us have. I hate to say that Cooper is the one I understood the most. The parents who didn't love, the parents who only realized they cared about him after he tried to kill himself.
Now Boy Meets Boy already made me an emotional wreck. Two Boys Kissing just finished the pile up. I had no interest in spending time with my family. I apologize for all of my tweets. I was literally the Grinch. Christmas day I pretended I was asleep. When my mother finally made me wake up. She knew something was wrong. I wouldn't tell her. Why would I? It has been eight years. And no where in that time did I think telling my religious parents I was gay was a good idea.
So, I took a shower. I even had my outfit planned out. All black. A shirt my father had told me was very feminine. I was ready. Except I wasn't really. I was sobbing and crying in the shower. Note to everyone that a shower doesn't help get rid of your tears if you keep crying. I thought I would burn some calories that day. It did not happen. My shower was about an hour long. In between curling up on the shower floor and trying to collect myself. I tried to make light of it. Ask myself why I was crying. Because, Legally Blonde was a really emotional movie. Or the very positive thought that crying worked the abdominal muscles. If it did I do not see any improvement.
What actually got me composed was Madonna. I just sang “Living For Love”. It was things like “I'm down on my knees alone in the dark/ I'm going to carry on/ I'm living for love/ I'm not giving up/ Love is going to lift me up”. Whenever anything's wrong it's Madonna or Sheryl Crow or Lady Gaga or anyone who tells me it's okay. Madonna will never know how much I needed he
Finally. After an hour, I am composed. I traipse down the stairs, I am steel. I am the bitch I've always trained myself to be. I come down with my parents presents in hand. They continue to ask me what's wrong. I ignore them. I had been strong for eight years and Lord knows I could be strong for another four.
I tell them that I was only here to open Christmas presents. They don't open anything I bought them. I bring in a few of the presents and open them. I'm trying so hard not to think, not to break down and cry. I'm unnecessarily callous. My mother starts crying. I really don't have any sympathy for her. My father tells me I need to get out. That I have ruined Christmas. Of course I have. I've spent no time with my family on a family holiday. I have no interest in talking to them. I am over it. Still, I'm a dramatic cunt and I told them Merry Christmas. There are a lot things that I've experienced with my father. I know when I make him angry that he throws the money he spends on me against me. Sorry, you decided to have a child. I know he swears, but that day I thought he was going to hit me. I don't what held him back. Thinking about the concept of your parents hitting you, you shiver a little bit. I was so dead inside that I wasn't afraid if he hit me. If anything I would have known how to respond to that. There are a lot of ways I've imagined telling my parents that “by the way I'm a homosexual” and no matter how I did it. The reaction is always the same. Without even telling them I was gay, I managed to get exactly the reaction I always expected. I stood there and listened to him call me a son of a bitch and a bastard. He threw around fuck for good measure and when he was done. I walked upstairs. I shut my door and listened to “Living For Love”. The Jenny Lewis song “Head Underwater” and then my parents left. They had a Christmas party to go to. One I had opted out of, because it sounded god awful. A bunch of middle aged, religious republicans. Choke me with a cashmere scarf already.
What was weird is that when my parents were leaving they were having the most normal conversation. They were talking about the weather. What the actual fuck parents. What the fuck.
I finally hear them leave and I do what I always do when I'm depressed. I put on some dance music. I have never listened to my music quite as loud as I did to Britney Spears “Hold It Against Me”. It was also the most ugly thing to see me when the Madonna song “Holiday” came on. I was crying and dancing and wailing the lyrics.
You know I question why I'm alone, but I really do understand. I'm a train wreck.
Everyone needs a break from dancing at some point, and I am just casually sitting there eating a bagel when the garage door opens. I did not expect my parents to be home so soon. I shut the music off and calmly run up the stairs. My bagels still sitting there on the table.
Lord knows I have dropped more then a few hints along the way. My hair has been 50 Shades of Purple, I can barely walk in my skinny jeans, my unnatural obsession with Madonna, but more importantly whenever they ask me about girls there never is one. I have never once told them about a girl liked, because there has never been one.
This is what I really needed to hear. And, he holds me. I can't tell you how badly I've needed someone to just hold me and let me cry. Just to let me not say anything and cry. How can you explain that to someone. Just hold still, I'm going to start crying on your shoulder, and I'm not going to explain anything to you after wards. There was some talking as there needed to be and we went on with our Christmas. We salvaged it if you want to say that. Isn't that just like me. Merry Christmas parents, I'm gay. Could I have been more dramatic. Like come on.
My mother and I don't talk about it. We go out to dinner. Forgive that poor waiter who was working on Christmas, I am sorry. Then, we saw Into the Woods. The gayest movie at the box office next to Annie. Can we just talk about how good Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen looked in this movie. That was a Christmas miracle. For the first time I was sitting next to my parents, completely enraptured by these two beautiful men, and if I told them, it wouldn't have surprised them at all.
At home. We played a boardgame. I won. I came upstairs to blog when I realized I hadn't talked to my mother. I hadn't said to her. I'm gay. I like boys and a good dick in the morning. Of course you would never tell you parents that in that exact phrasing.
So, I trek my way from the comfort of my bedroom. I say to her is there anything you want to talk about? She says no. She asks me if there's anything I want to talk about. I want to know how much she wants to know. If I'm dating someone, if there's a boy I like (The answer is no on both counts). We talk for a few hours. My mother was in denial. She reiterated that it was a sin and a choice I was making, but that I was an adult and that she still loved me. I nod and just listen. Now is not the time to say no one would ever choose to be gay. No one choose to have people hate you for no reason. If I could be straight, things would be a lot easier. And, I have read the Bible, but apologies to any religious reader out there. Some things in the Bible are fucked up.
But, I think we're okay. And, some day they will understand that I'm born this way. That I didn't make a choice. It wasn't anything they did. Right now that's what's killing me. They think they did something wrong. You did nothing wrong. The fact that they think they did something wrong is exactly how they feel about me. There's something wrong with me.
I've come to realize that there were different levels of acceptance represented in Two Boys Kissing. I'm no longer Cooper. I'm no longer the person who wants to kill themselves, because there parents hate them. I'm Ryan. Working on it one step at a time and someday I'll have that love that Peter and Neil have. Someday that will happen.
I am not advocating coming out to your parents or your family. I feel so much better having it out in the open, but I also understand. I understand looking at your car and wondering if you're ever going to have to sleep in it, because your parents kicked you out. When people tell you it gets better, that coming out is the best thing they ever did. They're right, but there's always the possibility that it's worst thing that ever happens to you. I understand if you're afraid. My father had to do it for me.
Know that someone cares. That someone is me and every other gay out there, because we all understand. I don't need to meet you to know that I care about your struggle. We understand. I don't want you to think about your killing yourself like I have. I want you to know that someone cares. I don't need to like you to care about you. Everyone deserves to be happy and you will be. Just hold on. You can do it. I care about you and I love you just the way you are. It was RuPaul who told me that first. It shouldn't take Kesha and Lady Gaga to tell us that it's okay for us to be who we are. It shouldn't be books or television that tells us we're fine. But, I'm so glad that they are here. Because, we need them. We really need them. You will survive. You will be a better person. You will make it. I know you can. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me whenever you need me. All of that information is at the top of the page. If you are struggling with religious family members. Tony said something very wise in Boy Meets Boy that might help. He said that they were just trying to save him, to do the best they could for him. Your family is wrong for trying to change you, for not realizing that you are fucking perfect. It is however stemming from a place of love. They don't want you to go to hell. And, as awful as they treat you and as they make you feel. They want what's best for you in some sick twisted way. Most importantly, stay safe. Be who you are, but be safe. That's something everyone deserves. Good morning. Good afternoon. Merry Christmas. Today is the last day of the 12 Days of Bubbles. That is tragic, but it's also Christmas. Hopefully you all got everything you asked for. I was hoping that Matt Bomer would have proposed to me, but needless to say that didn't happen. I have no idea what inspired this, but Diana Ross is a bad bitch. She is the voice of The Supremes. She is what I want to be when I'm 70. She is just kind of everything. Ever since she gave Taylor Swift, the Dick Clark award at the AMA's she has been in the back of my mind. And, of course I follow RuPaul and he is slick obsessed with her. If he goes a week without mentioning Diana Ross, something has gone horribly wrong. I love Diana Ross, but I am not an invested fan. I just do not have that kind of money. It's the same reason me and Cher have not clicked like that yet. Some day, though, I will have every single one of Diana Ross's albums. You have to include the albums she did with The Supremes. Diana Ross was the Supremes. They even changed the name of the group from The Supremes to Diana Ross & The Supremes. That is 18 albums you need. Now The Supremes did have a few more albums after Diana Ross left, but nothing as substantial. Then, she has 24 solo albums. 24 + 18 is a lot of music. I want to invest in Diana Ross, but I just don't know if I could handle that. Diana Ross has been legend status, since I was born. She is everything. My great Aunt even saw her concert once upon a time. If you do not know who The Supremes are, I cannot help you. You must not be American. Only the most important girl group before the creation of Destiny's Child. With such an immense back catalog it is fine not knowing all the details of Ms. Ross's career. You just got to get the highlights down. That in and of itself is a struggle. The woman has had too many hits. I have narrowed it down to a few basic sections. Her number one songs “Ain't No Mountain High Enough”, “Touch Me in the Morning”, “Do You Know Where You're Going To”, “Love Hangover”, “Upside Down”, and “Endless Love”. She has collaborated with Michael Jackson. That you should know. Think The Wiz. Her and Lionel Richie have done it up together. Let's acknowledge that the Notorious B.I.G sampled her in “Mo Money, Mo Problems”. Only a classic song right there.
Diana Ross is filthy rich. Get yourself a billionaire, Diana. Go get you one. Diana Ross robbed that man the way, Ivanka robbed Donald Trump. As Ivanka Trump once said, “Don't get mad, get everything!” Diana Ross is a goddess. She is also beautiful, so gag me now, because it's only going down hill from here. There is no reason not to be obsessed with Diana Ross. I even follow her on twitter and she has never tweeted anything. And, you all know how shaky my follower to following ratio is. For someone is a waste for me to follow, I have invested in Diana Ross. As a general rule I call her Ms. Ross, but the distinction is up to you. Also, because today is Christmas, remember that there is a Diana Ross Christmas album. It was never released in the United States for some odd reason, but that is besides the point. You can find it on Amazon. Go get you some Diana Ross and roast some chestnuts on an open fire, even though I fucking hate that song. I have been considering doing an over arching throwback on a subject for a while. When I was writing for another blog, I did one on marijuana. That was fun. I did another on abuse. This didn't even start out as a throwback. I wanted to write about Pussy Riot for a Media Monday. It just didn't happen. If you haven't heard of them, you should look them up. Basically, they are these group of Russian women who are fighting for rights in Russia. The media focuses most of their attention on the feminist and LGBT side of the group, however they protest for other basic human rights as well. They are very interesting and inspirational women. This article really got started due to Hozier and his song “Take Me To Church”. The song is beautiful and well written. It's definitely worth a listen if you haven't yet. However, it really was the music video that moved me. It told the story of a closeted gay couple in Russia, and the physical violence that results when its discovered that one of them is gay. I don't know how this did not garner some form of attention. It's a stunning, relevant video. I love Iggy and her Clueless themed “Fancy”. But, “Take Me To Church” is art. It is what pop culture is for to get a conversation started. I found the video to be so moving I was going to do a whole throwback on Hozier. His influences alone would have made for an interesting article on. Van Morrison, Jackie Wilson, Jeff Buckley. Even, Bon Iver, although he is a little too current for a throwback. Before the 90's there was very little gay support in media. Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” may be considered a gay anthem, but it wasn't directed towards that purpose. Gay rights came to head when everything else was coming up. Women's rights, black rights. All these rights movements and it was put on the back burner. This is not a criticism of how it was handled, because it is certainly not. There was a lot happening and you have to pick what you can focus on. The 90's, though was when it became more talked about. I don't want to say accepted. Although, you did see the emergence of RuPaul. A black drag queen into social media. He became the face of MAC cosmetics, had a stint as talk show host on VH1, and his signature song “Supermodel (You Better Work)” that thrust him into the spotlight. It says something about he 90's that this was allowed to happen. Still, he never did have that top ten hit. He never truly became an A-List star.
These were mainstream hit songs, in the times when MTV still ruled the world. She was forcing America to look at it. Buy "Secret" No matter how much I like Lady Gaga or any of the other pop stars who support LGBT rights. Now its almost popular to support gay rights. Madonna did it when it wasn't in vogue. She did it because she thought it was the right thing to do. She thought it would make a difference and it did. One of the many things I hold against Katy Perry despite her stated support of gay rights, is “I Kissed A Girl” and “Your So Gay”. In one album. It presented the concept of: lesbians are hot, gay boys disgusting. She used this for her own fame. She may not have meant it that way, but its how it comes across. It honestly would not surprise if born and raised Christian girl Katy Perry did not like gays. It really would not. It would not shock me or make me dislike her more then I already do. It was the same with Paula Deen. Was anyone really that surprised that good old southern Paula Deen was racist. It shouldn't have. Before the 90's there really weren't any mainstream movies about the gay 'agenda'. Don't you love how the agenda is that they want to be married. What a terrible thing the gays are trying to do. They will bring down America with all this marriage.
You might not have heard of a few of these movies, but some are mainstream. The Adventures of Priscilla is a funny movie. Two drag queens and a transexual cross Australia in bus. You should need no more convincing. Then, you have both Saved! and But, I'm a Cheerleader. The first tells the story of a girl who tries to save her gay boyfriend by having sex with him. Believing it is the Lord's will, she doesn't realize she will get pregnant, or that he's still gay. With supporting roles played by Mandy Moore and Macauley Caulkin it's surprisingly heartwarming if tempestuously dull.
Of course you've heard of Brokeback Mountain. You know Heath Ledger is in it. It's a great movie. The thing about it that troubles me is that it is so often referred to as a 'gay' movie. When these men are bisexual, not gay. There is a difference. This movie was watched in GBF (Gay Best Friend) when one of the mother's tries to convince her son that she is okay with him being gay. It is basically the 2010's attempts at a Clueless or Mean Girls. One of the boys is outed and the three leading prom queen contenders battle over him to gain the upper edge in the polls. All the obvious flaws you are seeing with this movie are supposed to be there. It's about realizing that just because someone's gay doesn't make them any less human with any less feelings. And, there are other movies of course. These are just the ones I have seen. Milk I've been told is a great movie about gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. You probably know I feel about Sean Penn, which is why I haven't made a point of seeing it. And, of course the documentary Paris Is Burning is a must see. People still quote all the time. Brooke Candy in “Opulence”, even RuPaul took his “Shantay, Sashay” from this movie. It's a classic. TV of course. The first mainstream, mention of homosexuality on TV had to be Three's Company. The only reason Jack is allowed to live with Janet and Chrissy is the fact that he isn't attracted to them. Which we all know isn't true. Now TV has gay relations on it all the time. Modern Family, Glee, White Collar. It certainly is better. It has gone past the point of being under the conscious level, but don't let anyone tell you that there isn't discrimination against homosexuality. The fact that not every state has legalized gay marriage is an obvious point. There is no critical thinking involved in that. GBF was rated R. Actually all the movies I listed were rated R. I guarantee when you watch them you'll wonder how that happened. Some of them you'll be like, yes that deserved that rated R, and others you will just not understand. Take other countries into account. Russia, Pakistan, Egypt. You cannot tell me that homosexuality is not persecuted because it is. It is the same thing as telling me racism does not exist. Are you kidding me. The people who fought discriminatory laws are still alive. The same oppressors are still around. There may be less violent racism, but it still happens. It's just not the same thing. Is it better. You can make your mind up about that. I do think the younger generation is going to be a lot more accepting. The YouTube community being a prime example of that. Young people watch YouTubers and the fan base of Tyler Oakley, Superfruit, Troye Sivan are obvious points to favor this. Do not change who you are for anyone. Home is where you are. You do not need people who do not support you. If you're parents do not like gays. Fuck them. You don't need to tell them. Move out. Become your own person. You don't need parental permission. It really upsets me that it would be impossible to tell my parents thatf I was gay. They would freak out. It would be a major issue. That's heartbreaking parents. They wouldn't love me anymore. I would be a disappointment. That's not sort of upsetting. It's horrific that this is how my parents would feel about it. Me over here in my intro to pysch class has learned that trying to change your sexuality is not a good thing to do. It is very unhealthy. It causes depression. Don't change yourself. Accept who you are. And, realize that there are people on your side. Even, if you can't reach out to them, even if you can't verbally acknowledge something it is okay. It will get better. We all have to be adults some day and you don't have to live anywhere near your parents.
Has the world waited longer for anything more then the return of Fergie and Gwen Stefani? Gwen made a recent appearance in a mildly entertaining duet “My Heart Is Open” on Maroon 5's new set V. Still announcements of an upcoming album from her have yet to appear. Dutchess Fergie on the other hand recently dealt us a blow with “L.A. Love”, which you may or may not have heard on the radio. Now, we all l loved The Black Eyed Peas. I enjoyed “Boom Boom Pow”, “Meet Me Halfway”, “Imma Be” and “I Gotta Feeling” as much as the rest of the world. But, what I yearned for was a follow up to The Dutchess. Over the course of eight years since “London Bridges”. We saw a re-release of The Dutchess that included four extra tracks “Labels or Love”, “Barracuda”, a duet with Nelly, “Party People”, and a remix of “Clumsy”. We saw a misfitted dance pulse of “Feel Alive” on a Step Up Soundtrack and euphoric party peak of “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” for The Great Gatsby movie. The song is the reason for why I bought the soundtrack. And, Lana Del Rey's “Young and Beautiful” goes without mention. Buy "Feel Alive"
Buy "London Bridge"
That explains a lot about my English grades. Buy "Fergalicious"
Buy "Glamorous" With “Big Girls Don't Cry” we finally got the hit ballad every pop star needs. Just like Madonna needed “Crazy For You” and “Live to Tell” or Rihanna has requisites of “Take a Bow” and Stay” every great pop star has released a ballad to great critical acclaim at some point in their career. That is what “Big Girls Don't Cry” was for Fergie. I still know every word. It's just like when “Back to December” comes on the radio, I like to pretend I hated it, but I can still sing every word from memory. This song needs no reminders. Although, I do wonder if Sia heard of it. Her song is “Big Girls Cry” and Fergie's is “Big Girls Don't Cry”. Where is the lie? Clumsy was the final hit off the album that we all now. My mother is obsessed with this song. My mother loves Fergie. I just don't love this song, the way the world does. I like it. I wouldn't change the radio station. But, it is not my jam for life. Buy "Clumsy" This album is classic. If you don't have it. You must not enjoy pop culture. Besides the obvious tastemakers. Album only tracks “Pedestal” (A venemous diss off) and “Here I Come” are all reason enough to buy the album. My mother also thoroughly enjoys the closing ballad “Finally”. It's a little too syrupy sweet for me, but if my mother likes it. Fergie likes it. I might just be missing something. I do thoroughly enjoy a hidden part at the end, that consists of a minute of “Maybe, we can take a real long ride...”. I can't imagine what she's suggesting. Buy "Pedestal" Buy "Here I Come" Buy "Finally" Buy "The Dutchess" Eight years after The Duchess was released everything on it is still fresh and relatable. It's no wonder the world is clamoring for new Fergie music. The only way our appetites have been whetted is by her work with The Black Eyed Peas. But, after a four year break from the Peas. We need Fergie. Buy "L.A. Love"
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AboutGreta Garbo, and Monroe SOCIAL MEDIA
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