Leave it to gay men to rediscover Yoko Ono and properly elevate her to the diva status she has long deserved. Remixes of Ono's legendary 1981 single 'Walking On Thin Ice' ( Twisted America/Mind Train ) by Pet Shop Boys, Danny Tenaglia and Peter Rauhofer, to name a few heat the song up to its boiling point. Other remixes of Ono tracks such as 'Open Your Box,' 'Kiss Kiss Kiss' ( by Superchumbo ) and 'Yang Yang' ( by Rauhofer and Orange Factory ) preceded the 'Thin Ice' mixes and are allowing the seventy year old trendsetter a chance to be heard my a new generation. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Ono and here is what she had to say.
Gregg Shapiro: More than 20 years ago, when 'Walking On Thin Ice' was first released, it already had the makings of a dance club hit. How does it feel to you to have the song being given a second chance such as this?
Yoko Ono: It's great. I was not expecting it. I was totally enthralled. It's so contemporary, the remix.
GS: Absolutely. Although, listening to the original version again, it sounds like if you put it on in a club right now, it would sound just as good.
YO: It's a good one ( laughs ) .
GS: With the new remixes, including those by Pet Shop Boys and Danny Tenaglia, you are reaching an entirely new audience.
YO: I know. It's incredible.
GS: What does that mean to you?
YO: I am so lucky, let's put it that way.
GS: Because the remixes are geared to a club-going crowd, you will be reaching a large segment of gay listeners.
YO: Yeah!
GS: Does that have any special meaning to you?
YO: Yes, in a way because I think we connect in a strange kind of way. We do. I'm an outsider, I was always an outsider and they feel close to me. We have the kind of outsider's wisdom kind of thing ( laughs ) .
GS: Who initiated the remix project?
YO: Well, Orange Factory came to me.
GS: Were you immediately receptive to the idea of the remix project or did you need to be persuaded to allow it to take place?
YO: I didn't know what was going on. I said, 'Okay. If they want to do it, do it.' At the time I was making my album called Blueprint For A Sunrise, so I was just deep into that. So, it was like a sideline. In my peripheral vision, I saw that somebody was wanting to do something, that's all. In the midst of making my Blueprint For A Sunrise, the track came to me, and they said, 'This is something you should listen to.' So, I sort of listened to it automatically. I didn't know what to say. It seemed like a revolution.
GS: So, it was thrilling for you to hear those new remixes?
YO: Wow! It was something else.
GS: I always liked your song 'Hell In Paradise.' It would seem to be ripe for the picking for this project. Are there plans for a remix of that song?
YO: I think we did ( a ) 'Hell In Paradise' dance version 12-inch record at the time ( it was released ) . But, I think it could be done again, it would be great. I'm not saying, 'I have this song, do you want to do it?' kind of thing. They'll come to me like, 'Could we do this one?' or something. I'm just going with the flow.
GS: In October of 2002, you were on a panel with Cyndi Lauper and Gloria Gaynor at the Billboard Dance Music Summit. How does it feel, at this point in your career, to be considered a 'disco diva'?
YO: That's a nice title ( laughs ) . ( For ) a person who never had any title, oh, that's a good one. I'll take it.
GS: You've been paid tribute in songs by artists such as Dar Williams ( 'I Won't Be Your Yoko Ono' ) and Barenaked Ladies ( 'Be My Yoko Ono' ) , as on the tribute disc Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him. How does it feel to be the kind of person who inspires such tributes?
YO: I don't know ( laughs ) . I think it's fun, it's great. I'm very happy that they're doing it and I think they're just doing it kind of tongue in cheek. Usually, it's kind of in a sitcom style ( laughs ) . I like that.
This interview also airs on Windy City Radio Sunday, May 18, 11-midnight, WCKG, 105.9 FM.
