Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man This Christmas)

The Weather Girls were originally known as Two Tons of Fun. Under that name, they began as Sylvester's back-up girls, then went solo with disco hits of their own: "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" (1980); "Just Us" (1980 and also made #29 on the US R&B chart); and the Hi-NRG song "I Got the Feeling" in 1981.

The Weather Girls was composed of Martha Wash (whose solo career continues till this day) and the late, great Izora Whitehead.

A holiday follow-up to the phenomenal, "It's Raining Men," "Dear Santa" was also written by Paul Jabara ("Last Dance" by Donna Summer) and Paul Shaffer (who makes a cameo vocal as Santa in this song).

The video for this number was made in 1983 and, obviously, on a shoestring budget. Hence, the hilarious dancers with big, feathered '80s hair. Martha and Izora may have been hard to fit, but their costumes herein look off-the-rack from some bargain store; rather threadbare-looking pantsuits with scarves. Ick!

You may suffer through a brief ad before the video, but it'll be worth it. Also, it's a busy-looking Youtube page, so I recommend enlarging the video window on your screens.

Season's greetings! And roll out the bear-skin rugs by your fireplaces cuz Santa may have a man in his sack for you, too!

August Music

The dog days of August have settled, and the rush of September releases is pending. Still, there are songs new and noteworthy to keep us spinning, even as we apply the Bactine to our insect bites.

Good thing I'm not a guy who bets for money. I predicted, since June, when I put Ricky Martin's club remix of "Freak of Nature" on my NYC Pride Anthems 2011 promo, that it would capture the #1 Billboard spot on the Dance/Club Play chart. But it stalled at #7 and currently dropped to 12. Still, it cracked the top ten and has, so far, had a solid 2 months charting. Congratulations, Ricky, you deserve it. And what's that Enrique guy doing at #1? Song's not nearly as hot.

On the other hand, Kylie Minogue's "Put Your Hands Up," which was on my April promo, Fagtastic, has defied all odds and made it to the #2 spot on the US chart, with #1 totally within her reach. Great going, Kylie and great dance tune! You so deserve it, too; in fact, you should be so lucky!

Guilty pleasures? I got plenty of 'em (and they don't all have to do with dance music, believe me). In fact, brought up Catholic, all pleasures are naturally guilty -- and forbidden, but that's what makes them such fun! The latest such tainted joy is the song, "Chic C'est la Vie" by reality-tv creature, Countess LuAnn, from Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City. I've deliberately avoided the series and its ilk, so I know very little about this particular celebutante. But she talks out this song in a manner not unlike the grand, growling style of Divine, with a deliberate campiness. The Fontana/Newman remix alone is fun to listen to, pumping the beats up to make you wanna shake your booties to this fluff. Let's call it a "fluffer," then, shall we!

Inaya Day is a perennial diva of the dance scene since the '90s and, though perhaps underrated, certainly is frequently utilized at home and throughout Europe. Her latest, in conjunction with Italian producers Menini & Viani, is a vibrantly realized production in classic House style. The original club mix can be found on the August issue of Promo Only's UK Club Beats cd (highly recommended 2-disc set). On the same issue, you'll find the always-fab Shena with her Betty Wright-like "Homewrecka!" Gay newlyweds take note of this cautionary number. Be afraid, be very afraid.

"Taste the Night," by Dalal, is absolutely beautiful contemporary dance music, especially in the hands of remixer extraordinaire Tony Moran. You'll be on your feet in a dreamy swirl to this well-written & -composed song, beautifully sung as well.

The Wash woman cometh! As August closes, the great Martha Wash will take the stage at Fire Island Pines. That's Saturday, August 27. Tickets for "Martha Wash on Fire" can be purchased online @ http://www.dutfnyc.com/. $35 in advance and well worth it.