The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” has been crowned the best Christmas song of all time.
Topping Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas” and WHAM!’s “Last Christmas”, “Fairytale of New York” has been crowned the nation’s favourite Christmas song.
Research commissioned to coincide with the Magic Radio ’12 songs of Christmas’ list found that for nearly half of Brits, Christmas music is most likely to put them in a festive mood.
A quarter of adults felt seeing Christmas decorations go up helped aid festive cheer, while Christmas shopping came in at third place with 18 per cent.
A Magic Radio spokesperson said, “When it comes to putting people in the Christmas spirit, music is king.
“And it’s no wonder that more people are turning to music to bring them festive cheer – it’s the ultimate escapism in another year of uncertain times and bad news.
“With Christmas bringing loved ones together, there’s no better time to put music on and relax into that Christmassy feeling.”
“Homophobic”
However, the song crowned number one contains a homophobic slur and is found problematic by some. Every year a debate rages about whether the song should have the word “faggot” bleeped or silenced when it is broadcast publicly.
The F-word should be bleeped out of Fairytale of New York. It’s homophobic, it’s offensive and it’s a word that is no longer acceptable in public discourse. Just because you like the song doesn’t mean it should get an exception. pic.twitter.com/BptBDaH8UO
If your favourite Christmas song is Fairytale of New York, odds are high you’re a straight person who likes getting to loudly sing a homophobic slur and you can fuck off forever.
In 2007, BBC’s Radio 1 in the UK, censored the offending word, but soon reinstated it after a public backlash.
The festive period was selected in the poll as the most anticipated time of the year, with 69 per cent of adults most looking forward to Christmas over New Year and Summer bank holidays.
Spending time with loved ones was also deemed the most important part of Christmas for 60 per cent of adults, whilst the Christmas Party comes bottom of the list, with just two per cent of adults looking forward to the annual ‘do.
Magic Radio announced plans earlier this week to switch their playlist to 100 per cent Christmas with non-stop Christmas songs all the way up to Boxing Day.
The ’12 Songs of Christmas’ as selected by Magic Radio listeners are:
1 Fairytale of New York – Pogues and Kirsty Maccoll
2 All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
3 Last Christmas – Wham!
4 Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid
5 Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea
6 Happy Xmas (War is Over) – John Lennon and Yoko Ono
7 Step Into Christmas – Elton John
8 Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
9 Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade
10 I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard
11 Stay Another Day – East 17
12 Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens
If there’s a top list of Britney tracks to be compiled… leave it to the gays
It came as a shock. Especially for those of us who pretend to still be in our twenties (even if it’s only late twenties) when we were clearly old enough to go clubbing when Britney Spears‘ first hit soared up the charts.
So here are our top 10 Britney hits – to make it on to this list we only used songs that reached at least top three in the UK charts.
10) Born To Make You Happy 1999 / …Baby One More Time
Weirdly this doesn’t even come close to the strongest ballad on her debut album, but it still made number 1 in the UK charts – this song? Huh? and not “Sometimes” which was arguably the summer song of 99.
“Born to Make You Happy” is a typically 90s produced song with not a real instrument in sight and drum loops galore and a reminder that wah wah guitar doesn’t just belong in the 70s. The accompanying video is a proper piece of 90’s music video nostalgia. No real storyline, but the singer looking pretty is key – in at least three costume changes. They could be scenes from three separate songs really.
9) Piece Of Me 2007 / Black Out
We love the self-confessional vibe of the lyrics in this song, detailing all the things that had happened to her during her runaway years. Remember the marriages, the hair shaving, the babies, not controlling her own finances? She may seem to have shiz altogether now, but there was a time during the 00s when Brit Brit went Kray Kray. Afterall she was, as she says in the song, “been on the scene since I was 17”.
8) Opps!… I Did It Again 2000 / Opps!… I Did It Again
More of the same really after her epic hit, “…Baby One More Time”, but we in the UK lapped it up nonetheless, as it became her third number 1. The American’s didn’t like it as much and the song peaked at 9. “Opps!… I Did It Again” was more meaty than”…Baby One More Time” in terms of production but had an epically camp midsection in which she has a conversation with one of the song’s writer Max Martin about a piece of jewellery. The song is so similar to…Baby One More Time you can pretty much sing the lyrics in the chorus of “Opps!… I Did It Again”
7) Me Against The Music 2004 / In The Zone
Britney’s fourth album In the Zone brought an entirely new sound for Spears. “Me Against The Music” was her call to fans, press and the industry to take her seriously as a pop artist rather than just a bubblegum princess. The song saw her team up with Pop Queen Madonna and had a mad bridge to the chorus with so so many words.
6) Everytime 2004 / In The Zone
Britney does pop music. She does it very well – not so much the ballads which can come off a bit cheesy – just listen to “Dear Diary” on her first album if you need any proof, but “Everytime” is beautiful. It is also one of the rare songs that Brit herself has written. Apparently, the song is an answer to Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River”. The two had been pop’s biggest power couple, but split in 2002. The breakup was used by their respective labels to push album sales.
5) Womanizer 2008 / Circus
By 2008 Britney was back on track throwing out albums again after a short break. She released Blackout in 2007, Circus in 2008 and single’s collection in 2009. Womanizer is a catchy girl anthem against cheating womanizing men. The song was deemed by many critics as her definitive comeback single.
4) Gimme More 2007 / Blackout
When Britney had her meltdown in the middle of the 00s, fans weren’t sure whether she’d actually pull through. Everyday brought more news about her antics and the break down of her mental health. So when it was announced that she was working on new material fans were gifted with “Gimme More” with the now legendary saying “It’s Britney Bitch” cemented into pop consciousness forever. However, her first outting of the song on the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards was panned by critics.
The video looked incredibly cheap, almost as though her label had given up hope on Britney’s staying power at the top, how wrong were they were. The song reached number three in the UK and the US. The album went on to sell over 3,000,000 copies worldwide.
3) My Prerogative 2004 / Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
It was Britney second single that wasn’t originally hers (the first was “I Love Rock and Roll” in 2002)- it was a Bobby Brown hit before Britney had it. I’m going to say something controversial here. Hers was better. Soz not soz. It reached number 3 in the UK, but failed to chart in the US. The song starts with Britney breathing the lyrics “People can take everything away from you / But they can never take away your truth / But the question is, can you handle mine?” Little did we know that Britney’s truth was going to become tabloid fodder for years after this track.
2) Toxic 2004 / In The Zone
Did you know this iconic pop song was originally offered to Kylie Minogue? But she rejected it… For Brit it went on to become one her biggest selling singles of all time. It even won her a Grammy, her only Grammy. Accompanying the song was video, which is a calling for every gay boy to pretend to be a flight attendant… okay maybe that’s just me.
1) …Baby One More Time 1998 / …Baby One More Time
Well, it’s the song that launched her career and there’s no other song in the world that can fill a dance floor in just three notes. The album it came from, released in January 1999 went to sell over 25,000,000 copies worldwide, making Britney a somewhat overnight success.
Yep, this is pure queer underground and Nuni B’s new track ‘Tried it’ is epic.
The video celebrates the ballroom scene of the early 90s right into today’s scene. If you want to find out more about the queer ballroom scene of the late 80s and 90s be sure to check out the documentary film Paris Is Burning, which explores the characters and LGBT+ movement at the end of the 20th century.
Yet another reason why Schitt’s Creek is one of the best TV shows on Netflix. In the latest series, David and Patrick have an incredibly tender moment – which results in this amazing, hair-standing-on-end, spine-tingling, heart-warming version of Tina Turner’s epic hit, ‘(Simply) The Best’.
Even better it’s been released as a single by the actor who plays Patrick, Noah Reid.
Take a listen on Spotify
Tina’s version is obvs the definitive, so much so we included it in our 40 top gay anthems for pride playlist but we absolutely love this as a love song between two men. It almost makes us want to love again.
Some concrete themselves because of a film they were in, some because of the artist who sung it. Some songs become gay anthems because of their message. We’ve teamed up with Deezer to showcase our pick of the top 40 gay anthems.
1) I’m Coming Out, Diana Ross, 1980
The name says it all. If ever there was a feel-good song to celebrate coming out from Ms Diana Ross. It’s the perfect way to kick off any pride playlist – and was the way in which Ms Ross used to kick off her concerts since 1980, the year in which it was also released.
2) It’s Raining Men, The Weather Girls, 1982
This is an ultra-camp classic that stood the test of time. So loved by the gay community that in 2014, when a UKIP councillor suggest that the unusual flooding in the UK at the time was caused by same-sex marriage, the song was released again and reached number 21 in the UK charts. Geri Halliwell also released a version, but you can’t beat the original, which stars the vocals of Martha Wash and Izora Armstead.
3) Get The Party Started, P!nk, 2001
Who can’t get the party started when they hear the outspoke ally, P!nk sing this song?
4) Bag It Up, Geri Halliwell, 2000
When the Spice Girls split there was only ever going to be one true gay icon to emerge from the famous fivesome, and it was always going to be Geri Halliwell (now Horner). She was the first to release solo material and racked up numerous hits including this mega camp ditty. The promo for ‘Bag It Up’ included Geri literally birthing herself live on stage between the split legs of a giant woman, surrounded by hot, pink-haired dancers in hot pants. It was the 2000 BRIT Music Awards – and Geri the gay icon had arrived.
5) Sissy That Walk, RuPaul, 2013
In 2009 the drag world had become, some might say, passe. Gay venues across the UK, which had been drag’s home, were in decline and closing down at a phenomenal rate. In London over 100 gay bars had closed since the year 2000. Then a somewhat forgotten drag queen star of the late 80s and early 90s launched a show that would change drag and its place in mainstream society. From that, RuPaul rose like a glittery phoenix and began releasing music. ‘Sissy That Walk’ came from her most successful album to date, Born Naked. The lyrics empower some of the most marginalised in our community.
6) Express Yourself, Madonna, 1989
It’s hard to find which track defines the epicness of Madonna’s credentials as a gay icon, but perhaps ‘Express Yourself’ comes somewhere close to the zenith. Its message of self-empowerment is as relevant today as it was back in 1989 when it was released.
7) Your Disco Needs You, Kylie Minogue, 2001
This is Kylie at pure campery. From the album that reignited her career, released in 2000, Light Years. Although ‘Spinning Around’ was the standout hit from the album, this has its own status as a pure camp classic.
8) Dancing Queen, ABBA, 1976
What gay anthem list is complete without an ABBA track? There are so many camp classics in the ABBA catalogue, but ‘Dancing Queen’ has many gay connotations from dancing drag queens to gay men who refer to themselves as queens. We think everyone should feel like royalty on the dance floor.
9) Firework, Katy Perry, 2010
Katy Perry released this track in 2010 and every pop fuelled moment is about being your most explosive self.
10) Stronger, Kelly Clarkson 2007
Kelly Clarkson became a bit of a lesbian icon after the release of her second album. The single ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ is the ultimate song from this album, but her more recent output includes this uplifting song about strength.
11) All The Lovers, Kylie, 2010
Our second Kylie hit on this list. Although some Kylie purists might not class this as the gayest of Kylie’s gay discography, its message is pure inclusivity.
12) Make Me Feel, Janelle Monae, 2018
Janelle Monae came out in 2018 as a queer woman and followed that news with this somewhat Prince-inspired track. It’s sometimes hard to induct a new track into the gay anthem catalogue, but in years to come this song’s meaning and video imagery will go down as iconic.
13) Outside, George Michael, 1998
This was the song in which George Michael publicly spoke out about his sexuality. It was the summer of 1998, and although his previous album, Older, eluded to being gay and fast love, it was after his very public arrest in an LA public toilet that GM made his sexuality known, loud and proud.
14) I’m Still Standing, Elton John, 1983
With a back catalogue like Elton’s, where do you start? Despite the fact that Elton was “in” for the early years of his career, it wasn’t until 1988 that he full left the closet, ‘I’m Still Standing’ seems like the perfect song to stand up against all that life might throw against you.
If ever there was a survivor’s song, Gloria Gaynor’s disco hit is it.
17) Young Hearts Run Free, Candi Staton, 1976
The song came out of a story Candi had relayed to the writer, David Crawford. She told him that she had a hard time getting out of an abusive relationship. He replied that he was going to write a song for her that would “last forever”. A new version of the song was released in 1999 and it peaked at number 29.
18) Finally, Cece Peniston, 1992
You can thank The Adventures ofPriscilla Queen Of The Desert for making this song an undeniable gay hit – and one that countless drag queens around the world have mimed to ever since 1994. It wasn’t even a hit when it was first released, managing to just creep into the top 30 in the UK. However, a re-release in 1992 meant that it reached a rather respectable Number 2.
19) Queer As Folk Theme, 2000
In 1999 a TV programme called Queer As Folk shocked and delighted the British public – but not in equal measure. These were the years where we were coming out of the AIDS crisis and into an era where sexual diversity and LGBT+ rights were being celebrated. A new dawn of equality was in the air at the turn of century. The repeal of Section 28 was just a few years away and Civil Partnerships were just around the corner. However, the rimming scene in the first episode caused, as you would guess, reactionary headlines from the right-wing and conservative newspapers.
20) All For You, Janet Jackson, 2001
“Nice Package alright, guess I’m gonna have to ride it tonight”. With lyrics like these how could Janet Jackson’s 2001 hit ‘All For You’ not be an anthem. In the US it was a number 1. Janet Jackson has since the 90s been seen as a gay icon. Her sexualised music and her long-term support of the LGBT community using her fame and even her music to speak out against homophobia have made her an LGBT+ favourite.
21) How Will I Know, Whitney Houston, 1985
Whether you choose Sam Smith’s ballad version or Whitney’s pop classic, this song is a pure anthem.
22) One Day In Your Life, Anastacia, 2002
One of the most feel-good anthems from powerhouse vocalist Anastacia taken from her second album, Freak Of Nature. Although it didn’t chart particularly well, Anastacia told THEGAYUK.com “My thoughts would be is that I was hard to out do ‘I’m Outta Love’, and it was really close. It was a strong reminder and I think if anyone else did it, it might not have even gone that far, but because I did it, it was reminiscent”. However we’ve chosen this song because the message is pure positive and a reminder that no matter how hopeless life can feel, it will get better.
23) Doin’ It – Nathan’s Theme, Queer As Folk, 2000
“I’m doin’ it, I’m really doin’ it” was one of the standout quotes from Queer As Folk as a young Nathan loses his virginity with Stuart. He boasts it loudly and proudly that he is having unapologetic gay sex. Bravo.
24) Stronger, Britney Spears, 2000
Britney’s hit ‘Stronger’ is yet another song about winning against the odds and realising how much strength you have in you. Britney’s place as a gay icon has long established. At the 29th GLAAD awards, she was awarded the Vanguard Award.
Despite picking up some heat from social media, ‘Girls’ explores female sexuality and bisexuality and that doesn’t happen all too much in music. Rita Ora did apologise for any offence caused, but many in the LGBT+ community voiced that she didn’t need to make an apology.
26) The Best, Tina Turner, 1991
Usually, you can’t go to a pride event without hearing ‘Proud Mary’, another iconic hit by Tina Turner, but we have to say that once we heard it sung as a love song between two men in Netflix’s Schitt’s Creek, we had to add this to our list.
27) Go West, Pet Shop Boys, 1993
It was only after the Pet Shop Boys performed this Village People original at an AIDS charity benefit in Manchester that the duo released it as a single in 1993 and is one of their campest, proudest songs.
28) We Are Family, Sister Sledge, 1979
Like Priscilla, The Birdcage forever cemented this Sister Sledge classic. You never be able to forget Gene Hackman lipsyncing to the track in full drag. Speaking to THEGAYUK about the song’s icon status, Kim Sledge said, “Well I’ll tell you, that anyone and everyone who embraced that song makes us feel amazing and grateful. It is a song of love and it’s a song that embraces so we’re ecstatic about it.”
29) Like A Virgin, Madonna, 1984
It could be argued that this is the song that turned a young Madonna into a fully fledged pop queen.
30) Same Love, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis & Mary Lambert, 2012
In the UK, ‘Same Love’ reached number 6. It was released during the fight for the right for gays and lesbians to marry in Washington State in 2012, before same-sex marriage became legal in every state in the US.
31) Silent Whispers, Jake Hook, 2007
This song is from a relatively unknown, but openly gay singer-songwriter, Jake Hook, (although he more famously wrote for other artists) the song is a simple love song between two men, with a subtle hint within the lyrics, “When X&Y collide” and talks about a love which is difficult to be open about in public. It came from an EP which was named SXY from which he launched a sexual health campaign for gay and bisexual men in 2007.
32) Can’t Take That Away, Mariah Carey, 2000
Despite not being a hit, Mariah’s theme, is a strong reminder that she is by far, one the best female singer-songwriters of the 21st century. She teamed up with Diane Warren to write this, most intimate of songs. The song’s lyrics speak about inner strength and not permitting anyone to tear you down. Plus the vocal run at the end is incomparable. The song comes from the album, Rainbow.
33) Beautiful, Christina Aguilera 2002
It was the video that accompanied this song which deserves a special mention. In fact Christina Aguilera won a GLAAD award for the song. It had a really positive representation of a gay couple and a transgender person, which was ahead of its time in 2002.
34) Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Judy Garland, 1939
The original gay icon, Judy Garland. This is the song that gave birth to the saying “friend of Dorothy”, which was a code gay men used to identify each other before homosexuality became legal.
35) I Didn’t Know My Own Strength, Whitney Houston, 2009
Before she died, Whitney Houston released this track. A testament to how, regardless of how powerless you might feel, that you are always stronger than you think.
36) Let It Go, Demi Lovato, 2013
Some have classed this song as the Coming Out theme of the 21st century a, perhaps, unintended gay anthem from the hit film, Frozen or maybe entirely intended!
37) Anytime You Need A Friend, Mariah Carey, 1994
Our second Mariah track is a soulful gospel song from the album that brought her wider recognition in the UK, Musicbox. The song’s theme tells the listener that they’ll never be alone and that anytime they need a friend, she will be there. Who wouldn’t want Mariah as a friend, when they’re in need?
38) I Kissed A Girl, Katy Perry, 2008
Although some have blasted Katy Perry for appropriating gay culture in this song for the purposes of gaining attention and sales. In 2018 Perry expressed regret about the lyrics saying, that she would edit them now. However, again, like Rita Ora’s ‘Girls’ this song has a nod to bisexuality and experimenting with some of the same-sex – and liking it. It’s all about opening minds y’all.
39) Man! I Feel Like A Woman, Shania Twain, 1999
Who can’t help but wiggle their way through this song?
40) Born This Way, 2011
In 2011 Lady Gaga knew exactly how to speak directly to her LGBT+ fans. ‘Born This Way’ is the song for its generation. The lyrics are a lesson in inclusive and diverity as she pays tribute to many in our wonderful community.
★★★★☆ | It’s been 6 agonising years of waiting for Christina Aguilera fans all over the world as the pop icon has been teasing and “promising” a new album since 2013 after her last, “Lotus”, was barely promoted and hardly made a wave on any charts. But finally, she is back.
CREDIT: XTINA / INSTAGRAM
“Accelerate” is the first single from her upcoming album, titled Liberation, featuring hot-right-now rappers Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz and it is a certainly a surprise, to say the least. The majority of people may have expected the lead single to be an uptempo, sexual pop-club banger with an iconic hook, lots of melisma and big belts in the vein of “Dirrty”, “Not Myself Tonight” and “Your Body”, but what we are served instead is a sexy, mid-tempo, urban-influenced sound with reigned in, sultry vocals.
Tribal-inspired drums and bass beats kickstart the song before Christina rap-sings the first verse in a style similar to Beyoncé in “7/11” and “Formation”, just in a much less brash way. “New York, worldwide / Borders my city / Just pulled up to the hotel / All my day ones here with me”, she says as Ty Dolla $ign echoes in the background. Throughout the song she rarely transitions into her singing voice, save for the chorus and ending but when she does she ironically keeps it no higher than second gear. The song talks of a hook-up, which is not so different to her previous lead singles except for “Ain’t No Other Man”, but this time the lyrics are slightly more subtle. “Accelerate, c’mon babe / Pick up your speed / Stamina, fill me up / That’s what I need”, coos Xtina seductively in the chorus which is unusually short but still addictive.
2 Chainz guest raps the bridge, though his presence is perhaps unnecessary and adds little to the song, which seems to take a good chunk of 30 seconds we could have had of Christina singing instead. The last minute of the track has Christina bringing the tempo down even further in an almost breathy, post-sex kind of way as she repeats “ooh ooh ooh / ooh ooh ooh” and ends with hypnotically pretty, harmonised falsetto runs that fans may be feel are similar to songs like “Sex For Breakfast” from “Bionic”.
“Accelerate” may not be what most were expecting to hear, but with Christina she’s proven time and time again you can never know what to expect from her. Once described as “caviar ratchet” by producers Da Internz (who as of yet are unconfirmed as to whether their songs with her made the final cut), Christina’s new sound appears to be just that – a much more electro-R&B and hip-hop driven style that has moved with the current trend of pop music. Although reminiscent of younger pop stars’ efforts who cite her as an influence, such as Ariana Grande’s “Into You” and “Good For You” by Selena Gomez, “Accelerate” is a mature, erotically-charged cut that still cements her as a force to be reckoned with, with her richer, unmistakable tone setting her apart. It might not have everyone slut-dropping and gyrating hard in the clubs (though it may inspire some slow, sexual dancing and making out), but its a grower after several listens when you have to accept that this particular song of hers does not include climactic and almost impossibly hard to copy high notes.
CREDIT: XTINA / INSTAGRAM
The song’s music video, directed by Zoey Grossman, features Christina in little to no makeup similar to her recent Paper magazine cover shoot and is a combination of slightly trippy and slightly arousing but also somewhat minimalistic. Gone are the controversially revealing clothes except for a blazer and nothing else underneath, and brief shots of bare breasts with nipple tape, and instead we get a very simple and casual street look from her. Though the video is predominantly in black and white, we get the odd shot of Xtina in colour under pink-hued lighting as she suggestively smothers her lips and tongue in glitter and drenches herself in what we can only guess is lots of lube but sure looks Dirrty as fuck.
The single is available to download and stream and the video is now on YouTube. “Liberation”, which includes a much-anticipated collaboration with fellow big-voiced diva Demi Lovato called “Fall In Line”, is out on 15th June. Whether or not we do get to hear the songstress’ more signature vocal styling on the rest of the album though – which we’re sure will be on the aforementioned duet with Demi, is something we’ll just have to await impatiently for.
The Brits are here, queer and releasing music by the millions…
Which gay British artist has sold the most records?
From Sam Smith to Elton, Freddie Mercury to Will Young but which are the biggest sellers? We collated this list from available sales figures available online. Actual sales figures may be higher or lower than printed here.
Joe McElderry <1 million
X Factor’s Joe’s debut single, a version of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” went on to sell over 800,000 copies in the UK. Like another constituent of this list, Joe’s sexuality was unknown during his time on the talent show which made him famous.
Pet Shop Boys 1 million (at least)
“Always On My Mind” ending up selling over 1 million records for LGBT+ identifying duo Pet Shop Boys. It’s the biggest selling single of their career.
Callum Scott 1.363 million
Relatively unknown and newcomer Callum Scott managed to secure a million-selling single with “Dancing On My Own”. Released in 2017.
Will Young 1.7 million
When Will won the first ever Pop Idol nobody actually knew he was gay, until the very next day when there was a huge splash across the tabloids. His debut single, “Evergreen” / “Anything Is Possible” went on to sell a huge 1.7 million records
Boy George / Culture Club 5 million
Culture Club, fronted by Boy George sold a whopping 5 million records globally with their song “Karma Chameleon”. The song was released in 1983 and became a huge disco hit for the group.
George Michael 6 million
George’s biggest selling record to date is “Careless Whisper”, which he released after splitting from WHAM! The song was a huge world-wide hit for the singer. It went to number 1 in 25 countries selling over 6 million singles. His most charted song is “Last Christmas” (2 million copies and counting) which reenters the top 10 almost every Christmas. It’s the biggest selling song to never get to number 1.
Freddie Mercury / Queen 8 million
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the biggest selling singles (and apparently the most expensive ever made) of all time and it was written by Freddie Mercury. During his life, Freddie admitted his sexuality fears to his ex-girlfriend, apparently, that he didn’t know whether he was gay or straight.
Sam Smith 8 million
Sam Smith’s is the second newest artist on our list after Calum Scott, but he’s already racked up 6 number ones, including, incredible the only number 1 song for a Bond film. The song “Stay With Me” has sold over 8 million copies (digital).
David Bowie 10 million
It’s impossible to know how exactly how many copies of “Let’s Dance” David Bowie sold, but the album with the same name sold 10 million copies when it was released in 1983, making it his best selling album and single of all time. Note: David Bowie never identified as gay, but his sexuality was often considered to be bisexual.
Elton John 33 million
The granddaddy of music, Elton John has sold millions and millions of records. His biggest-ever seller single was the 1997 tribute to Diana Princess Of Wales, “Candle In The Wind”. It apparently sold over 33 million singles. It has a double A-side – the other song was “The Way You Look Tonight”.
** UPDATE: A previous version incorrectly labelled David Bowie’s track “Let’s Dance”, “Just Dance” and has been corrected.
John Who??? Sasha Selavie on ex-Velvet Underground Icon John Cale, the non-gay, uber gay-friendly genius equal to Bowie!
MUSIC John Cale @ Barbican March 9th. 5 Stars! Eclectic Ecstasies!
Should gay men -especially pop music fans -adore non-gay artists? Oh Hell, yeah! Take John Cale, the legendary other half of the totally transgressive, sicker-than-sick shock-jocks of the 1960s, the Velvet Underground. Sure, okay, they were spearheaded by uber-gay, ex-street hustler Lou Reed, but if not gay himself, Cale was most certainly GBA – Gay By Association! How could he not be? The Velvets’ first two albums literally drip with metaphorical semen from the grooves, and – once you slap those vinyl platters on antediluvian turntables – you’ll be conceptually violated by blistering. sonic portraits of smack dependency, botched, D.I.Y sex-change ops, brutal – if unintentional- murder, and mass, totally fucked-up drag queen orgies!
Holy Jesus Christ on a hot-wired crucifix – what’s not to like? But, if less flamboyant than Lou, Cale brought a hugely disturbing, forensic stripping of human foibles worthy of the Marquis de Sade to the Velvets’ awesomely experimental table. And please, remember – unlike today, in a social media climate which smugly prides itself on clunky expressions of gender fluidity, in the mid-to-late 60s, nobody gave the slightest f*ck what clunky acronym you chose to publicly parade under! Simply, you’d just screw whoever – or whatever- turned you on, with no big deal, a far less heavy-handed sexual etiquette than now!
But why, pray tell, am I resuscitating tales of John Cale for readers who, quite understandably, are pumpingly content with semi-sexualised, fanboy fantasies centred on Rihanna and current trans poster saint Ezra Furman, who – FYI – has just released his rather staggeringly good latest opus, Transangelic Exodus? Well, duh, because knowledge is power, an ability to counter, decisively attack and enlighten dumb, bigoted assaults on gay musical excellence, so it’s vital to recognise and be aware of a major, gay-friendly musician at least equal to Bowie!
But, let’s not forget the one utterly magical, essential link that chained the fifth, fury and shockingly transcendent perversions of Lou Reed and John Cale together; Andy Warhol. Possibly the ultimate gay icon, Warhol was a furious, non-stop workaholic. Perpetually partying, even more fiercely than the equally manic-for-inspiration Alexander McQueen, Warhol had one, pathological pet hate – laziness. Famously, he called Lou Reed – the amphetamine cranked, 24-7 sensation junkie – ‘a rat’, the most poisonous put-down poor tongue-tied and socially timid Andy could manage. Ah, but beneath the badly-fitting, signature, snow-white nylon wigs, Andy’s inner bitch was barreling along with frightening, freight-train venom. Okay, granted, it didn’t surface in print until years later – in Andy’s smash, publishing sensation, ‘The Diaries’ – but especially then, as inescapable fact, Andy’s bile crushed poor Lou.
Tough. The lazy bum should’ve – as Andy hissed – written more songs. Warhol, after all, was publicly billed as the producer of the Velvet Underground’s still-astounding first album, with Lou as front-man, so why shouldn’t Andy insist on humanly impossible excellence?
Lou, after all, was risking nothing – back in ‘67, he was just a snotty queen and junkie hustler, but Andy was America’s pop-art God supreme. Sure, Lou, later – with methamphetamine poked in every possible orifice – excelled himself with stacks of respected vinyl, but arguably, it’s John Cale – the John Lennon to Lou’s Paul McCartney – who blew the roof off Andy’s inhuman expectations.
Yes, granted, their respective, public outrages are a matter of permanent, media record – Lou sporting fascist, Iron Crosses shaved in his peroxide hair and John publicly decapitating a dead chicken – but what rock star doesn’t aspire to memorable excess? And image-wise, it’s an extreme, maverick dead-heat between the two, Lou all mean, speed-freak scowl and chemically-chewed cheekbones, but John much more some romantic, gay wet dream, lean, long-locked and saturninely sinister!
So, back to John, who briefly flamed down this March in London town, still crackling with all the brutal, insolent genius of a singed Satan gunning to kill – stupidity, that is. So he should – John’s back, hell, even his current catalogue – backs down to nobody in inventive brilliance, not even Bowie. And if Bowie – for the better part of a decade – retreated into past mystique, John, non-stop, gleefully trashes his own legacy, and re-arranges it as something far more rich and deranged.
It shows. Not content with producing stellar, landmark albums by Patti Smith, Iggy and the Stooges, Brian Eno and junkie diva Nico, he’s still creatively frenzied. In London, that’s signposted – quite obviously, tonight – in the ripped shrapnel dissonance of his dress-sense, a classical musician’s frock-coat and street-scum sneakers.
Mercifully – unlike Lou – John exhibits no desire to perma-bond himself to past glories, in Lou’s case as the sullen, presumed Poet Laureate of Perversion. Rather, he’s refined the fierce, forensic intellect exhibited on his Paris 1919 album, and the razor-cut, dandy’s discrimination iconically frozen on that record sleeve.
And tonight – as always – is totally uncompromising, all shrieking tsunamis of sonic, grievous bodily harm, a signature, 1960s, Velvet Underground legacy. It’s a sound later popularised by Berlin band Einsturzende Neubauten, who savaged raw metal with pneumatic drills and power saws, but John, tonight, is beyond compare.
And please, gleefully flush any notions of crawling, sycophantic X-Factor stage presentation straight down the shit-caked sewers they so perfectly deserve. Unlike Beyonce, Gaga or the flocking legions of sub-prime lingerie models pathetically doubling as auto-tuned divas, John – rightly – doesn’t give a fuck about sartorially simpering to the audience. Jesus, he even manages-with superbly blasé aplomb!- to make the clunky cast on his right foot instantly achieve the aura as a must-have, cool-as-fuck religious relic from the body of a still stubbornly living, genuine rock Messiah!
Better yet-with a casual, Roman emperor arrogance female foghorn Adele would die for -John chooses to leaves his full, onstage orchestra largely redundant, as if they might, just perhaps, add a possible classical flourish at John’s passing whim. Oh, it’s such moments that make one ache that John’s not gay – that ruthless, dictatorial streak would go down (ha, ha) stormingly in S&M sex!
Still, even for me – a devoted fan – John’s chosen, blinding, banshee holocaust tonight makes almost every song unrecognisable. Yes, maybe, there are ringing, guitar chords and a full orchestral heft identifying Cale staples ‘Dying On The Vine’, and ‘Half Past France’ in the eye of the sonic storm, but so what? Complete irreverence for his work is John’s fabulously unique, to-die-for appeal, and tonight, he’s stunningly massacred Lou Reed’s iconic ‘Waiting For The Man’, an acknowledged masterpiece, making it stronger still. So what raging idiot would want – or even need? – some knackered burn-out screeching excruciating parodies of their finest, long-gone moments? Frankly, that’s best left to failing show-tunes divas, superglued like rotting corpses to the screamingly obvious!
But John – like Brian Eno and Bjork – is continually scaling unexplored, creative heights. Who else would dare imagine deploying an orchestra of flying drones at the Barbican, or blatantly re-working the Velvet Underground’s iconic, pansexual legacy, although bureaucracy crippled the drones idea? Still, no wonder John’s smiling as he leaves, as ragged chants of ‘Happy Birthday’ intermittently pepper his set. Always totally non-precious, unlike Mariah Carey clones who dictate backstage comforts with the ferocity of a third-world dictator, John even treats his 76th birthday as just another gig. An undoubted, trans-genre genius, he may have released ‘Music For A New Society’ way back in 1982, but tonight, his audience – still basking in his scorching afterglow – have almost caught up with him!
George Michael has returned to the UK charts with a number 1 record
George Michael has outsold both P!nk and former One Directioner Niall Horan. The late singer’s release of Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 was announced as the number 1 record, shifting 56,000 copies in its first week. In contrast, when the record was first released 27 years ago, it sold nearly 450,000 copies in its first week. His record outsold P!nk’s album by 30,000 copies, according to the BBC.
So could George Michael and WHAM! finally get to number 1 this Christmas with their hit “Last Christmas”?
Fans of the late superstar have vowed to get WHAM! to number 1 in 2017. Despite its success as a Yuletide favourite, the WHAM! superhit has never been Number 1 in the UK. In the year it was released, 1984, Band Aids’ “Do They Know It’s Christmas” knocked them off the top spot.
“Last Christmas” has sold over 2 million copies as of January 2017 and is the biggest-selling single in UK chart history not to reach number one.
Betway has now placed WHAM’s chances of getting to number 1 at 4/6.
Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “We’ve seen some interesting early money for Wham! to be this year’s Christmas No.1 and have had to cut our offering from 11/4 to 4/6.
“Considering we don’t know which tunes will be launched ahead of the festive season, 4/6 is a short price and could get even shorter as we approach the festive countdown.
“The X Factor was once a safe bet for Christmas No.1, with Shayne Ward and Alexandra Burke bookending four years of chart-toppers from 2005 to 2008, but this year’s winning act is as big as 6/1 to return to the top.”
So who else is in the running, well, there’s the usual suspects, including Cliff Richard (50/1), Slade (100/1), The Pogues (100/1) and Wizzard (100/1).
P!nk has never been one to shy away from changing with the times. With her seventh studio album, the multi-platinum selling artist shows that she’s more than capable of keeping up with the times and with her fans. Beautiful Trauma is sure to be a hit with the whole of the LGBT community with enough attitude and timely angst to make any episode of Drag Race Untucked look more like Toddlers and Tiaras in comparison.
Of course, there are the beautiful and heartfelt songs, such as “Beautiful Trauma”, “But We Lost It”, and “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” that prove P!nk still knows how to write a track that could – given the right/wrong day – bring you to tears. However, it’s the show-stopping anthems on this album that will really leave a mark for me. In such a delicate and politically fragile time worldwide having an artist like P!nk remind us all that we’re stronger together might be exactly what’s needed. The always empowering “What About Us”, which has already made its mark on the Billboard charts, will be sure to be a greatest hit of hers for years to come. The anthem train continues with tracks like “Where We Go” and “I Am Here”, both of which scream of a yearning to live life to the fullest – with catchy, toe-tapping, sing-along chorus’ that will undoubtedly remain in your head for days to boot.
Now, if you’re worried and wondering where the sassy breakup tunes don’t you fret. Eminem is back again, featuring on yet another track with P!nk, for the brilliant “Revenge”, a perfect diss track to take your mind off of any ungrateful ex you might be struggling to forget. “Whatever You Want” and “Secrets”could also fall under the breakup tune umbrella in a slightly more solemn tone that harkens back to The Truth About Love Era ever so slightly and in the best way possible.
Overall, Beautiful Trauma is a solid and fairly eclectic collection of 13 un-skippable tracks. Fans of the old school P!nk are sure to be just as happy as any new fans might be with this one. The one and only gripe from all of us – I’m sure – why isn’t it longer?
