The pace picks up a little in new music releases this week. Top cool pick for the week: Now That Sounds Kosher!. It surveys the history of Jewish comedy music, going back to good ol' Allan Sherman and Tom Lehrer, and forward through Weird Al. I'm curious about "Man Of Constant Tsuris" by The Soggy Matzoh Boys. That sounds VERY wrong. It also, naturally, includes "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore" by Kinky Friedman. If you don't own this classic song, that alone would constitute a good reason to get up on this.…
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26 - Aaman
Like Dorothy
27 - Eric Olsen
you mean the Wizard's Dorothy?
28 - Aaman
Yes - I'm sure you know the appropriation of Dorothy as a symbol for the gay movement, esp. the 'rainbow' - It was more Judy Garland, really who was the symbol(friend of Dorothy). Someonce could provide additional info - interesting analysis on sex in Oz here, not down Under
The term "Gay" was used by Gertrude Stein in her story about Miss Furr and Miss Skeene in 1922 - probably an early reference.
29 - Eric Olsen
indeed, I was being funny (again) by quoting the movie
30 - Bill Lamb
Eric, again, I just find it very interesting that only a group of straight men here seem to be identifying Kenny Chesney and Prince with "gayness" enough to make a joke about it. You have to have a concept of gay to have it be funny, don't you?
I don't know any gay men who really seem to have any concept of what makes women sexually appealing to men, but Al's comment reeks of seeing something in Kenny Chesney...otherwise the joke wouldn't be funny at all. I find that very interesting.
My supposition is that gay men don't tell jokes about "straight enough" because 1) They really don't have much of a clue about being straight or even think they do and 2) They really don't care.
It just seems Al has some concept of "gay" that other straight men find funny...and seems to care enough about Kenny Chesney looking "gay" to make a joke about it...that's my point.
Sarcasm is fine, if it makes sense.
By the way, Al's original reference is here from SNL way back in 1994 with Norm McDonald:
http://www.fakenews.net/update/1994_12_03.html
He was referring to Interview With the Vampire...a movie about a bisexual vampire. It's funny to me because there is gay content in the movie and gay people often whine and bitch about ostensibly gay pop culture not being 'gay enough.' - 'Will and Grace' for example. That's where the humor originated. And yes, Norm McDonald's humor was aimed directly at concepts of 'gayness.'
31 - Eric Olsen
I'm sure that's a fair objection, but surely you can see a studied attempt to foster a gender-bending image throughout Prince's career? We're talking about image.
Regarding Kenny: I don't think anyone commenting cares one way or the other about the REAL Kenny Chesney, I assume he's straight because I always assume people are straight unless I am clued in otherwise. I just don't think about it very much one way or the other, but the picture in question is hilarious as a caricature of a "gay cowboy" stereotype and I am absolutely certain that it wasn't meant to be that. That is where the humor comes from for me, that and Al's wordplay.
32 - Shark
Lamb, suffice it to say that I hate having to explain this kinda stuff.
Saleski: "i think yer sarcasm detector is busted."
Add to that, his irony meter.
33 - Bill Lamb
Eric,
A sincere thank-you...you finally answered the question I was asking in the first place. Thank you.
One small caveat on Prince...gender identification and sexual orientation are two very very different things. Transgender and androgyny have nothing to do with straight, gay or bisexual sexual orientation. It is a confusion many make however.
I've known transgender and crossdressing people that were straight and ones that were gay...their own gender identity had nothing to do with who they were attracted to.
34 - Eric Olsen
okay good, it all boils down to image
35 - Shark
Lamb: "One small caveat on Prince...gender identification and sexual orientation are two very very different things. Transgender and androgyny have nothing to do with straight, gay or bisexual sexual orientation."
Big Al will be thrilled to hear that!
36 - Shark
I gotta question for the gang:
I'm sexually attracted to k.d. lang.
Am I gay -- or straight?
Thanks in advance,
Gender Confused Male in Texas
37 - The Theory
..maybe I'm just old school, but I thought "gay" meant happy...
38 - Bill Lamb
Well...you know, a lot of the new Kenny Chesney album is kinda downbeat.
39 - Eric Olsen
Shark, I only think there's an issue if you are attracted to her BECAUSE she's a lesbian: that shit's masochistic and weird.
40 - Al Barger
Geez, people. Let me break it down a little. I do not put much stock in much of any modern so-called "country" music. It ain't country. It ain't country folk making it, not people who grew up in anything like the circumstances that produced most of the classic country music. The sounds they make come out as homogenized, pasteurized country cheese food. Garth Brooks is to country music about what Cheez Whiz from a can is to actual cheese.
Corollary, many of the cowboy affectations in modern country music look campy and gay to me. Kenny Chesney's album cover does not look like a cowboy who's been out tending a herd, but like a member of the Village People on a break from a show at a gay nightclub.
As to Prince, it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out he'd been with men. Besides being a bit of a dandy, he's hinted at such an idea in his music once or twice. For example, in his classic "Anna Stasia" he asked, "Have you ever wanted to play with someone so much you'd take anyone, boy or girl?"
On the other hand, not that it makes any difference whatsoever to the genius of his music one way or the other, Prince is certainly king stud with the ladies. It's all good.
41 - Mark Saleski
i believe that shark has also mentioned that he has an odd attraction to charlie sheen as well.
;-)
42 - Eric Olsen
and make no mistake, k.d. lang is tits on toast from my perspective
43 - Distorted Angel
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
44 - Al Barger
If KD came up crooning "Pulling Back the Reins," she could slap a wig and smear some lipstick on me, and change my name to "Sheila."
45 - Shark
Charlie Sheen? Man, I could never get that drunk.
======
Big Al, all the 'real' country music is comin' outta Texas. And we thank gawd few beyond the Red River know about most of it.
46 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i'd do john cusack for a tenner. Or for free, even. Depends on my mood.
47 - Mroz
I'm glad all of Al's "FANS" speak out when he makes a post requiring very little skill. Cut and paste of the new release list. Its essential... but honestly, you guys need to give Mr. Borland props for that?
Didn't meen to barger in on your love fest for Al... but he's gotta go.
48 - Eric Olsen
it's all about improving the Big Tent from within
Al, Duke, and Chris perform a very valuable and time-consuming task for us each week with the new releases, and we appreciate it very much
49 - HeyThere
What about these pictures?
50 - Al Barger
Thanks, HeyThere. Those are definitely some of the GAYEST pictures ever.
51 - sammyjo
Now that the Chesney-Zellweger farce is over due to FRAUD (codeword for GAY- see author Terry McMillan's similar claim in her divorce from gay husband) we can put this argument to rest and await to see Kenny on the arm of Rob Thomas at the next music award show.
52 - Randy Jones
Hey Kenny,..I've got two passes to see the NYC Premiere of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN...wanna go? Call me. RJ
53 - Randy Jones
Hey Kenny,..I've got two passes to see the NYC Premiere of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN...wanna go? Call me. RJ