To raise awareness and funds for The Trevor Project, openly gay vocalist Matt Zarley is remaking "We Belong." This cover of the Pat Benatar classic captures an ideal message for LGBT youth. The hooks on this cut still hold up after 25 years. A dreamy, pop-oriented version of "We Belong" and a peak-hour anthem dance remix by DJ Bill Bennett and Pete Masitti are available now for download at all major digital music retailers.
One could say "It's a Miracle" that Boy George is able to rise from his much-publicized legal troubles. The Boy teams with Kinky Roland on his new dance-heavy album, Ordinary Alien. The two previously worked together under the name The Twin. For loyalists, most of the material on Ordinary Alien should be recognizable, even if it appears in a slightly redone fashion here.
"Amazing Grace" and "Turn 2 Dust" recall Boy George's spiritually awakened hits "Generations of Love" and "Bow Down Mister." A cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" is reinterpreted cleverly—so much so, it is almost unidentifiable until the chorus. "Time Machine" has seen many incarnations in the last decade. First, it was a B-side to Amanda Ghost's "Blood on the Line," then was a proper single as a duet between Ghost and O'Dowd. On Ordinary Alien, "Time Machine" is throbbing with electronic beats. This comeback relies more on the rhythms and loops than on Boy George's soulful vocals, but it is still worth a listen.
Next year will see another Culture Club reunion, as new material and tour are planned for the quartet. Let's hope my all-time favorite song "That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)" and a polished reworking of David Bowie's "Starman" will be on the setlist.
Want more of the New Romantic renaissance? Also reforming with its key members is Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, better known as OMD. The British act scored a massive hit with the heavy-hearted love song "If You Leave," which is featured in the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink.
OMD's first new album in 14 years, the electronic-heavy History of Modern finds Andy McCluskey and the band in fine form. "Sometimes" has a diva vocal that would be worthy of a Moby track. Seeing the audience wave its hands in the air and singing along during "If You Want It" is inevitable.
Need a different kind of "Souvenir?" Check out the Aretha Franklin-sampling "Save Me." Also, OMD has a remix collection in the So80s Presents series, featuring alternate version of goodies like "Dreaming," "So in Love" and "(Forever) Live and Die."
In conjunction with History of Modern, OMD will be performing at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, on Saturday, March 12.
Opening for OMD at this sold-out concert is Oh Land. With a feathery voice, striking beauty, catchy choruses and a slick production, Oh Land must be Scandinavian. The Danish one-woman act released the self-titled EP, helmed by the irresistible "Son of a Gun." A full-length follow-up is due out March 15.
Oh Land is nominated for Bands on the Brink Now at Logo's NewNowNext Awards, which is slated to air on Monday, April 11, on Logo.
Going on spring break? Here are two autobiographies that fall in line with this week's '80s theme.
Freak Unique by Pete Burns is such an enjoyable read, although it is only available stateside via import shops and on-line retailers. Here, the face of Dead or Alive proves to be quite outspoken and unapologetic.
In Freak Unique, Burns has an interesting stance on those who throw slurs in his directions. His "spin" is that the hecklers and name-callers feel like he is stealing the spotlight and these folks act up just to receive some attention.
Burns details his work with hit producers Stock Aitken Waterman; his multiple plastic surgeries; and the LGBT umbrella (namely, how he does not neatly fit in any particular category). He assures the reader that he is not going through a gender reassignment.
Dead or Alive issued the retrospective Evolution with wonderful commentary from Burns in the liner notes. This collection features favorites "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," "Brand New Lover," "Sex Drive" and "Lover Come back to Me." Diehards better be familiar with the more obscure pairing with the Pet Shop Boys' "Jack and Jill Party" as well as covers of Blondie's "Picture This," Prince's "Pop Life" and David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel." Burns's AutoTune-heavy collaboration with The Dirty Disco, "Never Marry an Icon," is out now.
In June 2000, I fondly remember watching the phenomenal episode of Behind the Music on VH-1 dedicated to the female rock band The Go-Go's. Last summer, lead singer Belinda Carlisle came out with her autobiography, Lips Unsealed.
Carlisle has a lot to cover. The "Mad About You" singer battled a long cocaine addiction, struggled with her self-worth and her self-image even at the height of her popularity, posed for Playboy and is a proud mother to an openly gay son. But missing in Lips Unsealed is mention of the infamous, intoxicated video filmed with bassist Kathy Valentine and the band's roadies.
Valentine is posting her autobiography in pieces on Twitter per an interview at www.spinner.com .
Last summer the Go-Go's intended to embark on a farewell tour, but it was cancelled due to Jane Wiedlin's hiking injury. Let's hope the reunion will be rescheduled.
