out musicians Archives

October 5, 2015August 20, 2019

Sam Smith’s James Bond Theme “Writing’s On The Wall” Hits #1 In UK

The songs attached to James Bond films always seem to have some kind of musical magic.

I think of those songs as huge hits. And, in truth, many were.

So I’m a bit surprised to hear that Sam Smith’s new track – “Writing’s On The Wall” – for the upcoming James Bond flick Spectre is the first-ever Bond theme to reach #1 the British pop singles chart.

Surprisingly, Adele’s “Skyfall” and Duran Duran’s “A View To A Kill” both topped out at #2 in the UK.

According to JoeMyGod, seven James Bond theme songs have charted in the US top ten:

Duran Duran’s “A View To A Kill” is the only #1. (The only #1???)

Paul McCartney & Wings and Carly Simon both reached #2 with “Live And Let Die” and “Nobody Does It Better,” respectively.

Sheena Easton peaked at #4 with “For Your Eyes Only.”

All landing at #8 were Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger,” Madonna’s “Die Another Day, “and Adele’s “Skyfall.”

September 14, 2015August 20, 2019

Music Video: John Grant “Disappointing” feat. Tracey Thorn

From John Grant’s new album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure set for release October 2nd.

Directed by David Wilson, the video is set in a sweaty gay sauna with Grant surrounded by men and other distractions.

Wilson said this about the concept (via Vice):

“The idea for the promo came very clearly to me. I pitched the idea of John being surrounded by men and objects that would be temptations or distractions from a monogamous relationship.

“This concept then developed into the camera becoming distracted by these temptations, and for John to be steadfast: addressing the viewer, often appearing, as if by magic at the beginning and end of long, flowing camera moves. It’s been fun to treat the camera as an entity in itself: not quite a person, more a point-of-view that continually veers away from John and go down a rabbit hole of a gay sauna.”

Warning – NSFW.

August 24, 2015August 20, 2019

Music: Jeb Havens’ Closet Cover – Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”

One of my favorite indie artists, out singer/songwriter Jeb Havens, shares the latest in his Closet Covers series.

This time we get “invited” to Havenss take on Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited.”

Havens cites Morissette as a huge influence on his own music, and for good reason. This sits right in the sweet spot of Haven’s musical wheel house. Sincere, complex lyrics and melody in a stripped down setting leaving the emotional life bare for the audience.

I’ve shared other music from Havens here and here and here.

Definitely head over to iTunes to check out more of his music. But first, hit the play button below and enjoy.

Happy Monday!

July 31, 2015April 25, 2022

Steve Grand To LGBT Media: Focus On My Music, Not My Shirtless Pics

Steve Grand went on a social media rant that LGBTQ media outlets were covering more of his revealing or shirtless pics (that he posed for) than his music.

Out singer/songwriter Steve Grand, who made a splash with his 2013 music video, “All-American Boy,” took to his Facebook page recently to vent that some LGBTQ media outlets seem cover more of his revealing shirtless or semi-naked pics than they do his music. Continue reading

June 5, 2015August 20, 2019

Matt Zarley Covers “Say Something” (A Great Big World/Christina Aguilera) Featuring Haviland Stillwell

Out singer/songwriter continues his cover song series “UnCOVERED” with this sensitive reading of duet from A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera – “Say Something.”

Zarley joined by the gorgeous Haviland Stillwell.

Find more of Zarley’s music on iTunes here.

May 30, 2015August 20, 2019

New Music: Mika “Good Guys”

Out recording artist Mika drops his newest music video, “Good Guys,” from his fourth studio album No Place In Heaven.

With creative and theatrical staging, Mika expresses his frustrations with the gay community throughout the video – “where have all the gay guys gone?” – while he searches for a “good guy.”

Mika quotes Oscar Wilde’s for his chorus, ‘If we are all in the gutter, it doesn’t change who we are/cause some of us in the gutter are looking up at the stars.’

Later he acknowledges many of the gay icons who came before him including W.H. Auden, James Dean, Jean Cocteau, Wilfred Owen and others.

The single is available now; the full album release date is June 16th.

I’ve previously written about Mika here and here.

May 26, 2015August 20, 2019

Jeb Havens Covers Stevie Nicks’ “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?”

Sexy Jeb Havens continues his “Closer Covers’ series with a sensitive performance of Stevie Nicks’ “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?”

Havens writes, ‘Channeling the incredible Stevie Nicks, trying out her gorgeous song “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?” on the keys/mic setup in my closet.’

Find more of Jeb’s music on iTunes here.

May 17, 2015August 20, 2019

Music: Adam Lambert “Underground”

The second single from Adam Lambert’s upcoming album The Original High.

What begins as a mournful, piano-driven ballad churns into a driving beat of intense desire. After this and first single “Ghost Town,” it looks like the new album is going to have some serious emotional punch.

The album drops June 16th.

May 6, 2015July 3, 2020

Music Video: Bright Light Bright Light & Ana Matronic “Good Luck”

Bright Light Bright Light (Rod Thomas) teams up with former Scissor Sisters vocalist Ana Matronic with this track from the coming Life Is Easy remix album. The duo collaborated earlier this year covering the Pet Shop Boys classic West End Girls in a charity single for NYC’s Hetrick-Martin Institute, which serves at-risk LGBT youth.