Morning Music - Indigo Girls: Closer To Fine

Afternoon Slow Jam: Oleta Adams - "Get Here"

Anyone Remember This?

I was 10 years-old when Meri Wilson's Telephone Man came out - and I remember liking the song and singing along to the lyrics as a kid. But my innocent young self had NO CLUE back then that the song was so naughty!! I can only imagine what it looked like with me running around the house singing "...I got it in bedroom and I got it in the hall ...".

Oy.

Flashback From My College Days - Queen Bee

DustBunnies, you need to see and hear this woman. Tonya Browne was the lead singer (AKA "Queen Bee") of Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet band, a FANTASTIC blues band from State College, PA - the home of Penn State University. While at PSU, I spent many an evening watching them perform in various bars around town (the Phyrst, the Brickhouse, Cafe 210 West and the Skellar). After weeks of seeing their shows, Tonya made my night by coming up to me during one of their breaks and sitting down at my table. I told her I knew every word to every one of her songs, to which she replied with a giggle "I know, I watch you singing while I'm on stage". LOVE HUH.

After graduation, friends and I would travel to see Queen Bee and the band when they did shows in the Harrisburg area. And Tanya would always come over and sit down and drink a beer with us - just like the old days. After I moved to NYC, a bunch of us went to see them at a club in the Village - and it turned out to be one of the most fun nights I've ever had in my life.

But, sadly, that would be the last time I would ever see Tonya Browne. The band broke up in 1999, and two years later Ms Browne died due to complications from diabetes. She was only 36 years old.

Just LISTEN to this woman - she needs to be heard (and remembered). The first video is (visually) pretty dark and crappy - but the second one is really good and shows Tonya at her finest. And yes, I still know every word...

 

Sunday In The Bars With Howard

I had an absolutely lovely Sunday with my dear friend - and award-winning music blogger - Howard. Yes, his visit was the reason I called in DRONK yesterday morning.

Howard told me a couple weeks ago that he was coming to NYC to see  Australian vocalist Nathan Leigh Jones perform at Joe's Pub:

I told Howard that I'd love to accompany him, so we met in the village a few hours before the show to catch up and have a "few cocktails". And by "a few", I mean "MANY".

We started at Baoguette/Pho Sure - a Vietnamese sandwich place that The Minx turned me on to for a quick (and cheap) bite to eat:

Then it was cocktail time. First stop - the legendary Monster:

Next stop - the even more legendary Stonewall:

After many rounds, we decided to stumble walk over to Joe's Pub. Once there, we met one of their lovely bartenders - Kate - who served us many MORE cocktails. We found out that Kate is a musician, and one of the projects she's involved with is an Andrews Sisters tribute act called The Tickled Pinks. OMG - Patty, Maxene and LaVerne - in the flesh!

After chatting with Kate for a while, we enjoyed the absolutely delightful show and then were invited to the after-party (it was Nathan Leigh Jone's 30th birthday) at the nearby Cooper Square Hotel:

The Second Floor Bar was extremely swanky - but I was passing out getting tired, so I went home to Astoria:

Howard stayed at the party for a while, before eventually retreating to his sister's house in New Jersey. And, I'm sure once he's recovered, Howard will recap the show in much more detail on his BLOG.

So who's coming to NYC next??? I promise to get you wasted show you a fun time!

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New DustBunny Blogger - MT

Hello BunnyNation! Please help me welcome the adorable DustBunny MT (pictured above) and his brand new blog MusiconduiT. Go give him A QUICK VISIT, and make sure you leave a comment and don't forget to hit the "Follow" button while you're there. MT is just getting started, so we should give him lots of encouragement.

And THANK YOU, dear MT, for the much-appreciated holiday donation.  XOXOXOXOXO

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Afternoon Erasure Break - "A Little Respect" To Be Re-Recorded

In response to the crisis facing many gay youth, Erasure and The Hetrick-Martin Institute's youth chorus will record an updated version of A Little Respect. A documentary-style video will also be released - and all proceeds will benefit NYC's Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund.

Via Towleroad:

In the wake of the tragic gay bullying incidents and related suicides across the country, Andy Bell (Erasure's lead singer) was motivated to take action. As one of popular music's first openly-gay celebrities Bell felt compelled to get involved. "I am honored and moved beyond words to serve as an Ambassador to the The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Every opportunity we have to spread tolerance and compassion must be seized and I will take special pride in doing so on HMI's behalf."

I cannot wait for this to come out! In the meantime, let's enjoy the original...

 

Afternoon Lipgloss Break - My Lipgloss Be Poppins

Whatchu know 'bout me ... whatchu whatchu know 'bout me??

How Will I Listen To My 'Dead Or Alive' Cassettes?

Sony announced this week that it will no longer manufacture cassette Walkmans. I guess this means I'll have to finally buy those Duran Duran CD's...

Rest in peace, old friend ...

Hey Mr. DJ ...

... put a record on, I wanna dance with my Baby!

Afternoon 80's Flashback - Tempted

Tempted by Squeeze was one of my favorite songs during college - and remains a favorite today ...

John Mellencamp to NOM: Stop Using "Pink Houses" to Promote Hate!

A great story from the good people at Prop 8 Trial Tracker. It seems that the bigots of NOM have been using John (he'll always be 'Cougar' to me) Mellencamp's song, Pink Houses at their sparsely attended rallies. When he learned this not-so-surprising news, Mellencamp (through his publicist) sent NOM the following message (partially reprinted):

I am getting in touch with you on behalf of my client John Mellencamp who has become aware that his music (“Pink Houses”) has been used at events sponsored by your organization. Please be aware that Mr. Mellencamp’s views on same sex marriage and equal rights for people of all sexual orientations are at odds with NOM’s stated agenda.

...

We would encourage you to find music from a source more in harmony with your views than Mr. Mellencamp in the future.

Thank you Mr. Mellencamp for being a stand-up guy.

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Disco Break - Touch Me In The Morning

Touch Me in the Morning - the Marlena Shaw version - is another classic track from the old Saint disco.

Afternoon Pet Shop Boys Break - Go West

Village People song + Pet Shop Boys remake = GAY HEAVEN!!

Afternoon Bassey Break - History Repeating

The first time I heard this Propellerheads/Shirley Bassey collaboration I was sitting in a Burger King (quelle surpise!!), and I remember being instantly enchanted by the retro feel of the music and Dame Shirley Bassey's growling Diva vocals.  BTW, Bassey is 73 years old and still bringing it...

Afternoon Yaz(oo) Break - Only You

This is going to take a long time

And I wonder what's mine

Can't take no more

Wonder if you'll understand

It's just the touch of your hand

Behind a closed door

All I needed was the love you gave

All I needed for another day

And all I ever knew

Only you

Sunday Dance Break - Padlock

Enjoy this Paradise Garage staple from the early 80's - Padlock by the legendary Gwen Guthrie.

Afternoon Music Break - Tainted Love

Singer, songwriter and recording artist Marc Almond turns 53 today - and although he's had a long career, Almond is probably best know for the 1981 Soft Cell hit Tainted Love.  Oh how I LOVED this song back in the 9th grade!!

Afternoon Erasure Break - Blue Savannah

I remember hearing this song for the first time in my friend Dennis' apartment in Philly - and it was like a pink light bulb lit up inside my brain.  Something about this song immediately spoke to me, saying Yep you're a big Fairy and that's OK - stop denying it.  And things haven't been the same since.

Happy 52nd Birthday To Prince Rogers Nelson

Today's Afternoon Music Break is one of my favorite Prince songs - Let's Go Crazy from Purple Rain.

Dearly Beloved - We are gathered here today 2 get through this thing called "Life"...