HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi cutie peeps - all the best for 2010. Wishing you health; prosperity and best wishes for the new year.

The Castro

This post is a bit long overdue. Last month I was in San Fran and Boston to visit some friends and to enjoy the Thanksgiving week (I know it's long gone - but forgive me - I was just a bit lazy).

I have been to San Fran 3 times and just passed through the Castro for clubbing sakes, but never really took the time to walk around, takes pics, check out the every day hotties and cuties and just enjoy the pace of life there.

Well - this time I did. What's stuck in my head is:

1) That huge pride flag outside of the Diesel store;

2) All those pride flags that seems to grace every building facade on Castro Street;

3) And of course - being amongst "family" - where you are the "norm" and not the "exception".

Well - here are some pics from my visit:

This was the former "photoshop" of Harvey Milk - it's now called "given" and they sell jewellery

And speaking of Harvey's - this is a restaurant named after the man himself. This place had a massive menu and the food looked great. I just had a glass of wine and looked at the people passing by.

And speaking of passer's by - this is my view outside of "Harvey's".

What was also cool was that I manage to get some "sexy stuff there" and almost everyone was telling me about these "places" that "things happen when the sun goes down". Well I was really tempted - but there was no way I was going there alone - anyways - you gotta love The Castro.

Anyway peeps - take care - TTYL!

My Pick of Top Movies 2009

OK - Just back from seeing "Avatar" and absolutely loved it. Whilst looking at it it really reminded me of "Dances With Wolves". There are some parallels - for one Kevin Costner was like Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar - some form of military recruit or ex-recruit who had a mission against the "indigenous" - in the case of Dances With Wolves  - it was the Native Indians. Both fell in love with the lifestyle of the "indigenous" and rebelled against their own race in the name of love and justice.

"Avatar reminded me of Dances with Wolves"

Both choose a life whose choice was not easy but seemed to be the right thing for want of something bigger and for what is right!

I also got to thinking about the movies I saw in 2009, those that I wanted to see but did not; and those that I just did not want to see.

For those that I have seen here are my Top 10 for 2009:

10. Twilight : New Moon
9. The Ugly Thruth
8. The Proposal
7. I Love You Man
6. District 9
5. Avatar
4. The Hangover
3. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
2. Star Trek
1. Julie and Julia

Ok Ok - The list is my picks and I am a fan of the Harry Potter movies. But there are also some flicks that I wanted to see and I have heard good reviews about some of these - so if I did see them maybe they would be on my list - most notably "Paranormal Activity" - everyone who saw this said it was good and was also "scary" - so because it was "scary" I opted to miss out on it (Hey I live alone and sometimes it's scary to watch my 4 walls).

There were also a bunch of movies I saw that were good but for one reason or the other they did not make my list e.g.

- Transformers 2 - it was good but I got really confused during the plot;
- Friday the 13th - it was good but it's been done too many times. Of course seeing Jared Paldecki was a plus since he looks so good in jeans (and I love him in "Supernatural").
- Up - loved it - but somehow I prefer the whole vamp/wolf thing in New Moon.

There was also a bunch of movies that I saw that I wanted to forget - most notably "Drag Me to Hell" - I walked out of the movie theatre, before the movie ended - the movie was funny - but also annoying. Also "G.I. Joe" - it was action oriented but Channing Tatum was just so one dimensional as an actor in this movie.

And finally there were some movies which I just did not get a chance to see - "2012" ; "The Blind Side"; "Precious" and "Couples Retreat"....they are on my lost of "must sees"....

Any way peeps - TTYL!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

HI CUTIES - KEEPING IT SHORT!


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT, SAFE AND FUN HOLIDAY SEASON.

XOXOXOX!

Foreigner - More Popular in the 80's

This is another installment of "More Popular in the 80's" where I look at bands who were huge in the 70's but made a much bigger name for themselves in the 80's - or have made a comeback thus opening their music to a new generation. The series has covered Aerosmith, Heart, Starship and now Foreigner.


Foreigner was a band I remembered well while growing up. We had all of their albums (on Vinyl) from their debut to 1987's Inside Information. My brother, sis and I were huge fans. Up to today, I still play Foreigner on my IPOD at the gym to run or to work out to - Hot Blooded is in constant rotation.


I always liked their album covers particularly 1977's Foreigner. And their music was hard rocking and made me feel to get on a Harley and ride over the mountains in a hot black leather jacket -  ahhhh yes!


I had the privilige of seeing Foreigner live in 1991 - not in their prime but still sounding great.

Background

Class rockers - Foreigner (1970's)

This is band whose rock is straight up, unadulterated, American rock! It's interesting I said that because the founding members are British and the lead singer - Lou Gramm is American. The band was formed in New York City in the mid 70's and has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, with 38 million in the US alone - WOW!

The band was formed in 1976 and had numerous charting singles and albums in the 1970's, and continued this success throughout the early to mid-80's.

Their classic love ballad "Waiting for a Girl Like You" spent 10 unastounding weeks at #2 and never made it to number one - too bad! This song is an absolute gem....even if it's about a girl. The band also had it's one and only #1 hit "I Wanna Know What Love Is" in 1985 - which has been done by several artists - most recently Mariah!

But the sound of the band in the 1970's was hard - it rocked - it was unapologetic - and the band made some of the most memorable rock hits in the 1970's - like "Long Long Way from Home (played in Season 4 of "Supernatural" - YEAH BABY!); Hot Blooded (played in the BK commercial); Double Vision; Cold As Ice; and Feels Like the First Time (re-made by Daughtery).

Let's look at the band in the 1970's:

Foreigner - 1970's

The band was formed in 1976 and was made up of 6-members - 3 Brits and 3 Americans - hence the name "Foreigner" (so my intro about American rock - is justified - well 50% anyways). In the 70's the band released three albums (all of which I have on Vinyl):

1977 - Foreigner

Foreigner (self-titled) came out in 1977 and sold 5 million in the US - it was a major hit and included some rock classics - Long Long Way from Home; Feels Like the First Time and Cold As Ice. These songs can still be heard on rock radio today.

Debut album - 5 million sold. Had two rock classics Feels Like the First Time (#4) and Cold as Ice (#6)

I actually have this album and for some reason I liked the look of the album cover! I think it was the cool long coats and the colours.

1978 - Double Vision

The follow up to their debut was "Double Vision" and it included the rock classics - "Hot Blooded" and "Double Vision".

Super album - 7 million sold - Hot Blooded and Double Vision were on this album.

1979 - Head Games

The 3rd album was "Head Games " - it had the below album cover which scared me a bit back then. It sold 5 million.

There was so much left to the imagination on this album cover - too scary for me.

Foreigner - 1980's

"4"

The band did pretty well in the 1970's, but their success was much better in the 80's starting with one of the best rock albums to come out of the 1980's - "4" (as in their fourth album - the band Toto seemed to follow in this footstep and also named their album "4"). This album in itself was like a greatest hits - it had so many good songs on it!

I remember my brother buying this album and bringing it home...we throwed it on the turntable and blasted "Urgent"

This album was released in 1981, and had some major hit singles -

1. URGENT (re-made by Shannon) - this song was an instant rock classic - it reached #4;
2. WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU- this song was huge - I mean - it spent 10 weeks at #2 and it could not seem to get that extra push. It's still a huge it on Adult Contemporary radio.
3. JUKE BOX HERO - this song rocks - the roar of that guitar when the chorous kicks in is like a lamb becoming a lion - love it!

The album had in all 5 Top 100 singles which in the early 80's was a significant feat. The album sold 6 million in the US.

"Agent Provacateur"

It sold 3 million in the US.

The band's next album was "Agent Provocateur" which gave the band their first US #1 "I Wanna Know What Love Is" - this is a good song - but not one of my faves from the band. This album had a couple of great songs including "That was Yesterday".

"Inside Information"

Following this was "Inside Information" released circa 1987 - to me this was a really smooth mellow album which I quite fancied - some great rock ballads emerged - "Say You Will" and "I Don't Want To Live Without You" - both Top 10 hits. This album also gave Foreigner there last major singles for success. Soon after this the 90's came and the band had some good albums but nothing was as big as what they had in the 80's.

The 90's was not so kind to the band as musical tastes and markets changed, but their print on the 70's and 80's is undeniable - they spewed out some hard rock classics still heard on rock radio today; commercials; TV shows and movies...and had some of the sweetest rock ballads of all time.

The Faves

In conclusion, here are my Top 5 fave Foreigner rocks classics:
5. I Don't Want To Live Without You (from "Inside Information")
4. Cold As Ice (from "Foreigner")
3. Hot Blooded (from "Double Vision")
2. Long Long Way From Home (from "Foreigner)
1. Waiting For A Girl Like You (from "4")

Thanks sexy peeps!

Bloggers for Action - Pencils of Promise

I came across this article in the "Bedlam of Beefy" blog and thought about sharing it with you! If you are into the season of giving - please see link The bedlam of beefy.blogspot_bloggers-taking-action.

I usually do not make endorsements for many of these organisations as sometimes you never know the legit ones - but check out the above link and decide for yourself.

Thanks cuties!

It's Birthday Time Baby

Well beautiful sexy peeps it's my birthday and so far it's off to a lonesome start but I plan to make the most of it...so far family and friends have been checking in on me.... had a hearty breakfast by my lonesome whilst listening to some Christmas music and feeling the love....lesson cuties.....be thankful for all the people you know....even family (hehehehehe).

Well....I had my poll on "What's Your Best Year in the 80's".....and the winner...... 1984.

1984....wow...I am writing from the top of my head....this was a book by George Orwell, a song by the Eurythmics and an album by Van Halen!

Off the Top of My Head
What stands out in my head are the likes of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer". When I saw that 1984 had won, this was the 1st song that came to mind. I remember thinking this song had a great rock feel to it....it was sad as well as reminescent of someone who has loved and lost. I was rooting for this song to hit #1, but I believe it only made it to #4.

Another act that comes to mind is Sheila E's "The Glamourous Life"...I loved the video and look of Sheila E....and she was a kick ass drummer too! I loved looking at this on MTV baby!

I am not sure why the above two comes to mind the most, because I am more influenced by the New Wave of the era...so searching the deeper recesses of my memories....who could forget two of the Top Gay Bands of that era....BRONSKI BEAT and FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD! Which brings us to the Gay Contributors.

The Gay Contributors....some of our pioneers
I blogged about these two bands in one of my previous posts - The Age of Consent

All I can say at this point about these two bands are:

1) Bronski's Beat debut album "The Age of Consent" is about the age of consent of "homosexuality" in many countries around the world, and the inside cover of the album lists the legal ages of consent (albeit 25 years ago).

2) The video for "Small Town Boy" is about a boy coming to terms with his homosexuality . It has many sensitive topics in there like the pain of trying to tell loved ones; and also the hate that many gays of youth has to go through.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJzwlkTchZo

3) Frankie's video I think was 20+ years ahead of its time. It is set with Holly Johnson walking into a gay leather bar, and all of the guys are well...you know. This video was banned on MTV and initially in the UK but then it was eventually re-made for American TV (as a live music video). Too risque at that time I guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLrXFw76Qg

I hope you can read the post I wrote and also take a look at the music videos for Small Town Boy and Relax.

The Classics
1984 also had some super rock classic albums - "Born In The USA" (Bruce Springsteen) and "Reckless" (Bryan Adams).

"Born in the USA" had 7 (yes 7) Top 10 singles (which is comparable to MJ's "Thriller" which also had 7 Top 10 singles).

I voted this album as my second favorite album cover of all time (see link Top Album Covers)

The album stayed more than 80 weeks in the Top 10. I like "Glory Days" and "I'm On Fire" the best.

Then we move on Canadian rocker ...."Bryan Adams".

Reckless was just a big super-album as Born in the USA. It had 6 Top 20 singles; 4 of which were Top 10...and gave us two rock classics - the #1 hit single "HEAVEN" and of course that song we still hear at any 80's memorabilia....SUMMER of '69.

And of course who can forget "Madonna's"....Like a Virgin has set the standard for female popsters from Britney to Lady Ga-Ga. And....

Prince's "Purple Rain", which had "When Doves Cry" which was one of the 1st songs to cross so many genre's....it was big on the pop charts; R&B; with new wavers and it broke across on rock radio too!

The New Wavers
Well, 1984 saw the break through of "Depeche Mode" with their first Top 20 single..."People Are People". Depeche Mode is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I have had the benefit of seeing them in July 2009 in Boston and they stand as my favorite rock concert that I have ever seen....and for me...they were better than U2 whom I also saw in 2009 and the bands have been around for a similar time.

(See my concert post  Depeche Mode Concert_Boston)

There were a whole slew of British bands setting the new wave era of the 80's.....I already mentioned Bronski Beat and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Here's a few more:

- Echo and the Bunnymen;
Post on "Echo & the Bunnymen"


- Alphaville (remember "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young");

- Dead or Alive ("You Spin Me Round");

- Howard Jones;

- Nik Kershaw;

- The Cars (love this band). In one of my posts I mentioned that my favorite album cover of all time was Candy-O
(see link Top album covers);

- Wang Chung (Dance Hall Days);

- Thompson Twins

to name a few.

And of course ..... Duran Duran. This is also one of my fave bands of all time. In 1984 they had their first US#1 single with "The Reflex".... any child of the 80's would love this. These guys had that avant garde dance rock, and they were all so cute too !

See link to a post I wrote on the band (Duran Duran post).

Other Memorable Things
1984 saw U2 having their first Top 40 in the US with the rock classic "Pride (In The Name of Love)",

And what about the band whom I think wrote of the catchiest and best pop songs of all time .....WHAM!

I think they were both cuties!

Yes - this band came out in 1982/83 and were big in the UK before crossing over to the US. The album aptly titled "Make It Big" did make the band a supergroup Internationally - it had four Top 10 hits, three of which were #1's.

That catchy pop number I was referring to is ....."Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go)...which when I listen to it still...I reach the same conclusion..."What a great pop song!" Of course the tracks which followed even proved better...."Careless Whisper" was the ballad for me of the 80's, and it was the #1 song in 1985.

So, in conclusion, I have only mentioned a few of 1984's finest in music and there is so much to mention, so forgive me if I have forgotten something...but in conclusion here is my top 10 songs and albums from 1984.

Top 10 Songs from 1984:
10. Small Town Boy - Bronski Beat
9. The Reflex - Duran Duran
8. Heaven - Bryan Adams
7. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
6. Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung
5. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - WHAM!
4. People are People - Depeche Mode
3. Pride (in the Name of Love) - U2
2. When Doves Cry - Prince
1. Careless Whisper - Wham!

Top 10 Albums from 1984:
10. Age of Consent - Bronski Beat
9. Heartbeat City - The Cars
8. Welcome to the Pleasure Dome - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Isn't this album cover just "gay". I have the white version of the album cover, but this one must be an alternate print.

7. Under A Blood Red Sky - U2


6. Into the Gap - Thompson Twins

5. Like A Virgin - Madonna
4. Some Great Reward - Depeche Mode
3. Make it Big - Wham!
2. Reckless - Bryan Adams
1. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen

Thanks Peeps - and hope you season is merry thus far!

Brad Pitt and Alicia Keys?

It's Jazz Fest tonight and it spanned three nights with tonight (Saturday) being the main night. The line up includes some new comers and some has-beens, but  headlining tonight is Alicia Keys - yes - that sexy diva who sang the dark and beautiful "Fallin'" (which also describes the wonderful Alicia).

Isn't she just gorgeous, and speaking of gorgeous... I heard that Brad Pitt is here as well to see Alicia perform - I am not sure if that is a rumor or not....but I am just hoping to see a slice of that sexy hunka hunk of a man - damn! That man is fine --- ummm mmmmmmm! Wish me luck peeps.

Isn't he just fine - I have always found Brad Pitt to be one of sexiest men I have ever seen...and he is also such a talented actor picking some very obscure roles which just shows how dynamic he is as an actor!

Love you Brad!

TTYL Sexy peeps!

80's Survey

Hi sexy people....I have a survey on my blog site called "Which year do you consider the best for the 80's" - there are only a couple of days left to vote....so far 1983 and 1984 are tied for first place.

So if you were into the :-

- Big wierd hair-do's like "A Flock of Seagulls" (Howard that's you);
- the flourescent leg warmers;
- the coloured plastic bracelets;
- big frizzed hair;
- the jerry-curl;
- the bright make-up and nail polish;
- the "Frankie Says Relax" Tee;
- those jackets which were heavy with the shoulder pads and;
- the Miami-vice style jackets and converse -

Then please take a peak and vote!

That Flock of Seagulls hairstyle - I remember Howard of "Soundtrack to My Day" saying he had one of these. Me - I was always short-hair through the 80's.

Did you own one of these?

Heheheheh - Miami Vice - Don Johnson is wearing my high school grad threads....I rocked then!

Love you peeps!