Audio Beaverhausen: Kylie at Christmas

Kylie Minogue's new Christmas album is a most pleasant piece of pop for the holidays. Ms M is certainly doing everything to promote it across The Pond, including get an enthusiastic kiss and a hug from Prince Harry at the Royal Variety performance, catching his eye while wearing a snow-white, feathery headdress that any drag queen would envy.

With sweeping orchestration, the album is as tastefully delectable as a candy cane. Although I'm no fan of the trend toward duets with dead celebrities, Kylie's "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town" goes down easily enough.

I much prefer her cover of The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" with Iggy Pop or her duet with Sister Danii. "Only You" with James Corden is pleasant all right though seems a bit off-topic.

Kylie's interpretation of Chrissie Hynde's "2,000 Miles" is just plain wonderful as is her covering holiday classics like "Winter Wonderland" and Irving Berlin's "White Christmas." There are numerous beautiful ballads sprinkled throughout. "Santa Baby," a single released previously only on holiday compilations, is a bit of a pop classic by now.

Kylie at Christmas is recommended by Buddy B, who's giving it two hands in the air. Available at Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble. The deluxe edition, which I bought, contains a bonus video.

Cine Beaverhausen: San Andreas

“Science fiction films are not about science. They are about disaster, which is one of the oldest subjects of art.” ― Susan Sontag

The Rock finds himself between a rock and a hard place ~ literally ~ in the new disaster epic, San Andreas. This may not have been the movie to see just weeks before I leave to visit San Francisco, but anxiety is exactly what this box-office smash is peddling, just like the tv news. Unlike the star-studded Irwin Allen disaster pics of days of yore, this film pins itself to a single star: Dwayne Johnson, a stalwart film hero indeed.

Of course, in this film, it's personal. Dwayne is out to find his daughter. And, damn, despite all odds, he does. He just happens to be a rescue-helicopter pilot. So, ok, yes, it's very contrived. But Dwayne Johnson is great gay-friendly eye candy and I can't say that I was bored. Just somewhat embarrassed by the high-concept vacuity of what I was watching.

Mucho macho posturing? Of course. Even some suspense in the mix. And who knew dance diva Kylie Minogue and actor Paul Giamatti were in this? Or that Sia sings "California Dreaming"?  Ironic, as this is a California nightmare and just a plain mess as a film.

Incidentally, the daughter in the film is an actress only 14 years younger than Mr Johnson and it kind of shows. But go, big daddy, go!

Although I like 'em big and stupid, this film's dark, dumb, dim and, yes, disastrous.

Martha Wash, Kylie & Me, and the Death of The Dance Machine

This is the first time on my blog that I am announcing, at last after a long time planning it, I have retired from my office job to be full-time Buddy Beaverhausen! Writing and blogging are what I  can devote my time towards. And, of course, going to events especially if red carpet, lights and lots of press cameras are involved! I find myself at a time of life now composed of multi-tasking and, equally, multi-napping.

First, let me just say that I do see eye-to-eye with Madonna on one thing: ageism. When Radio 1 in the UK snubbed playing "Livin' for Love" (the only really good track off the new album), Madonna said we've made progress "in other areas - civil rights, gay rights - but ageism is still an area that's taboo and not talked about and dealt with.” Hear, hear, old girl!

I'm old enough to recall with joy a happy time in my life that included tuning into Chuck Barris' The Gong Show before bedtime with my ex. We loved the appearances of Gene, Gene, The Dance Machine and his stiff, crazy and robotic dance moves. He made us laugh. Gene was a stagehand at NBC before appearing on The Gong Show and, more importantly, the first African-American member of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, Local 33. Eugene Patton was 82 at the time of his passing. 

Giorgio Moroder's "Right Here, Right Now" is a super upcoming dancefloor smash, certainly, with Kylie Minogue on vocals. There will be no shortage of diva-driven disco for this year's Pride festivals!

Not all the remixes of the song are successes and, frankly, I prefer playing Moroder's original extended mix. Mark Roberts' Ultimix dampens down the NRG but there's worse from Felix Da Housecat, Mr Moustache, Ant Larock, Dj Sneak (who are some of these people?!) Kenny Summit, Felipe de Lima. However, I did enjoy 7th Heaven's club mix. Very upbeat.

Martha says "Everybody dance now" once more for producer Tony Moran. Actually, her lyrics are "I want to see you dance" on Billboard's upwardly mobile new dance hit, "Free People." Tony just had a Billboard smash with the fabulous Debby Holiday (an update of "I Like You") and sure knows how to fashion a sound that will make you want to get up and shake your groove thing.

Again, the original Tony Moran/Warren Rigg Global Mix is best. The Cruelty remix is too funky, Giuseppe D too chunky. Actually, most of the mixes available failed to impress with the exception of Yinon Yahel's big-room, Junior-esque house version.

"Free People" is another positive anthem from Ms Wash, very much in her element here as she belts out a feel-good song about loving yourself and expressing it on the disco floor. Just like Gene Gene.

Buddy Beaverhausen's Weekly Diva Report 2/27/14

Greetings, diva worshippers! And what is a diva, exactly, by my standards? Well, I like Urban Dictionary's definition best: adj. pronounced (DEE-VAH)- 1. to describe a person who exudes great style and personality with confidence and expresses their own style and not letting others influence who they are or want to be. 2. A person whose character makes them stands out from the rest. 3. Noun; a person's title in a group of friends or in society that is popular or famous and who many people try to copy. 4. A person who tries to achieve what they want and who do not let people get in their way, and doing so with style and class. Ex. 1. Yeah girl my friend is such a diva. 2. That boy can sure act like a diva sometimes.

Get it? Got it? Good. Because here we go with our divalicious update for the week.

First off, I just want to say Happy Birthday to the late, great Elizabeth Taylor. Accepting a GLAAD Award in 2000, she told the audience, "There is no gay agenda. It's a human agenda!" We love and salute the divine Liz, one of our favorite divas of the silver screen.

Rumor is rife that Liza might be involved in the upcoming (Sunday, Feb. 2) Oscar tribute to The Wizard of Oz. I hope this is true. Bette and Liza on the same Academy Awards ceremony? How fabulous would that be!

Talking about the Oscars, Yahoo blabbed last week:

If [the] engraved nameplate is any indication, this year's Oscar winner for Best Actor will be Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Wolf of Wall Street." Yes, Twitter is currently abuzz with the release of a CNN screencap that reveals the nameplate, that supposedly reveals a great big Oscar spoiler a full 20 days before the actual ceremony.

However, Yahoo goes on further to explain: If true, this would be a gaffe of, um, titanic proportions for the ultra-secretive Academy. And it would give everyone a freebie on their Oscar pools. But no, this is not a supreme spoiler. In fact, final voting for the Oscars hasn't even started yet. Balloting commences on Friday and closes on Feb. 25. So while Leo might indeed be a frontrunner (don't tell Chiwetel Ejiofor), it doesn't mean he's already locked up the prize. So how to explain the nameplate? As of 2010, the Academy creates engraved nameplates for every Oscar nominee, with the winners being given their nameplates at the Governor's Ball on Oscar night.

Kylie Minogue's new album, Kiss Me Once, doesn't drop until April Fool's Day in the US but her single,  "Into the Blue" (with club remixes) is out now. Fabulous! 

Is Jan Brewer a diva? Not, in my opinion described above. The craggy-faced Governor of AZ fits more into an alternative definition provided by Urban Dictionary, witch ~ I mean, which ~ is:

a bitchy woman that must have her way exactly, or no way at all. often rude and belittles people, believes that everyone is beneath her and thinks that she is so much more loved than what she really is. selfish, spoiled, and overly dramatic.

About an hour after reading my post at Queens Our City Radio, Jan vetoed the state's proposed anti-gay legislature. http://queens.ourcityradio.com/stations/americana-news/view-ny-current-az-problem Coincidence? Or not? Consequently but typically, the Teabaggers went ballistic after Brewer's decision. Famed gay blogger Perez Hilton posted on his blog: "Thankfully, mercifully, Governor Jan Brewer has come to her senses." Meanwhile, Jon Stewart said, on The Daily Show, "This is where you are now, Arizona. You've made yourselves too homophobic and dickish for professional football." Ouch!

And that wraps up our diva dish for the week. More blab and gab next time and, meanwhile, cultivate your inner divas in case you haven't already.

In closing, I leave you with the divas' theme song:

Thankfully, mercifully, Governor Jan Brewer has come to her senses — just moments ago she VETOED that horrible, hateful bill instead of signing it into law! - See more at: http://perezhilton.com/2014-02-26-arizona-governor-jan-brewer-vetoes-anti-gay-bill-senate-bill-1062#sthash.tMaVbAw6.dpuf

Thankfully, mercifully, Governor Jan Brewer has come to her senses — just moments ago she VETOED that horrible, hateful bill instead of signing it into law! - See more at: http://perezhilton.com/2014-02-26-arizona-governor-jan-brewer-vetoes-anti-gay-bill-senate-bill-1062#sthash.tMaVbAw6.dpuf

Thankfully, mercifully, Governor Jan Brewer has come to her senses — just moments ago she VETOED that horrible, hateful bill instead of signing it into law! - See more at: http://perezhilton.com/2014-02-26-arizona-governor-jan-brewer-vetoes-anti-gay-bill-senate-bill-1062#sthash.tMaVbAw6.dpuf

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. :)

Checking Up on Our Billboard Dance-Chart Favorites

Kylie Minogue has werqd her "Skirt" into quite  a swirl -- all the way up to #1 this week on the US Billboard Dance/Club chart! Congratulations to the Aussie dance diva!

UK's timeless Pet Shop Boys all the way up at #3 this week with their new hit single, "Vocal," followed by Enrique Iglesias with "Turn the Night Up" at #4.  New remixes of "Walking on Thin Ice," the John Lennon-produced Yoko Ono classic buoys the diva up to the 6th spot on the chart.

Selena Gomez apparently isn't about to "Slow Down," at #8 in just 3 weeks. Krezwalla's "Live for the Night," new numero 12, is rather generic techo-dance. But, "Guess What?" Luciana & Cazwell now at #14. Lady Bunny takes in higher, into the 17th spot this outing, with "Take Me Up High," while Lady Gaga's "Applause" remixes bring her to #19.

And that's it from the Beaverhausen selective Billboard report this week!

Special thanks to Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia for your views this week. Peace, love, and remember: the dancefloor is a great international way of keeping us united! Thank you for your views.

Meanwhile, everyone, Dj Buddy Beaverhausen is proud to announce the birth of Blab It to Beaverhausen, my brand-new blog, already a runaway success! This will be exclusively for my interviews. Please check it out:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/

Billboard in Brief

Happy Labor Day to all my fellow Americans! Have a safe and happy three-day holiday weekend. Here's news from the Billboard Top 20, skipping through selectively, for the week ended September 7.

Kylie Minogue's "Skirt" is lifted to second place. Expect it to be next week's # 1. (Go, Kylie!) Pet Shop Boys' "Vocal" is # 3 and upwardly mobile. Yoko Ono's doing a good job "Walking on Thin Ice," now up at # 9. Expect her to skate ever higher with the new remixes of her '80s hit.

Lady Bunny sings "Take Me Up High" and the universe grants her request, landing her in the 18th spot while Cazwell and Luciana -- "Guess What?" -- are at #20.

Thanks and big kisses to my readers abroad, this week especially in France, Germany, U.K., Russia, Poland, Mexico. China, Italy, Brazil, Turkey, Mauritius and Romania.

Unite on the dancefloor! Dance music is about peace, acceptance and love!

Below, the video for the Wayne Numan remix of Lady Bunny's "Take Me Up High." Disco down y'all!

Dj Buddy B's Billboard News ~ week ending 8/24/13

Interesting developments on the Dance/Club music top-25 on Billboard (week ending August 24, 2013), especially at top and bottom where our focus will be today.

Cher's "A Woman's World," which peaked at #1 two weeks ago, holds steady in 10th place this outing. Kat DeLuna's "Stars" heavenly at #2; Kylie's "Skirt" swirling in third place. Plumb's "Need You Now" upwardly mobile at #5.

The great UK groups from the '80s, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boy, have survived and even flourished through the ensuing decades and, may I add, they are as musically relevant today as they've ever been. At #7, "Soothe My Soul" by Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys at #8 with "Vocal," both tunes seeming to be headed upward still.

At #22, the 2013 remixes of the John Lennon-produced "Walking on Thin Ice" (another echo of the '80s), sung by Yoko Ono, are skating upward. Ms Ono turned 80 this past February. Disco divas are forever! Excellent remix work, especially by Dave Aude and Ralphi Rosario.

All hail Lady Bunny as she cracks the Top 25, in the 25th spot but upwardly mobile, with producer Wayne Numan's "Take Me Up High."

That's it for this week; we'll revisit next. To my friends and readers all over the world, it's all about love, peace and disco. Boycott the Russian Olympics! We love our gay Russian comrades. Unite on the dancefloor!

Billboard's Dance/Club Hits of August 10

For the Billboard magazine week ending August 10, Cher's new single (with remixes), "Woman's World," usurps the #1 spot on the Dance/Club chart, as anticipated! It's really Cher's world; we just live in it.

Inaya Day will "Make Some Noise" if she damn well pleases. The perennial house music diva is back, up at #4 with Dj Escape on that number.

Plumb's "Need You Now" is now nestled in the top ten at 10th place with Kylie close behind as "Skirt" shakes it way to #11.  And "Soothe My Soul," by the UK's very durable band over the decades, Depeche Mode, is up at #12 . UK's equally durable Pet Shop Boys this week find their "Vocal" in 14th place and rising.

Upwardly mobile, though currently much lower on the Club chart, are the new Lady Bunny song (who was a Lady long before Gaga), "Take Me Up High" by an unfunny, serious Bunny as house music diva; Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" 2013 driven by top-notch remixes from Dave Aude and Ralphi Rosario; and the 2013 remixes of Sylvester's "Mighty Real."

Billboard Beefs Up

Finally, there's some hope on Billboard's dance-music horizon now that "A Woman's World" by Cher is in the #2 position for the club chart ending August 3. It's poised to top the chart next week.

The always remarkable Inaya Day and Dj Escape's "Make Some Noise," is a true floor-filler, up at 6th place this week, while Jennifer Lopez's "Live It Up" is down at #8. The JLo tune peaked in first place, and was at #5 last outing. Fading but still strong.

Ciara's "Body Party," also a previous #1 (last week, in fact), steeply fell to 11th place but it was nice to find the girl charting for the dancefloors again.

"Need You Now" by Christian Contemporary singer, Plumb (nee Tiffany Arbuckle Lee), features strong remixes by RedTop, WaWa and Dave Aude. It's upwardly mobile on the dance/club chart at #15, as is venerable Depeche Mode's "Save My Soul," now in the current 16th spot.

Kylie Minogue works her "Skirt" into the 17th spot, and she's always a welcome presence on the gay club scene, this being no exception.  In the 18th spot, we have Anton Clamaran's "This Is My Goodbye" featuring diva Fenja. It's a pop-friendly high-NRG, trancey number that will seduce you to the dancefloor. Unfortunately, it peaked on Billboard at #13 last week, so it's falling now. Still, it's recommended. (Radio edit posted below.)

Dance/ Soul music idol Chaka Khan's "It's Not Over" truly deserved to be a #1. It peaked at a respectable #7 and is now at  #20.

And "Vocal" by Pet Shop Boys just cracks the Top 25 this week in the 25th spot, but moving up for sure.

Meanwhile, bubbling up in the Top 50, Lady Bunny gets even higher (#43) with the fabulous, ascending "Take Me Up High." New, 2013 remixes of Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" (#47) and Sylvester's perennial disco classic and gay anthem, "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real," is at #50, rounding out the chart.

Splash: Good to the Last Drop

Another landmark Chelsea gay club closes it doors, sadly, on August 10. It seems I just reported on the closing of the equally iconic Rawhide bar. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/03/pack-it-up-pack-it-in-rawhide.html

Such memories of swirling and twirling on Splash's dance floor with friends! My late dj pal, Louis Morhaim (who owned and operated the vinyl/cd dance-music store, Heartbeat, in Greenwich Village) played there & invited me into the dj booth to show me how he had to pee in an empty bottle of spring water so as not to leave during his set.

The front bar has played Dj Buddy's promo-only cds, I'm proud to say.

And, God, I saw the late, legendary Loleatta Holloway there, live! Linda Clifford! Martha Wash! Cyndi Lauper! Kylie Minogue! Gloria Estefan! Amongst so many more.

The first economized, more intimate disco in gay Manhattan, it was the 1991 answer to the older, outmoded superclubs like The Saint and Studio 54. Still, it was a nice, two-floor set-up that was fun and easy to traverse. For a while, there was a tiny booth that sold Splash merchandise, including cds I would routinely purchase.

Might Splash open at another locale? The note written above suggests it might. But, in his interview with the current issue of Next, the owner seems to want to divorce himself from it.

A friend told me that he recently went to the club's well-established Musical Mondays at the downstairs bar. That has always been a popular get-together to watch videos of clips from musical movies and from the stage.

I passed the club tonight and it was festooned outside with blue balloons.

We'll miss you, Splash!

Under the Headphones, Heading for Pride

It's Gay Pride week and I look forward to Sunday on the Tribeca Pier with Cher. And Deborah Cox. So, what's on my turntables in the meanwhile? Today, I have three promo mixes for performers with big gay fan bases: Pet Shop Boys, Kylie and, of course, Cher. Let me discuss how they fared with me.

But first, let me first mention a fourth promo with mixes of "Sunshine" by A Boy Called George. (Yes, it's Boy George's (aka George O'Dowd's) music-producer name.) Vocals are by Sharlene Hector. This is a diva-sampled (from "Sunshine Into My Life"), upbeat house tune reminiscent of '90s clubland, guaranteed to, at least, get you to the floor. "You bring the Sunshine into my life...." Yes, it's perfect for summer and Pride but kind of throwaway as the vocal sampling and, ultimately, musical arrangement become monotonous, going nowhere, both in the Original Mix (7 minutes) and more high-octane My Digital Enemy Remix (5:21).  Still, the Original Mix is not such a bad way to open or close a set, though this is absolutely not for peak time.

We can always depend on the Pet Shop Boys to supply eloquence of lyrics to an electro beat, getting very very vocal on "Vocal." This number is from the Boys' new album, Electric, produced by the duo and Stuart Price, on the PSB's new UK label. Album's original high-NRG mix, clocking in at 6 1/2 minutes, is very satisfying indeed.

While Rektchordz's mix takes it deeper, it pounds like a migraine. WaWa mix is somewhat more successful. And the Ivan Gomez & Nacha Chapado effort is pure remix cacophony. Stick to the album mix for now with this one.

While Kylie Minogue advises you to work your "Skirt'" in her poptabulous manner, you better take her up on it. Probably not as hot as her last international club hit, "Time Bomb," but still quality stuff. Slew of remixes; best undoubtedly by Mark Picciotti, who always knows how to deliver and rarely disappoints. And he sure knows when to bring in the cowbell!

It's been famously said that, after a nuclear blast, the only things left would be cockroaches and Cher. Tell the truth! I am so anticipating the performance by the new grande dame of disco, whose latest album, Closer to the Truth, will be released in September. Now available for pre-order on-line (Amazon.com).  Very solid, originally designed as a hiNRG dancefloor (and radio) almost sure-fire hit, written by Matt Morris, Paul Oakenfold and Anthony Crawford. R3Hab remix is very good but too short. Nice trancey touch by Danny Verde. But the definitive official mix so far is Tracy Young's Ferosh re-work. Hey, it's a woman's world!

The short version of Tracy Young's edit of "Woman's World" below:

Beaverhausen's Kylie Minogue Poll Results

All right, all you lovers! Valentine's Day is but a day away and the Kylie poll on this blog is now closed, and results are in.

There were 13 votes in all. And the Kylie song that got the most (4) votes was "Can't Get You Out of My Head." Obviously fans couldn't get that out of their heads!

"All the Lovers" and "Better the Devil You Know" each received 3 votes. "I Believe in You," "Slow" and "I Should Be So Lucky" each received a single vote.

Kylie's latest club hit, "Time Bomb," wasn't a candidate as all song titles in the poll were taken from her "Abbey Road Sessions" album. Surprisingly, Kylie's international hit cover of "The Locomotion" received no votes at all! Jump back!

Here's Kylie doing "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (Abbey Road Version) on the UK "X Factor."

Kylie ~ The Abbey Road Sessions

One of the things I've always remembered about my first trip to London is falling in love with "I Should Be So Lucky," a Stock Aitken Waterman hi-nrg production that was all over the radio and in the clubs. I was so excited, coming back to New York, believing this sensation would make its way across the pond. It never did. The singer? Kylie Minogue.

Not long afterward, however, Kylie scored her first hit in the USA with "The Locomotion." It received frequent play on MTV in the days when Music TV actually played music videos!

It was a delight for me to hear both these songs on Kylie ~ The Abbey Road Sessions, released early November in both the UK and USA.  The forty-something entertainer demonstrates that her divahood is not constrained to the dancefloor as previous hits are given breathtaking, orchestral arrangements for Ms Minogue to sing sweetly over. Her voice is relaxed, strong, mellifluous and confident.

The lush sweep of the opener, "All the Lovers," is a dreamy confection fit for any star. I was especially surprised by how well "Better the Devil You Know" translates as a ballad. Opening with a simple piano accompaniment, it actually made me misty with its unexpected tenderness.

Nick Cave's "Where the Wild Roses Grow" is a disarming treat, though Cave's vocals are actually a bit distracting to me in this instance. "The Locomotion" is given a perfectly '60s treatment complete with soulful backbeat. And "I should Be So Lucky" is bewitchingly sultry, slowed down, almost 30 years down the (Abbey) road. Well, we can't be so perky perky perky forever, dahlings, trust me on that.

This Parlophone release boasts 16 tracks. Producers have beautifully arranged the songs, and the back-up girls' harmonies are magnificent.  As for Ms Minogue's vocals: Can't get her out of my head. Dj Buddy Beaverhausen calls it a keeper and says go for it. Available @ Amazon.com on cd (with art and liner notes) and for download.

Below, Kylie does "The Locomotion" on Dancing with the Stars, Abbey Road style:

Billboard Dance/Club Top 25 Chart, week ending 8/25/12

Rebecca Ferguson went from Liverpool secretary to music sensation via Britain's X Factor. She has now charted on US Billboard's dance/club chart at #25 with remixes of "Nothing's Real But Love." We welcome a new, true diva to the list.

Three spots abover her, "Perfect World" by Gossip gently descends to 22nd place after peaking at #8 while Cyndi Lauper again displays her true colors to clubland with "Sex Is in the Heel", #11 on the hit parade, two tiers up from last week's 13th spot. I expect it will make the top ten the next time we look.

"Timbomb," which was the #1 dance tune two weeks ago, charts at #9 this week, still pretty sensational and starring diva darling, Kylie Minogue.

Boys will be boys as Scissor Sisters' "Let's Have a Kiki" high-kicks its way from #18 to #6, Jack Shears bypassing Adam Lambert by but one spot as "Never Close Our Eyes" makes a blind leap from #10 last week to land in the current #7 position. You can open them now. Scissor Sisters' "Only the Horses" is still on board at #17.

Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" is this week's #1, with Madonna's rapidly rising "Turn Up the Radio" turning up in the hot #3 spot, likely to take over Kelly's throne on next occasion. "Spectrum" by Zedd featuring Matthew Koma is caught in the middle here at #2, not to be confused with "Spectrum (Say My Name)" by Florence & the Machine, up from #14 to #8. And that's the spectrum of the dance/club top-25 Billboard chart for this week.

Blowing dj kisses out to my blog readers in Brazil this week, as well as to Australia, all of Western Europe & the UK, Canada, Russia, Hungary, Iraq & United Arab Emirates. Keep on dancing! Love, peace & happiness until we meet again. ~~ Dj Buddy B

Where My Gay Boys At? This Week's Billboard Dance Chart

Again, a totally biased and selective sorting out of the latest, top 25 Billboard Top Dance/Club tracks. Let's go where the boys are this week, namely two openly gay artists, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and Adam Lambert. Lambert's number, "Never Close Our Eyes," is a dancefloor beauty and it is propelled on the latest Billboard chart by several commendable extended remixes, my favorite being the Almighty mix. Here's hoping it's taken higher, all the way to #1, where it deserves to be.

Scissor Sisters' "Only the Horses" galloped to fifth place, only to be corralled at #16 this week, down five rungs from last week's #11 spot. However, "Let's Have a Kiki," #30 on Billboard Dance last week, has boogied on up to #18 on our latest outing, giving Sisters Sisters two top-25 charters from their new album simultaneously.

This week's #1 spot is currently coveted by Jenifer Lopez. Her "Goin' In" has gone in and toppled Kylie Minogue from her perch. "Timebomb" has been deactivated and relegated to the #5 spot, where fallen number-ones are prone to land, it seems. Katy Perry landed there last week after being trounced from her #1  by Kylie; her "Wide Awake" finds itself at #7 this time out. Divas may find themselves sitting pretty in the world of dance-music charts, but theirs is unfortunately always a short shelf life.

Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" nudges up one spot, from third to second place, possibly looking at the #1 spot next week. Of course, Madonna is the week's "Greatest Gainer," according to Billboard, with "Turn Up the Radio" turning up the diva heat and bounding its way up from last week's #19 to the current #8 spot. There's no reason to believe Madge couldn't make another leap of this sort next week, finding itself at #1 against her stalwart competition.

Cyndi Lauper's frankly fabulous "Sex Is in the Heel" staggers up to #13 from 18th place last go-round. I'm hoping it will find itself in the top ten next week, then make its way even higher, with the tippy-top a real possibility for her as well.

Of the nuevo, femme-fronted rock groups, Florence & the Machine arrives at 14th place with "Spectrum (Say My Name)" while Gossip drops precipitously from its #8 peak to #19.

And that rounds out this week's Billboard dance hits (as all upcoming tracks from 20 through 25 are not worth discussing, to put it bluntly. Remember, this is a completely subjective overview.)

Meanwhile, keep dancing! Dance music brings us together; dance music is on a global mission for peace. People all over the world, participate! And a big, special cry out of thanks this week to my blog's readers in Indonesia, Phillipines, Brazil, the UK, Italy, Germany, Russia, Mexico, France, Canada, Colombia and Argentina!

Billboard's Diva Boom

What a week for diva favorites on Billboard's club/dance chart.  For instance, I'm thrilled Kylie's "Timebomb" went off in the #1 spot this week. My God, I thought it was headed there but I'm very happy it hit that target, which is where it absolutely deserves to be! Congratulations, Ms Minogue, America salutes you!

Cyndi Lauper has climbed three steps up in stilettos as "The Sex Is in the Heel," her new dance number, excites club-goers, especially her faithful gay fan base. It's currently #18 but who knows how high you can ascend in fuck-me pumps!

Male divas of the openly gay variety come closer to each other on Billboard's top 25, as "Only the Horses" by Scissor Sisters (featuring Jake Spears) backs up to the 11th spot, with Adam Lambert buoyed nicely by the remixes of "Never Close Our Eyes," now #14 with a four-point bounce from last wee's 18th spot.

Madonna is dogging Cyndi again as '80s divas collide once more. This week's "Greatest Gainer" (Billboard's term), the mediocre "Tun Up the Radio" by the Big M arrives in our top 25 at #19, a full twenty points up from last week's position.

"Perfect World" by Gossip is at #8. "Big Hoops," Nelly Furtado at #9. Katy Perry's still "Wide Awake" after dropping from 1st place to #5. JLo's "Going In" is #2, Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" currently at #3.

Cher's new album announced for December release, including her duet with Gaga. Expect remixes of that to appear in advance of the street date for the album. Peace & love on the dance floor where the groove is in the heart, the sex is in the heel, and stay away from Chick-Fil-A! ~~ Dj Buddy B

Divas on Top

This week, on the top 25 Billboard Dance/Club chart, some of our most prominent divas of dance have made their way to the top.

Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" unsurprisingly finds that pop goddess sitting pretty in the numero uno spot, as she was upwardly mobile at #2 last week. Right behind her, like a heat-seeking missile, is Kylie Minogue and her "Timebomb."  I'll be very surprised (not to mention upset) if it doesn't explode into the  #1 hit next week.

JLo's "Goin' In" to the third spot this time out, with Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" a bright fourth place. Best in show, "Only the Horses," performed by Scissor Sisters, rounds out the top 5. I mean, I'm happy to call Jake Shears a "diva," and expect "Let's Have a Kiki" to chart soon as well.

Very thrilled that Cyndi Lauper has returned to the dance chart with her delicious "Sex Is in the Heel." Aided and abetted by several hot remixes, this number is from an upcoming Broadway show, book by none other than Harvey Fierstein, music by Ms Lauper. Welcome back to clubland, Cyn!

Nelly Fertado's "Big Hoops" buoys her to twelfth place. ("The Bigger the Better" as the song says.) while Gossip's splended "Perfect World" nicely nudges up a notch to #9. Kathareine McPhee's "Touch Me" (from tv's "Smash") gets a bounce up to #16 from 17 last week, with 10 solid weeks on the chart and a peak at 4th place.

Adam Lambert's great "Never Close Our Eyes" blasts upward like a rocket. Number 23 last week, it's now at 18. And Eddie Amador and Kimberly Cole's dance sensation, "U Make Me Wanna" is up at 15, four rungs higher than last week's charting.

Until my next totally selective and biased, but absolutely honest, view of Billboard's Dance/Club Songs, keep dancing, keep clubbing, keep the faith and spread the love! ~~ Dj Buddy Beaverhausen

The Divas of Billboard's Dance/Club Chart

Hot as the summer itself, here are where the divas that interest me are for the week ending July 21.

Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" is up two notches, currently at third place with the #1 spot (currently occupied by The Wanted's "Chasing the Sun") well within her reach. But there's more than a Firework on its way up her butt as Kylie Minogue's at #4 with "Timebomb," perhaps the hottest song of summer so far (though it isn't summer Down Under). In any case, it's positively incendiary and is Billboard's "Greatest Gainer" pick of the week.

Two of the songs, and the divas, I've been rooting for dipped this week on the chart, much to my disappointment. Because I love these songs and think these women deserve the top spot more than many who've arrived there of late. Debby Holiday's strong, beautiful "Key to Your Soul" (already a gay anthem) dips one rung to the 23rd spot. It's completely possible it could bounce back up, I tell myself. And Katharine McPhee's "Touch Me" (from the NBC-tv series, "Smash") may have peaked at #4 last time as it now has sunken to #9. Still, it had a nice, long ride upward.
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Jennifer Lopez's "Goin' In" goes up like a rocket, quickly following up on the success of "Dance Again," which reached #1 on the club chart, and on the pop and radio charts as well. "Goin' In" quickly snagged the 18th position last week, and is now all the way in and up at #9.

Kelly Clarkson shows off her "Dark Side" and remixes lift her from last week's #20 to this week's #10. This moved faster than Aretha Franklin devouring a cheesecake (to paraphrase Joan Rivers). Sorry, but I don't think this is anywhere near as good a dance tune as Kelly's last effort, "Stronger," which showed off her Nietzschean side. (I'm so sure Miss Clarkson pours over his philosophical treatises during her free time.)
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Toni Braxton, who took "I Heart You" to #1, has made a graceful deflation off the chart, still nicely sitting at 18.  Carly Rae Jepsen still snug as a bug with "Call Me Maybe" (loving the Almighty UK mix), which peaked at #15. Gossip's "Perfect World" makes a grand entrance into the top 25, at #23 this week, and Scissor Sisters, with power diva Jake Shears, are now at #17, riding "Only the Horses." (I must confess I prefer "Let's Have a Kiki" but have yet to find a decent extended remix.)

Shakira may have told us "Hips Don't Lie," but Nelly Furtado arrives in 25th place with "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)." And those are the top Divas of the Top 25 of the Billboard dance/club chart this week. Till next time, peace, love and dance your ass off for happiness! Bigger the better.

Below, the video for Scissor Sisters' "Kiki." I love it!

Divas on the Dance Chart (Billboard) Update

This week's Billboard Dance chart in focus.

It's no secret that I don't like Eva Simmons' "I Don't Like You," no matter the mix. Yet the bitch hit #1 on the chart this week. So be it. Still, I love that "Touch Me," Katharine McPhee's big number from the tv series, "Smash" has reached number four. Hoping it gets up to the smashing tippy-top.

Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" has jumped from #11 to #5, as the singer's movie loses to Spiderman at the b.o. this weekend. But huge leap for Miss Kylie, armed with her "Timebomb," exploding from #21 to #9! Another American hit for the Aussie dance diva!

Toni Braxton's divine "I Heart You" settles nicely at #13, one chart step up from the dance mixes of Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" (that artist cited for reckless driving this afternoon in L.A.) with Canadian pop star  Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" one rung lower.

J-Lo's going in with "Goin' In," debuting in the top 25 at #18 (remix below), while Kelly Clarkson's "Dark Side" pays off at #20. (#30 last week.) Reina reappears with "Lover Who Rocks You" (we love you, Miss Reina). And one of my all-time favorite dance divas, the divine Debby Holiday (check out our Q&A below) rises to #22 with the fantastic "Key to Your Soul." Scissor Sisters' "Only the Horses" at last cracks the top 25.

Thanks to the US, UK, Canada and Italy, German, Belgium, Brazil, Israel, Hungary, Myanmar, Australia, France, Turkey & Argentina for your blog views and support this week. Let's dance for peace, for love and for a united world with equal rights for all! We deserve it! Universal love is a possibility.

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