Guys, I’m in love. Like serious, dreamy, sepia-toned love. I don’t think I’ve been this into a song – or a performer – after the first listen in a long, long, long time. But here I am, head over heels for King Princess. First of all, her name is King Princess which is amazing. And second her debut song off her new album “1950” is amazing, amazing. And third she and the song are queer as fuck. But don’t take my word for it, fall in love yourself.
See, I also hate it when dudes try to chase me. I listened to it about half a dozen times in a row when I first found it last week. And strangely I have Harry Styles, of all people to thank. The Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter is the first artist signed to Mark Ronson’s new label. Do you think King Princess knows his sister Samantha? Yeah, I think she knows her.
King Princess herself is so new I couldn’t even find her on Wikipedia late last week. But on her Twitter page she shared her taste in women, and that has me swooning all over again.
Deborah and Ava crawled so Christine Baranski and King Princess could soar! I mean, not really, for either of them. But wasn’t it fun when we thought maybe it could be? Last week there was a brief shining moment when it seemed maybe the 73-year-old actress and the 26-year-old singer were an item. I mean, how else should we have interpreted the Instagram hard launch with the hashtag #loveislove?
Anyway, turns out the “Nine Perfect Strangers” co-stars are just intergenerational BFFs. Who hold hands! And wear cute suits together! Duh! Stop being weird about it! Or get much, much weirder. Your call.
Now, you know I love Kacey Musgraves (hello, she’s touring with King PrincessANDMUNA! Did I buy tickets immediately? YES I DID.), and you know the world loves a good breakup album. (Like, isn’t that Olivia Rodrigo’s like whole deal – teen breakup angst/anger?) Anyway, Kacey has said her new alum “Star-Crossed” was inspired by her divorce. And its first single “Simple Times” is not only a fun bop, it’s video is a fun mini revenge movie. Part “Clueless,” part “Kill Bill,” part less lethal “Jawbreakers,” the movie has Kacey and a trio of friends arm themselves with medieval weaponry and chainmail masks. Her high-impact friends include “Haunting of Bly Manor” star Victoria Pedretti (Dani a.k.a. The Gay Au Pair), rapper Princess Nokia and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Symone – plus there’s a cameo by their supplier/comedian Megan Stalter. All in all, a good time was had by all except those who work in the Bridal Industrial Complex. I mean, who doesn’t like watching shit get smashed? Happy Monday, kittens.
Yeah, so immma let you watch this, then let’s come back and talk. I’ll wait. Please, press play and let the music and weirdness wash over you.
So, yeah, it took me a full minute to realize something was amiss and that was in fact a Real Doll. How wonderfully weird. Look, I am all aboard the King Princess train, as you know. But this super strange video with her romancing a sex doll is, well, kind of hilarious. And I think I love it. I mean, that is certainly one way to kickstart the week leading up to my Pride Weekend.
I am going to request that no one chews gum while reading this post. For soon-to-be obvious reasons, I don’t want to be held liable for any choking hazard you may experience. Consider yourself, uh, warned.
Now I’ve marveled on Ye Olde Blow often about how it’s so unendingly cool that young people today have so many out queer artists to look up to, follow and generally fangirl over. Sure, we had the Girls and k.d and Melissa. But, gosh, can you even name them all in one breath nowadays? Janelle. Hayley. Phoebe. Kehlani. Carrie. St. Vincent. MUNA. girl in red. King Princess. I mean, come on — those are just off the top of my head.
So now into that mix comes Zolita, who I’d never heard of before but now am acutely aware of because — holy shit, have you seen her music videos? They’re...sexy. Like extremely, very, intensely traditionally sexy. Like t.A.T.u. sexy, but there is just one of them and she’s actually queer.
Per The Internet Zolita is a 27-year-old U.S. singer-songwriter who released her first independently produced full-length album last December. She’s been performing since 2015, and in 2017 came out in an essay for Out magazine. Her music has been described as dark pop and she’s discussed her interest in witchcraft as well. So, yes, we’re talking witchy queer dark pop here which sounds very, very gay.
Her newest video is for “Somebody I F*cked One” and in the tradition of all the best queer music videos these days its a mini movie. In this case it’s like “But I’m a Cheerleader” crossed with “Ghost” (but only in the corporeal throwing pottery sense, not the weird ghost sex sense - despite her witchy inclinations). Anyway, I should just shut up and let you watch it.
I know right? And, honestly, it’s a fun bop.
So, obviously I checked out her other videos and well, reader, they are no less va-va-va-voomy. Like, I am glad I work form home now because I felt like I was watching naughty Skin-a-Max After Dark with her “Bedspell” video. Hello. Also NSFW.
See, now that gum warning doesn’t seem so crazy. Now, rest assured, after some exhaustive research/falling down a Zolita rabbit hole I can confirm that not all her music videos are just an excuse to cast some hot lady to make out with on camera. Like here’s “Fight Like a Girl.”
Fine, she still seems to be a fan of that complicated strappy lingerie style.
Right, so I felt it was my duty as a proud member of the Lesbian Blogging Community to bring this news to you. Do with it what you will. But, uh, there’s a reason I posted it on Hump Day. Ahem.
Full confession, as much as the VMAs keep making me feel like An Old, indie music also keeps showing my age. Before their release of “Silk Chiffon” earlier this month, I’d never heard of MUNA. Like, sure, I knew some of the other big millennia/Gen Z queer names — your Phoebe Bridgers, your girl in red. But MUNA? That’s a full “sorry to this man”-for me.
But, now that I’ve watched their wonderful video for “Silk Chiffon” (featuring the above-mentioned Phoebe not to be confused with Waller-Bridge), I feel confident in saying I’ll never forget them.To put it simply, it’s a queer girl love song. And the video is a hommage to none other than “But I’m a Cheerleader,” one of the seminal 90s indie lesbian classics.
Now, we all know “But I’m a Cheerleader.” Natasha Lyonne! Clea DuVall! Melanie Lynskey! Cathy Moriarty! Ru-FREAKING-Paul! The film holds up as a cult classic, not to mention continuing tale about acceptance and the futility of trying to pray or simulate the gay away.
You may not know MUNA, but you will now. The trio is made up of musicians Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson who met while in college at the University of Southern California about eight years ago. Four years ago they released their first full-length album, “About U,” on major label RCA followed by another album, “Saves the World,” two years later.
But this spring they signed with Bridgers label Saddest Factory, and now they’ve released the glorious single “Silk Chiffon,” and its accompanying video. Have I watched it a ton once discovering it? You betcha. Do I wish openly lesbian/queer songs like this existed when I was A Young? You betcha as well.
All three bandmates identify as queer — which, duh — and Naomi identifies as non-binary as well. They’ve toured with Bridgers and next year they’ll go on the road with Kacey Musgraves and King Princess which, hello, looking at tickets for that IMMEDIATELY.
So, sit back and enjoy. If you’ve already heard of MUNA and love them and yadda yadda, enjoy feeling righteously smug. And if you haven’t, well let the experience of another quality queer group wash over you like the soft, pleated fabric of a cheerleader’s skirt. I’m a homosexual, you betcha. Happy Monday, kittens.
Archery is hot. I mean, if the Girl on Fire does it, you know it’s got to be hot. But “The Hunger Games” is not the first nor more than likely the last film to bring us female heroines brandishing bows and arrows. Plenty of cinematic and real-life heroines have taken aim with one of mankind’s oldest weapons. And I’ll tell you a little secret about myself, I loved archery growing up. I didn’t do it a lot because I lived in town and my parents had this thing about not accidentally shooting the neighbors and all. But I went to a summer camp a few years in a row and my absolute favorite activity was archery. Something about drawing back that string and feeling the bow flex mixed power, grace and physics in an intoxicating way. I also liked the crisp thump sounds the arrow made as it hit its hay target. So here are a few other ladyies of the longbow to take their place beside Katniss Everdeen.
Keira KnightleyShe picked up a bow as Guinevere in “King Arthur.” I’m not sure how a bare midriff helped her aim, but everyone has her own method I suppose.
Natalie PortmanJust to keep the “Is it Natalie or Keira” confusion going, she did her own movie as bow-and-arrow wielding warrior in “Your Highness.”
Lena HeadeyI’m thinking up a zany crossover movie where Lena’s flower girl Luce from “Imagine Me & You” and huntress Angelika from “The Brothers Grimm” go on a road trip and to rescue fairy tale characters and kiss pretty girls. Fine, admittedly I haven’t thought it through very much.
Anna PopplewellI really loved the “Chronicles of Narnia” growing up, but it wasn’t exactly brimming with strong female heroines. Thank heavens for Susan Pevensie and her trusty bow and arrow.
Jessica Biel“Blade Trinity” was not a good movie. But it did introduce us to Jessica Biel’s magnificent shoulder muscles. And for that the universe will forever be grateful.
Jennifer Garner“Elektra” was not a good movie either. And not even seeing Jennifer prance around in a crime-fighting wardrobe made by Victoria’s Secret could make me thank the universe for it.
Jennifer LawrenceJennifer trained with a four-time Olympian and arching champion for her role in “The Hunger Games.” But I don’t think that’s why all the showings I wanted to go to were sold out this weekend.
Stana KaticDid you know besides speaking like half a dozen languages she also enjoys flamenco, falconry and a little archery on the side? Don’t worry, PETA, I don’t think she practices her archery and falconry at the same time.
Geena DavisGeena is another real-live archer, who even tried out for the 2000 Olympics team. She didn’t make the team, but that’s OK because she already has some gold hardware named Oscar at home.
Lucy LiuI have no idea why she’s using a bow and arrow while wearing this jaunty little outfit, but I entirely approve.
Christina HendricksLikewise, I have no idea why Christina is posing seductively in a spiked leather jacket with a bow and arrows. But, again, not complaining.
Princess MeridaI dork out so hard when I think about this movie, you guys. I am so ready to be “Brave.”
Today, something important ends for millions and millions of people across the globe. Something that has been with them for 14 years. For some, it’s been their entire childhood. For others, it’s a reminder that the joy and wonder of childhood applies at any age. But today, that ends. Except, of course, it doesn’t. The true magic of the Harry Potter series isn’t really in the wizardry. Sure, it’d be mighty handy to be able to accio our keys when running late for work. But, no, the real magic is that this story and these characters have meant to people. For a children’s series it has defied almost everything that is traditionally meant when something is considered “childish.” To quote Stephen King: “Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.”
That the Harry Potter series has been able to build itself around bravery, honestly, loyalty and strength is no small feat. This isn’t a romance where the handsome prince saves the beautiful princess. This isn’t a superhero story or based on a toy line or a built off of an amusement park ride. Sure there is a hero, but he is only super because of his friends. And those friends include so many richly drawn, non-stereotypical female characters that you could never truly call this a boy’s story. Just try to think of a better popular current role model for young girls than Hermione Granger. Damn near impossible it is. So now to see these characters lives played out on screen for the last time, well, that’s something quite extraordinary. And while I am not the person who dressed in costume to get the books or stood in line in dead of the night to see the films, I still feel the loss of saying goodbye to these old friends. But the beauty of even this goodbye is that these stories will never truly leave us. With each new generation, each new reader, each new fan, the magic starts all over again. And the boy who lived lives on forever. Happy weekend, all.
