Get Old Or Die Tryin'

We have not long got back from Essex, where we spent an enjoyable couple of days with the boys of Braintree Manor (Steve and Alex), mainly just sitting in the sunshine in their extensive gardens recovering after the non-stop exotic dancing of the wedding party...

I have not forgotten it is still Tacky Music Monday, however! For a change, rather than my usual visit to the world of Hollywood extravaganzas (see yesterday's post on Alice Faye for that sort of thing) or showcasing exotic wannabee divas from far-flung climes, I thought I'd stick closer to home - to the East End of London, to be accurate.

For Hils and "History Boy" had prepared a genuine surprise treat as entertainment at their wedding party on Saturday - such a closely guarded one that even I did not know who was due to come on until the very last minute. Treating the assembled gathering of family, friends and bar staff(!) to her own singular brand of cross-generational mash-ups and hokey-cokey was none other than our own, our very own Music Hall Singer and Hip Hop/Rap Artist Superstar - Miss Ida Barr! We were thrilled beyond belief...

Ida Barr greets you

In case anyone needs to know more about "the people's pensioner" and how she came to create her classic mixes of such traditional choons as The Boy I Love Is Up In The Gallery with Eminem or Jerusalem with Nicki Minaj, here she is telling the story of her life and career and how she got into R'n'B - her film Artificial Hip Hop (a.k.a. The Angina Monologues):

Ida Barr - Artificial Hip Hop

It was a brilliant turn, a perfect addition to a lovely day's celebrations - and we loved it!

Ida Barr official website

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STOP PRESS - Tuesday 7th May

Just in...

Ida Barr at Hils and Crog's wedding, pt 1

Ida Barr at Hils and Crog's wedding, pt 2

Now that's what I call a party!

Burn the shoes and boil the rice

On this special day for my sister, there is only one song I can play, really...

Madeline Kahn - (Not) Getting Married Today

Hope she keeps it together. Unlike Madeline Kahn.

A sultry tune might provoke an impromptu turn

Thank heavens for the genius that is Mr JD Doyle, creator and curator of one of the greatest websites in gaydom Queer Music Heritage, and presenter of a radio show in the USA of the same name. His latest show is a comprehensive tribute to a great hero of mine - the AIDS campaigner, singer and actor Mr Michael Callen [Read my previous blog in tribute to this great man].

And merely by examining the playlist I stumbled across this work of wonder, which I have never previously heard. Here is Mr Callen duetting with none other than our very own Tom "Glad to Be Gay" Robinson - and a very apt song for my sister's wedding tomorrow! Madam Arcati and I fully expect to be doing this...

Michael Callen and Tom Robinson - Two Men Dance The Tango

Two Men Dance The Tango
by Tom Judson

You'd hardly think it queer if you saw two men drinking beer
It's rather common and most expected
It's not a sight that shocks, two men trading bonds and stocks
It happens daily; I know, I checked it
If you saw two men cowpokes you would sing `Home on the Range'
And two men fighting fires is anything but strange
Then why should it matter if
What's the commotion if
Who cares if...

Two men dance the tango together in the moonlight
A sultry tune might provoke an impromptu turn
If their duet shows a hint of style
Should they be put on trial?
When does a backward dip give cause for concern?

They know excitement lies in store when they trip the light fantastic
There's nothing drastic in feeling the beat within
You'll find adventure in one, two, three
So just remember, when next you see
Two men dance the tango together
You should join right in!

Two fellows on a date who find that things aren't going great
begin to panic; they've made a blunder
The evening shows no hope, in fact they're running out of rope
Like the Titanic, they're going under
But then the band starts pounding a fiery old tattoo
When Latin beats are sounding what are two boys to do?
They leap up from out their seats
Toward that hypnotic beat
And then those

Two men dance the tango together with abandon
There's nothing planned in the rhythmic relief it brings
What sound in heaven could be more pleasing
Than an accordion's wheezing?
Just hear that violin caressing its strings!

When flavours of the Argentine start to issue from the bandstand
Oh it's a grandstand where romance begins to grow
There is no reason for asking why
Don't lose composure if you should spy
Two men dance the tango together
Maybe you should too!

Oh, ev'ry chance they can go
Men go to a dance and tango
So should you!

Here's the full version

Utter fabulosity!

I've got all my sisters with me

It's a sunny day - and a fine weekend in prospect. I am on leave (hurrah), and today we'll be getting Dolores Delargo Towers in some semblance of order as guests arrive later for the "event of the Season". For tomorrow, my dear sister Hils gets married to her beloved "History Boy", and there's a huge party - and gathering of the clans - to celebrate.

To start the festivities, we are draping ourselves in as much flowery chiffon as we can find lying around the place and heading to the nearest park to dance our tits off, just like Sister Sledge - with a most appropriate song for the moment, We Are Family!

Sister Sledge - We Are Family

Thank Disco It's Friday!

Sister Sledge official website