Music Monday: Pretty Pink

So earlier this month Pink guest-hosted Kelly Clarkson’s show, and of course continued her grand tradition of killing it on covers. You all know “Time After Time” is one of my all-time favorites. So naturally how could I resist. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Truest Colors

I missed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions from a couple weekends ago. Yes, yes – I know I can probably stream it somewhere. But why go through all that effort when the algorithm keeps feeding me clips of my favorite inductee (no shade, love you too Salt-N-Pepa) this year, Cyndi Lauper, being, you know, amazing. Even in this bootleg, blurry live recording (I can't find an official full-length one), you can feel her power. Be the light. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Cyndi & Bridget

I was looking for a little joy and also missing my favorite fictional friends from Manhattan, Kansas when I stumbled upon this video of Cyndi Lauper and Bridget Everett performing together in 2017. Now this was before “Somebody Somewhere” was a flicker in anyone’s eyes. But, goodness, if it doesn’t bring the joy. And these days, I’ll take any I can find. Guess that means it’s also time for a full series “Somebody Somewhere” rewatch. As it should be. Happy Monday, kittens.

Mental Health Vixen: 80s Rock

At this point, I won’t lie, I am just posting random photos I find in my archive folders that spark any kind of joy. So here are Cyndi Lauper and Elvira/Cassandra Peterson in the late 1980s. You know, the decade when that orange bastard was mostly just a gossip punchline, not the most powerful fascist on the planet. Sorry, I truly did mean to spark joy. Who knew I would look toward the 80s for that these days.

Music Monday: She Bop Edition

Honestly, getting a song about female masturbation on the radio 40 years ago is such a flex that if Cyndi Lauper ever did anything else with her career that alone would have made her a legend. But, luckily for us, she has done so much more. From being the original Girl Power (ugh, I know the concept got commercialized, but still) pop superstar to then continuing to take a stand for the outcasts and the oddballs and the queer folks even before it was popular in most cases makes her an enduring icon. She has never strayed from that inclusive vision since the very start of her careers. And, again, in 1984 she sang about girls getting themselves off and made it a Top 10 hit. So, as I was saying, legacy secured. Also, if you want to learn a little more about that legacy my I suggest her documentary “Let the Canary Sing” on Paramount+. She’s so unusually good, it’s great to watch. Happy Monday, kittens.

She’s So Unusual(ly Awesome)

My sentimental love for Cyndi Lauper goes back, way back. She was one of my late father’s favorite pop musicians, and we bonded over our love for “Time After Time” and more. Like my dad, she was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New York (not that you could tell from their accents…kidding!) And, like my dad was, she is – what New Yorkers would call – a real character. Not to mention, she’s a well recorded Friend of the Blog (to call her a Friend of Dorothy almost seems redundant, but of course also works).

So, obviously, I couldn’t be more thrilled that she is getting the documentary treatment. I’ve watched a number of documentaries in the past year about great women from “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” about artist Nan Goldin’s Sackler family crusade to recent docs on legends like Frida Kahlo, Julia Child and Sinead O’Connor. I can’t wait for Cyndi to take her place in the pantheon of greatness and get her flowers for being a trailblazer, rule breaker and fighter of the good fight for more than 40 years. She’s so unusually awesome.

My Weekend (Life) Crush

Goodness, that week certainly got away from me. Really the whole month did. Hello, December! That genuinely good thing I was talking about earlier, well, it’s happening and it’s taking up a lot of my time (it’s a new job, which I start later this month while I wrap up my old job where I’ve been for more than two decades — I know, crazypants!) In the interim my postings will be somewhat sporadic, though I will try to fill your stockings with Vixens and other Crushes and actual real-live posts this busy holiday season. For now, please enjoy Cyndi as we all celebrate the season (whatever season you celebrate) together. Happy weekend, kittens.

Music Monday: Cyndi Cyndi Cyndi

Well all this talk of the movie reboot made me hanker for the real thing. In fact I think Cyndi Lauper might be the most weirdly wonderful star to come out of the 1980s. She was never as much concerned about being ultra cool or conventionally sexy, but about having pure unbridled, well, fun. She unapologetically celebrated being a woman who does what she wants (hello, “She Bop”) in this ridiculous world. Also, as you know, we’re practically BFFs. I mean, two personal shout outs? Yeah, two shout outs. Happy Monday, kittens.

p.s. I love how basically every woman’s hairstyle in this video would make an excellent Alternative Lifestyle Haircut in this year of our Lesbian Lord 2023.

My Weekend Crush

While it's not everything we wanted, The Respect for Marriage Act is still vital protection for LGBTQ+ relationships. Our commitments to the people we love are no different than those of our straight counterparts, because that's how love works. And our marriages should be no different either. President Biden's signing of the bill into law this week means married queer people across America will continue to have those marriages recognized even if the far-right SCOTUS does what the far-right SCOTUS is dying to do. We've got so much more work to do. But let's celebrate the wins, because they're all hard-earned. Also, I just can't resist the chance to play a little Cyndi. Happy weekend, all.

Music Monday: Cyndi Edition

Talking about Jodie and Jennifer circa the 1980s got me feeling the decade. I mean, the fashion is back for some ungodly reason. No one needs mom jeans, peple. So why not revel in the best of the genre. Sure, there may have been bigger, slicker superstars to come out of the decade. But, truly, few captured the pop-punky weirdness of the generation better than our gal Cyndi Lauper. So sit back and enjoy the show. Yeah, OK, some of the 80s can come back. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Truest Colors

Some things are just so pretty you want to shut up and listen. This duo of Cyndi Lauper and Kelly Clarkson on “True Colors” is one of those things. Now that’s how you start a week off right.

Golden Gay Girls

Well now, this is good news and a reason to not wish for that Giant Meteor I’ve been rooting for since Nov. 8, 2016 to hit us just yet. It seems Jane Lynch (you know, that Jane Lynch) and Cyndi Lauper (you know, that Cyndi Lauper) are teaming up to create a “Golden Girls”-type comedy for Netflix. And that’s it, that’s what I know.

Fine, I know a little more. The show is being created by writer, comedian and out lesbian lady Carol Leifer, whose previous credits include “SNL,” “Seinfeld” and that short lived “The Ellen Show” that Ellen had after the famous Ellen show and before her famous Ellen talk show. In the late 2000s she also tried to create a lesbian comedy called “You, Me and He” which never made it to the screen.

In Leifer posted on Facebook that:

“It’s official, heading out next with a new half-hour comedy, starring Jane Lynch and Cyndi Lauper. A writer’s dream to work with these two legends. Can’t wait to see where we land…”

Then Jane confirmed their landing spot was Netflix after the Creative Arts Emmys last month:

“I pitched a show to Netflix and they bought it. I don’t know if I can even tell you, but it’s with Cyndi Lauper, so there! We’ll see.”

And then she also revealed that the show will focus on women their actual age (60 to 65) who have never had husbands or children. And there will be two more people cast for this ‘Golden Girls” for today” show. So there you have it. Jane, Cyndi, Carol and what I’m hoping is a whole lot of good Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia energy. This time - given that never had husbands or children comment - I have a sneaking suspicion that at the very least one of those ladies will like the ladies. And not just in a Lebanese way.

Music Monday: True Colors Edition

Just a reminder: Sara Ramirez can really sing. Oh, and Cyndi Lauper could always really sing. Please enjoy this moment of beauty to start your week from Cyndi’s “Friends: Home for the Holidays” show last week which benefited her lovely True Colors Fund, a charity that helps homeless LGBTQ youth. “True Colors” remains one of my all-time favorite songs, a glorious celebration of our differences – the vast, amazing, super weird rainbow of humanity. Don’t be afraid to let them show, kittens.

Girls Just Want Equal Rights

Cyndi Lauper has been a longtime favorite of mine and I’m sure yours. Everyone of a certain age fondly remembers she-bopping along in their rooms to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” And “True Colors” and “Time After Time” give me guaranteed goose bumps every time I hear her sing them anew. Part of what has always made her wonderful is her delightful weirdness and dedicated commitment to LGBT and women’s rights. So imagine my delight when she popped up last week on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” singing that same tune for an updated version of “Girls.” Now there’s a girl who never disappoints.

p.s. Remember when shot a shout-out for Dorothy Surrenders for her True Colors tour?



p.p.s. Twice?

Putting the Awe into Some

They say Tuesday’s Child is full of grace. Well, grace is nice and all. But outside of ballerinas and Audrey Hepburn, I think being full of awesome is a mite more practical. I mean, who doesn’t want to be awesome? Awesome is awesome. OK, now I feel like I’m saying awesome so much that the word is starting to lose its meaning and just become a collection of sounds. Like whenever I say the word “obey,” I drag it out like how I heard this one Southern minister say it at this wedding where the bride and groom still kept the “obey” part of the vows because they mistakenly though this was 1954. Wow. I’ve gotten awesomely off track. I was saying something about being awesome. Oh, I remember. These videos are awesome.

Cyndi Lauper is awesome.

She lifts the mood of some stranded, cranky air travelers in Buenos Aires with the best girl power song ever.

Daniel Craig & Judi Dench are awesome.

Even 007 knows it’s hard out there for a dame. On this International Women’s Day, remember nothing is sexier than equality.

Thumbs-Up Kitty is Awesome.

Also, a little creepy. Like, now what’s to prevent them from taking over the world?

Brittana being on is awesome.

If tonight’s big Brittana moment is even half as awesome as this fanvid, we’re in for a whole lot of awesome tonight.

There, well I hope those helped make your Tuesday a little more awesome. If you’re still looking for grace, you’re on your own.

Reach out and touch...yourself

They say it's impossible to truly love someone else unless you first love yourself. Good thing loving thyself is all the rage lately. Pink's new video “Sober” is a a true masturbatory opus, emphasis on masturbatory. Of course, getting down with your bad self is a lot easier when you have an extra self. OK, so it's a little confusing, but also a lotta hot.

Now, I've always liked Pink, despite her unfortunate decision to name herself after a color (side note: the only two acceptable color names in my book are Violet and Magenta – holla, Rocky Horror!). She is the best kind of rambunctious. She can mix messages into her effervescent pop confections better than most. Sure, I've heard those rumors too. So it's nice to see her tweak them instead of run from them. Plus, it wasn't all just digital trickery. That hand is really on an ass, and it' ain't her own.

So, whose ass is it? Please say hello to 26-year-old Swedish model and Pink doppelganger Petrah. [Hat tip, The Gentleman!]

It's fun trying to tell who is Pink and who is Petrah in the video.

All this good self-loving has me feeling frisky. So, naturally, I sought others of like mind. Some of my favorite, um, Jills who like to, um, off themselves.

“Icicle,” Tori Amos

Who wants a little sex with her religion?

“Oops,” Tweet feat. Missy Elliott

Also, you must hear the Ladytron version?

“All Is Full of Love,” Bjork

Bjork-shaped robots making out? Hell, yeah.

“She Bop,” Cyndi Lauper

The one, the only, the original.

Anyone else need some alone time? Yeah...be right back.

Prideover

Wow, what a weekend. My nose is sunburned. My body aches in muscles I didn’t even know I had. And I think at one point in the night my shoes could have been wrung out to make a cocktail or two. Now that’s what I call a Pride. To round out the two days of debauchery fun I caught Cyndi & Co. at the True Colors Tour, which was fantastic. If you are anywhere near one of the tour’s three remaining shows (that means you Seattle, Vancouver and Denver areas) get thee there. But the best part of Pride, as always, was spending time with wonderful friends and just being so damn gay together. I’m not gonna lie, I still need to rest a bit to get back into full form. So in lieu of tank tops today, please enjoy this musical interlude. Cyndi totally rocked, as did the B-52s (We came late so that’s all we caught. So this video isn’t mine, nor is most of the audio live. But you get a feel for the night’s homotasticness.)

Unless I’m horribly mistaken, I think part of me is actually in this picture somewhere. It’s like Where’s Waldo, but so much gayer.

So, got any of your own pride stories to share from this year? Or is your pride still coming up. Please share, because I’m exhausted. Who else needs a disco nap?

My Weekend Crush

For Pride Weekend I usually like to feature a gay Weekend Crush. But I think this year I’ll make an exception. Because, while she may not be one of us, Cyndi Lauper is totally with us. She has been an ardent and adamant supporter of GLBT rights throughout her career. But it’s more than just that. Cyndi has been a life-long champion for every girl who was ever called “so unusual.” She was different. She was bold. She wrote a song about female masturbation. In short, she fucking rocks.

It was my father, of all people, who actually first noticed her. While lazily watching MTV one afternoon, Cyndi’s video for “Time After Time” came on. I wasn’t really paying attention. I think I was too engrossed in my Tiger Beat and preadolescent crush on Michael J. Fox (What? If you squint he looks kind of like a butch girl). My dad was working in the background and stopped to listen. “Who is that? I like that.” And, after I stopped to listen, so did I.

Now all these years later, it’s been a trip to find myself, in some minuscule way, part of her world. That she would take the time to give my silly little site a shout out (two even!) along with countless others is a testament to her dedication to our cause. This weekend, I’m head out to the True Colors Tour to feel beautiful like a rainbow with Cyndi and friends. There probably won’t be a post on Monday as a result. But, I think it’s a worthy excuse. And I have my dad to thank for all of it. He died four years ago today. I think this crush is really for him. Happy pride and happy weekend, all.

Happy Pride

Happy Pride! OK, fine, I realize I’m 10 days late. But I’m running on Q.S.T. here, so if you look at it that way I’m really right on time. Actually, I might even be early. Regardless, Pride Month is the one time of year where it’s not just OK to be gay, it’s fabulous. As a dedicated misanthrope, you’d think I would shun the crowds and hysteria (not to mention tourists and lookie-loos) who always gather for Pride. But I can’t help it. I love it. And I also love the relentless disco beat that takes over the city that weekend.

In honor of Pride celebrations around the country (and the world), how about some tasty beats? DJ, drop the needle.

Cyndi Lauper – “Into the Nightlife”

Annie – “I Know UR Girlfriend Hate Me”

Kelly/Britney – “Gimme More Shoes”

And, what gay old time would be complete without a little ABBA? Courtesy one of the most cathartic scenes ever put on celluloid:

Muriel & Rhonda – “Waterloo”

Happy Pride, ladies and (discerning) gentlemen. What can I say, it’s good to be gay.

And the winner is...

First, thank you all (all 195 of you!) for entering our little True Colors Tour ticket giveaway. Y’all really wanted to go see a show. If I could, I’d give each and every one of you tickets. But, alas, there can only be one winner. And that winner is … drum roll, please …

MissAkilahC, a.k.a. Akilah Crossdale.

Congratulations Miss Akilah! She will be she-bopping at the June 28 Los Angeles show. So if you see her there, be sure to say hi. And, win or lose, I hope everyone tries to make it out to one of the stops on the tour. Why? Well, a) It’s super gay. And I mean gay in the best, most fantabulous way possible. And, b) It supports us super gays. Which means it raises awareness and funds for GLBT issues and causes. And finally, c) All the fucking great music. Duh. But don’t take my word for it. Take the B-52s word.

Seriously, how awesome is this show? Thanks, again, everyone for entering. And, just in case you were wondering how the drawing worked, I numbered everyone off chronologically via entry and then used a random number generator to pick the winner. You can even watch, if you have 30 seconds to kill, just to prove it was all kosher. This also proves that I’m probably crazy. But that’s another story for another day.