The Week in Dance Divas

Scary Spice Mel B is all the way up at # 2 on the Billboard dance/club songs chart that ends February 22 with "For Once in My Life," the only diva news that interests me off that particular Top 25 list this week. There are a series of hot remixes for this tune, including those by Dave Aude and Dark Intensity, though my personal fave is Sobel Promotions' Dj Pornstar remix. Looking at #1 next week.

Debbie Harry and Blondie seem to be all over the news these days as they continue their tour and are about to release a new album. Apparently, they are the latest international pop stars to say nyet to the Sochi winter Olympics. At last week’s Amnesty International concert at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, Blondie, along with Madonna, Elton John and a roster of other artists spoke -- and sang -- out against Russia’s current persecution of the LGBT community.

Debbie Harry spoke with Huffington Post:

Blondie passed on the opportunity to perform a 45-minute set in Sochi during the Winter Olympics, citing concerns over civil rights abuses in Russia as their rationale for rejecting the big gig.

“Blondie has always been a part of the downtown community in NYC, with many, many friends who represent alternative lifestyles," frontwoman Debbie Harry said in a statement sent to The Huffington Post. "We feel very strongly about these friendships and associations, and don’t feel good about participating in a situation where biases and prejudices are paramount."

Meanwhile, on my turntables this week, Kylie Minogue generates some winter heat with her new "Into the Blue." Love Club Tribe mix very nice as is Brian Cua's big room treatment. Talking about Aussie divas, 7th Heaven does a wonderful job of bringing Tina Arena's "Reset All" to life as an upbeat dancefloor number. The Max Sanna/Steve Pitron mix will also get crowds to their feet as will the Country Club Martini Crew mix. Tina Arena is such an underrated diva in this country. Her pipes are strong, vibrant, brilliant and shine through these mixes.

The fabulous Beverley Knight's back, courtesy of Nervo & Ivan Gough. True diva drama with "Not Taking This No More," a hot electro-houser from the indie Spinnin' Records. The extended original mix (at just over 5 1/2 minutes) is best. Ms Knight drives it!

The Shakira vs Rihanna "Can't Remember to Forget Your Name" gives good diva energy. Especially loving the Miguel Vargas Club mix. On the other hand, not impressed by mixes of Beyonce's "Blow." Blowing that one off.

Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want" featuring Christine Aguilera is excellent (Gagaguilera), especially in the Ultimix redo. Clubland heat! Jennifer Hudson's "I Can't Describe" is also a fine, funky and upbeat diva affair especially as mixed by the Baggi Hand Bag House remix. Hudson sounds so much like Chaka on this one. Amazing.

Thanks to my readership. Without you I am nothing. Really. Thanks to the USA, you are my solid base! Germany, the Ukraine, the Uk, thank you for your strong support! France, Japan, Australia, Indonesia: I send you my love. Mexico, Algeria, Brazil, India, Canada, Russia, Poland, Spain, Norway: Dancefloor kisses!

Clubs should bring people together. No exclusionary policies. Get together on the dancefloors and make the world a better place, rainbow people. Peace, out. :)

The Seth MacFarlane Show!

The venue: My friend Kevin's apartment downstairs. The menu: Champagne, fresh guacamole and baked, unsalted chips (to make it seem more West Coast), fresh jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce, cheese and salami slices, M&Ms . Yes, once again, last night was Oscar night in New York (a/k/a The Gay Man's Superbowl)!

Well, there was an awfully long red carpet time from 6:30, when we started watching on tv. We switched from Piers Morgan (who I have a thing for) on CNN to pygmy hosts, Kristin Chenoweth and Jess Cagle, on ABC.  I'm not quite 5'6" myself, so I say that with fondness. When the petite Chenoweth stood next to Adele (again looking oddly like an overstuffed chair, this time black with deco sparkles), I prayed Britain's big gal wouldn't topple over on our vivacious munchkin.

Then there was the Oscars' own official 1/2-hour red carpet presentation. Red carpets are like foreplay. But red carpet time is also the time we all become fashionistas as we ogle the gowns, always a fetishistic point of glamor at the Academy Awards.

I liked a lot of last night's frocks: Reese, Jennifer Lawrence (winner for Best Actress), Amy Adams all looked smashing. Jane Fonda was yummy in yellow. Sally Field not so much in red.  Jennifer Aniston arrived with the same look, different boyfriend.

Anne Hathaway was given short shrift by Piers on CNN for someone more interesting. Her gown & necklace? Ewwwww! She did, however, snag the Best Supporting Actress Award by night's end. Dustin Hoffman arrived with hair that appeared to be made up of laundry lint while Daniel Day-Lewis, who walked away with the Best Actor Oscar (presented by Meryl Streep in a tin-foil gown), deserved a Best Hair Style award as well.

Renee Zelweger was a mess in her dress, but nothing looks good on someone who squints more than a pirate! 

Once host Seth MacFarlane came onstage, inside the (Friends of) Dorothy Chandler Pavilion  to officially introduce the Academy Awards, I surrendered to his charms; tall, dark and clean-cut good looks; humor and talent. He was truly the star of the evening and a revelation. His dialogue with William Shatner as Cpt James T. Kirk may have run on a bit too long but I forgave him his indulgences as he proved to be a wonderful song and dance man as well as a comic. Who knew? He was Hollywood's secret weapon, and he even had L.A.'s Gay Men's Chorus backing him up!

I had sweet dreams after last night's Oscars. Piers, Seth,  Daniel Day-Lewis' hair and Channing Tatum!

But, in a night where musicals were a big focus, the divas truly ruled! Shirley Bassey -- introduced by Bond Girl Halle Berry -- was magnificent in a taut face and golden gown, as she belted out "Goldfinger" as if she were singing for her life. Adele sang "Skyfall" wonderfully, and was such a sweetie-pie, tearful while receiving the Best Original Song award. Jennifer Hudson was also sensational, singing "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls in the musicals tribute portion of the show.

And then there was Barbra. In the I-See-Dead-People portion of the show (that egregiously left out Phyllis Diller) hosted by George Clooney, Babs sang "The Way We Were," honoring Marvin Hamlisch. She appeared to be wearing Adele's gown, which perhaps explains why it was falling from her shoulders as she tried to top Dame Bassey's performance. She did not quite succeed.

Bootylicious Super Bowl with Beyonce at Half Time

There's no doubt, after watching Beyonce's Super Bowl performance, that the half-time show is now the gay-time show. And that, despite a bit less grandeur of production, Beyonce's performance was more solid than Madonna's fabulous but flawed one in 2012. Still, gay-fave divas rule as far as I'm concerned, and bring a new consumerist audience in, at least for half-time.

It's just that I'm not that into American football; a big bore in my humble opinion. But it is distinctly a homoerotic sport as it's such a tactile one. All that huddling, the body slamming, the tackling, passing the ball between opened thighs and all those tight ends (as Destiny's Child would put it: "Bootylicious")! The closest thing you can get to gay porn in the world of sports, and we don't even have the locker room shots! I love the clinging pants but frown on the helmets and shoulder pads. As Joan Rivers said, "The Super Bowl reminds me of Dynasty. It’s a bunch of very wealthy people trying to outmaneuver each other in big shoulder pads." I also don't get the premise of getting a ball (not ball-shaped at all) from one part of the field to another. So what? Maybe they should play in the nude. Wouldn't that be fun! Then we could see who was really excited about his game. Also, isn't it kind of sexist -- and have you ever noticed -- that all the team members are men?

Divas were also brought to the fore, however, prior to the manly sport. Alicia Keys did a wonderful job singing the national anthem on piano, right after a very touching "America, the Beautiful" rendered by Jennifer Hudson and the kids from Sandy Hook Elementary School. And if that was a wise public relations move for the nation and proposed gun control, the half-time show was equally that for Beyonce in the wake of her lip-synch mini-scandal at the President's Inauguration.

Beyonce sung live and powerfully at Super Bowl, like her career and reputation depended on it. Which it did. She made her diva entrance to the stage on a rising platform amid a flurry of pyrotechnics, wearing a power outfit of black leather. The stage looked positively dangerous amid explosions, flares, smoke and flaming sculptures. This is when it pays to know your choreography and hit your mark or risk disaster (like fourth-degree burns).

The diva went through a medley of hits, including "Love on Top," "Crazy in Love," "Baby Boy" and "End of Time" with outstanding vocal intensity as she danced. Yes, she actually danced and sang live at the same time, just like in the old days!

She was later joined by her Destiny's Child co-divas, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams (equally in black, and leather-clad to one degree or another), for "Bootylicious," "Independent Women" and Beyone's single, "Single Ladies." They eschewed "Bills, Bills, Bills," perhaps because it wouldn't delight the American public during the current economy.

Beyonce closed solo with the ballad, "Halo" -- a wise choice to end on something soft and sweet. 

Before Super Bowl, a cheeky reporter (regarding the Inauguration) asked Beyonce: "Did any sound come out of your vocal cords?" Looking forward to her half-time show, the diva stated: "I will absolutely be singing live. I am well-rehearsed. This is what I was born to do."

And to think, the half-time show used to consist solely of some marching band from Wherever, USA. Well, dance-floor divas trump John Philip Sousa every time in 2013. And Beyonce trumped Madonna, too. Hoorah and siss-boom-bah for Super Bowl's gay half-time show!

Siss-boom-bahhhhhh!

Jennifer Hudson: Smash Diva

Ok, Smash fans, get ready!  The musical soap opera returns to a television set near you on February 5. Jennifer Hudson, as character Veronica "Ronnie" Moore, is now on board in a multi-episode arc. Here, she belts her power ballad from the show out of the park! Song could get radio play, certainly, and hopefully there will be mixes for the dancefloor.

Smash Season 2 Update

Latest news, according to Digital Spy, is that Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson will make several guest appearances on Smash next season opposite Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty. Hudson will portray Tony-winning Broadway star, Veronica Moore.

Hottie Andy Mientus (who was in the off-Broadway production of Carrie, the musical (see my post, http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/02/carrie-on.html )) will be added to the cast for some spice.

Unfortunately, five characters will get the axe: Dev (Raza Jaffrey; sigh!), Deborah Messing's husband (Brian d'Arcy James) and son, and the scheming Ellis Boyd (whom I will miss, but let's see what intrigue develops otherwise in Season 2.  I mean, Ellis was fired by Anjelica Houston and Dev did sleep with poison Ivy!) And Michael Swift -- with whom Messing started messing around with in real-life, leaving her real-life hubby -- will no longer be on the show. Oh, the sweet and sour porking of it all!

Besides ditching her domestic-tsuris storyline, by the by, Missy Messing will get a more glam wardrobe, it is promised. Go all Dynasty on us, bitch, we love you! So, let's hope Season 2 brings us more sex appeal and let the gloves come off already! I'm ready! Who gets the first big slap?