Tag: out musicians

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Never-Before Heard Recording By Freddie Mercury “Time”

After four decades, a previously unreleased version of the song "Time," recorded by Freddie Mercury for the concept album of the stage musical of the same name, has been released by songwriter & producer Dave Clark.
Freddie Mercury

After four decades, a previously unreleased version of the song “Time,” recorded by Freddie Mercury for the concept album of the stage musical of the same name, has been released by songwriter & producer Dave Clark.

According to USA Today, Clark had asked the Queen frontman to record the track for a concept album for the sci-fi rock musical.

Due to the success of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s pre-production albums for Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, the practice of asking popular recording artists to cover songs from an upcoming stage musical became a popular marketing tool for new shows.

The concept album for Time featured big name artists of the day including Mercury, Julian Lennon, Murray Head, Dionne Warwick, Leo Sayer, and Ashford & Simpson.

I actually saw the musical in London’s West End in 1987.

As I recall the story was about a rock star (originally UK pop star Cliff Richard, later replaced by David Cassidy) and his band mates being transported across the universe where they had to defend planet Earth from destruction before a galactic tribunal featuring a projected floating head (a recorded Laurence Olivier).

Relying greatly on massive sets and special effects, the show ran for two years.

Mercury’s recording of “Time” featured bombastic orchestrations and what sounds like a choir of backup singers. But before the session with Mercury was done, Clark asked the rock star to record a bare-bones, piano accompaniment version of the song.

Clark tells USA Today that hearing Mercury sing the stripped-down version in London’s Abbey Road  studios gave him “goosebumps.”

“It (became) a mega-production, which I was happy with and Freddie loved,” says Clark. “But I didn’t think about what we had originally done until a decade or so later, when I thought, ‘I’ve never felt that sort of goosebumps feeling that I got on that original run-through at Abbey Road with just Freddie and piano.'”

After finding the original recording in the spring of 2018, Clark asked the original session pianist, Mike Moran, to record an updated piano accompaniment to pair with the song.

The music video above was created using video footage shot at London’s Dominion Theatre in 1986.

The acoustic version is a compelling showcase for Mercury’s iconic vocals. And lyrics like “Time waits for no one” seem to resonate even more when considering Mercury’s early passing in 1991.

In this 1986 interview, Clark and Mercury discuss the evolution of the recording:

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News Round-Up: June 19, 2019

Chippendales ‘take a Tebow’
Some news items you might have missed: • That time the men of Chippendales (above) “took a Tebow” during a photo shoot. I think I know who did it better 🙂 • A new Hill/YouGov poll shows only 24% of Americans approve of the Trump administration’s handling of LGBTQ rights. • In 1989, with no real knowledge of the case, Donald Trump took out a full page ad calling for the execution of the five men accused in the ‘Central Park Jogger’ case where a woman was raped and assaulted. The five men were convicted and sent to prison only to be exonerated by DNA evidence. White House reporter April Ryan asked the Trumpster if he ever felt like apologizing for demonizing the black men. The answer was predictable.

• A new study by Pew Research shows bisexual adults are less likely to come out to important people in their lives than gays or lesbians. • In the middle of Pride month, the U.S. Senate confirmed another anti-LGBTI Trump judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, to a lifetime appointment to the federal bench in the Northern District of Texas with a 52-46 vote. • In a 243-183 vote, the Democratic-controlled House passed an amendment to the $1 trillion Defense spending bill that prohibits Donald Trump’s transgender military ban from being funded. • Check out the new music video from Lucy & La Mer, “Blue Dress,” about discovering one’s bisexuality and the “lightbulb” crush that begins bisexual exploration. I liked the quirky, folky, fun aesthetic. “I wrote the song right after a first date — last year, actually — just reflecting on that initial lightbulb experience about being curious and attracted to another gender than you thought you were,” Lucy told Billboard. “I wanted it to be something that was positive and energetic, not so serious or tortured or anything like that.”

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Pride Music: Ty Herndon “That Kind Of Night”

In November of 2016, hunky country singer Ty Herndon released his album House on Fire marking his first album release since coming out as a gay man in 2014. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Herndon said, “This album was a new education for me for my future, investing in my life as a songwriter and a producer and getting outside of my comfort zone. And lord knows I got outside of my comfort zone when I came out, but I came outside of my comfort zone to move into a life of pure authenticity. That was most important to me.” The “What Mattered Most” singer’s first music video from the new album was the musical romp, “That Kind of Night.” Check it out below.

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Pride Music: Tom Goss “Son Of A Preacher Man”

Back in 2016, out singer/songwriter took a look at the Dusty Springfield classic, “Son of a Preacher Man,” as part of his ‘Music Videos That Tell Our Stories’ series.

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s interesting to see how out artists find our stories in classic songs.

In exploring the tune, Tom found a new, deeply personal context for the 1968 hit.

Tom explains:

“Ultimately, we wanted to show two boys falling in love. We worked hard to show young love authentically, as innocent and pure as it truly is. When two gay kids fall in love, it’s often unknown by the participants themselves. They are in love, they know they want to be around each other, and they know they are attracted to each other, but they don’t know how to put a label on it. All the messaging tells the kids that homosexuality is wrong, and is something to be hated, so they don’t perceive that label to apply to themselves. That’s what happens in this story.

“These two boys fall in love and they don’t really know it until they kiss. That moment of realization also happens to be the preacher’s moment of realization. His suspicions are confirmed, his son is gay, and the fallout is swift.

“We show the turmoil that families have as a result of this judgmental Christian messaging and how it goes beyond the church, following them home and into all aspects of their life. Coming to the realization of who you are and who you love in the context of that hate speech can be so demoralizing, to the point that you could consider taking your own life.”

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News Round-Up: June 12, 2019

• My family came from then-Czechoslovakia, but clearly I didn't swim in the same gene pool as Czech InstaHunk Petr Hollesch (above). #dang #eyes #body
(Petr Hollesch)

Some news items you might have missed:

• My family came from then-Czechoslovakia, but clearly I didn’t swim in the same gene pool as Czech InstaHunk Petr Hollesch (above). #dang #eyes #body

• Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin shares with The Guardian that being gay “liberated” him from “all sorts of shit,” and “sped up the process of wisdom.” He also reveals he is estranged from his Trump-supporting brother.

• Researchers at the University of New Mexico are testing a vaccine they believe could prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

• Ecuador’s high court has legalized same-sex marriage for the South American country.

• Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) slammed the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service members at a Department of Defense Pride event today calling the policy “heartless as it is dangerous.”

• Christian hate preachers are planning an anti-LGBTQ conference in Orlando, Florida, during the city’s Pride celebration.

• Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris says she would pursue obstruction of justice charges against Donald Trump if she were elected.

• Sultry out singer/songwriter Gia Woods dropped her latest single, “Feel It,” recently and even as I type this I’m bouncing in my chair.

Sexy, seductive vocals slink over an irresistible electro-pop mid-tempo groove. “You can dance to it, but it’s not aggressive.,” says Woods. “It’s sensual and fun — just like the beginning of a heavy crush.”

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Pride Music: Trey Pearson “Love Is Love”

Out singer/songwriter Trey Pearson dedicated his 2017 music video, “Love Is Love,” to LGBTQ safe spaces.

Pearson made international headlines in 2016 when he came out after years as the lead singer of Christian rock band, Everyday Sunday.

From The Advocate:

“‘Love Is Love’ has become a mantra in the LGBTQ community that stands up for the right to love and be loved, fully. This love song, and this album, represent that freedom for me,” Pearson told The Advocate.

“I wanted the music video to be a tribute to all LGBTQ sacred spaces. Gay bars and queer spaces have been a refuge for me over this last year, and it is where I have been able rebuild my life after losing so much when I came out. I’m overjoyed to be able to make a video about a gay love song that takes pride in these spaces that mean so much for our community.”

Speaking to Billboard, Pearson described the track as “an anthem celebrating the freedom to love each other, without fear, because all you need is love.”

With a solid pop hook, top shelf production and Pearson’s soaring vocals “Love Is Love” is a worthy solo debut effort.

Listen below and check out the album on iTunes here.

Here’s Pearson’s appearance on The View where he discusses coming out:

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Pride Music: Sam Smith Covers Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”

Back in 2014, out recording artist Sam Smith debuted his new cover of the Whitney Houston hit “How Will I Know” while visiting the SiriusXM Studios yesterday.

I love when folks slow a song down and we discover a whole new side to the writer’s work.

Gorgeous idea here.

(h/t JMG)

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Pride Music: ROZES “Call Me”

As we celebrate our strength and resilience of not just surviving but thriving as a community during Pride Month, it’s also important to remember even the strongest among us might need a word of support.

Out singer/songwriter ROZES drops her new single, “Call Me,” a soulful, solo piano anthem with a heartfelt hook.

“Just know that you can call me, and I’ll always be there.”

With over 1 billion-plus streams, she has been praised by folks at Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, Paper Mag and Marie Claire, and clocked appearances on CONAN, Good Morning America and more.

Known for her recent single “Halfway There,” the “Official Anthem of the 2019 Women’s March,” the Philadelphia artist intentionally worked with an all-female team to produce the new track.

(photo credit: Adam Contiello)

The song sounds the alarm in support of mental health, an important topic close to the talented artist, who says “our mental health is not a burden.”

“I think it’s important that we do not underestimate the power of a phone call,” shares ROZES regarding the inspiration of the song. “The courage to reach out can change a life, and maybe it’s your own. It’s honest about mental health and offering hopeful hand to those in the thick of it.”

Sensitive, passionate, and candidly emotional, “Call Me” falls right in the sweet spot for the multi-platinum artist.

An artist worthy of your attention.  If you like Alicia Keyes or Adele, hit the play button below.

I like.

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Pride Music: Mika “Ice Cream”

Out singer/songwriter Mika drops his perfect-for-summer new single, “Ice Cream,” in advance of his upcoming album, My Name Is Michael Holbrook.

The Lebanese-born artist calls the song “a daydream fantasy” that was borne during a sweltering August in Italy. “It shimmers like a mirage, and makes me feel like anything is possible,” adds the 35-year-old singer.

The song came to him near the end of a two-year writing period. After musically exploring some serious, personal issues in his writing, Mika says he felt “lighter and freer” and escape was on his mind.

“I wanted to run away to the sea, or just about anywhere,” says Mika.

Instead, Mika sat down and dreamed about “summer flings” and “the other person I always wish I was during the summer.” But with no air conditioning, Mika mainly recalls the heat, the sweat, work deadlines and bee stings – all of which gets referenced in the bouncy bop’s lyrics.

Mika (photo: Peter Lindbergh)

With a solid bass beat and a hooky, falsetto-filled chorus, “Ice Cream” sounds like the sonic lovechild of 90s George Michael and Prince tunes.

The lyric video is a groovy melange of bold, playful graphics that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Released at the beginning of Pride Month, the timing couldn’t be more perfect as Mika wants his fans to “dare to be the more proud version of yourself.”

“Dare to be a sensual man, dare to express out loud the desires you always keep inside your head,” says the UK-based artist.

Mika first grabbed the spotlight in 2007 when he released his first album, Life in Cartoon Motion. The first single, “Grace Kelly,” went to number one in the UK and eleven other countries, and earned him a Brit Award and a Grammy nomination.

Since then, he’s been certified Gold and Platinum in 32 countries worldwide.

My Name Is Michael Holbrook, Mika’s fifth studio album, drops on October 4. Mika will follow its release with a world tour beginning in London on November 10.

Check out the new track below and let us know what you think in the comments.

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Pride Music: Starley “Love Is Love”

Today’s Pride Music comes from Australian artist Starley, whose deeply personal single “Love is Love” was released in June 2018.

“Love is Love” was the follow-up to Starley’s global smash hit “Call on Me” which went 4x Platinum in Australia, #1 in Sweden and the Top 10 in more than 30 countries.

Along the way, all that fan love added up to more than 1 billion streams globally.

Using an earthy mix of rhythms and a sound that feels authentic and personal, the singer from ‘down under’ finds the center of her music. And in doing so, connects with the singer.

Even the approach to artwork for her music is has to have a true connection.

“The cover for ‘Love is Love’ is not to be about me,” said Starley. “Although, this song is my personal story, it’s a song for everyone, so I felt like a heart was the perfect way to go.”

“I feel like there should be a flag that represents love in all forms – interracial, interfaith, gay, straight, bisexual, trans, and so on,” she adds.

“Until that exists, I’ve chosen to use the colours of the bisexual flag because they relate to my personal journey,” says the Aussie singer regarding the inspiration behind her single artwork.

And while I have your attention, check out Starley’s debut single, “Call On Me” below.