CELEBRITY BLOG featuring THE BEST in INFOTAINMENT! Interviews, Reviews, Editorials & More! From Pop to Cult, Welcome Joan Crawford Fans, Grey Gardeners and DIVA Lovers!
I discovered Erasure while on vacation in London in 1988 and hit the dancefloor with a passion when "Chains of Love" erupted from the sound system. I puchased the cd, brought it back to the States before it was imported (which took longer back in the day), and played it to death.
Thus began my long love affair with the dance/electro-synthpop duo (Vince Clarke on keyboards, Andy Bell on vocals) known as Erasure. They have sold over 25 million albums worldwide and are most popular in the UK, Europe, South America and Australia; however, they consistently chart on the Billboard club list. I saw the in the late 1990s in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom. A memorable show and a packed house.
The Violet Flame is the title of Erasure's new release, florid and pulsating. Erasure carries on much as they always did, no new territory to explore with their 10 hiNRG tracks, and perhaps we're all just ducky with that. This is the duo's 16th studio album. Amazing!
The album had me hooked from the beginning with opening track, "Dead of Night," deliciously delivered at Halloween season. The second track, "Elevation" is the first single from this effort and it is definitely a catchy club number that should fare well this season. There are a couple of electro-ballads but mostly this is a dancefloor-oriented album. Erasure fans are unlikely to be disappointed.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day and, though the famous annual NYC parade in NYC is over (it took place on Sunday), it bears mention that its homophobic, exclusionary policy this year not only cost that parade the support of Mayor de Blasio's office but the sponsorship of Sam Adams and Heineken, as well.
According to Gothamist: "On Friday, both companies announced they would be dropping their
financial support; Sam Adams reportedly pulled out of today's Boston
Parade after a popular gay bar threatened to stop serving the beer. 'We
were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an
agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to
participate in the parade,' Jessica Paar, a spokeswoman for Sam Adams'
brewing company [told the press]. 'But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible.'
"Heineken withdrew its support from tomorrow's parade in New York. 'We
believe in equality for all. We are no longer a sponsor of Monday's
parade,' the company told CBS."
Meanwhile, talking about saints, NYC gears up for The Saint at Large's Black Party for 2014 ("A Ruined Paradise"), which takes place this Saturday, March 22, ending its residency at Roseland Ballroom, which has otherwise closed its doors for good. Its p.r. release states: "Recognized internationally as "The Ultimate Fetish, Fag Blowout", THE
BLACK PARTY has built its legendary reputation on the intense sexual
energy of its 'strange live acts,' state-of-the-art lighting and
production design and cutting-edge musical artistry." And to think, I've been there and all I did was dance. Honest! Tickets available on-line, at select stores in Manhattan and Montreal, and at the Roseland box office on the night of the event. http://www.blackpartyexpo.com/tickets/
March 22 is also the night that Black Lady, Cher, kicks off her latest tour in Phoenix, Arizona. Opening act will be Pat Benatar. Cher's third single off the new album, Closer to the Truth, is about to be released. The song is "I Walk Alone" and there is already one dance mix completed by Tracy Young; expect more to follow.
Miami's Music Conference will take place March 21-30 at Miami Beach. Since 1985, the Conference "is one of the most publicized annual music
gatherings in the world. A pivotal platform for the advancement of the
industry, WMC attracts thousands of artists and music industry delegates
from 70 countries and over 100,000 event attendees each year for a
concentrated schedule of more than 500 events, parties, seminars and
workshops," according to its press release.
Meanwhile, I'm chillin' with a St Patrick's day brew all my own. Make it a Heiny! Listening to Erasure's newest single, "Make It Wonderful." And that's the way it is ~ according to Beaverhausen.
"What makes a pretentious album?" asks the UK's NME on-line magazine, academically, before it answers its own question. "A groan-inducing concept, lots of highfalutin waffle, and a ridiculous cover. If you’re lucky you get all three at once."
Lady Gaga's Born This Way tops NME's list of 10 albums that includes Terence Trent D'Arby's Neither Fish nor Flesh, Lou Reed & Metallica's Lulu and Peter Townshend's Psychoderelict.
"For a while Gaga was the most exciting pop star on the planet. Then on ‘Born This Way’ she seemed to believe in her own hype," NME says, "convinced that she had a message to share. Cue an album of unwieldy ‘anthems’ that couldn’t mask the fact the fun had left the building."
Well, I don't know who put a bug up NME's ass about Gaga but I feel her album doesn't belong on that list at all, never mind appearing as its #1 Most Pretentious album. Rather, I think bashing Born is a cynical attention-getter on a list that otherwise sports albums that have garnered public apathy and even scorn.
Today, Lady Gaga offered this great reply on Facebook: "Oh the irony of winning "Most Pretentious Album Ever" from none other than NME. *eyeroll* I might laugh forever + then return to narcissism."
But let's turn our attention briefly this week to another list: The Billboard Top 25 Dance/Club Play Songs chart. Kelly Clarkson forcefully takes over the #1 spot with "Stronger (Whatever Doesn't Kill You)" empowerment track, greatly abetted by her remixers; especially, in my mind, 7th Heaven. Last week's #1, the girl-group NRG number, "Dance On" by Blush, meanwhile drops to 9th place on a diva-challenged chart full of dross.
After securing the 7th spot last week, Erasure's "Be with You" drops to #13. However, Yoko Ono's back (always a good sign), bouncing into the Top 25 at #22 with her latest, "She Gets Down on Her Knees," which brings me then to Madonna.
"Give Me All Your Luvin'," prominently featured during Madonna's excellent Super Bowl half-time show, snags the 24th Billboard Dance/Club spot, hugely up from the 54th spot last week as it enters the Top 25 list.
Meanwhile, Cher just Tweeted she's touring in September. The Farewell Farewell Farewell Again Tour? (Where do I get my tickets?)
Until the next time, love, peace, happiness & disco to everyone, all over the world from Dj Buddy B!
Let's work our way up the chart this week as I comment on the tracks I deem noteworthy. For the full club play top 25, go to Billboard.com.
Always a pleasure to see Erasure represented, and this week their song, "Be with You," nicely skips to #22 from 24th place last week. Gravitonas hangs in there at #23 with "Everybody Dance." By the way, the Swedish electro duo is the latest incarnation of producer/songwriter Alexander Bard of Army Of Lovers ("Crucified") and BWO fame. Gravitonas' vocalist Andreas Ohm is joined by Russian pop star Roma Kenga on this track. Good stuff!
The dreamy "Drifting" by Plumb en-trances as it drifts up from 23 to snag spot #20, while the Ultra Nate-meets-Destiny Child's Michelle Williams number, "Waiting on You" does its disco damnedest as it jumps from last week's 21st spot to #17. Lots of nice remixes to choose from for this one, too.
Traci Lords' "Last Drag" peaked at fourth place. It was at 10 last week, and now finds itself parked at a still-respectable #16. Lady Gaga drops to sixth place with the rousing "Marry the Night" (my favorite track off the "Born This Way" album), having captured the numero uno position last time we took a look. Rising from #9 to #7 is the sticks-in-the-head dance track, "Let Me Be Myself" by Rosabel featuring the divine club diva, Tamara Wallace.
"Shake It Out," Florence + the Machine, shaking it up to #4. Brilliant party song, brilliant band, glad to see it doing so well! Up one spot as well, Gloria Estefan's "Hotel Nacional," swinging Dr Buzzard-style with the #1 spot a real possibility at this point.
But this week's #1 song (and diva) is none other than "If It Wasn't for Love" sung by Miss Deborah Cox. I fell in love with this Janice Robinson-penned number from the start, before it entered Billboard's chart. Hello, Deborah; so nice to have you back where you belong! (You so deserve your spotlight.)
By the way, big thanks and kisses out to Slovenia! (You guys are crazy!) And love all around this world to all my friends, readers and party people. Until next week, keep on dancing!
If John Waters thinks Baltimore is offbeat, he should visit Bay Ridge. And let me tell one and all, I'm thrilled to be living here in an apartment five or six times my Village digs in Manhattan. Windows, windows, windows; closets, closets, closets! I'm still stunned by the grandeur of it. An entire "dressing room?" You bet. (And you know I'm feeling all Crawfordy over it!)
But what would Mr Waters (who is doing a Christmas act at BB King NYC on Dec. 19 & 20) think about this area's being the home of the 99cent stores as well as home to the illegal u-turn and 3-point turn, which occur, indiscriminately, every minute it seems? Not to mention the huge, white turkeys stalking about in the florist window display directly across the street from me!
I went over to watch the nonchalant birds Sunday morning as a Brooklynite guidette mama (perfectly made up, coiffed and dressed in a belt-hugging minidress, for churchgoing) of two young ones purred a'la Fran Drescher on The Nanny, "Oooooh, my God, kids! Look! Turrrrkeees! Reeeel turrrkeys! Can ya fuckin' believe it!" (Why am I certain she received holy communion shortly thereafter?) She took a pic with her cell. How could I not fall in love with this burg?
This weekend was very productive. Kitchen bulletin board's up, as is rubber-ducky shower curtain & bath mat. Mainly, I hooked my audio system up and created my first promo cd since September.
April's Fagtastic promo still remains a popularly requested cd-r; so here comes Fagtastic Too in the same spirit. First up is the Betty White version of "I'm Still Hot" by Luciana, which hit #1 on Billboard's dance chart.
I followed that with a club mix of Adele's "Someone Like You," followed by a promo I have of Madonna's new number, "Give Me All Your Love" (Saint Ken mix), bound to reach your dancefloor and radio in December.
Then, another advance preview of Deborah Cox's latest outing,"If It Wasn't for Love."
Kathy Sledge, of Sister Sledge ("We Are Family") follows with her Billboard dance charter, "Give Yourself Up," preceding the unreleased Almighty 2010 remix of Cher's "Believe."
Other highlights include Erasure's "Be with You," already a dance smash in Europe; Selena Gomez's catchy "Love You Like a Love Song," and the divine, hi-nrg "Love SOS" by the stalwart Pepper Mashay.
Bay Ridge inspires me; more space assists my work; I expect the neighb influence will only make me more edgy and adventurous (though upbeat) on future cd-r promos.
I'll hate to see those turkeys go. Maybe they'll bring in elves for the next display. We'll see.
Some things are just frustrating. Like trying to find the time (and money) to do all the stuff that, in your heart, you want to do. Mostly because I'm moving and need to spend time packing up, deciding what to get rid of and all, I had to forego the opportunity to see a friend make his modeling debut on a runway event at the historic Chelsea Hotel last night. It would have been a fun evening but, sigh, just like Robert Frost, I have promises to keep.
Another frustrating thing was this morning's Billboard Top 25 Dance/Club tunes. Erasure poked their heads in at #25 last week with "When I Start (to Break It All Down)," a song I championed on this blog back in May. It was good to find the tune turn up on the come-lately American chart, but a big disappointment for me to find it stalled at 25 this week.
Taylor Dayne's "Floor on Fire," another favorite, reached a respectable #7, now dropping to the 22nd place, when it really deserved to go all the way to the top.
Adele's "Someone Like You," which is #2 in the Top 100, came in at #24 in the club arena last week and, like Erasure, finds itself stuck in a Billboard rut, spinning its wheels at the #24 spot once again. (I particularly like Joe Gauthreaux (that's a lot of vowels!) & Brian Cua's remix on this number, incidentally.)
Wynter Gordon's sprightly and infectious "Buy My Love" receives a big bounce from 26th place to 21st in more upbeat US dance chart news. Selena Gomez and the Scene soars with the nice "Love You Like a Love Song." And club mixes of Beyonce's "Countdown" lift it to 9th place from #16. The Dj Escape and Tony Collucio remix is the best of the lot.
The great C&C Music Factory is back! Its new incarnation as CnC Music Factory brings us a superb dance floor number. The ingenious Robert Clivilles, who has nothing to prove at this point in his career, was an original C&C producer along with the late David Cole. His new partner is Eric Kupper, who has worked with producers/remixers the likes of David Morales, Frankie Knuckles and the especially legendary Arthur Baker. Featured vocalist is Scarlett Santana. This is the kind of dance song that makes me want to chuck my frustrations, promises-to-keep and problems all aside, and just surrender to its power on the dance floor. (Or even just around the apartment as I pack.) I love the remix done by my Internet friend, Dj Joel Dickinson (nee Thee Werq'n B!tches) and the fabulous (ex-protege to Junior Vasquez) Jerome Farley. Available on Amazon.
Welcome back, CnC Music Factory. People, this number's gonna make you sweat!
Erasure's new single has hit the U.S., and my cd deck and download playlist both. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" is from the group's forthcoming LP, "Tomorrow's World," available this fall. The album marks the band's first in more than four years and was written in London, New York and Maine.
"When I Start To (Break It All Down)" has Andy Bell and Vince Clarke back in top form, after four years, enhanced by their collaboration with producer Frankmusik. I have posted a Youtube video for the original track at the end of this column so you can hear what an uplifting dance groove it is. It glimmers and shimmers in an uplifting sonic swirl, and I expect it will be big on dance floors in the upcoming season. Favorite from the remix e.p. I received is the Steve Smart & Westfunk club mix that clocks in at 6:19. Available on both US and UK iTunes and Amazon.
The hiNRG sound from the UK is alive, well and invading US clubs come autumn. Leona Lewis' "Collide" has already started climbing the US Billboard club-play chart. The Cahill and Alex Gaudino/Jason Rooney remixes are particular standouts. Ex-Spice Girl Melanie C is back with the catchy "Think About It." And which Spice was she? Sporty, darlings, Sporty! (And please never forget that.) Groovesplitters club mix is good, 7th Heaven's Almighty-influenced mix is best.
Olivia Newton-John's 2011 re-recording of "Magic" is just that with Ms. N-J ship-shape, voice stronger than ever and still so incredibly smooth. Down Under's remixer extraordinaire Steve Peach shares the honors on the Peachy & Murphy club mix which is the needed hocus-pocus for the floor.
Now, when my favorite divas contact me and say they've dropped something new to kick off September and to get a jump on the fall releases, I go right to CD Baby and iTunes and get my legal downloads asap. And, people, let me tell you that Buddy was in ecstasy listening to new songs by Inaya Day and Debby Holiday all weekend.
Inaya Day has been one of the hardest working, tireless club artists since the 1990s, recording here and throughout Europe consistently. Her voice is very distinctive and powerful. If I'd never heard a song of hers and it was being played in a club, I'd know immediately who the diva in question was. And she never disappoints. That can certainly be said of "Higher Place," her latest, especially the Randy Bettis/Dj Boyd Anthem Mix. It is a soaring, driving, dance-inspiring number that is completely irresistible. Comes with a positive, easy-to-digest message.
I only recently learned from Debby Holiday that she is the daughter of the legendary performer/songwriter Johnny Holiday, perhaps best known for writing "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" with Jackie De Shannon. Debby's powerful pipes have been a boon to the dance-music scene. Her recent "Catch a Fire" was a big hit during Pride this past June and, now, the drivingly upbeat "One World" is even more marvelous (with lyrics that echo the Bacharach/David song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love," also a hit for Miss DeShannon, ironically). "One World" is bound to tear up dance floors, dance charts and, I expect, be an overall autumn club hit. Comes with various remixes, my fave being the Solar City Gospel Brunch club mix.
And, lastly, I have tweaked an unofficial remix of Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night" in my Dj Buddy B's Benadictines v the Matt Nevins private mix. It will be on my next promo ("Desire @ the Disco, vol. 7") and 4 copies can be won as free promo giveaways later in the week, when I run my second contest for this blog.
Till then, I look forward to the new season, the music, the dancing, the nightlife and to you, the world over; it's all about the love and the musical groove. Amen.
