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There is nothing like a Dame, or so I always say, especially if the Dame in question is the fabulous Shirley Bassey. She of the powerful voice and drag queen-like hand gestures that even Dusty Springfield must have admired! Shirley Bassey has been doing it up in grand style, performing professionally since 1953. She may very well be best known as the singer of three of the best known James Bond movie themes: "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker." But her long string of hits include "What Now My Love?," "This Is My Life," "Big Spender," "Light My Fire," "The Living Tree" and many other popular songs, most of which are full of drama, drama and even more drama.
Today is Dame Shirley Bassey's birthday! Let's celebrate with this video as Shirley sings Pink, with a distinctly 007 homage to the arrangement. Get her 76th birthday party started:
For those of you following the diva race on Billboard's dance chart, this week Mariah Carey snags the #1 spot, victorious with "Triumphant," probably her best club tune ever. I'd call her a "Winner," but that song, by Pet Shop Boys has currently reached the12th spot on the chart, upwardly mobile, and expected to get into the current Top 10.
Mariah's American Idol rival, Nicki Minaj, slides to seventh place with "Pound the Alarm" (exactly what I'd like to do when it goes off in the mornings). Last week's #1, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," by Pink, is back down at #5.
Kristine W's "Everything That I Got" makes a nice show this week at #8. Offering a fantastic production by Bimbo Jones and boasting several expert mixes, it'll have you up and dancing before its intro is done.
The perennial Yoko Ono, club diva at 79 years of age, leaps into the top 25 club hits, at #20, with "I'm Moving On." And we're glad she is. Love most of the remixes for this one.
Thanks to all my blog readers! Love you guys (and gals) from Italy to Indonesia, Ukraine to United Kingdom, Russia to Rwanda. (Actually, I don't think I have any readers in Rwanda.) And, to my fellow Americans, I was psyched by this week's Presidential debate; hope you were, too.
Peace and happiness for all! ~~ Disco kisses xxx Dj Buddy B
Nicki Minaj's "Pound the Alarm" pounds its way to #1 this week on the Billboard Dance/Club top 25, coinciding with the ever-charming Minaj threatening to pound the shit out of Mariah Carey, her American Idol co-star. But, beware, Nicki, Ms Carey is just two spots down, with "Triumphant," ascendant at #3, to trounce you from that perch and triumphantly usurp it for herself.
Betwix you two gals, however, is Pink, now #2 with "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)." Kristine W up, at lucky number 13, with the Moto Blanco-produced "Everything That I Got," a real floor-filler. And Pet Shop Boys are champs, now at the 16th niche with "Winner."
Scissor Sisters have Kiki'd down, just below the top 10 but holding strong at #11. And Gossip's "Move in the Right Direction" is certainly doing that, now up at #17. Beyonce again enters the top 25 with "I Was Here," while Rebecca Ferguson's at #24 with "Nothing's Real But Love," which peaked at 11th place.
What a bummer watching the obnoxious Mitt Romney steamroll over moderator Jim Lehrer last night to President Obama's detriment during their first debate. Just got to drown myself in a double dose of disco today to get beyond that! Meanwhile, want to thank everyone reading my blog, with special thanks this week -- beyond my perennial views from the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Mexico and Brazil -- to readers in the Palestinian Territories, Kuwait, Pakistan, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Latvia, Japan and Venezuela. Peace, love, happiness and dance music to all!
Below, the Seamus Haji remix of the new Gossip number:
Last week was one filled with more hot messes, particularly of homophobic explosions amongst the rich and famous, it seemed. A savvy NYC cabbie had Paris Hilton and her gay, male friend in his backseat. So what did he do? He taped their conversation, of course. Talk about your cash cab! Well, when that hit shit the fan, it created a furor because it was full of anti-gay rancor. Of gay men, Paris said, "They’re disgusting! Dude, most of them probably have AIDS!" Paris said she'd "be so scared if I were a gay guy. You'll like, die of AIDS." This from the woman famous for a sex tape showing her being, like, most unsafe.
What's an airhead.... er, I mean an heiress like Paris to do but apologize profusely and tell us she adores gay men? Exactly what she did, wouldn't you just know it.
Then, washed-up '80s author, Bret (Bright Lights, Big City) Easton (American Psycho) Ellis felt the need to stir the pot, perhaps for his own desperately needed publicity. He agreed with Paris' vapid comments and added, "As someone who has used Grindr? Paris Hilton isn't that far off." Ahem.
Then there was the incident from the world of sports.
Truth Wins Out reported: "Yunel Escobar, a 29-year-old Cuban baseball star who plays for the
Toronto Blue Jays, wore eye black during Saturday’s game against the
Boston Red Sox that had a homophobic message written on it: “TU ERE
MARICON.”
Commonly translated: “You are a faggot.”
Escobar didn't play on Sunday, saying he had flu-like symptoms. Aw, Yunel, stop being a maricon and get in there and play! Need I add, he then issued a public apology. Just talking out of his his cap, I tell you.
Well, we've got some fierce business on Billboard, with no apologies or homophobic flare-ups, as divas jockey for position on the Dance/Club Top 25 and beyond.
Florence + the Machine take over the #1 spot with "Spectrum (Say My Name)" this time out, while last week's "Let's Have a Kiki," by Scissor Sisters, rests at #7 after burning up the chart all the way to the top.
Pink's in the pink at #5 with "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," and Mariah Carey's "Triumphant" at #8, up from the 13th spot last week. Madonna's holding onto the top 10, turning up at #10 with "Turn on the Radio." Rebecca Ferguson's "Nothing's Real But Love" is in 12th place, down one nook from #11 last outing. And Cyndi Lauper's "Sex Is in the Heel" sashays its way down to #18, after peaking at #6.
Finally, Kristine W debuts in the Top 25, at #25, up 11 spots from #36 last week, with the divalicious "Everything That I Got." Just under the Top 25, Gossip's "Move in the Right Direction" moves right up to #26 and Sweden's Gravitonas does nicely at #27 with "Call Your Name." Pet Shop Boys' "Winner" winningly rises to #30 from 38th place.
Peace, love & disco, y'all, to readers from Australia to Saudi Arabia to Russia, Latvia and Ukraine. No need for war, hatred, prejudice or those nasty, homophobic outbursts.Get Excited & Carry On!
First, I want to do my shout-out to all my international readers this week. I am so grateful to everyone who comes to this blog, generally to be entertained by anything I might have to say, and to share my musings on dance music and pop culture. I would be most appreciative of any feedback and the best way to do that, outside of commenting on individual posts here, is to go to my Facebook Page. At http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dj-Buddy-Beaverhausen/121433544617989 , you can click "Like" and let me know how I'm doing, what you like or don't like on the blog, give me constructive criticisms, and stay on top of new postings.
So, calling out around the world, get ready for a brand new beat: special thanks this week to Poland (I see readership was way up; dziękuję!). Also, thanks to my readers in Algeria, Japan, Turkey, Ukraine and Indonesia. Keep the faith we may live as one! As always, to my blog pals in the UK, Canada, France, Mexico, Russia, Germany; love you guys!
Tonight, I look forward to President Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention. Already such great speeches by our First Lady, Gaby Gifford (made me tear up -- a lot!) and others. Let's fight for progress and equality and the rights to love and to marry. Make it happen! As for this week's Billboard, divas Mariah Carey and Pink finally make it into the top 25 of the Dance/Club chart with fabulous new songs that will put you on the floor! Pink arrives at a hot-pink #18 with "Blow Me (a Kiss)" while I think it safe to say Ms Carey's anthemic "Triumphant" (#21) is indeed a triumph; one of the best things she's ever done and the remixes are to die for. Take it to the dancefloor, bitches, this mama's on fire and she's bringing it to the top, wardrobe malfunctions and whatever! Scissor Sisters' "Let's Have A Kiki" #2 under Usher's "Scream" at #1. Expect it to usurp first place next week. Cyndi Lauper's fuck-me pumps walk her down to #16 from 6th place's peak last week with the fabulous "Sex Is in the Heel." Sarah Ferguson's hot "Nothing's Real But Love" (is it?), is at Cyndi's back, now up at #14. And Adam Lambert's "Never Close Our Eyes," which peaked, like Cyndi, at #6, is now standing at #16. And that's it, of interest for me, on this week's blog. Hit the danceflooor and shake your money makers for love, peace and happiness! Until we meet again ~~ love, Dj Buddy Beaverhausen!
Below, the brilliant Honey Dijon club mix of "Sex Is in the Heel":
