Big-voiced Christina Aguilera returns with the electronic-meets-pop Bionic. The title track and "Elastic Love" hint at what this diva has to offer to the electronica genre. Don't worry, the sex-kitten persona Xtina pops up on "Woohoo," an ode to oral love, and the Prince-worthy "Sex for Breakfast." Does anybody else find it funny how she yells "Get naked!" on "Desnudate?" This happens to be the title of a track that alleged former flame Fred Durst did with Methods of Mayhem 10 years ago.
Queer collaborators are recruited here as Linda Perry is back with "Lift Me Up," and Le Tigre and Peaches are on "My Girls." Like Lindsay Wagner's character Jaime Sommers, Aguilera is not completely bionic. She shows her human side on "I Am" and "You Lost Me," two of her pairings with the bisexual Sia. On the stellar "All I Need" the onetime Mouseketeer's delivery mirrors Sia's.
She even does not feel the need to oversing on every track, which is a relief. However, on "Glam," she belts it out in a way that Mariah Carey has not in over 15 years. With Bionic, Aguilera keeps evolving artistically, yet remains light-years ahead of Britney Spears and Beyonce in the race of the pop starlets.
Unfortunately, Aguilera's tour with Leona Lewis has been postponed, but most likely will kick off in 2011. Her film Burlesque co-stars Cher, Stanley Tucci and Kristen Bell, and is due out in November.
The New Broadway Cast Recording of Promises, Promises is out now. The revival stars Chicago native Sean Hayes and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth. Katie Finneran, who was born in the Windy City, won her second Tony for her performance here.
Hal David's lyrics are coupled with Burt Bacharach's tunes, as heard on the evergreen "I'll Never Fall in Love Again." This has been sung by many, including Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Classics "I Say a Little Prayer" and "A House Is Not a Home" are added to the first act of Promises, Promises.
The show received attention when Ramin Setoodeh singled out Hayes and wrote in his review in Newsweek that he felt that openly gay actors cannot portray heterosexual characters convincingly. Several in the acting community came out for the cast's defense. Now, explain why Jennifer Anniston cannot find chemistry in any of her romantic-comedy vehicles.
Before the film From Justin to Kelly, there was Will Young, the winner of the first season of Britain's Pop Idol. The queer crooner finally has released material stateside with the digital set Leave Right Now. The title track topped the charts in the U.K. and served as the farewell song on the recent uninspiring season of American Idol. The eight-track album is chocked full with Young's international hits, like "Friday's Child" and "Changes."
Young guests on "History," the standout on Groove Armada's latest, Black Light. A live performance of "History" from the program Friday Night with Jonathan Ross can be found on YouTube. This white-hot electronic cut is slated to be released as a single next month.
After the turmoil stemming from Proposition 8, Ozomatli steps forth with "Gay Vatos in Love." Here, the straight Californian rockers embrace a live-and-let-live attitude, singing in favor of same-sex marriage and unions. "Vatos" even mentions Angie Zapata, a trans teen who was murdered in Colorado in 2008. Ozomatli is a socially conscious band whose latest, Fire Away, features "Gay Vatos in Love."
Animal lover and environmentalist Sophie B. Hawkins has issued the inspiring single "The Land, the Sea, the Sky" to benefit the organization Waterkeeper Alliance. This group is working throughout the Gulf area in the wake of the devastating BP oil spill. All proceeds will aid Waterkeeper. "The Land, the Sea, the Sky" can be purchased at www.SophieBHawkins.com .
The June festivities continue as Cyndi Lauper will be in town for a concert at The House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, Wed., June 30, to promote her newly released blues album, Memphis Blues.
Try not melting as Allen Toussaint plays the piano on "Shattered Dreams." Lauper duets with Ann Peebles on "Rollin' and Tumblin'" but the fueled guitar licks also deserve special recognition. The beautiful "Romance in the Dark" recalls a number intended for a slow dance at a high school in any given film set in the early 1960s. The True Colors singer remains a dedicated and vocal LGBT ally. She appears in the Give a Damn campaign, supporting GLSEN ( the the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ) .
Jody Watley's rescheduled performance will be at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King, on Friday, June 25. Tickets are still available at amusicexperience.com . Watley's forthcoming album, Chameleon, is due out later this year. Can't wait that long? The Grammy winner sings on Mark de Clive-Lowe's "Tonight's the Night," which surfaced this spring on the house label Strictly Rhythm.
During The 41st Annual Pride Parade, be sure to keep an eye out for the Center on Halsted float. Once again, my brother and I are putting a mix together for this float to capture the lively, colorful and eclectic nature of the parade, participants and spectators.
By the way—in the spirit of togetherness and in response to Mr. Seetoodeh's Newsweek article—here are some gay-straight alliances found in pop music.
1. Andy Bell & Perry Farrell—"Honey, If You Love Him"
2. Boy George & P.M. Dawn—"More Than Likely"
3. Chris Willis & David Guetta—"Love Is Gone"
4. Elton John & Kiki Dee—"True Love" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
5. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé—"Barcelona"
6. George Michael & Mutya Buena—"This Is Not Real Love"
7. Jonsi & Tiesto—"Kaleidoscope"
8. kd lang & Roy Orbison—"Crying"
9. Me'Shell NdegeOcello & John Mellencamp—"Wild Nights"
10. R.E.M. & Patti Smith—"E-bow the Letter"
11. Tegan & Sara & Tiesto—"Feel It in My Bones"
12. Will Young & Groove Armada—"History"
