It is still Gay Pride Month, and there are Pride Celebrations happening all over. So when I heard Reasons Be would be putting out a new song and music video, I thought it might have to wait. But once it came out, and I had a chance to watch it, I had a change of heart. It seems Scotty Dickert and R.E.L. are most definitely straight allies, and their video for "Say Goodnight" fights perfectly with this week. Scotty & R.E.L. show their support for the LGBT Community and Marriage Equality in the video for "Say Goodnight". It features the duo looking handsome and lending a spiritual hand to a very lucky couple. Enjoy Reasons Be in the music video for their latest single, "Say Goodnight".
Yet another tasty Pop treat from the duo, who seem to be churning out great music together. From the 'Hands Up' EP to this new single, I can tell you they have me hungering for more. To learn more about Reasons Be, visit their official website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, or 'like' them on Facebook. You can purchase the "Say Goodnight" single on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.
Clockwise: Declan Bennett, Tom Goss, David Raleigh, and Christopher Dallman.
With two big decisions coming from the Supreme Court of the United States concerning the love of gay Americans, first striking down the bigoted Defense of Marriage Act, and then refusing to hear the case about California's Prop 8, which allowed the lower court's decision to throw out the amendment to the California State constitution which stipulated that marriage was only between one man and one woman. The decisions make way for gay marriages recognized as legal in a state must be recognized by the Federal government. The latter decision opened the door for California to be the 12th state in the United States to legalize the committed relationships of loving adults no matter their sexual orientation. And that leads me to the first song of the post, written and performed by the very handsome Declan Bennett. Declan is currently lighting up the Londonstage with his starring role in the West End musical 'Once'. In 2011, the British-born singer/songwriter released an impressive collection of songs on the album 'Record:Breakup'. One of those songs is the beautiful "Love Wins". The song, a hopeful look at a world where love does indeed win, grabs my attention every time I hear it. So please enjoy Declan, the first of four out and proud gay singer/songwriters, as he sings "Love Wins".
You can purchase Declan Bennett's 'Record: Breakup' from iTunes and Amazon. Next up I offer you an artist who is most definitely close to love. Tom Goss often jokes during his live shows about how much of his songbook is devoted to the topic, and from more than one angle. It seems his own marriage to Mike is a real source of inspiration. I had plenty of material from which to choose, and I decided to go with the song that never fails to charm me, no matter how many times I hear it. "Till The End" first appeared on Tom's 2009 release, 'Back To Love'. I hope you enjoy this version I taped at a recent live show, with a freind joining Tom for the song. Please enjoy watching Tom Goss sings "Till The End" with Matt Alber.
You can purchase Tom Goss' 'Back To Love' from iTunes and Amazon. Next up, I have another artist who is happily married. Christopher Dallman is an artist I have long loved to listen to, his music just captivating. Chris is married to Josh, and they seem to be very happy. Josh even co-starred with Christopher in his stunning music video "Over My Head", featured on his first album. But I will treat you to another song, seemingly inspired by his relationship. "Anthem" is a wonderful song, and Chris delivers it perfectly on the single.
You can purchase Christopher Dallman's 'Anthem' single from iTunes and Amazon. And, finally, I offer you a wonderful song from a singer/songwriter who splits his time between New York City and Australia, the lucky devil. "I Do" was the first single off his beautiful album, 'Beginning Again'. It is filled with love and joy, and I just can't help from falling in love every time I see or hear it! So here is the official music video for David Raleigh's "I Do".
You can purchase David Raleigh's 'Beginning Again' from iTunes and Amazon. And celebrate our great nation inching closer to equality all the time!
New albums featuring fresh material from Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Cheyenne Jackson, and Buffalo Tales is now available online for your listening pleasure. I have been long awaiting for all of them to be released, so this is an exciting time, indeed. While I will have reviews of all four coming soon, I thought I would give the everyone the information to preview or buy them for yourself. So below, you will find links to listen and purchase the albums, and I would strongly advise you to do so for all four. From what I have hear so far, both Levi and Eric are producing their best music to date, while Cheyenne makes an impressive solo debut. And Aussie Buffalo Tales offers up some gorgeous guitar-driven music that makes me very happy.
Levi Kreis released 'Imagine Paradise', and it is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.
Eric Himan has released his 10th solo studio album when 'Gracefully' became available on iTunes and should be on Amazon soon!
Cheyenne Jackson shows the Broadway star is also a gifted singer/songwriter with the release of his solo debut 'I'm Blue, Skies', available on iTunes and Amazon.
Australia's Buffalo Tales, which features the talents of Wes Carr, releases their first full album with the beautiful 'Roadtrip Confessions' available on iTunes and Amazon.
Dean Martin and Judy Holliday perform "Just In Time" in a scene from the 1960 film 'Bells Are Ringing', directed by the great Vincente Minnelli. Holliday was reviving the role she played on Broadway in 1956, where she earned the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. She plays an answering service operator who breaks the rules, and gets involved in the lives of her clients, causing delightful fun! The Broadway musical was co-staged and co-choreographed by the amazing team of Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse, but the movie listed Charles O'Curran as choreographer. I think I see some Fosse in the numbers still, even if he doesn't get any credit. The show had music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Betty Comdem and Adolph Green, and several of the songs became part of the Great American Songbook. One of those songs is "Just In Time", sung here by Judy and Dean.
Clockwise: Maxine Sullivan, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford and Dinah Shore.
I decided I wanted to hear some of the music of Irving Berlin tonight, and thought his love songs would be fun. Berlin is best known for his rousing uptempo songs, and his patriotic numbers. But he was no stranger to the ballad, having written some beautiful ones for Broadway and Hollywood musicals. The first song I have on the list is the beautiful "Blue Skies", written in 1926, a last-minute 'fix' for the Rodgers and Hart musical, 'Betsy'. While the show didn't survive, the song definitely did. The song went from a song in a Broadway flop to a great addition to the Great American Songbook, with some great versions sung by many artists. I decided to go with a version by Maxine Sullivan, a wonderful singer who paved the way for the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan. Many considered her the greatest Jazz singer of the 1930s. Here is her version of "Blue Skies", recorded in 1937.
The next song was written as a duet, and comes from a Broadway show that was also a hit movie musical. "You're Just In Love" was written in 1950, and first performed by Ethel Merman and Russell Nype in 'Call Me Madam' on Broadway. Rosemary Clooney and Guy Mitchell recorded the song at the end of 1950, and it became a Top 40 hit. Berlin wrote the song with a charming counterpoint style, with the two parts of the song seemingly at different tempos, yet they blend together beautifully.
"You Keep Coming Back Like A Song" was written by Berlin for the 1946 film 'Blue Skies', and was introduced by Bing Crosby. Like much of Berlin's music, the song went on to be recorded by many, so I had plenty from which to choose. I decided to go with Dinah Shore's lovely version, released in 1946. In the recording, Shore has such lovely tone and control, so please enjoy Dinah singing "You Keep Coming Back Like A Song".
The next song was from the 1949 Broadway production of 'Miss Liberty', a musical written about the wonderful gift from the French, the Statue of Liberty. "(Just One Way To Say) I Love You" is the song that closed the first act, and it is a beautiful one. So lovely, it caught the eye of the talented Jo Stafford, who released it in 1949. The song was a hit, making it to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Of course, Stafford was a popular singer, being the first woman to have a #1 song on the UK music charts. So please enjoy Jo as she sings "(Just One Way To Say) I Love You".
"Hot Fun In The Summertime" was a big hit for Sly & the Family Stone in 1969, making it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Released on the heels of their Woodstock appearance, which gave the band a greater profile than before, and could have helped propel the song up the charts. The band was no stranger to hits, having already scored #1 with "Everyday People", as well as a Top 10 with "Dance To The Music". It was released on the bands 'Greatest Hits' album, one of three new songs on the collection. The band came out of San Fransisco a multicultural group, made up of men and women, and different races represented. They were making soulful music with a psychedelic edge, befitting any band out of the city known for the musical movement. Here is the band singing "Hot Fun In The Summertime" live on television.
You can find the 'Greatest Hits' album on iTunes and Amazon. Their next single, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", would return them to #1 on the charts. That was another of the new songs found on the 'Greatest Hits' album.
Tonight I have brought you a feature that I truly love, no matter how many times I've seen it. I have the DVD, and if I notice it on television, it is impossible for me to not watch it. 'Mambo Italiano' was written and directed by Émile Gaudreault, a talented Canadian. The story features the son of Italian immigrants, as he struggles to find the best way to come out to his "old world" parents. The film features Luke Kirby as the handsome and acerbic son of Paul Sorvino and Ginette Reno. First he comes to terms with his relationship to long-time friend, played by Peter Miller, before he really learns to take care of himself. The movie runs for about 90 minutes, so get the popcorn and drinks ready, so you can truly enjoy 'Mambo Italiano'.
You can find the DVD on Amazon, so you can watch it on your big screen television! The film also has a great soundtrack, although currently, I couldn't find it available for purchase. Have a great weekend!
