MUSIC: “Come With Me,” Ricky Martin
With his propulsive new single “Come With Me,” the out entertainer/activist offers to take us to the edge. Ricky, we’d follow you anywhere.
MOVIE: Twenty Feet From Stardom
Divas simply singing! It’s unlikely you’ll have a more stirring time at the movies all year than while watching Morgan Neville’s rousing documentary in which stunningly talented backup singers such as Darlene Love, Merrie Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill take center stage to share their inspiring personal stories and, of course, dazzle us with some earth-shattering music along the way. The film opens in select theaters today.
TV: Love Marilyn
More than a half century after her death, the turbulent life and unparalleled career of Marilyn Monroe continues to have an impact on pop culture. In Liz Garbus’ documentary actors such as Glenn Close, Ellen Burstyn, Viola Davis and, ahem, Lindsay Lohan read from Monroe’s private letters and diaries to provide insight into the most legendary movie star of them all. The film premieres on HBO June 17.
MOVIE: Call Me Kuchu
The life of David Kato, the openly gay man who battled proposals in Uganda to make homosexuality a capital crime before his crucial work was cut short by his brutal murder, is depicted in Call Me Kuchu. The often shocking documentary by filmmakers Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall has already won almost two dozen awards at festivals around the globe. The film opens today in New York and next Friday in L.A.
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
MUSIC: “Don’t Look At Me,” Cheyenne Jackson
Hold up! Cheyenne Jackson doesn’t want us to look at him? Sorry, that’s just not possible. Actually, it’s just the title of the photogenic entertainer’s plaintive new single. His album, I’m Blue, Skies will be available June 25.
FESTIVAL: Out in the Tropics
Miami‘s fourth annual celebration features a groundbreaking lineup of award-winning LGBT artists, including the first-ever U.S. performance by Havana’s notorious lesbian feminist performance group El Ciervo Encantado, and the U.S. premiere of Verde Verde, a film about homophobia and gay life in Cuba plus a performance by Well Strung (pictured), the all-male singing string quartet. At Miami’s Colony Theatre today through Sunday.
MUSIC: “Alive,” Empire of the Sun
Known for their extravagant stage shows, Aussie synthpop band Empire of the Sun recalls some of the more colorful musical acts of the ’80s, as demonstrated in the video for their first single, the catchy “Alive.” The band’s album Ice on the Dune will be available Tuesday.
TV: True Blood
Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) encounter their parents’ killer in the season six premiere of one of TV’s most LGBT-inclusive series. If you need more incentive to tune in, it also boasts the tube’s most aesthetically-pleasing cast with Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelson Ellis, Sam Trammell and Rutina Wesley. The supernatural hit premieres on HBO June 16.
DJPerezMA
“Alive” may be the first single from their current album, but they have been performing for some time. I encountered them first in 2009, with their glammed-out video for “Walking on a Dream”, from their album of the same name. Giv e them a listen and a view, people!