Do queer singers have a responsibility to sing about queer things? According to Jake Shears and his Scissor Sisters, no. The American popsters recently sat down with Me-me-me to discuss the art of queering it up. Or, rather, not queering it up.

Debating whether or not the band's so-called queerness informs their music, Shears insists,

I think it’s shaped our aesthetic. There are no gay lyrics, it’s all totally coded. If you’re looking for a gay message, you totally have to dig.

I’m not interested in singing about gay people... I wanted the music to be accessible. I don’t want to appeal to just a tenth of the population.

The interviewer presses the issue, explaining that straight people identify with "straight" music, so it follows that gay people should be able to identify with 'gay" music. To this the openly gay Shears claims that being gay is but a mere part of his identity and admits that he finds queer-centric tunes to be a bit of a bore...

CONTINUED »

• Army Staff Sgt. Edmundo F. Estrada from Virginia's Fort Eustis has been charged with rape, indecent assault, having an inappropriate relationship with a trainee, and cruelty and maltreatment of subordinates, after another solider alleged Estrada forced him to dress up like Superman and then, well, raped him. He told his victim that he'd previously "help soldiers with their self-confidence and alleviate depression". Um right... Could it be Devery L. Taylor's going to get a cell mate? [Pilot Online]

• The media's been so focussed on Ann Coulter's faggot flinging that no one's acknowledging her suggestion that gays should be Republicans: "Gays make a lot of money and are victims of crime... [And] Republicans are anti-tax and anti-crime." Lane Hudson says she's sort of, not really saying gays should be protected by hate crime laws. Do you agree or do you think Hudson's had a few too many poppers? [News From The Left]

• Long Hill, New Jersey mayor and practicing lesbian Gina Genovese will be running for Senator. That's really all you need to know. [The Star Ledger]

• Soulforce rides again! And they're coming to a town near you! [Soulforce]

• So, too, are Scissor Sisters! [Scissor Sisters]

• We knew it all along: Britney Spears is the anti-Christ! [Mollygood]

• Rich old tax evader and gay marriage activist Charles Merill wants to be the next non-gay gay artistic messiah. To this end, he's entered a painting into Charles Saatchi's art competition, Smackdown. And, not surprisingly, he wants you vote. How do we know? He sent out his own press release. [Earth Times]

• DNC Chairman Howard Dean on the late AIDS activist, Bob Hattoy: "This weekend, America lost a true champion for justice. Aside from being a fierce advocate on causes ranging from LGBT rights and HIV issues, to civil liberties and the environment, Bob Hattoy was a wonderfully charming man with a tremendous sense of humor... Through Bob's life and service to our country, we are all reminded of the need to do more to encourage greater participation of all Americans, including gays and lesbians, in our political process." [365 Gay]

• Moscow's mayor may have banned gay pride, but the Russian government supports the queer right to assemble.

• Gay rights activists may have cheered Italy's potential civil partnership law, but Pope Benedict XVI ain't feeling so cheery. (Surprise, surprise.)

• Potential GOP Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee may not want to comment on Mary Cheney's pregnancy, but he does say he doesn't support gay marriage.

• Scissor Sisters may be uber-talented, but it doesn't really translate on their second Passions appearance. (Or the first.)

• Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead may think they're Dannielynn Marshall Stern's papas, but Zsa Zsa Gabor's hubby, Prince Frederick von Anhalt says he's the real deal.

• The Red Cross may ban men who have sex with men from donating blood, but Cleveland officials think they're wrong.

(PS: We love when the elder witch, Tabitha, says, "What do you think this is, Wigstock?" Also, why didn't the band realize they had been transported to a soon-to-be cancelled soap opera until after their performance?)

Related: Scissor Sisters All Up on Passions and Shit

If there's one thing we love, it's when famous people play themselves on soap operas. We don't know why - maybe because it creates the illusion that the sudsters take place in the real world, which, of course, makes us feel better about the shit storm that's become our lives.

Lucky for us, Scissor Sisters will be making a two-day appearance on NBC's supernatural soap, Passions. Now, we've never really followed the show's storylines (Days, all the way), but we do know it's one of the campiest things on television, making it a perfect venue for the flamboyant fivesome.

While we haven't seen any of the footage, we do know that wee witch Endora "conjures" the Sisters from their CD and that they'll perform "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" and "Land of a 1000 Words". In a video interview, the kids say they're huge fans of the show and hope it will expose them to a new audience.

We hate to burst their buble, but we're not sure the show has an audience. Rumor has it the peacock network's looking to ax the show by fall.

To say that there’s buzz around Lebanon-born, London-based popster, Mika (born Mica Penniman) would be an understatement. Given the avalanche of praise, accolades and testimonials, one would think the release of his full-length debut, Life in Cartoon Motion, will change the course of music history forever, creating an aural aftershock heard all over the world. And, in some respects you’d be right: Mika’s album will most likely continue to be one of the most talked about albums of the year. And rightfully so. Whether it's history in the making - that remains to be seen.

CONTINUED »

There's so much to say about what you're about to see that we don't even know where to begin. So, we'll start at the beginning: the video came from two readers.

One reader described it as "appalling" and promised that we would be "insulted". Another reader - in fact, our old friend Joe from The Cup of Joe, presented it thus: "For those of you who haven't seen the joy that is this video".

Now, those are obviously opposing statements, but let's just say both reviews hold water.

CONTINUED »

After our Afternoon Delight video of Lance Lamar, a reader named Kevin lamented that we don't post enough gay videos.

Actually, we disagree. Sure, we posted White Town the other day and JJ Fad yesterday, but in the not-so-distant past we posted Cazwell 's "Do You Wanna Break Up" video and another for "Q.B.O.Y. (Is Just So Fly)".

Still, we want to make it up to you, Kevin, so this video's just for you. It's a live performance of "Kiss You Off" from Ta-Dah, the most recent aural offering from queer-popsters, Scissor Sisters.

You're welcome.

• Lezzie Jailbait Face More Abuse in Prison. Nothing funny about this. [365 Gay]

• Gay Cheerleader Beaten. Ra-Ra-AHHH! [Town Online]

• Did you miss the Scissor Sisters on Logo? Well, catch up, buddy! [New Now Next]

• Iowa lawmakers back bully protection. Fags rejoice, bullies promptly pummel. [The Advocate]

• Rocky Horror follow-up, Shock Treatment to be released on DVD. About bloody time. [The New York Blade]

• We hate giving him publicity, but someone may care: Aaron Carter calls off engagement. [Star Magazine]

A few days ago we posted the video for Scissor Sisters' new single, "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," and received this comment from a reader named Matt:

This blog is where I first heard mention of the Scissor Sisters. This is the first time I have heard their music or seen one of their videos. Didn't this form of music go out in the 80's? Please tell me that they are big overseas and not here in the good ol' U.S. of A.

While we like the idea of a good scoop, we can't take credit for Scissor Sisters. It may surprise Matt to hear that they've been around for over two years and are, in fact, quite popular with massive amounts of people the world over. We'll chalk his confusion up to youthful ignorance. He can help redeem himself by running out on September 26th to buy their new album, Ta-Dah.

Their new projects delves deeper into the world of musical mastery. While we absolutely adored their first album, Ta-Dah boasts a more adult and dare we say smarter sound. You've already heard "I Dont Feel Like Dancing," their contradictorily entitled dance single, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Drawing on an older cabaret sound without all the faggorty, "I Can't Decide" draws a tight, wry smile as lead-singer Jake Shears ponders the ways of the loner heart.

With rock-steady guitar rifts and reliable drums, "Lights" brings the group's signature blend of wit and grime. Who can resist a lyric like, "I ain't got nothing but your seed on my face/ You'll put them babies to waste without your finger in the pie"?

Through and through, Ta-Dah entertains with equal amounts of irreverence as ingenuity: two traits lacking in many of today's musical offerings. A melange of genres, the album screams "Scissor Sisters" in all the most original ways. Start saving your pennies and shining your dancing shoes, kiddies, because you're gonna want to get out, get up, and get busy. (We suddenly sound like our grandfather. Oy!)

If you missed the video, check it out: Scissor Sisters Video

It's getting to that point in the day when you need a little burst before lunch. While we can't give you an energizing hug, we're prepared to offer you this video of the Scissor Sisters' new single "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'."

Who loves you? Who? QUEERTY! Yay!

CONTINUED »

[Image Source]

The Scissor Sisters are channeling the Bee-Gees in their new single "Don't Feel Like Dancing" from their upcoming album Ta Dah and they do it well, in the same way that someone can score a "99" on an in-home karaoke machine. It's definitely a good upbeat song for summer, though I'm not sure it deserves the title of Song of the Summer since it is so derivative.

However, being derivative has not stopped the Sisters from spawning tribute bands who don't know they are tribute bands. Unfortunately, like cassette tapes, a musical sound also loses its edge after two or three generations of copying.

One comfort is that frontman Jake Shears can always keep us happy stripping down to his little underwear in concert. What's he singing? Who cares?

Listen to the new single at Stereogum.

UPDATE: The folks at Pitchfork agree with us.