THEGAYUK

Category: Music

  • GIG REVIEW | James Blunt, Moon Landing Tour, Doncaster Racecourse

    ★★★★ | James Blunt, Moon Landing Tour, Doncaster Racecourse

    On a warm summer evening, Doncaster Racecourse presented the closing concert of James Blunt’s Moon Landing tour. Without the need for flashy pyrotechnics, elaborate sets or backing dancers James Blunt kept the crowd entertained for his 90 minute set with just his voice, his guitar and a four piece backing band.

    Blunt rattled through some of his singles and a number of fan favourites from his four multi-million selling albums. He quite rightly concentrated on the more up-tempo songs with only a few of his slower songs nestled neatly between the upbeat numbers. Blunt casually chatted with the audience and encouraged them to join in with a number of the songs. The crowd absolutely relished in singing along to “You’re Beautiful”, “Carry You Home” and his closing numbers “Bonfire Heart” and “1973”. But there were very few songs where the audience couldn’t help singing along, mainly encouraged by Blunt, which led to the crowd feeling part of the experience as opposed to detached observers.

    “High”, “Wisemen”, “Goodbye My Lover”, “Stay the Night”, “I’ll Be Your Man”, “Satellites” and “Same Mistake” were amongst some of the songs performed over the course of the show. Blunt defied the media persona that has been created around him by coming across as charismatic, enthusiastic and as someone who clearly loved every minute of being on stage. His band was fairly note perfect and the mixture of sound between the vocals and the instruments was perfectly balanced, meaning each instrument could be easily heard. The stage and lighting were functional, with a simple presentation enhanced only by a few projected backdrops. But, to be fair, the show was more about music than spectacular presentation and the straight forward staging served to allow focus on the musicians and song writing, rather than being style over substance.

    It is unfortunate that James Blunt is really a victim of his own success. Having the biggest selling album of the last decade, selling 20 million singles and 17 million albums is no mean feat, but for some reason, the media and the public have seemed to taken a dislike to him. However that does not necessarily detract from the quality of his music, the surprisingly good live performer that he is and how much the huge crowd genuinely enjoyed the show.

    James Blunt was the final concert in Doncaster Racecourses Music Live events, which has also seen the Kaiser Chiefs playing earlier this year. Having never been to a concert with a dress code before, the whole day was incredibly enjoyable with 7 flat races presented over the course of the afternoon followed by the concert. There was the opportunity of being able to enjoy dressing up for the occasion, mixing with the smartly dressed crowd and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the day at the recently refurbished venue; even without any knowledge of horse racing or a desire to have a flutter.

    James blunt is touring the UK later in the year and details can be found on his website at http://www.jamesblunt.com/home.htm?force=show

    Doncaster Racecourse hold a number of racing events throughout the year, the next one being on the 24th august to raise money for breast cancer charities. Details can be found at http://www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk/

  • Watch Adore Delano’s “Stalker”

    RuPaul’s Drag Race runner-up and former American Idol contestant Adore Delano releases the fourth single from her best selling album, Till Death Do Us Party, this Friday.

    ‘It’s a cutesy, crazy, fun, song with an ironic psycho edge’, says Adore Delano of Hello, I Love You. Like all the songs on Till Death Do Us Party, the song is based on experiences from her own life. ‘I was fatally attracted to a guy named Greg Ahern in high school. I cut his picture out of my brother’s yearbook and I would stalk him during his wrestling practices.’

    ‘When it comes to finding love, I can be aggressive,’ she admits. ‘I can also be a gentle pussycat. It all depends on the person I’m in love with… and if I ate that day or not.’

    Fans love Adore’s unapologetic psychosis. She regularly throws herself into the audience at shows to surf the crowd. She says it allows her to get closer to fans. ‘It’s like getting a giant hug from everyone all at once. I adore the adoration.’

    She’s even made a few love connections on tour. ‘I think I’m falling in love with a boy I met at a show in Australia,’ she says. ‘He’s magical.’

    And if he doesn’t reciprocate the love, that’s fine too. ‘I’ll cry about it for two days and then find a cute twink on Jack’d to forget about him.’

    Adore Delano won the hearts of millions, clawing her way to the Top 3 on this past season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. With ferocious performances and her patented biting attitude, the teenage queen of wigs n’ cigs went on to conquer three challenges, tying Bianco Del Rio with most episode wins.

    She wasn’t new to reality television, having competed on season 7 of American Idol as her male persona, Danny Noriega. ‘I never felt so in drag than when I was out of drag’, she says of her American Idol experience. ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race gave me the opportunity to express myself and to become a role model for those who don’t necessarily fit in.’

    ‘I represent the new queens, the weirdos, the unpolished,’ she says. ‘I stand for those who have been told ‘you can’t do this.’ I’m here to say, ‘you can’.’

    Adore Delano is proof of it. Her Till Death Do Us Party album logged the biggest sales week of any Drag Race competitor, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Dance/Electronic Albums and at No. 59 on the Billboard 200.

    Her single, I Adore U, also debuted on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at No. 49 and on the Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart at No. 34.

    Adore Delano is currently touring the world, promoting the new album. She especially loves how strongly fans are relating to Hello, I Love You. ‘It’s the song they all seem to know the words to. I guess it’s a message we can all relate with. Whether we’ve been the predator or the one being preyed upon, most have experienced some crazy love.’

    ‘There was this one guy in high school who thought I was a girl and wouldn’t leave me alone for like the whole year,” she recalls. “Eventually, I told him I had a penis and he backed off.’

    Produced by Killingsworth Recording Company, Hello, I Love You follows DTF, I Adore U, and Party, Delano’s first three smashes that helped catapult her album to the #1 spot on the iTunes dance charts earlier this summer. The album also climbed to #11 on the overall album charts. Along with the single, a brand new music video featuring Adore in all her cotton-candied gloriousness is being released. Hello, I Love You is available for purchase now on iTunes and all major online retailers.

  • Dolly Parton strikes gold with her new album

    Dolly Parton earns, yet, another sales award as her 42nd studio album, Blue Smoke – The Best Of, has been certified Gold by the BPI and remains #3 on the official UK chart in its sixth week of release.

    “Dolly could not be any happier,” says Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell, CEO CTK Management. “She has worked very hard over the past several years to create the momentum that we have going. Everyone at Dolly Records and Sony Music have done an outstanding job with making Dolly’s new music available and the sales prove it.”

    Blue Smoke – The Best Of, includes her latest studio album Blue Smoke featuring “Home”, “Blue Smoke” and new duet with long- time collaborator and friend Kenny Rogers and even a Bon Jovi cover! Alongside her greatest hits on disc 2 featuring the classics such as “Jolene”, “9 to 5”, “Islands in the Stream”, “Little Sparrow”, “Here You Come Again” and “I Will Always Love You” plus many more.

    “Blue Smoke – The Best Of is officially Gold in the UK, which is a massive achievement for Dolly Parton and the team,” says Faye Donaldson, Sr. Marketing Manager/Sony Music. “The response to Dolly after her Glastonbury performance has been amazing and having new music available at the same time has created a reaction that I’ve never seen before. It’s been just perfect.”

    In addition, Dolly’s previous studio album Better Day, which was released in 2011, has been certified Silver.

  • Frozen soundtrack is the biggest seller since Mamma Mia

    The creators of Disney’s Frozen will be celebrating today after the UK Official Charts Company announced that the soundtrack has gone double platinum.

    So not only is Frozen one the highest grossing films of all times, its soundtrack is now the biggest selling soundtrack since megahit Mamma Mia. The Academy Award winning Frozen is closing in on NOW 87 as the biggest selling album of 2014 to date, according to the Official Charts Company

    Let It Go, the lead track performed by Idina Menzel, has spent 28 consecutive weeks in the Top 40 on the Official Singles Chart, and has now been certified Gold in the UK. Six songs from the Frozen OST are still in the Official Singles Chart.

    Richard Hinkley, General Manager, Universal Music Catalogue explains, ‘When we first saw the movie it was evident that this had all the ingredients of a classic Disney musical soundtrack: lots of great original songs performed by strong characters, with a captivating storyline. We are absolutely delighted to be part of this magical story that has captured a generation. In a world of ever-greater media fragmentation, Let It Go has become the single common cultural moment for every child and their parents.’

    Ritch Sibthorpe, Managing Director, Music, The Walt Disney Company EMEA adds, ‘We are thrilled with the success of the Frozen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, a key component of the most successful feature in Walt Disney Animation studio’s history. Core song Let It Go has become a true phenomenon and anthem for young families worldwide, evidenced by a rich outpouring of user generated content across social media. The soundtrack is one of a number of Frozen products currently breaking sales records including DVD and Blu Ray formats, toys, clothing and more.’

  • Sam Smith Celebrates Number 1 Album

    Sam Smith, who spoke about how his debut album was written about a man he fell in love with, celebrates its number 1 status.

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  • FILM REVIEW | Fading Gigolo

    ★★★★ | Fading Gigolo

    Murray is about to close down his rare book store in New York that has been in his family for three generations. It will mean that he and his 50-something-year old assistant and life long friend Fiorovante will be unemployed and strapped for cash.

    Murray however tells his pal that his wealthy female dermatologist had mentioned that she and a girl friend of hers had always fantasized about having a menage a trois. Not that she expected Murray, somewhere in his 70’s, to do this but she asked if he knew of a suitable candidate, and so he had suggested Fiorovante for the job. Not that he was particularly handsome or even muscular, but as the ladies were looking for a ‘real man’ Murray thought that he would be the perfect candidate. That, and the fact the doctor had offered a fee of $1000.

    The reluctant Fioravante accepts the challenge as the other part time job he has in a florist shop barely keeps him in orchids. To his surprise he likes the trial run with the doctor, and so with Murray acting as his ‘pimp’, starts hooking up with other older women who are not getting any action from their husbands.

    Meanwhile Murray lives with a much younger black woman and acts as a surrogate step-dad for her four young kids. When one of them contracts lice at school, he drags the kid off to see a head lice expert in Willamsburg. She is the widow of an Hasidic Rabbi and the mother of five young children that she is bringing up on her own. Murray sensing her loneliness and the lack of any adult companionship, suggests to her that he knows a ‘therapist’ who could help. The initial encounters between her and Fiorovante are awkward to say the least, but for some weird reason this very odd and ill-matched pair start to fall in love.

    The Widow also has a fervent admirer in the shape of a neighborhood Hasidic cop who has been waiting for for two years for the right moment to make his move. Now as he notices her leaving the house regularly and going into the city, he follows her to find out what she is up too. Fearing the worse but really not knowing what exactly is going on he and his fellow cops abduct Murray and take him to an Orthodox Court to face charges that he is ruining the widow’s reputation in the hope that all will be revealed and/or she will be saved.

    It is one of the oddest plots for a comedy, which for reasons that I am still not totally clear about, actually works rather well. Even the far fetch concept of offering a young religious widow a roll in the hay was convincing, although the slapstick routine of the Courtroom was an uneasy fit in this otherwise gentle drama. The fact that writer/director/star John Turturro has his old chum Woody Allen playing Murray as Woody Allen is a major contributor to the success of the piece. Allen is perfect as the wisecracking opportunistic peddler who has no morals at all about making a quick buck especially when he doesn’t have to do much work for it at all. And Turturro with his sad soulful eyes and his gentle manner makes Fiorovanti the most perfect reluctant hooker.

    They are joined by Sharon Stone as the very sexy frustrated dermatologist, Sofia Vergara as her friend (and for once there is no trace of her ‘Modern Family’ character Gloria), Liev Schrieber is the sulky cop, and with a beautifully understated performance as the widow by Vanessa Paradis who is really not on our screens nearly enough.

    Turturro makes New York look so inviting and he greatly enhances the visuals with a beautifully scored soundtrack of vintage jazz, maybe a touch of Allen’s influence too.

    A sweet and funny movie.

    Fading Gigolo is released 23rd May

  • Culture Club Make Comeback

    There is not a country in the world that doesn’t know the names of Boy George and Culture Club.

    Grammy Award winners Culture Club sold in excess of 100 million singles and over 50 million albums, and were one of the biggest pop bands of the 1980s. They achieved seven straight Top 10 hits in the UK, nine Top 10 singles in the USA and nine Top 20 singles in Australia. They had number 1 singles in over a dozen countries and multi platinum album sales across the world, and were first group since The Beatles to have three Top Ten hits in America from a debut album. They were also the first group in music history to have an album certified diamond in Canada. The band consisted of Mikey Craig (bass guitar), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards), Jon Moss (drums and percussion) and flamboyant front man Boy George (lead vocals.)

    And now the original line-up have confirmed they are to play live dates across the UK in 2014 for the first time in over 15 years. Prior to these live dates Culture Club will be going into the studio to record new material, with producer Youth (Paul McCartney, The Verve, Embrace) for an album to be released early in 2015.

    Joining Culture Club on this tour will be very special guest Alison Moyet, well renowned musical icon, who has amassed sales of more than 20 million records both as a solo artist and half of influential duo Yazoo. In 2013 Alison returned to her electro roots with her album ‘the minutes’ which was co-written and produced by Guy Sigsworth. ‘the minutes’ was a Top 5 hit in the UK and Alison toured throughout the last quarter of the year visiting UK, Europe, USA and South Africa topping it off with a triumphant show at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2014.

    Monday 1st December Glasgow The SSE Hydro

    Tuesday 2nd December Newcastle Metro Radio Arena

    Thursday 4th December Leeds First Direct Arena

    Friday 5th December Manchester Phones 4U Arena

    Saturday 6th December Nottingham Capital FM Arena

    Monday 8th December Liverpool Echo Arena

    Tuesday 9th December London London The O2 *

    Thursday 11th December Brighton Brighton Centre

    Friday 12th December Birmingham National Indoor Arena

    Sunday 14th December Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

    Monday 15th December Bournemouth Bournemouth International Centre

    All venue tickets: £38.50 & £48.50

    * Except London The O2: £37.50, £42.50 & £55.00

    Tickets available from:
    Livenation.co.uk and Ticketmaster.co.uk

  • ALBUM REVIEW | Do It Again – mini album collaboration by Röyksopp and Robyn

    ★★★★ | Do It Again – mini album collaboration by Röyksopp and Robyn

    Do It Again is a superb mix of tracks from the brilliant Norwegian group Röyksopp and the chanteuse from Sweden, Robyn.

    Put the two together and you get a soaring synth soundtrack, interspersed with Robyn’s unique vocals. Röyksopp’s electronic background instantly takes you back to the 80’s, using beats reminiscent of New Order to create tracks that then marry with Robyn’s Metropolis style of vocal to create what feels like a unique experience.

    Monument is nearly 10 minutes long, and uses repetition to great effect, repeating vocals again and again while subtly changing the background beat and chords. Sayit does something similar, melding techno voices with Robyn’s to great effect.

    Do It Again sounds very like old school Robyn – pared back chords, simple but very effective – and her soaring vocals, emphasising lyrics, and making you tap the odd toe along the way. 5 minutes of pure club joy.

    Every Little Thing slows things down, but from the first chord, you know this is pure joy. Robyn’s voice used to great effect, moody and very New Romantic in sound – or maybe thats just me?

    The final track on this mini album is Inside The Idle Hour Club, and again, we return to the nearly 10 minute track, slow to start, mixing sounds as it builds, it is almost orchestral, so many different sounds but with a distinct lack of Robyn’s signature vocals here – she doesn’t dominate, this is a showcase of the music and Robyn takes a back seat.

    Taken as a whole, its a little prog rock at times, a little too earnest maybe as a project – but for all that, it is one pretty brilliant collaboration.

    What could make it better? Why a tour of course – keep your eyes peeled for a joint tour shortly, part Robyn showcase, part Röyksopp showcase, part joint venture.

    As for the album – treat yourslef, and make this part of your collection. I give it 4 stars!

  • Conchita Rise Like A Phoenix At No 1 In Russia Despite Backlash

    adda Girl… Conchita’s Eurovision entry is riding high in the Russia iTunes Chart.

    Despite the backlash that Conchita Wurst has received, her song Rise Like A Phoenix is storming the Russian charts and is currently sitting at Number 1 and Number 5 in the iTunes music chart. It is beating Not Alone, Armenia’s entry by Aram MP3.

    Conchita’s victory has spurred on some men across Russia to shave off their beards in a backlash against the drag queen’s victory. Conchita’s song Rise Like A Phoenix amassed an impressive 290 points in the 59th Eurovision Competition.

    Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, has been the subject of much hate mongering from a number people Russia, Armenia and Belarus. One top Russian politician even called the contest a ‘sodom show’.

    In the UK the song is charting at number 25 and 35.

  • MUSIC REVIEW: Atlas, by Rüfüs

    Call me biased, but I love Australian music. Especially indie records like Australian band Rüfüs’ debut album Atlas, which hit stores this week across the UK, after debuting at #1 in Australia last August.

    This Indie dance trio of Jon George, Tyrone Lindqvist and James Hunt from Byron Bay in New South Wales formed in 2010 and now offer a downbeat ambient dance album featuring mellow tones and especially catchy hooks.

    From the moment the opening track Sundream kicked off, I was instantly attracted to the laid-back sound mixed with the high falsetto-vocals. The album works its way through to some dancier tracks, like Take Me and Tonight before going into full chill-out mode with Rendezvous. This is an album I could imagine being played at one of those funky-grungy warehouse dance parties in Berlin.

    This is an album that is right at home whether you’re listening to it as background music while you work, getting ready for a night out on the town, or chilling out on a Sunday afternoon after a big night out. If you’re like me, you’ll quickly find yourself humming and singing along with thetracks on this album.

    For those of you who love the live vibe, Rüfüs will be touring the UK in September, dates and tickets available here: www.rufussounds.com/tagged/Tour

    Available from Amazon

  • Me. I Am Mariah

    In case you didn’t know who Mariah was, she’s named her forthcoming album to help remind you.

    Mariah has revealed the name and release date of her forthcoming album. The Hero singer has named it: ‘Me. i Am Mariah. The Elusive Chanteuse’.

    The album is due to be released on the 27th May and will include previous singles #Beautiful and You’re Mine (Eternal).

    The album has been named after a drawing she drew of herself when she was 3 and a half years old.

    The tracklisting for the new album is:
    1. Cry.
    2. Faded
    3. Dedicated (feat. Nas)
    4. #Beautiful
    5. Thirsty
    6. Make It Look Good
    7. You’re Mine
    8. You Don’t Know What to Do (feat. Wale)
    9. Supernatural
    10. Meteorite
    11. Camouflage
    12. Money ($ * / …) [feat. Fabolous]
    13. One More Try
    14. Heavenly (No Ways Tired/Can’t Give Up Now)
    15. It’s a Wrap (feat. Mary J. Blige)
    16. Betcha Gon Know (feat. R. Kelly)
    17. The Art of Letting Go
    18. Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse