LGBTQ news and entertainment
The satirical music video for “All I Want” from the new album “+/-” (pronounced ‘polarity’) by German-Iraqi DJ and producer Boys Noize is smart, a bit profound, and definitely of the moment. Continue reading “Music Video: ‘All I Want’ Harnesses Opposites With Ironic Results”
Country superstar Miranda Lambert throws down her totally fun music video for the Telemitry remix of her summer anthem ,”Tequila Does.” Along the way, she gets a little help from her hunky hubby, Brendan McLoughlin. Continue reading “Miranda Lambert & Hunky Hubby Get Us Over Hump Day ‘Tequila Does’”
As we hope to head back out to clubs this summer, the official music video for the smash remix of “Rasputin” by Majestic and Boney M serves up an invigorating dose of nighttime debauchery. The original disco confection by Boney M was released in 1978 but has enjoyed a resurgence thanks to the remix with Majestic and a TikTok dance challenge that has gone viral. Shot at the Soho nightclub The Box, the video features a star-studded cast including Ru Paul’s Drag Race finalist Bimini Bon Boulash, Pete from grime duo Pete & Bas and an array of the venue’s entertainers. The track has already racked up over 154 million global Spotify streams to date and is charting on Spotify in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Australia, Ireland and more. Stream/download “Rasputin” here.
John Duff and Baby (photo: David Laffe)
Baby Duff steps up and steps out doing all of her own stunts (thanks to dog trainer Kirstin McMillan). Photographer Davide Laffe captured the poised pooch from all her best angles. And animator Sqott pulls the whole thing together with awesome video skills. “I didn’t want the video to be too sexy,” says Duff. “She’s so young.” Will Baby save Planet Earth? Hit the play button to find out. You can find my previous coverage of John Duff and his music here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMlgxpVjBCi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
(screen capture from ‘911’)
On Instagram, Gaga told her followers about the video, “This short film is very personal to me, my experience with mental health and the way reality and dreams can interconnect to form heroes within us and all around us.” “Finally, thank you little monsters. I’m awake now, I can see you, I can feel you, thank you for believing in me when I was very afraid,” she wrote in closing. “Something that was once my real-life everyday is now a film, a true story that is now the past and not the present. It’s the poetry of pain.”
DIIMOND in ‘Bad Attitude’
Starring DIIMOND and actor Emrhys Cooper, and set in the hard-partying Hollywood nightclub scene, “The Truth About Fairy Tales” tells the true story of a struggling music artist (DIIMOND), whose life becomes intoxicatingly glamorous upon meeting his Prince Charming manager/producer, Damion (Cooper).
But living the romantic show biz dream soon becomes a living hell. Pretty boy Damion is exposed as the Ike to DIIMOND’s Tina Turner. Imprisoned, abused, and at the mercy of Damion’s drug-fueled rage and self-hatred, a shaken and terrified DIIMOND takes his revenge.
The storyline is apparently based on a bleak period in the life of the award-winning recording artist and former American Idol (Season 4) and America’s Got Talent (Season 6) contestant. You might recognize Cooper from his award-winning short film, Trophy Boy, which I covered here. Check out “Bad Attitude” below, then click here for more information about the musical miniseries.
Sean Patrick Murray in ‘Bad Gay’
Lyrics: Nice shirt and pants is that Jcrew I know just what you want to do Stay in, postmate cookies but you can’t seem to stay awake Barry’s Bootcamp at 6 am Too bad I hit the snooze again V Shape, Six Pack just won’t happen Hold please, my Samsung broke So you’re a fun gay Stay out way past one gay Never having kids gay Friends with Antoni gay Well Im the bad type Best friends with your mom type Never been to Spotlight Hate to stand at bars type I’m a bad gay DUH I like it when you take my whole family nosebleeds, Hollywood Bowl Lyft Pool to save just 3 bucks home You’re my gay Romeo Don’t want to join your dodgeball team Too much high school PTSD Won’t wear a jockstrap and jersey (Unless you’re Gus Kenworthy) So you’re a fun gay Stay out way past one gay Never having kids gay Friends with Antoni gay Well I’m the bad type Best friends with your mom type Never been to Spotlight Hate to stand at bars type I’m a bad gay DUH I’ll never call you Dad I know that you get mad when we’re alone You said you’re scared of me? I mean, I don’t see what you see, But let’s get just your mom on the phone I’m a bad gay I’m a bad gay
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| Members of Sink The Pink perform to “Walk Me Home” by P!nk |
The indomitable P!nk chose the track “Walk Me Home” as the lead single for her new album, Hurts 2B Human, which dropped last week.
She initially released a music video for the single that featured her twirling through deserted nighttime streets with a chorus of dancing shadows.
But on Monday, the 39-year-old Grammy Award winner made it clear she wasn’t done exploring the song’s storytelling potential.
In a completely different take, P!nk collaborated with queer collective Sink The Pink from the UK on a lip-sync competition-themed video.
On their official website, Sink The Pink describes themselves as “ a collective of queens, club kids, pop superstars, creative juggernauts, flamboyant dancers and acclaimed designers.”
At the beginning of the new video, one drag queen walks out onstage to lip sync the song “Walk Me Home” for a pair of judges in a night club.
But before she can finish, she’s interrupted by another member of the collective.
As each of five queens takes to the stage – all wearing red dresses, blond wigs and red boots – they keep upping the stakes for the biggest and best performance they can deliver.
P!nk took to Twitter to share the video announcing, “This is the BEST lip sync battle I’ve ever seen – feast your eyes!”
This is the BEST lip sync battle I’ve ever seen 🙌🏼 feast your eyes! ‘Walk Me Home’ by @SinkThePinkLDN ❤️ Check it out! https://t.co/X623FttG5y— P!nk (@Pink) April 29, 2019
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| Parker Matthews in ‘Running From Me’ |
Out singer/songwriter Parker Matthews debuts his latest single and music video, “Running From Me.”
I’ve been listening (and watching) the talented musician since he proved he’s definitely no “Hit and Run” last May, and he’s had me “Feelin’ Right” ever since.
In each release, Matthews consistently brings top-shelf production, pop-synth goodness and a hooky chorus with smooth vocal delivery.
Music writers agree:
“An infectious slice of pop music” – Music Is My Radar
“Pop music just might have found its next star in Parker Matthews” – The Musical Hype
“Matthews’ confidence in his sexuality glows onscreen” – Pop Dust
I chatted with the handsome singer about “Running From Me,” the power of confidence and the importance of vibe in a recording session.
The Randy Report: After bouncy upbeat bops like “Hit and Run” and the liquid-sexy “Feelin’ Right,” your new single “Running From Me” is a dance floor banger. Do you plan on switching it up or is just this how the music comes?
Parker Matthews: I think I’ve grown a lot as an artist and had a great time exploring the different sides of who I am, and what I want to write.
This record was a very defining one for me, not only because it’s the first of some amazing new material I have on the way, but also because I wanted to instill a sense on confidence in the listener.
I wrote this record based off a personal story of mine, but I want the listener to realize that they hold the power and the confidence to do whatever they want because with that mentality, nobody’s gonna be running from them.
TRR: You dance in the new music video – is this the first time fans see you bust a move other than some party bouncing in “Hit and Run?”
PM: It was so great! I grew up dancing, and to be able to be on camera doing that was absolutely thrilling. My team and I brought in some incredible dance talent and I will definitely be bringing that vibe onto future records/ videos as well.
TRR: Your lyrics tend to express confidence in yourself. Are you as confident in real life?
PM: You know, it’s interesting… When I’m being the artist side of me as ‘Parker Matthews’ on a shoot or on stage, I am super outgoing and confident. However, when I’m just with my friends, or out for the night, I’m pretty quiet and always kinda stay in the background.
TR: At this point, do you have a “process” in writing/recording? Or is every project approached differently?
PM: Every record has a general outline of being written and recorded the same way, but at the same time, it’s always a little different. A lot of the time, when writing, I’ll start with the chorus, and build from there.
However, for “Running From Me,” I actually started with the very first line of the record, ‘You make me feel like everybody’s watching me…’ and I sat down and went from there.
When it comes to recording, I am all about the VIBE. Depending on what studio I’m in, I make sure all the candles are lit and we’re going in on that session. Having a good vibe during a recording session really translates to the record, in my opinion.
TRR: Who are you listening to today? Who’s at the top of your playlist?
PM: I’m listening to a little bit of everything right now. If the record speaks to me, I’ll get down with it for sure.
I love pop and dance music, but I also love a good power ballad, much like the record I have coming next (hint hint, wink wink). Thank you and the LGBTQ community for you amazing support!
You can follow Parker Matthews on Instagram here, Facebook here and check out his official website here.
“Running From Me“ is now available on iTunes and all digital download sites.
And you can check out my podcast interview with Parker by clicking the play button below.
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| Rilan takes aim at ‘over the top’ Hollywood with his music video “Love Or Drugs” |
Recording artist Rilan skewers Hollywood with his satirical music video take on the city of angels, “Love Or Drugs.”
Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rilan knew he wasn’t like the other kids as he spent his time acting, singing, dancing and listening to 70s glam rock and 80s synth pop artists like David Bowie, Prince and Boy George.
When the time came to begin his journey as an adult, Rilan chose to head to Los Angeles and pursue music rather than spend years studying in college.
Rilan thought he would find in the city of angels a community of artists looking to express their authentic selves.
It turns out that wasn’t what the young artist experienced in Hollywood.
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| (from the music video “Love Or Drugs”) |
“Everyone pretends they’re flawless, famous, and filthy rich when in reality they’re broke, broken, and bitter, constantly looking for anything that will make them feel better,” Rilan laments. “Most of the time, that’s sex or drugs.”
Not one to mince words, the 24-year-old calls it like he sees it.
“Everyone I’ve dated in LA has been a user,” says Rilan. “A user of people, money, substances or all three. They are who ‘Love Or Drugs’ is about.”
“‘Love Or Drugs’ is a satire,” he explains. “It’s everything I’ve seen while going out and trying to fit in in the Los Angeles music scene. It’s everything that people do but don’t talk about. It’s ridiculous, it’s over the top, it’s bullshit, and that’s exactly what Hollywood is.”
The former GLEE cast member (he spent 2015 as a ‘Dalton Academy Warbler’) says the only way he knows how to deal with the fakery is to make fun of it.
Calling the new song “a big F U to pop culture,” the young artist says he rejects what popular music has come to represent nowadays, “Money, sex, drugs, and superficiality.”
Proud of having “never been normal,” Rilan dedicates the new song to “all of the weird kids who showed up to the party and left early because it really wasn’t cool after all.”
Fans think the singer/dancer is pretty cool, though. His debut music video, “Chemical,” has garnered over 2.2 million views on YouTube.
Check out “Love or Drugs” below.