Music Monday: Triple Barracuda

Look, have I now posted live performances of “Barracuda” three times this year? Yes, yes (and yes), I have. The first one was Heart. The second one was Chappell Roan. And the third time is the charm with Chappell and half of Heart, Nancy Wilson. And you’d better believe if that other half of Heart wants another go, I’ll post it again (again, again, again). So there. Because who can deny those guitar riffs? And why would you want to? Happy Monday, kittens.

Vacation Vixen: Chappell Roan

Is this the coolest concert shot you’ve ever seen or what? If I could I’d hang it personally in the Louvre. Personally.

p.s. Back tomorrow, kittens.

Music Monday: Barracuda Redux

If you’re going to cover Heart’s iconic “Barracuda,” you’d better do it right. And few things seem as right as Chappell Roan belting it out backed by an all-female band and a stage that looks like a sinister medieval fantasy fair. Now that’s how you start a week, people. Happy Monday, kitten.

My Weekend Crush

The lesbian longing song of the summer comes, of course, from Chappell Roan. In her first official music video since her breakout success last year, the singer brings us a universally relatable ditty about the agony of lost love – wrapped in some Lady Godiva meets Ophelia meets Cousin Itt imagery. In short, it’s fan-fucking-tastic. And so, so queer. Happy weekend, all.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Met with Suits

First things first, the Met Gala is ridiculous. It is the most bready of circuses, feeding us with literally nothing but sparkly celebrity sparkling. But, I can also not resist attractive women in suits. And this year’s theme of dandyism and Black tailoring which brought out SO MANY SUITS. Granted, some outfits were suit adjacent. And there were so many jackets over gowns. Or, um, hotpants. But, still, I love a strong shoulder in a smart lapel. I can’t help it! If we’re gonna eat the rich, they might as well look delicious beforehand. Just saying. Anyway, here are some of the tastiest looks of the gala. Like, Zendaya in that white three-piece? Hot damn. And I do not mean that respectfully. (Sorry, Tom Holland.) Oh and also – yeah, tax the rich.

Janelle Monae

This. Is. Art. Periodt.

Tessa Thompson

This is also art, but possibly by Dr. Seuss.

Doechii

I’ve never been into the little pageboy look, until now.

Whoopi Goldberg

This is perhaps my favorite of her red carpet looks. Maybe even more than her Oscar-winning dress in 1991.

Lupita Nyong'o

Seafoam Mary Poppins is working for me.

Lauryn Hill

This is what people mean when they say “like butter.”

Jonquel Jones

The WNBA finals MVP defied gravity indeed.

Breanna Stewart

Now that’s a good teammate, dressing exactly to theme.

Madonna

Channeling Dietrich is never wrong.

Chappell Roan

Neither is channelling Bowie.

Anna Sawai

I mean, if you’re going to wear the same thing as someone, might as well be Zendaya. Amirite?

Angela Bassett

Just give the Queen her Oscar already.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Next Gen Edition

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a nice suit and possibly a tie. Let the children's impeccable suit game remind us how we want to be. I feel I’ve been a little bleak this week (I mean, how can I not be), but I am greatly encouraged to see our youth (read: 20something stars) embracing the menswear on the red carpet trend. The whole oversized full suit thing? Yeah, I like it. Life doesn’t have to be so complicated. Sometimes, just put on a suit and look hot. In this intentionally crashed economy? I’ll take whatever free joy I can get. Thanks to our Gen Z stars for making this Thursday just a little bit better, regardless.

Bella Ramsey, 21

Sadly, no suits in the apocalypse. Too bad because they look great.

Jenna Ortega, 22

Bring back zoot suits, period.

Paige Bueckers, 23

Like, her whole GQ photoshoot was straight out of “Bottoms.”

Renee Rapp, 25

Oops, she forgot her jacket. (No lesbian minds.)

Chappell Roan, 27

We already know she gets the job DONE. And bonus points for having millenial superstar Brandi in a suit next to you, too.

Molly Gordon, 29

So, no jacket and too much obvious Annie Hall. But I’ve gotta assume this was a tribute to Diane, not Woody.

Ayo Edebiri, 29

While the neckwear poses some logistic challenges, it still looks fly as hell (cause, it’s a feather…I’ll see myself out…)

Music Monday: Keep on Giving

Look, I know this is only the lyrics video to Chappell Roan’s new single “The Giver.” But can we talk for a minute about the meteoric rise of this out and proud pop (and now country…) star? So, yes, an unrestrained malignant narcissist with a rapidly deteriorating brain is dismantling every public good in our nation and trying to erase particularly trans and other gender nonconforming people off the face of the planet. But you can’t put the joyful, inclusive chaos of queer identity back into the closet – try as they might. I particularly love how much Chappell’s label has hyped the new single, placing billboards all over and even in the Midwest Princess’s home state of Missouri. Anyway, the world is on fire and America can’t stop shooting itself in the foot. But at least we’ve got a song on the radio about lesbian topping with a beat that you can dance to. Happy another Monday in America, kittens.

Music Monday: Chappell & Elton Edition

Elton John joins Chappell Roan on stage to perform Pink Pony Club at his AIDS Foundation Oscars After Party
by inFauxmoi

Let’s start this Monday with a little (or in this case, a lot of) queer joy because fucking hell do we deserve it. A week ago Chappell Roan and Elton John performed together at his famed Oscars afterparty and I would give anything to live in this rainbow-filled bubble of happiness forever. A queer elder icon and future queer icon meeting at the intersection of Gay and Gayer? And how sweet was it of her to run over and grab his fallen pink cowboy hat? Yeah, shit is bad right now. Unvarnished hate is flowing from our federal government. But we will survive this, as we have survived everything else. We have always been here, and we’re not going any-fucking-where. Ever. Except, maybe to the Pink Pony Club for a little fun every now and then. Happy Monday, my beautiful LGBTQ+ kittens.

GGALGG: Oscars Edition

So the thing about this year’s Oscars is they were very, very, veryveryveryvery straight this year. I mean, sure, Ariana Grande opened with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” and then Cynthia Erivo followed with “Home” from “The Whiz” and they both finished with “Defying Gravity.” Ari even had a freaking ruby slipper attached to her back. Which, I mean, sure – that’s a pretty fucking gay way to start things off. But instead of staying gay, the rest of the show was pure “Kansas Rainbow” (this is a deep “Somebody Somewhere” cut – which if you recognize it let’s be real gay together).

But after that? None of the higher-profile queer nominees won (not Cynthia, not Brandi Carlile and Elton John, not Colman Domingo and definitely not Karla Sofía Gascón). The highlights for LGBTQ+ folks was out costume designer Paul Tazewell taking home the trophy for “Wicked” – making him the first Black man to win – and Queen Latifah singing “Ease On Down The Road” (was “The Whiz” the telecast’s true winner?) with Glad trash bags tied to her shoulders.

And can we talk for a moment about how neither of the two “Emilia Perez” winners mentioning the trans community even once in their acceptance speeches? Hello??? If you’re wondering why this movie wasn’t embraced by the LGBTQ+ community, uh, that’s why. When you use us as a plot device without any real intention of representing the greater community, it shows. That and it was a bad movie, period.

Honestly, there wasn’t much SGALGG to speak of from the red carpet either. Like hardly any fun shots of straight actresses trying to Sabrina Carpenter themselves with other straight actresses, so clearly queer sensibilities had a bad night. Also, can we talk about how 25-year-old Mikey Madison pulling a surprise upset for Best Actress over 62-year-old Demi Moore is the perfect postscript to “The Substance,” because yeah.

Even if the awards were very cis and very straight, I’m here to bring the GGALGG because that’s my whole and entire mission statement. Granted, most of the Queer Lady Rainbow Mafia only showed up for the after parties – which is just another sign of our good taste. Ahem.

Cynthia Erivo & Lena Waithe

Had to find a sneaky picture of Cynthia & Lena at the Oscars because they did not pose on the red carpet together and posted individual shots of themselves at the Oscars on their respective Instas. Which, hey, I get keeping your personal lives private. But it’s the Oscars, ladies. Not even one official shot together at the Gay Superbowl?

Marissa Bode & Lauren Brooks

The “Wicked” star brought her girlfriend with her throughout the movie’s award show run and happily posed together on the red carpet so I’m not saying she wins Girlfriend of the Year but she’s definitely not losing Girlfriend of the Year for lack of effort.

Brandi Carlile & Catherine Shepherd Carlile

I love them, I don’t love their abundance of bows. Like was Brandi’s suit inspired by Minnie Mouse, what is happening? Are bows the new carabiners? Explain, universe. Explain.

Queen Latifah & Eboni Nichols

Did a Catholic middle school dance chaperone get to them and say they needed to leave space for the Holy Ghost or what?

Niecy Nash-Betts & Jackie Betts

Thank Sappho for Niecy and Jackie, a queer couple that always looks great together and will give us the Gay Superbowl photos we deserve.

Oprah & Whoopi Goldberg

Fine, while neither is truly family, I think we can all just agree they look like the most stylish couple at Senior Prom Night at their high-end 55+ community.

Laverne Cox & Hari Nef

More trans representation in one photo than the entire production of “Emilia Perez.” Enough said.

Sarah Paulson & Hannah Einbinder

It’s like spare body parts from The Substance and a fashion-forward Dalek from Doctor Who showed up as each other’s dates.

Chappell Roan & Elton John

We have reached Maximum Gay. Any more Gay and we may risk Nuclear Rainbow Overload.

Melanie Lynskey & Jason Ritter

The only straight couple I will include because after seeing Melanie in this Jessica Rabbit getup, every lesbian has reaffirmed her spot on their “Celebrity I So Would” lists. And Jason is just adorable, even though he will fight every single last one of us for lusting after his wife.

Renee Rapp

Speaking of Jessica Rabbit, I’m glad to see Renee embracing her inner – or should I say outer – Jessica as well.

Clea DuVall

Again, this is exactly how I would show up at award shows were I ever to be invited to award shows – or in this case, award show after parties.

Katy M. O’Brian

I love that these are actually pants. Oh you didn’t notice the pants because of the muscles? Yeah, you’re gay.

The Gay Grammys, Again

Well, in case you missed last Sunday’s Grammy awards show, I can summarize it for you simply. The gals and the gays, particularly the gay gals, stole the show – again. I don’t know what it means to have two good Grammy shows in consecutive years (I mean, who would be surprised by an apocalypse at this point, honestly?) Last year we had Tracy Chapman and Brandi Carlile and boygenius (and Joni Mitchell, for the straights). This year we have Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish and Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monae and Lady Gaga and Doechii and St. Vincent and Brittany Howard and Queen Latifah – am I missing any queer ladies, ladies? (Don’t worry, the straights had Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX and Raye and Shakira, if you’re into that sort of thing.)

And it was the women – gay and straight – who not only stole the show with their performances, but also with their show of solidarity against all the horrors of our current political/societal hellscape. Like Chappell speaking out to shame record companies into paying its developing artists a liveable wage and health insurance. Or Doechii speaking out to support Black women and dark-skinned Black women in particular. Or Shakira speaking out to send her solidarity to all the immigrants. Or Lady Gaga speaking out to say trans and queer people deserve love and support. Or Alicia Keyes speaking out to praise the power and beauty of diversity and inclusion.

Also special props to Janelle for speaking out to drag Nelly for performing at that Orange Turd’s inauguration at the Grammys afterparties. Ladies and gentlemen and every other gender identity which absolutely exists, this is exactly the energy we expect from our most celebrated artists right now.

Janelle Monae calls out Nelly during the GRAMMYs after-party for performing at Trump’s inauguration:

“F**k you Nelly, you sold out. I used to think you were cool, but now you look like a motherf**king fool.” pic.twitter.com/GQxnGVy7n9

— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 3, 2025

It’s a refreshing change from the Golden Globes, which was relatively free of high-profile political statements. Granted, that was 15 days before the horrors of Orange Turd’s 2.0 administration began. But, shit, if we didn’t all know this was coming – at least if we were paying attention.

Anyway, I wish I could share some of these performances but in one of those truly genius corporate titan moves, you can only find the concert videos on the Grammys websites and not even all of them either. Now if the Grammys would just stop having Trevor Noah host, because I find the way he roams through the audience making celebrity smalltalk extremely cringe – as the young folks say. Also treating the return of The Weeknd to the Grammys like the second-coming of Martin Luther King Jr? Even more cringe. See, this is why you leave hosting, and everything else, to the gays gals from now on, Grammys.

Music Monday: Christmas Chappell

I think one of the better storylines of 2024 has been the meteoric rise of Chappell Roan. Yes, there have been a few bumps along the way, but somehow they’ve mostly just made her that much more relatable. From relatively niche indie newcomer to bona fide mainstream superstar, she appears to be the very definition of overnight – well in this case over year (first post last March, MARCH!) — success. But, of course, there is no such thing.

Yes, sometimes amazing people seemingly get noticed by everyone all at once. But Chappell has been working, grinding, performing for years – and usually far less glamorous locales than international music festivals in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans. That she found her audience, even with such an unabashedly gay agenda and aesthetic, is a testament to her talents. It is also a testament to personal growth, because here she is is six years ago playing in the KOLR10 and Fox49 studios in Springfield, Missouri. Six years later, and she has six Grammy nominations. Happy Monday, kittens.

Mental Health Vacation Vixen: Bite Me

I meant to post this around Halloween. But then I didn’t and then the mood passed. But you know what? Become ungovernable. Bite whoever you want whenever you want – with consent, unless of course they are breaching your consent in the first place. Fuck it. Bite them.

Vacation Vixen: Joni’s Gay Mafia

Like, can you imagine the combined queer energy in that room? Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Chappell Roan and Lucy Dacus? Gay Mafia, indeed.

Music Monday: Good Luck, Straight Babes

Straight gals sure love “Good Luck, Babe!” don’t they? Like I love Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert fangirling over Chappell Roan’s CompHet anthem. Because while these very straight ladies are probably relating to this song because of their respective divorces and other heterosexual relationship whatnots, this song is so clearly about the regret this woman feels about her choice to marry a man instead of, you know, Chappell Roan. But, then, that’s the power of art. When people are able to empathize with an experience that isn’t their own experience – well, gosh, that’s how we, as a society, become just a little better, kinder and more inclusive? So keep singing this song, straight ladies. We totally know the feeling. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Melissa Met Chappell

The mash-up you didn't know you needed @ChappellRoan 🫶🎸#RedWineSupernova

🎥: Lary Chinowsky on Youtube pic.twitter.com/Ku8vYy3UQN

— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) August 29, 2024

Holy cross-generational lesbian fandoms uniting, Batman! Or, I should probably say, Batwoman (or Batgirl, again with the cross-generational). I wish I had better video of Melissa Etheridge starting out “I Want to Come Over” with Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova.” But the precious few seconds we have are enough to make me want to clip my carabiner keychain to my belt loop, grab my Carhartt jacket, jump in my Subaru and, well, come over. Happy Monday, kittens.

Statue of Lesbianism

Has anyone, anyone, made more of a magnificent Pride this year than Chappell Roan? Like to see her career take off this year, this month, this moment has been truly astonishing. And, of course, well deserved. Like, JoJo said Gay Pop was coming – she maybe just didn’t realize it was in the form of the Chappell Roan at summer music festival juggernaut. I’ve watched as her crowds have gone from hundreds to thousands to hundreds of thousands. As the whirlwind of Chappell’s pop ascendency roars on, I’ve also seen clips of her being painfully honest about the effect it has all had on her. We’ve all seen the video of her busking “Pink Pony Club” on her little red synthesizer. To 150,000 at Gov Ball? Yeah, that’s got to be disorienting. But, also, just invigorating. Like remember when Lady Gaga first performed live on Logo? LOGO! It’s like we’ve all got a full contact high from discovery, and are just happy to watch a star coming into her own. May Chappell have a long, interesting and exciting career. All hail the Statue of Lesbianism. Long may she reign.

Pride Vacation Vixen: Chappell Roan

@chappellroan

ur dream girl’s dream girl

♬ original sound - chappell roan

Can I just say how much I love watching Chappell Roan revel in the queer joy of performing in front of bigger and even more joyous and bigger and even more joyous crowds. I’ve followed her tour vicariously through the magic of TikTok’s algorithm. I just love everything about her, from her queer girlie pop to searingly intimate ballads to her homage to drag look. I mean, even Google is on the Chappell wagon. Go ahead, Google “Chappell Roan.” You’re damn right she’s your favorite artist’s favorite artist. May we all carry that swagger with us this Monday and all through Pride. Go get ‘em, dreamgirls.

You Ain't Nothing But a (Lesbian) Horndog

Since we’re talking about queer music this week already, can we talk for a moment about how horny gay pop has become? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Quite the contrary. But between Chappell Roan, Renee Rapp and now Billie Eilish things have gotten truly explicit. Again, not that there’s anything wrong with that. We become accustomed to plenty of songs about love and longing and even lust over the years. But the horniness now? Well, it’s on another level. And good for them. Really, and truly, being Horny on Main has been the domain of straight stars for too long. So whether it’s Chappell saying she wants to “get freaky, get kinky…make this bed get squeaky” or Renee with all the pretty girls with their “hand between my thighs” or Billie saying “I could eat that girl for lunch” we’re living through unprecedentedly horny times for us gay gals. But, lest we forget, we’ve always been horny. We’ve just never had the starpower we’re experiencing now. So, on this Hump Day, please appreciate the foremother of horny lesbian pop stars, Melissa Ferrick. Like, I love Chappell and Renee and Billie et al. But you gotta tip your cap to the power “Drive” still has 24 damn years later. All night, baby.

p.s. Melissa is hilarious when performing this live, FYI. And, well, humor is hot. So, uh. Look, we’re all a little horny here today. So own it.

Music Monday: Back to the Chappell

Hey, I told you I was really into Chappell Roan right now. And, for good reason. Singing about your new lady crush? Using book art by Jenifer Prince? Getting hot for a MAGICIAN? Yeah, so gay. And we haven't even mentioned her two weekends worth of Coachella Excellence. Chappell’s music seems custom made for the exuberance of spring. Or, at least what I hope will be an exuberant spring for all. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Chappell Roan

OK, well now I definitely love Chappell Roan. The singer of the lesbian situationship anthem “Casual” performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series recently and was, quite simply, a delight. From her all-female backing band to her high-camp look, she was wonderfully charismatic in the way few stars are today. She was a little weird, a little out there and all magnificent. She reminds me, in spirit, of Cyndi Lauper – and not just because of the bright red hair/wig. While their voices are clearly different, she radiates the same unconventional punk rock balladeer energy of a girl who just wants to have fun (but can also break your heart with that voice). Also like Cyndi she is unapologetically pro-female sexuality. In her case, of course, that’s queer female sexuality. Plus, she donates to NPR! What a time to be a queer lady music fan – from Brandi Carlile to boygenius to Janelle Monae to Renee Rapp to Hayley Kiyoko to Rina Sawayama and now the delicious camp/glorious joy of Chappel Roan. Happy Monday, kittens.