Warning... this is an adult site. If reading or viewing things about what gay men do sexually with one another bothers you - you should not read this blog. This blog is a reflection of my adventures and thoughts. Some are fun, some not so pretty. I won't name names, or kiss and tell... but I will live to tell. And baby, trust me - I am gonna spill it all over your pretty little party dress. Enjoy!
Update: Things have returned to normal and I was credited with the 1,042 views I would normally have. Yes, I realize that globe doesn't tell the whole story, but frequently there are as many as eight or nine people looking at it - so, I'm not delusional.
I went in and looked for emails from google. I thought they were spam. One sent me to approve robot.txt. from various somethings - there were six of them. I had to test each one to see if they were compatible with my site, if they passed, I would then hit the submit button. I don't know if that has anything to do with anything, but I did that. There was also a lot of mumbo jumbo about pages not being indexed and... I don't even know what that means. Something about videos and photos, I think. I didn't mess with any of that.
Anyway, this morning it is back to normal and, yay.
We now resume our regularly broadcast schedule.
Kizzes.
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This is odd.
But this is what I have learned.
Apparently Google has a new analytical program.
So, instead of the 900 to 1,000 clicks a day I used to rack up...
...now, it shows that I have 14-28 clicks a day.
I'm very sad.
I liked watching those clicks add up. It satisfied my ego. (Yes, I have one!)
Well, now I will just have to be content with... I don't know...
I have to find a new reward system.
The writing is reward enough? Having the opportunity is reward enough? Getting to share whatever I want with fourteen people a day... reward enough?
Well, enough.
I'll just keep doing my thing.
Even if not as many people as I thought are watching.
You know... I got that little globe in the upper right. It shares geographically where people are tuning in. I think there's a lot more than 14 people...
But, until I find a solution... I guess I'll just have to eat this shit pie.
Mathematically, the odds are simply against every song released as a single becoming a hit.
So, for today's edition of Who Did It Better?, we're going to take a look at one of the also-rans.
I think it's worthy of a listen because it's a very well-written tune hewn by the hands of an established hitmaker and serves as an interesting opportunity to examine how two artists can take the same song and come up with something a bit different.
Our Night is a song written by Bruce Roberts.
It first appeared on his self-titled debut album on Elektra Records in 1977. A number of songs on the album, many of them co-written with Carol Bayer Sager, caught the ears of industry professionals, musicians and producers leading to a number of artists, including Barbara Streisand, Gladys Knight, Dusty Springfield, Helen Reddy, and Judy Collins, to record their own versions. In fact, out of the nine original tunes on the album, eight of them found homes on other artist's albums.
Shaun Cassidy was coming off of two successful albums and four Top 40 singles. His second album, 1977's Born Late, was even the featured review album in an issue of Rolling Stone magazine and received a relatively positive review. However, by the release of his third album, 1978's million-selling Under Wraps, Top 40 radio was on the decline, his show on ABC television, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries had just wrapped its second season to diminishing ratings, and his days as a teen idol appeared numbered.
Released on July 1, 1978, the album barely cracked the Top 40 on the US Billboard's Hot 200, reaching only #33. It also failed to spin off any major singles. The lead single, the Bruce Roberts penned Our Night peaked at #80. marking Cassidy's final appearance on Billboard's Hot 100.
And that's the whole story.
Now?
On to the competition.
The Song: Our Night
The Competitors: Roberts vs. Cassidy
Our Night - Bruce Roberts
Our Night - Shaun Cassidy
Bruce Roberts
Loads of atmosphere and shimmer in that intro. Love the string sting. Roberts sounds like he's singing in a water well. That guitar work is keeping things percolating nicely. Nice little rev up, though I wish they would have changed things up a bit, added some new elements to distinguish it from the verse. Kicking in the rhythm section would have been a nice idea. should lead to the chorus, but... instead we get verse two, with some new elements added. Backing vocals - a bit silly. Roberts still sounds like he's singing in a different room. I do love his effortless falsetto; best this side of Sam Smith and Freddy Mercury. And a bed of strings rides beneath. A bit too sweet. But it does help with the rev up as we launch into the chorus.
Again, that falsetto. Knocks me over. Every time. I like the backing vocals here. Better blend. Ah, disco strings. Would be nice if there was some bass to go with it. This production lacks bottom (no offense, Bruce.)
Well, this arrangement, particularly the strings, they're of an age, now aren't they. Haven't aged all that well, but as a time capsule? Too sweet. I think disco strings work best when in drama mode. This seems a bit fey.
Roberts' vocals heat up. Nice to hear some fire. And I do adore that plucked guitar. It really adds texture and energy. Still not sold on the back-up vocal echoes. I think it's a mistake to rely solely on those strings for the rev up. The don't hold any weight.
I know what I want to hear... some new wave elements to give this more shape. However, given that this is 1977, I'm about two years early. Tom Dowd, the man behind the mixing board on this one, is responsible for Rod Stewart's commercial breakthrough in the states - 1976's Night On The Town. Merely one among numerous other successful, classic rock albums he'd produce over the years.
That chorus absolutely soars. Stupid flute. Finally the horns show up. Some bottom... and funky bottom at that! I can tell you right now... this little breakdown bridge section? Had we started the song here and built from there, we'd be talking a whole different ballgame. But then the strings take over again, along with the female backing vocals which still am not sold on (too Vegas) and then... oh, dear. A damn flute solo. Kill me.
And the chorus soars. Great energy here on this final chorus. I even like those male back up vocals. Again... that's really where we should have started. Everything before? Too couched. Too precious. If we're doing disco, then let's dance. I wish the horn section had driven this.
Okay, regarding Roberts vocals and his attempt at giving things an edge? Sort of comes of a bit whiny instead. I adore his voice, I just want something more solid from him, more direct. He sings almost everything from just below the bottom of his nose to the out of the top of his head. It's an incredible gift, but he has a throat. I would have asked him to dig a bit further into his lower range on this, in order to ground things. Maybe they were going for a Leo Sayer You Make Me Feel Like Dancing sound? That would explain the heavy reliance on the strings to drive things. But Sayer has a bit of grit to his delivery. I think Roberts could have, too.
Mixed feeling about this one.
Shaun Cassidy
Did I say I wanted disco? Hmm.
This is cheesy. Not funky. Cheesy, the same way Leif Garret's big hit, I Was Made For Dancing, is cheesy.
But, maybe I've spoken to soon. What's saving this is that chunky guitar. The strings are whirling like a mirror ball, but that guitar is grounding this just enough for me. Oddly, this is the touch of new wave I was pining for when listening to Robert's version.
And Cassidy sounds committed and tight, bringing a touch of grit to his vocals. I'm buying this. He borrows a bit of Robert's inflection on the second verse, but the phrasing reminds me of his stepbrother, David.
That chorus clicks, too. So, this is the first time I'm hearing this and so far the arrangement, though a tad dense, has everything I wanted when listening to Roberts. That revved up tempo is helping, as well. When he sings the word 'right' at the end of the chorus? Pure David Cassidy.
Okay, the backing vocals on verse three? Maybe not. Oh, and I just checked, and sure enough, the same dude who produced Leif Garret's Top Ten hit, I Was Made For Dancing, Michael Lloyd, is the one twisting the knobs on this little cream puff.
Cassidy's vocals are also bringing to mind Eric Carmen. That bridge? I don't know if I care much for the guitar solo - seems rather messy and unfocused, but I do love when everything comes to a halt and Cassidy rocks it. The backing vocals, however, are not working for me.
This could start to fade at the 3:12 mark and I would be very happy. Granted, Cassidy is having a lot of fun and it's rather infectious.
I really like that jam where the piano competes with the rhythm guitar; chunky fun. I would have swapped a bit of this out for the guitar solo.
Huh. I must say... I am pleasantly surprised.
The Verdict
Cassidy takes it.
I love Roberts. But his version is too fey for me. Atmospheric, yes, but the strings are angelic and never dig in. But then, neither does Roberts until the very end. It's pretty, and tuneful, but... so what? Isn't sugar pop enough to make me want to hear it again, nor is it's disco leanings anything that make my feet want to dance. I think this is a 1976 era Leo Sayer wannabe misfire.
I don't care for the backing vocals, except on the chorus, too much in either version.
The strings in Cassidy's version bother me, as well; they're too textbook cheesy disco. It 's Cassidy's vocals and the rhythm guitar work that keep me listening and my toes tapping. I would have danced to this. There's enough Eric Carmen like power pop and David Cassidy charm to grab me.
Too bad this didn't get more airplay. It might have made folks reconsider Cassidy as something other than a teen girl heartthrob. In any event, even though I grew up listening to the Roberts' version...
It's Cassidy for me.
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And that's enough of me.
Alright, your turn! Leave your choice and thoughts in the comments section. You know how I love ot hear what you're thinking.
Today's quiz is all about things you wish were real or that you could create and make a reality.
The people involved can be living or dead - it's your wish, so you get what you want.
Nothing's off the table. Let your imagination go. Open up your id. Make like Frozen and Let It Go!
So? Close your eyes, click your heels three times and...
Make a wish!
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1/ Movie you wish someone would make.
Remember the 1994 movie, Guarding Tess? It starred Shirley MacLaine as a former first lady of the United States and Nicolas Cage playing the Secret Service agent in charge of protecting her.
Yeah.
I want to do something similar.
Only it's about the orange ogre (played by William Shatner) and a pair of Secret Service agents ordered to protect him, played by Wanda Sykes and Bridget Everett. Hank Azaria has a supporting role as the orange ogre's 'doctor.' A botox-filled Gwyneth Paltrow plays I-Stanka, Jennifer Lopez is Melanoma, a coked-out Steve Buscemi plays Cokehead Jr., Jennifer Coolidge as Cokehead Jr.'s girlfriend, Ben Affleck as Tweedle Dumb, and a piece of Formica plays Kushner.
Lots of fun with clandestine trips to The Red Door Clinic, scraping fast food off the walls, and playing 'hide the cocaine' with Cokehead Jr. In the end, the two agents stumble on the 15 boxes of missing classified documents... and that is when the hilarity really begins!
2/ Person you wish would star in a gay porn film.
Since I don't believe in straight actors playing gay men, that limits my choices just a bit...
But I think I want Doogie Hauser, M.D. to get gang banged by The Pride Studio crew.
Yeah, Neil Patrick Harris, you bend over the back of that couch and take it up the man pussy like the little bitch we all know you truly want to be.
No. Sorry. I really love the dude. So I mean all of this in the best way possible.
I just really would like to see the cum run out of his tight little ass.
Please excuse how graphic this is... but, yes, obviously, I've given this some thought.
3/ Songwriter you wish to write a song with.
I'd pick Janis Ian, but I don't think she has the patience to collaborate. Musically, she's so advanced, I would bore her to death and she'd just want to leave early.
I'd love to gather Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen, and Melissa Manchester together, but we'd just end up falling all over each other, getting in each other's way.
So... I'd go with either Roberts (who I suspect wouldn't like me much) or Manchester (because we'd have a good laugh, if nothing else.)
So, Manchester... I'd want to tap her earth mother persona.
4/ Music Duet you wish to hear.
There are so many... but - here's one.
Sam Smith and Alison Moyet.
It's a good marriage. He brings the fey upper tones, she brings her deep-basin alto.
Together? They could sing anything.
5/ Concert or event you wish existed
Gay-La-La-Palooza.
I want all the divas and queens present. It runs Wednesday thru Sunday. Headlining various nights: Elton John with The Pet Shop Boys and Erasure, kd lang with Melissa Ethridge, Vanessa Carlton and Brandi Carlile, Frank Ocean with Lil Nas X, The Scissor Sisters with Goldfrapp, and Janelle Monáe.
There would be a Totally Queer tent, for acts like Sophie, Mina Caputo, Young M.A, Syd, Big Freedia, Ezra Furman, PWR BTTM, Kevin Abstract, Taco Cat, Pabllo Vittar, Ferras, Brockhampton and Anohi.
A tent for legacy acts like The Indigo Girls, Joan Jett, The Tom Robinson Band, Wendy & Lisa, Boy George, Tracy Chapman, Frenchie Davis, Ani DiFranco and Me'shell Ndegeocello,
A tent for all the drag queens who sing and slay... Trixie Mattel is the hostess! Ginger, Alaska and Jinkx. Peppermint, Willam, and Sharon Needles, too.
Ty Hendron, Rufus Wainwright, Wrabel, Peaches, Mika, Adam Lambert, Tegan and Sara, Pansy Division, Halsey, Tove Lo, Ricky Martin, Orville Peck, Chely Wright, Shamir, Troye Sivan, Sam Smith, Justin Tranter, A Great Big World...
Just imagine the green room chatter!
Yes, it needs to be a gay old time for all.
Which means Morrissey isn't invited - because he'd just put the piss on everything.
6/ Artist you wish would paint your portrait.
Tamara de Lempicka.
Adore her work.
And... she'd make me look timeless.
And I've always wanted to be beautiful.
7/ Fashion Designer you wish would design a line of clothing exclusively for you.
Edith Head.
My life is a motion picture - well, not these days, but that could change!
I'd tell her... just go mad, darling. I want themes and hidden meanings.
Aww, the reality...
I'd just want Jill Sanders and a really fantastic dry cleaner.
8/ Architect you wish would design you a home.
Kodasema - I adore Koda's micro homes.
Another I would consider is a portable house by Ábaton Arquitectura.
I simply adore the economy of space, the lack of impact on the environment and the mobility factor.
Though I do worry about the bathroom situation, which is why I need mine specially designed. I don't do tiny bathrooms. I like high ceilings and lots elbow room. I really only need three rooms - an office/kitchenette, a studio/living room (a real piano is a must) and a big bathroom with a stackable washer/dryer. I can sleep anywhere. Even the floor.
It's what lies outside the house that is of more importance. I want to be out there in the air. And there needs to be a bit of integration between the two.
9/ A place you wish would remain the same forever.
You'd think I'd say the prairie, but no. It's nature's nature to change, grow, alter, diminish, transpire.
I wouldn't deny such a beautiful place it's process.
Nope.
I pick my basement studio. There is something timeless about it. I love it's flow and openness. I love how compact it is. And I love the sense of safety it provides. It's a bunker.
It separates me from the world.
That said, I do have renovation plans. It needs a bit of finish work and the kitchenette area is dire. I know exactly what I want, and have the financial means to accomplish it. I simply need to find the right person to do the work. Everybody I think to ask turns out to be a bit of a fuck up. I find the perfect sort of handy person, and we hire him to do work on one of our properties and before you know it, issues arise.
So, not sure when I will pull the trigger.
In the meantime... I feel safe.
This place? It makes me happy.
10/ Pair of people you wish were running mates for the 2024 election
Ideally? Elizabeth Warren and AOC.
They'd flush this country's toilet quite quick.
It would just be nice to hear from people who speak the truth for a change.
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And that's enough of me.
Okay, your turn.
Leave your answers in the comments section, or post on your blog and leave a link here.
Just another gay blogger sharing thoughts, stories, adventures, photo essays, and the like. I adore the community found here on blogger. Simply the best people. I feel fortunate to be anywhere and am grateful for the opportunity to write and share my thoughts.
