Lopez Blogs

I've been a bit enamoured of RuPaul ever since I saw her tell Jan Brady that she better werk in The Brady Bunch Movie. Since then she's had albums out, indulged in book releases and continued with her acting. Most recently RuPaul's Drag Race has dazzled for being one of the most engrossing, entertaining and witty reality competitions on television. Filled with watercooler catchphrases ("ooo girl, you got she-mail"; "it's time to lipsynch... FOR YOUR LIFE"; "if you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen?!") and brilliant self-promotion, one thing always shines through - individuals are to be celebrated for their creativity and style regardless of how they express it. It's this positive theme that carries through to RuPaul's latest album, Glamazon.

More powerful than a BAM from Alexis Mateo, Glamazon is a collection of dance-orientated tunes that radiates values of confidence, acceptance, inner strength, triumph over adversity and a good old fashioned shindig. It's all wrapped up in a modern sounding electro-club vibe with some spot on production from (the very dreamy) Lucian Piane (who appeared on Drag Race when the queens took on different genres for album track Superstar). Lucian also infuses the album with elements of traditional pop, r'n'b and hip hop to keep it interesting and RuPaul keeps pace on every track, ensuring you just want to grab the one you love (or love at that moment :P) and shimmy!

It's a joy from start to finish. The Beginning (of course) kicks off the party atmosphere with cheering crowds and some vicious synth work that really make the track throb. The title track Glamazon is a huge dance number that takes references from Drag Race (Sashay & Shantay) and pulsates with energy. Indeed, this could easily stand up on the charts alongside recent Key-dollar sign-ha, Britney and Lady Gaga tracks. Talking of pop stars, if you are hungering for Madonna to return to a more Confessions era sound (as opposed to Hard Candy) do pay close attention to the sizzling Here It Comes Around Again. It's like Sorry travelled back to the 80s and had a torrid affair with True Blue. RuPaul sounds tremendous on this track and it earns a quick repeat every time it pops up. More dance happens with the effervescent Live Forever, which is firmly rooted in the 90s house era and lures you in to it's hypnotic rhythms and beats. It has a chorus that just keeps on giving and one that refuses to leave your head after just one play. All these tracks will guarantee that people will be jealous of your boogie when they play in your local pub/club/sauna of choice :)

Two of my favourite tracks on the album just happen to be bumping booty in the middle of the cd. Superstar has already appeared on Drag Race and is a lovely, mid tempo ballad. Penned by Lucian and RuPaul, it's an inspirational tune about picking yourself up and becoming the superstar you know you can be. Just listening to it makes you feel better about yourself and RuPaul is in fine vocal form, being given a chance to shine. I can only imagine how this may get remixed and I'm eager to hear those, but here and now for me it's a delight as it is. Responsitrannity is astounding and my definite favourite on the album. I love a bit of word punnilingus in a title and the track is a breezy 80s dance tune with overtones of Daft Punk. AND THEN COMES THE MIDDLE 8! It's like gay church with it's dramatic breakdown and brilliant piano chords. Get ready to testify because this is euphoric stuff :)

All in all, gag on the pop eleganza of this album. Never veering too far from dance, it remembers to keep the all important melody in there too and focus on massive choruses that never stray far from your brain. Lyrically it's witty, emotional and heartfelt - much like Drag Race set to a disco beat. Ultimately it's a layered album that keeps on giving with each listen. Totally anthemic :) Condragulations to all involved...

PS - quite by chance, just seen Lucian Piane in the credits of the Hairspray OST! Who knew? (He probably did). Now i'm off to convince Santino on twitter that he needs to help me revamp my wardrobe :P

I was more than a little mortified recently to read an article about Lady Gaga in Attitude magazine where an 18 year old reader claimed that Lady G was really active in promoting equality whereas singers like Kylie don't really seem to have a message. WHAAAAA? Someone give this kid a history lesson! Kylie is implicitly aware of her audience and has a mutually affectionate relationship with them. She acknowledges them with a playful knowingness, while (for example) speaking out in favour of gay marriage and visually representing this in her exquisite All The Lovers video. Kylie supports her gay fanbase with class and dignity, knowing that they adore her and reciprocating this adoration by surrounding herself with likeminded people whose gay pride shines through in all her works. While the aforementioned All The Lovers is a delightful recent example of this, the Pete Hammond remix of her brillo album track Put Your Hands Up delivers one of the most gratifying nods to the past of recent times...

IF YOU LIKE THIS: I've been more than satisfied, if I'm honest, with the singles choices from Kylie's supremely amazing Aphrodite album. All The Lovers was a slice of summer magic. Get Outta My Way was essential dancefloor giddiness. Better Than Today was lovely end of year optimism, with a theme that linked perfectly with the It Gets Better campaign. So I was sad that there will (allegedly?) be no more singles from this opus. However and hurrah - Pete Hammond of PWL/SAW fame has only gone and reswizzled the already extremely pleasing Put Your Hands Up and created a bit of a "pop will eat itself" moment with the heady results! In the same way that Lady Gaga visited 1989 Madonna's Express Yourself with Born This Way, Pete Hammond has been utterly respectful of Kylie's past by creating a sound that is somewhere in between her own Better The Devil You Know-Shocked era, while keeping it totally relevant, fun and dancefloor ready. It's one of those remixes that completely reinvents an album track, much in the same way that the single mix of What Do I Have To Do did back in 1991. It all adds up as a deliciously edible morsel of pop that teases and tantalises the current world tour. I'm so so ready to get my splashzone on next weekend (on April 2nd), feeling fierce & mighty, and witness how the incomprable Steve Anderson has prepared Aphrodite for the stage. Squeal!!


THEN TRY THIS: If the early 90s pop majesty of the above track has got you in a spin, you could do far worse than track down RuPaul's The Main Event (Matt's 80s Pop Mix) which soundtracks the end of each Drag Race episode this year (is it me or is season 3 more scintillating than ever? Ooo girl, you got she-mail!!). While deftly recreating the Stock Aitken Waterman sound of the 80s, this devillishly delivered swirling pop-dance gem gives you a good idea of what Jason Donovan might sound like if Pete Hammond remixed an up to date pop track of his. It absolutely sparkles from start to finish and if upcoming album "Glamazon" is anywhere near as enticing as this, i'm going to be gagging on it's eleganza!! If you can't love this tune, how in the hell you gonna love anyone else?! (Can I get an amen??)