Wonderland Burlesque: July 2022

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: Bernadette Peters

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip:

Bernadette Peters

In my own personal big gay church, there is a wing dedicated to what can only be described as...The True Divas. These are ones who may do many things in life, but from the moment they opened their mouths to sing they became the one thing they were meant to become: a true diva.

One such soul?

A Gibson Girl born out of time. A Kewpie Doll come to life.

The exquisite, fearless Bernadette Peters.

To say she cut her teeth on Broadway? Not too far of a jump. She was touring with her mother and sister in a production of Gypsy when she was just a wee thing, understudying the part of Dainty June.

Of course, we all know she went on to conquer 42nd Street.

Along the way, she sang some songs and made a few films... a few television shows... won a couple of awards...

But her heart belongs to Broadway. And homeless animals. And the gay community.

Yes, this diva is multi-talented and as unique as any snowflake, any diamond. And when it comes to causes close to her heart?

She's fierce. The lady walks the walk.

She's long been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Her advocacy for the cause, includes decades of service as a trustee on the board of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, along with performing numerous benefit concerts for New York’s GMHC.

And in 1999, with the late Mary Tyler Moore at her side, she launched Broadway Barks an annual event that benefits New York animal shelters and adoption agencies.

Big talent. Big passion. Big heart.

The gospel according to her?

Well, here are three from the hip, dropping from her lips.

The topic? The Gay Community

"I’ve always said they have great taste! (laughs) You know what it is, when a person is born and sensitive and when a gay person is born, they start to notice that they’re different after a while. They become very in tune to things that have meaning and importance. I’ve learned that I’m a sensitive person too, and I may gravitate towards songs or lyrics that might relate to those types of people."

"When I was on the road with Gypsy. I was thirteen and I just understood that some of the dancers were gay. I mean, they didn’t come up to me at thirteen years old and say, 'Well, I’m gay.' It was just part of my ambience. I wasn’t living in a society or a world or a place where people were afraid to come out. I was in a world where people were who they were."

"Talking about coming out: A dear, dear friend of mine had to come let me know that he had HIV. He wanted to let me know because we were so close. I said, “Well, let’s just deal with it.” And that’s what I did."

"When there's a terrible illness like AIDS sweeping through, you help people."

"When something isn't done, you want to do something about it."

"It was one of the most exciting, perfect evenings of my life, my solo debut at Carnegie Hall. And knowing we were all there to raise money for Gay Men's Health Crisis made the evening an extraordinary experience."

"I lost a very dear friend who lived with AIDS for about 17 years. Rejecting early treatments that were iffy, he thought he saved himself. I really miss him a lot."

"I feel strongly for gay marriage to be accepted."

"I think it’s healthy to commit to somebody and say, 'This is my life, and this is who I love, and we have a life together.' And it’s so important for young people who feel that they’re gay to realize they can have a lovely, loving family. And not to feel like something is wrong with them, to feel like they don’t have to hide anything. And I think even parents are coming around too, more and more. Not everybody, but more and more. That’s all good."

"I was for same-sex marriage right from the beginning. It took me a while to grasp 'my husband/my wife,' but those are just words, you know? It just makes me so happy to hear. I was talking to some fellow in the airport and he was just chatting. I saw a wedding band on him, and he said, 'my husband.' It just sounded so wonderful to hear him say that. It’s great. It’s just great."

Self-Improvement - Bernadette Peters

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Bernadette Peters

Falling In Love With Love - Bernadette Peters

And one last parting shot...

"Animals speak with pure affection. It's important to me to get something going in New York so we can get to be a no-kill city, and give the animals homes and more attention and love."

"My heart goes out to these animals in shelters, and the euthanasia that’s so unnecessary; they really do communicate with us if you give them half a chance. We’ve learned that dogs have a 500-word vocabulary. They understand a lot."

"A lot of people are now getting rescue dogs - dogs from shelters - where, at first, they thought there was something wrong with them. But there’s nothing wrong with them, it’s just that people get allergic, people lose their homes, people move, whatever. But there are very adoptable, beautiful animals in the shelter. And by the way, Washington D.C. has a great Humane Society. They do great work with shelter animals."

"I want to take it further and raise even more money... It’s a rescue group that works so hard. They are my heroes - who pull the dogs out of the city shelters and get them help. Get them adopted. And I really want to get New York to be a no-kill state. It’s great, because now they do Beltway Barks in Washington, and other people across the country, other actors, they’ve asked to do it also. Many more people are becoming more aware of rescues, and it’s absolutely wonderful. It thrills me that it’s becoming much more mainstream."

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Army Of Lovers

Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole:

Army Of Lovers

We're off to Sweden for today's edition of Down The Rabbit Hole.

Euro synth disco. Androgyny. Drag queens. Outrageous costumes. Behind the scenes drama. Worldwide success.

What is not to love about these queens?

Army Of Lovers formed in 1987 from the ashes of a Swedish band called Barbie. Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda, and Camilla Henemark (aka La Camilla) immediately began poking holes in the fabric of any and all prudish European holdouts; this wasn't pop music... this was a sexual revolution.

Yeah... ABBA, this aint!

Thanks to the outlandish, bizarre (and maybe just a tad tacky) costumes created by Camilla Thulin and the innovative videos directed by Fredrik Boklund, the trio attracted attention like a lightening rod.

Barbie Goes 'Round The World - Army Of Lovers

In 1986, as a nod to their former band, the trio released a one-off single, a bit of Pet Shop Boys-like pop, Barbie Goes Around The World, which was accompanied by an artful video featuring outrageous costumes and visuals. This was followed up with another stand-alone single, 1987's When the Night Is Cold.

When The Night Is Cold - Army Of Lovers

The origins for the band's name references an infamous documentary film entitled, Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts by German gay rights activist Rosa von Praunheim - a title which alludes to the Sacred Band of Thebes; a troop of select soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC, ending Spartan domination.

How's that for some gay history!

Alexander Bard was known as the brains behind the band, while Jean-Pierre Barda served as the lead vocalist with La Camilla providing vocal support and visual appeal. Bard and Barda are the only two band members who remained present throughout all of the band's various line-ups.

Their female counterparts became something of a revolving door; La Camilla left in 1991, replaced by Michaela de la Cour. In 1992, the band became a quartet when Dominika Peczynski joined their ranks. Then, in 1995, another shake up ensued when Michaela De la Cour left and Camille Henemark returned.

Ride The Bullet - Army Of Lovers

Musically, the group focused on experimenting with various club sounds and samples for their first album, 1990's Disco Extravaganza, which was later re-issued as Army of Lovers in the US market. Two singles were released from this set, Ride the Bullet (with La Camilla), which attracted quite a bit of attention and My Army of Lovers - a rewrite of their first single, Barbie Goes 'Round The World.

My Army Of Lovers - Army Of Lovers

This was followed up the next year with their most popular album, a mix of pop and dance sounds, appropriately titled Massive Luxury Overdose, now featuring Michaela. Three major singles were released from the album. The first, Crucified, which remains their biggest hit, went worldwide, charting for 31 weeks on the Eurochart, peaking at #14.

Crucified - Army Of Lovers

They found similar success with their second international hit, Obsession, which charted for 32 weeks, while peaking at #29. Two versions and videos were released for the song, one featuring La Camilla, and the other, with her replacement, Michaela de la Cour.

Obsession - Army Of Lovers (w/ La Camilla)

Obsession - Army Of Lovers (w/ Michaela)

A third single, a version of their previous single Ride The Bullet, with vocals by Michaela was also released.

The album managed to sell 250,000 copies in Germany alone and was later released in the US market, featuring Michaela on vocals, a new cover and four new tracks - including their latest single, Judgement Day.

Judgement Day - Army Of Lovers

However, viewed as little more than a curiosity and deemed 'too European,' the group's songs failed to make much of a mark in the US.

Israelism - Army Of Lovers

This is why their third album, 1993's The Gods of Earth and Heaven, was never released in the US. Another reason? The controversary surrounding the first single from the album, Israelism, which received radio airplay in several European countries and topped the charts in Israel, despite being subject to criticism.

Other singles released from the album included: La Plage de Saint Tropez, Sons of Lucy, and I Am.

I Am - Army Of Lovers

Now a quartet, with the addition of Dominika Peczynski, the group had solidified a cult following who would travel the world to attend one of the band's live appearances. A fourth album, Glory, Glamour and Gold (1994), was supported by a club tour across Germany, during which the band promoted same-sex marriage.

Sexual Revolution - Army Of Lovers

In 1995, Army of Lovers released their first best-of compilation entitled Les Greatest Hits, which included three new songs. One year later, it was re-released with one additional new song, King Midas a song written by Jonas Berggren from Ace of Base. The new song featured La Camilla, who had returned to the fold, replacing Michaela.

King Midas - Army Of Lovers

I was at this time that Bard chose to disband the group, so he could focus his energies on his new venture, a band called Vacuum.

Army of Lovers reformed briefly in 2001 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough single, Crucified. A new greatest hits compilation was released, featuring two new songs, Let the Sunshine In and Hands Up (with La Camilla and Dominika,) along with a documentary tracing the group's storied history.

Hands Up - Army Of Lovers

Army of Lovers would reform in 2012, with Alexander Bard, Jean-Pierre Barda and Camilla Henemark on board, to enter the 2013 Melodifestivalen with the song Rockin' the Ride. They hoped to represent Sweden at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, however, their entry failed to reach the finals.

Rockin' The Ride - Army Of Lovers

2013 Melodifestivalen

Drama ensued!

A few days after their performance at Melodifestivalen, Bard called the press to announce that, once agian, Camilla Henemark had been kicked out of he group and would be replaced by Dominika Peczynski. More scandal quickly followed, as reports of a very public fight with Bard and Dominkia ganging up on La Camilla hit the papers.

Signed On My Tattoo - Army Of Lovers

feat. Gravitonas

Yet another compilation album was released in 2013. The appropriately titled Big Battle of Egos featured four new songs, including a duet with Bard's latest effort, a group called Gravitonas, titled Signed On My Tattoo.

An EP, Scandinavian Crime, followed in June of that same year, containing newly recorded versions Rockin' The Ride and Tragedy, with Dominika's vocals replacing those of La Camilla. In addition, in July of 2013, a revamped version of the band's biggest hit was released as Crucified 2013. It was chosen as the official anthem of Copenhagen's 2013 Pride Celebration.

Crucified 2013 - Army Of Lovers

To this day, the band continues to make the occasional appearance, although Barda officially 'retired' from the music business in 2015. Now a trio, composed of Bard, Barda and Dominika, their hardcore fans remain as devoted as ever.