Tunes for Tuesdays: Queerish Covers

I will state now: this edition of Tunes for Tuesdays is part of an on-going personal project o' mine. And, yes -- I am recruiting the help of readers across the Blogoverse for future editions.

I am hellbent on a specific manifestation of The Cover Song. Now, I know opinions differ when it comes to the nature of cover songs. Some see it as an unoriginal cop-out carried out for profits alone, others see it as a new avenue for creative re-interpretation of an original and respected track. I tend to belong to the latter category (depending on the cover song in question, of course).

But, I digress.

What's the "specific manifestation of The Cover Song" I refer to?

It is none other than the golden, shimmering example of women appropriating the tracks of male musicians while maintaining their original lyrics, thereby rendering the song "Queer." It is a delicious, illuminating creative endeavour I wish more women would experiment with.

Regular readers will recall their first brush with this concept when I explicated (in a wishful, deluded sense) all of KT Tunstall's abundant queer traits and tendencies. You know, despite her well-publicized hetero history. Hey, a girl can dream, am I right? Anyhow, I found three live performances in which Ms. Tunstall covers Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue," Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," and The Knack's "My Sharona" (performed with Keren Ann).

Each performance featured one refreshing quality -- rather than switching to male pronouns to denote the beloved, Ms. Tunstall kept the original female pronouns. In essence, I discovered KT Tunstall's general hotness increased in relation to her appropriation of a queer stage persona, at least for the length of those cover songs.

So, there is a correlation between female musicians and cover songs where female pronouns are maintained. Trust me. Trust the science.

Here for the aural pleasure of Cute, Queer, Canadians readers, I give you,

Covers with a Queer Edge:

The Bird and The Bee, "Sara Smile"

(Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates, 2010)

Original: Hall & Oates, Daryl Hall & John Oates, 1975

"When I feel cold, you warm me/And when I feel I can't go on, you come and hold me/It's you and me forever/Sara Smile/Won't you smile a while for me" -- Mmm hmm. And props to Inara George, the sweetheart of the stage, for whirling through another concert while pregnant. She's a trooper. An insanely talented, driven trooper.

Amy Winehouse, "Valerie"

(Mark Ronson's Version, 2007)

Original: The Zutons, Tired of Hanging Around, 2006)

"Cos since I've come on home/Well my body's been a mess/And I've missed your ginger hair/ And the way you like to dress/Won't you come on over/Stop making a fool out of me/ Why don't you come on over Valerie?" Now, I am rather more partial to her acoustic cover of "Valerie." Click the link, be converted. It was the first time I'd heard Amy Winehouse sing and I was floored. And then, I was even more thrilled to find she added such lesbionic elements to a fantastic track.

PJ Harvey and Björk, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"

(Performed at the 1994 Brit Awards)

Original: The Rolling Stones, 1965

YESYESONEHUNDREDTIMEYES. All the awesome was sucked out from the world and injected into this single performance. PJ Harvey and Björk, FTW. I apologize to all other artists who followed these two because nothing could ever attain this level of sheer magnificence again. Never. Not possible.

Oh, and lyrics: "And I'm tryin' to make some girl/Who tells me baby better come back later next week/'Cause you see I'm on losing streak/I can't get no, oh no no no" The song was also covered by the likes of Diana Ross and The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Cat Power, and Samantha Fox. Though, I have the suspicion these artists might have changed that "girl" to "boy" instead.

Garbage, "Don't Let Me Down"

**Could not find information concerning a single/release**

Original: The Beatles, Let It Be, 1970

Apologies for the rough cut, here. If the sources are correct, this is Edinburgh circa 1999. Serious, though, the information that counts is: Shirley Manson = Unrivaled and Utterly Badass. And yes, capital letters were required to convey that sentiment.

Lyrics: "And from the first time that she really done me/Oh, she done me, she done me good/I guess nobody ever really done me/Oh, she done me, she done me good." Perfection.

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PARALYMPIC UPDATES:

See, now -- this is what happens when I take a few days off from the Internets. I am greeted with a complete and utter deluge of medal updates and the conclusion to the 2010 Paralympic Games. I need to set those books down every once in a while and not neglect the ol' computer so much. *Snickers at the obvious lie therein* Anyhow -- the final list of medal winners are:

• Viviane Forest, Alpine Skiing - Women's Super-G, Visually Impaired (Silver, March 19)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skiing - Women's Super-G, Standing (Gold, March 19)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skiing - Women's Super Combined, Standing (Gold, March 20)
• Karolina Wisniewska, Alpine Skiing - Women's Super Combined, Standing (Bronze, March 20)
• Viviane Forest, Alpine Skiing - Women's Super Combined, Visually Impaired (Silver, March 20)
• Jim Armstrong, Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet, Bruno Yizek, Wheelchair Curling, Mixed (Gold, March 20)
• Brian McKeever, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 1 KM Sprint Classic, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 21)

And so, Team Canada's total medal count at the 2010 Paralympic Games: 19.

In total, Canada brought home 45 MEDALS from the Olympic Games overall. Somehow, I feel "outstanding" is an understatement. I like to think we've shed our usual humble attitudes and proved our athleticism. It's been a great stretch and I'm sad to see it all come to a close.

Meet you back here in two years for the Summer Games for some more eye candy-- I mean, stunning examples of the human spirit to persevere...? Against all odds? Yes?

Perfection In A Pint

Oh, St. Patrick's Day -- I marvel at the crazies you draw out from across the city. The lure of green-tinted beer, potato-based meals, and emerald-clad twenty-somethings is too overwhelming for the questionable quarter of the populace.

(Wow, enough dashes used in that last sentence, huh?)

Now, before I sound all removed from the festivities, I admit -- I was in the centre of the madness. Or, rather, our crew dodged the mad core and discovered our own bit of Irish-themed fun. I was decked out in the vibrant green button-up that tends to draw compliments from friends and strangers alike and had a sweet excursion to Toronto overall.

I wasn't a reveler the whole time, of course. I was downtown for 6 PM on account of a volunteer orientation meeting at the Harbourfront Centre. It's one of the cultural and artistic hubs of Toronto and, well -- I want to get in on that. Local bookworms will know the Centre for its epic International Festival of Authors event in the fall, featuring Canada's finest writers in addition to fantastic authors from around the world. As I said, I want to get in on that. Even if it means clearing plates for Margaret Atwood, I want to get in on that.

Alas, the meeting went far longer than expected. I was set to meet The Advocate for 7 PM and ended up arriving an hour later. Horrific. The meeting was informative and cleared up a number of questions I harboured. And, heck, we even got a tour of the area. Still, I felt like a cad for keeping The Advocate waiting. I know she ~steeped~ herself in three cups worth of tea at her old tea haunt, but I was cad nonetheless.

After we joined forces, we attempted to gain entrance to The James Joyce Pub. Note to Readers: Entrance to an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day is going to be impossible. And expensive. We learned this the hard way.

The Advocate scored a free t-shirt from the pub while we waited in line. Then we discovered it was a Bud Light shirt. *Shudder* I suggested she throw it into a cab window as one drove past, but she found an unsuspecting bicycle basket to "donate" it to. Oh, word.

Quote of the Night: Miz Moffatt: BOOMER! OMG! ..... You're a Cylon.

(I recently got sucked into the world of Battlestar Galactica, so, prepare for future posts as I delve further into it. I give you ample warning.)

We waited in the line for.... one and a half hours? It was an entertaining wait, for sure. I find I have the most fun while waiting for the scheduled fun to occur. Weird. Anyhow, the bouncer was letting all these random people pass through the door who hadn't been waiting in line. Then, as The Advocate and I were about to go in, we discovered there was a cover charge.... OF 10 DOLLARS. WHAT?! Are you for serious, James Joyce Pub? More like... LAMES Joyce Pub. *Smug at her horrible insult*

We ditched that scene.

New Plan: Red Room. (Alas, there's no website to link to.) It was an excellent location with a delicious array of food, all for decent, student-friendly prices. We met up with The Advocate's Boy as he was exiting a streetcar. We had time on our side from that point on, it seemed. (P.S. -- Advocate, if you are reading this, we are in need of a nickname for your gent. I need an Advocate-approved name, methinks).

We scored our green beer at the Red Room -- in actuality, it was beer with blue food colouring added to it. It didn't quite blend with the beer, but heck -- it was green enough. Beer is beer, which means it is good in all forms. The Advocate and I dove into some premium breakfast plates (since beer and breakfast are flawless partners). The Advocate's Boy went global with a Pad Thai dish. Get this: three meals, one pitcher of beer, and two additional pints = $45. Serious, it's awesome pricing there.

We were all quite silly for the night. The Advocate's Boy performed a few of James Joyce's smut-filled letters with a genuine Irish accent. I find it impressive that what was once a disturbing collection of letters is rendered impish once read with an Irish accent. I know, it's a powerful accent. I'm still curious to know Nora Barnacle's responses to this... literature. Ah, lost letters -- the curse of all historians. We brainstormed theatre ideas for these letters, too. Oh, ho, the potential therein.

We headed back earlier this time around (1 AM!) and The Advocate and I meandered through another late-night, tea-induced conversation about whatever we could think of. Those are the greatest conversations, I would argue. People become more honest past midnight and tea tends to loosen those hidden concerns. So, there -- tea confidantes include O'Neill and The Advocate. Soon, all friends I know shall be converted.

So yes, all in all, a splendid night. It was one of those gems we should all strive for. And if green beer is involved, then all the better.

***

PARALYMPIC UPDATE:

Wowwowwow -- Team Canada has doubled the medal count since I last updated this blog. We are up to 12 medals now and the excitement keeps right on building in Vancouver:

• Viviane Forest, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom, Visually Impaired (Bronze, March 16)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom, Standing (Gold, March 17)
• Brian McKeever, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 10KM Classic, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 18)
• Colette Bourgonje, Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 5KM, Sitting (Bronze, March 18)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Downhill, Standing (Gold, March 18)
• Viviane Forest, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Downhill, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 18)

Check it out, Canadian athletes are taking multiple medals at the 2010 Games. And again, I return to the same question: Why are we not seeing coverage of these events? I've gotten updates on medal scores via the local evening news (to a degree) and through the Vancouver 2010 website. But, what about clips, people? We've had stunning performances that should be seen and celebrated, especially considering we've got key athletes owning that elusive medals podium. Methinks some athlete profiles are needed for the ol' blog. More to come!

PostSecret and Homophobia

PostSecret: Discover instant therapeutic release contained in one 3" x 5" card. Frank Warren's art project started out as an Internet phenomenon circa 2005 and later spawned numerous printed volumes and videos. Now, it's become a social movement supported through Warren's endless tours -- and heck, the audience has expanded across linguistic borders at this point with sites designed for France, Germany, Spain, and China.

I've followed this blog for at a number of years now and I mention it tonight because of one nagging question burrowed deep in my brain:

Why is there such a huge influx of homophobic postcards on PostSecret?

When I use the term "homophobic," I reference a number of issues. The tone is often aggressive among this set and there's a trend toward supporting narrow, hurtful, and often stereotypical perspectives about queer people. In addition, when the author is queer, the secrets often featured on the blog are thick with an internalized, self-directed sense of hatred.

Now, given the nature of this blog, I understand the higher number of closeted LGBT people who might write in. If the site caters to a crowd needing to vent their secrets in an anonymous form, then I can see how closeted individuals might find release. I just wonder why Mr. Warren tends to select postcards with a definite homophobic vibe to them. This is a hefty accusation and I do have examples where queer-themed cards are positive and uplifting, of course.

But, with the current suicide rates among queer youth as high as they are, I wonder how postcards of this nature would help:

Internalized Homophobia

I am one of the lucky few who have never felt the press of internalized homophobia. I know it took me some time to come out, but I never once hated myself for being queer. Women are gorgeous and have a knack for making me overjoyed, so why be down about it? But, after reading postcards like these each Sunday makes me wonder if I'm a minority within a minority.

Abrasive Commentators

I imagine most queer readers would get defensive after these gems. Without context, I tend to picture the worst scenarios. Response to the First: Visibility matters. Just re-read the first three secrets and you will see why representation is important. Response to the Second: Four exclamation marks? Really? I'd love to know more about the back story there...

A Curable Cause

I find it strange how few people are willing to acknowledge bisexuality as a legitimate sexual identity. Instead, queerness is presented as a character flaw or a curable affliction -- and now, there's yet another platform to promulgate the idea.

Abuse as a Trigger Cause

The idea of sexual misconduct or abuse from childhood leading to a queer identity in adulthood is one of the oldest "explanations" for homosexuality in the textbook. (You might need to shake off the dust on said textbook, of course). Again, when I see postcards like these, I'm concerned for queer youth stumbling across them and deciding these are the consensus of all queer people.

The Queer Shotgun

... Where "gay" is synonymous with "last nail to the coffin." Is the writer pleased that the child is with a loving couple, or is the writer reveling in the supposed paradox of the situation? I find it problematic when queer kids are used as ammunition or the nightmarish worst-case scenario.

***

Right, enough with the rants. I do have examples of uplifting, reaffirming postcards with queer content. I wish these secrets were more common to Warren's site. I give ample credit to him for including postcards featuring LGBT voices at all, but, I think there's still ample room to develop a more queer-positive voice for the masses.

***

PARALYMPIC UPDATES:

No time to slow down in Vancouver -- the 2010 Paralympic Games opened on March 12 and the competition's fierce. Team Canada has taken home six medals thus far and are gearing up to own more podium space. So, who's been crowned with the laurels of success thus far?:

• Colette Bourgonje, Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 10 KM, Sitting (Silver, March 14)
• Josh Dueck, Alpine Skiing - Men's Slalom, Sitting (Silver, March 14)
• Viviane Forest, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Visually Impaired (Silver, March 14)
• Brian McKeever, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 20 KM Free, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 15)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Standing (Gold, March 15)
• Karolina Wisniewska, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Standing (Bronze, March 15)

Coverage has been sparse on the major networks which I find ridiculous considering Team Canada's Paralympic team is outshining their able-bodied teammates at the moment. Make sure to check out medal updates and full coverage over at the Main Headquarters. I shall keep readers posted in the following weeks, you best be certain of that.