Gay Music Video Hits #1 On MTV!!!

Uh-mazing.

I just cannot believe how much the world has changed since I graduated from high school in 1996. I lived in fear every day back then, trying to avoid going to school (which I successfully did 35-45 days a year) for fear or being beaten or shamed to death because of my sexuality. Now, we have shows like "Glee" and (the nearly departed) "Ugly Betty," which include openly gay young characters.

But nothing is as reflective of a cultural landscape as popular music and--in particular--music videos.

So it is astounding that a gay-themed music video by a Guyanese-born, Trinidad-raised (i.e., black) artist just hit number one on the MTV music video charts.

Behold, the appropriately titled video, "Love," by Nhojj.



Read more about why this is important at Billboard.com.

And read more about Nhojj on his Web site.

PS22 Students Sing Tori Amos's "Winter's Carol"

Soooo good!

This song is on Tori's new "Midwinter Graces" album, and it's also in her musical, "The Light Princess."

Just For Fun

Tori Amos: "Midwinter Graces'" Previews 'The Light Princess'!

I'm not going to waste your time reviewing Tori Amos's brand-new album, Midwinter Graces, because 1) Others have written excellent and well-researched reviews (see Undented for links to many); 2) I'm obviously biased; and 3) Anyone who is a Tori Amos fan doesn't need a review in order to give any of her new work a chance.

But that doesn't mean I don't have anything to say about it.

First, in my opinion, this is Tori's best album (as a whole) since 2001's Scarlet's Walk. I never stop hoping that she will tap back into the energy that unleased Boys for Pele on the world, because that album's raw emotion and experiemental composition and orchestration is, simply, a beautiful piece of architecture. But Scarlet's Walk, which Tori calls her "sonic novel," is a true masterpiece. Taken in from beginning to end, and taking the months (years?) necessary to parse the human, historic, geographic and spiritual elements that make up the album, it's simply a work of genius. Those who think it is too even-keeled are mostly fans who miss Tori's fire, and those who think it is too esoteric simply are not convinced that it's more than pop music, or aren't interested in music being any more than simple entertainment.

Midwinter Graces is Tori's second "librarian" work. It is the product of what makes Tori Amos unique and it is an example of her high ambitions coming together into a master work. All of her personal culture (minister's daughter, mother's daughter, feminist, expat, mother) and spiritual struggles and inquisitiveness (varieties of Western religious history and spiritual and magical beliefs) are threaded through these songs--but they don't suffer from it.

There is not a bad song or a failed experiement on this album. While some songs are straightforward reinterpretations of Christmas music, most are Amos essays, commentaries on her relentless faith that Christianity and other religious beliefs have strong, even holy, roots, but that they've been eroded by time and human corruption.

But don't worry: If that's something that you hate about Tori Amos (it's the main reason I love her, personally), you won't hear it if you choose not to. Midwinter Graces can be received as a simple gift of lovely holiday music that reaches back into history and forward into the future, and which is based on, above all other things, love, family and peace among men and women. There is nothing profane or even objectionable, unless you object to other people having points of view that are not exactly the same as yours.

The one song that pushes the 'holiday' genre envelope is also the best on the album. And most exciting, Tori reveals in the interview video that comes with the iTunes album download, that song, "Winter's Carol," is actually taken from her musical-in-the-works, The Light Princess.

During the period when I interviewed Tori in February of 2008 for Geek Monthly magazine, she wasn't shy about talking about the musical. Since then, she has said little about the project, although some of her comments have suggested that the project might be experiencing developmental difficulties, and might even be on hold. And let's be honest, Tori works best when following her own muse, not the instruction of stage directors and producers, and to imagine a (likely) piano-driven stage musical interpretation of a Victorian fairy tale about a princess who can't keep from flying except when she's underwater...well, let's just say that's classic Tori ambition.

But after hearing "Winter's Carol," I'm not only excited about the musical; I'm confident that it will live up to its potential, at the very least musically. I will be one of the first in line for tickets. And yes, I will fly to London just to see the play.

This album is a gift. If you haven't bought it yet, here is a preview someone made. (Just a note about this preview: It doesn't do justice to a lot of the songs--including "Winter's Carol"--as they typically undulate from verse to verse to chorus and back...so don't judge based upon 30-second previews!)



Happy Midwinter!

"Bad Romance" Video: Behind the Scenes with Lady Gaga

Do we love the "Bad Romance" video as much as everyone else seems to?

We're not so sure...but we do love Gaga's styling, especially the sea monkey-inspired crowned white outfits (vinyl versions of her gorgeous/grotesque red lace VMA outfit!).



Gaga's globe-trotting stylist, Nicola Formichetti, has really outdone himself--and anyone who has come along in at least ten years.

Between the two of them, they seriously make insanity look fun.

Gaga, Nicola: je veux ton amour et je veux ta revenge, je veux ton amour I DON'T WANNA BE FRIENDS!!!

Best Silly YouTube Vids of 2008

The Washington Post compiled this list for its year-end review. We had only seen a couple of these...most are pretty awesome.

Jeckyll/HydeBaby


Real Life Lazy Susan Using Escalator to Become Turntable


Manic Yap-Dog


Dramatic Lemur


Geckofabulous


Balloon-Killin' Jack Russell


Roomba Rodeo Cat


Drat the Luck! Man Gets Trapped Inside Giant Balloon


Star Wars According to a Three-Year-Old


Hamster on a Piano (Eating Popcorn)

Awesome New Courtney Love Tracks

Everyone loves to gawk and poke at Courtney Love. Whether it's leftover resentment from the Kurt Cobain years, her cosmetic "modifications," or her sudden and drastic weight loss, Courtney demands attention and usually gets it--but it's usually negative.

We say: Get over the Courtney-bashing! Clearly she has struggled publicly from time to time, but if you listen to her music, you'll understand her life from her perspective.

Here's a live performance of a track called "Letter to God," off her upcoming album. As with all of her music, this song is so sincere and honest and raw that it could be an uncomfortable listen the first time around, but trust us, it will grow on you.



Go to Courtney's MySpace page to hear the studio version of this song, along with "Pacific Coast Highway" and "Car Crash"--great, GREAT songs.

Justin Timberlake's New Video

Justin Timberlake just released a new video in which he plays a person by the name of William Rast, which is the name of his clothing label. What do you think of the video? So as not to unduly influence you, our thoughts come after the video...




Get ready for a superbly well thought-out and executive critical analysis--our MFA in creative writing really prepared us for this critical challenge:

THIS VIDEO SUCKS BALLS!!

Why?

1. Is a story being told here?
2. Is there some sort of plot?
3. This has nothing to do with clothes; it's just an attempt to get people to swallow the brand name without anything to back it up. We're spitting, not swallowing! If JT wants to sell us his hoodies and whatnot, he needs to get naked to get our attention.

That's just one schizophrenic critic's opinion.

Yours?

The New Katy Perry Video: Hot N Cold

My, my, Katy, you look sooooooooooooooooooo different with the shorter haircut!



We don't know about you, but we'd sure be surprised if this 'Katy' ever kissed a girl!

Seriously, we love this song, and we totally think Katy should hire this boy for the video.

Seriously!

Sexy Boy Dancing Naked

Happy Saturday!

Angry Chickens Amuse Us

Robyn Vs. Cyndi

In case you haven't heard Robyn's or Cyndi Lauper's excellent new dance-infused albums, we present to you one of each: Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat" and Cyndi's "Into the Nightlife."

Channing Tatum Has Wings

Thoughts on the new GI Joe promo pic??

We prefer him this way:

(Simulated) Gay Surfer Sex!

This is from the new gay-themed movie Shelter, starring Brad Rowe and Tina Holmes. You can buy it here.

World's Hottest Hamburger!

We spotted this hot Hamburger (Germany, that is) on A cause des Garcons, and had to spread the word. OK, no, we had to spread the pictures!

Introducing German gymnast Fabian Leimlehner. He's 20. He's very talented...yadda yadda yadda. We know you just want to look at him, so enjoy!

Besides his face and his body, what's so great about him?

He's bendy!

Favorite New Song: Mariah Carey's "Cruise Control" (Video)

Say what you like about Mariah Carey...diva, bitch, crazy woman. We don't know her. All we know is that she is an ingenious writer of pop song lyrics and melodies.

Our favorite new song is "Cruise Control" on Mariah's new album, E=MC2. Just try to shake off the song's reggae-infused, fun, hooks. This is going to be the song of the summer if Mariah's camp is wise enough to release it.

Since we can't wait for the video, we present you with someone's YouTube tribute, just in case you need convincing.

And hell, while we're at it, we're throwing in "I'm That Chick," a close second for best of the summer even before summer is upon us.

Press PLAY!

Christina Aguilera: "Anal With A Man" Video...!!!

A must see!!