LGBTQ news and entertainment
In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: Boy George has dropped out of the upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar revival in the West End. Plus…
• A memorandum just made public details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s demands of Scouting America in order to continue the Pentagon’s longstanding support. Continue reading “Podcast: Boy George + Scouting America + New Music From The Cowgays”
Some news items I thought worth your time:
• Deadline: Boy George has withdrawn from the West End revival of Jesus Christ Superstar just days before he was set to appear in the role of “King Herod,” apparently as a result of the singer’s recent release of a pro-Israel song that disputes the charge of genocide and calls pro-Palestine supporters “sheep.” The song is no longer available online.
• Kenneth-in-the-212: Check out this week’s round-up of LGBTQ (and adjacent) publications including the latest from Adelante Magazine. Continue reading “Boy George Withdraws From ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ + More”
Boy George and Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy team up for a sweeping orchestral pop single, “Let The Flowers Grow,” featuring a message of hope and tolerance. Continue reading “New Music: Boy George + Peter Murphy ‘Let The Flowers Grow’”
Some news items I thought worth your time: • LGBTQ Nation: Manuel Guerrero Aviña, a gay man from Britain who was jailed in Qatar after being entrapped by the police on Grindr, has finally been permitted to return to the United Kingdom after months of imprisonment in inhumane conditions. Continue reading “Gay Man Entrapped By Qatar Police Finally Released + More News”
Some news items you might have missed: • LGBTQ Nation: A priest was removed from ministry after he was caught taking ‘disturbing’ photos of high school wrestlers. A bystander saw the priest taking zoomed-in photos of the young men in their wrestling tights and contacted authorities. • The Advocate: Culture Club frontman Boy George, who was once a pioneer in unconventional gender expression, was called out for being transphobic after hateful comments regarding respecting people’s pronouns. • NY Daily News: A wacko customer at a Manhattan gay bar mailed a powder-filled envelope with a message reading “It’s called anthrax. Enjoy,” to an employee after he was threatened with a ban from the watering hole, prosecutors charged Monday. Unhinged patron Ameen Keshavjee has allegedly menaced the male employee at Nowhere Bar in the East Village since February. He now faces up to ten years in prison. • Allure Magazine: Emmy Award winner Billy Porter is the first-ever male to grace the cover of Allure Magazine as he stars in their Art of Beauty issue.
Loulou gave birth to 6 puppies today. 4 males and 2 females.She did so well and we are so proud of her.We want to thank you all for your sweet messages and it is so heartwarming that everyone was waiting with us for her puppies. You are all the best, we really appreciate this 😘 pic.twitter.com/jKniaJeeDJ
— loulouminidachshund (@loulouminidachs) January 9, 2020
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| Boy George protege, Jamie Hannah |
Since 2017, Jamie Hannah has been working with Benny D, an award winning producer who has worked with artists including Stormzy and Kylie Minogue, to produce his debut E.P which will be released this year.
Brought into the project by Benny D, Boy George has been consistently impressed with Jamie Hannah’s voice, even going as far as saying that he’s never heard a voice like his.
The first single, “Sound of My Youth,” showcases his unforgettably smooth tone as the lyrics share the story of a past relationship that you just can’t seem to forget about, and the memories that continue to haunt you.
Jamie Hannah’s pure and emotive voice perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia and melancholy of the song while the lyrics document the singer’s feelings of ‘drowning’ and loss in a truly emotional way.
Hannah’s classical training at the Royal College of Music is self-evident on the track demonstrating real complexity and sophistication.
The track begins simply with a collection of dreamy, laidback synths before it’s quickly kicked up a notch by the addition of a weighty and pulsating drum beat and Hannah’s commanding vocals.
The track recently hit Top 5 on Music Week’s Commercial Pop chart.
Check it out below, and find more about Hannah on his Instagram here.
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| Boy George |
During the blind auditions for the Australian edition of The Voice, Boy George inquired if a contestant played guitar.
The young singer replied he can play guitar, but “no one really cares if I play guitar.”
The comment caught BG a bit sideways as moments later, the pop star stormed off the set.
When a producer ran after him, the singer yelled back, “Don’t follow me – I’m annoyed.”
The look on the face of the young singer, who clearly didn’t mean to offend anyone, was painful.
Watch below.
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| Culture Club |
Grammy Award-winning Culture Club has dropped its first new single in nearly 20 years in advance of a new album, Life, due for release October 26. Boy George announced the news via Facebook this morning.
The new track, “Let Somebody Love You,” written by singer Boy George, guitarist Roy Hay, bassist Mikey Craig and drummer Jon Moss, has been popular at the band’s recent live concerts. This is the first time its available as a studio track. The song continues the band’s tradition of embracing a classic reggae-infused sound.
“Love is revolution / War and famine too / If you’ve the hunger in your heart / Let somebody love you”
The last single released by the band was all the way back in 1999 with “Cold Shoulder.”
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| Boy George |
Culture Club had planned to release new music in 2015, but the album was eventually shelved with no explanation.
Known for huge hits in the 1980s like “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon,” Culture Club has racked up sales of over 150 million albums worldwide despite having released only 5 albums.
The band’s frontman, Boy George, gained worldwide attention for his asexual/androgynous appearance coupled with his gift with a quick quip. In addition to a successful solo career, George has also released successful albums as a DJ.
Listen to the new single, “Let Somebody Love You,” below.
Boy George, currently serving as a judge on The Voice Australia, has teamed up with YMCA Australia to reinvent the Village People hit, YMCA,” in an effort to shine a spotlight on issues important to Australian youth like marriage equality, mental health and youth unemployment.
But George did pause, initially, in approaching the iconic disco hit.
Via The Daily Telegraph:
“I thought absolutely not. How could you cover that song?” he said. “The thing about covering songs, you have to get inside the song and see if it works and when I started to listen to the lyrics they were weirdly revealing.”
Now, after recording the song as part of the charity organisation’s new campaign, the 56-year-old loves the new, stripped back version. “I started to think, this is going to really work in my shows.”
I always find the idea of slowing down a classic hit in order to mine “new gold” an interesting premise. As we’ve all seen with other covers, not every song benefits from a thoughtful revisit. I agree with BG here, though. The lyrics do have something new to offer, and he’s found something here.
I like 🙂
Watch the music video below.
@YMCA_Australia ‘It’s fun to stay at the YMCA! https://t.co/4Jrn7ZHCDR— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 19, 2017
We’ve reclaimed our song and @BoyGeorge has reimagined it to introduce the YMCA to a new generation. #WhyNot https://t.co/itETzx4Hag— YMCA Australia (@YMCA_Australia) June 19, 2017
Moving from London to Los Angeles, what’s a Boy to do?
Well, if you’re Boy George, you star in a reality TV show.
BG, his manager Paul Kemsley plan to team with Bunim/Murray Productions for a “doc-series” chronicling the big move across the pond.
“If Marge Simpson met Dolly Parton and went dancing with Ziggy Stardust, it wouldn’t come close to what you’ll see,” Boy George said in announcing the project.
“Why now — why not? Why me — who else?”
Shooting is slated to begin this summer.