i think it's time for a walkabout

yeah, so much going on, so much of it not good and not a reflection of who i am or how i want to live. and i feel completely lost within it all, as though there is nothing i can do to change it. new job? back to school? i just don't know, except that there is more. i know there is more than whatever all this bullshit is. maybe my man Baz Luhrmann has got it right, and i just need this...



...and ZOMG as I was previewing the post i realized that the hand in the water with the sparkly shinies totally echoes wendy and lisa's white flags of winter chimneys.

white flags of winter chimneys

this is a piece i wrote for out.com's popnography about Wendy & Lisa and their new album:

You may think you don't know Wendy and Lisa, but you've definitely heard them. As resident keyboardist (Lisa Coleman) and guitarist (Wendy Melvoin) in Prince's Revolution, they helped define both his sound and persona at his heyday, adding the only truly gay element to his apparently omnisexual universe. They left the purple fold in 1986 for their own pop career. It never fully launched -- they wanted to make pop-rock-funk music in a pre-Lilith Fair world where record labels were more interested in them as scantily clad "Prince women" than as real musicians.

But if labels weren't biting, plenty of artists were -- over the last 20 years, together or independently, Wendy and Lisa played on, composed, and/or produced songs and records for Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, OK Go, Lucinda Williams, Neil Finn, Lisa Germano, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Robb Thomas, Grace Jones and others. Their day job is as composers of the score for NBC's Heroes, with plans to release a score on CD in the spring.

White Flags of Winter Chimneys is their first album in 10 years -- their last outing was 1998's Girl Bros., an elegiac tribute to both the death of Wendy's brother Jonathon and the end of their own romantic relationship. White Flags is loaded with Lisa's melodic piano and Wendy's steely guitar, shifting from dreamy ballads to uptempo pop and rock numbers with ease, sometimes within the same song. Their lyrics reflect a maturity and vitality of two women secure in their lives and settled into some sort of rock 'n' roll domesticity -- Lisa married her longtime girlfriend in October and Wendy's longtime partner is film director Lisa Cholodenko.

"What you believe in is what I fear," Wendy sings in the rocking "Invisible," possibly an open letter to "the purple Republican," as Lisa called Prince after he shared his religious views with the New Yorker. The standout track is the nine-minute closer "Sweet Suite (Beginning at the End)," which opens as a simple piano track to segue into a reprise of the opener "Balloon" before exploding into a lush orchestration reminiscent of the end credits of a Hollywood tearjerker.

When all is said and done, Wendy and Lisa stand head and shoulders above their former boss Prince (I'm trying to resist the short joke here) and prove they are capable of maintaining a signature sound without sounding dated. White Flags of Winter Chimneys is available exclusively at wendyandlisa.com.

http://www.popnography.com/2008/12/hummer-wendy-li.html

anticipation is making me wait...

@wendyandlisa it's COMING.................................

Next week we may see the release of Wendy and Lisa's first album in over 10 years. We keep getting updates/teasers via twitter, but a statement posted on their official facebook page two weeks ago said to expect a December release. So I keep waiting and expecting.

It dawned on me the other day that in the whole pantheon of Prince associated artists, Wendy and Lisa are the only gays. All the androgyny, gender bending, rule breaking play from Prince's Royal Court back in the day and only 2 gays to show for it. Or at least only 2 who are out. Kudos to them for that!

She's not me, she doesn't have my name

So I have a google alert set for Wendy and Lisa. That means I get a daily update of internet postings about Wendy and Lisa. The only problem is, 99% of what it finds are everyday, run-of-the-mill Wendy and Lisas, not THE Wendy and Lisa. But I always scan the blurbs with the thought that it may actually be them, which sometimes gives me a little chuckle. Here's one:

Others say Lisa is mentally ill and insist she is a danger to her two children and their friends.

Child advocate Wendy Murphy, a lawyer, says: "This case is the essence of child exploitation, because he's in the throes of puberty...

Actual story, not funny. Imagining Lisa seducing a 17-year-old boy, funny. Wendy being her opposing attorney, funny.

remember my name!

For the past couple of weeks, Los Angeles has been sucking up all of that Hope that led me to tears back at Mile High with Barack Obama on 08/28/08. Work is going at full-crazy speed, landlords are fucking with me and my dog, the man just turned me down for another job-that-I-don't-really-want-but-it-comes-with-a-big-fat-paycheck-and-juicy-benefits, I just realized the cold I thought I've had for the last four days is my biennial bout with tonsillitis, and I live in the 4th most stressful city in the nation. It all makes me want to go scream "F-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-C-K!!!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs in the face of anyone stupid enough to support Sarah Palin. But I come from the obedient Latino side of the fence, not the loud crazy one, so I swallow it (along with the high blood pressure, acid reflux and depression pills that make the swallowing possible).

Then tonight, I go to a screening of Fame at the cult theater as part of an AFI program. Somehow I have managed to be the only music loving homo who grew up in the 80's and never saw the movie. What? I KNOW! Anyway, it was a field trip for the commune that S found. (YAY S! YAY COMMUNE!) Unbeknownst to me, Debbie Allen was there to introduce the movie. Following the immediate standing ovation at her presence, she told us about the power of the movie, and how many performing arts schools were opened all around the world because of it. And she reminded/asked us to be a part of that circle of creativity and positivity that makes the world a better place to be in. Then the lights went down and I saw a movie I wish I would have seen 28-years-ago. I wonder if my life would have been any different if I had seen a gay teenager on screen before I was one myself. Or if I thought that following the arts was a real way to lead a life. Who knows, right? And my favorite Madonna line remains, "Absolutely no regrets." So fuck what I didn't see, know, or think then. I know what I know now, I know who I am and what I want to be when I grow up. Or at least some semblance of it -- enough to keep on keeping on! Thanks to Fame, my life feels about 1000 times better than it did when I walked through those theater doors.

...there but for the grace of God go i
i'll pretend i'm not afraid to die
if there's a heaven i will apply
I'M NOT CRAZY!
but i believe in butterflies,
dreams that die should be a big surprise
life is my favorite nursery rhyme
i'm not afraid of the big bad wolf!
from Staring at the Sun by Wendy and Lisa

Oh yeah, there's always this to be thankful for...

only fools and kings

i wonder if he knows he's a rebound.
i wonder if u know he's a rebound.
i wonder why i care.

the funny thing is that i loved u and love is truly blind. i didn’t mean a lot. love was so unkind, 4 they say only fools believe in what they cannot see. sometimes it takes a heartache 2 open up your eyes.
Wendy & Lisa, from Always in My Dreams

it's such a shame

my all, all, all time favorite song is Purple Rain. not a surprise, i know. i have a Purple Rains playlist that has live versions from 1984 through 2007. each version has something a little different -- whether in the lyric, his vocal, or how he does the solo. my current fave is from the Target show in MPLS on 7-7-7. it opened the show and features Wendy on guitar. anyway, in the 24ish years that i've loved this song about love, friendship, loss & redemption, never has it more aptly fit my own life than it does now. here's the lyrics, as per4med on 7-7-7:

i never meant 2 cause u any sorrow
i never meant 2 cause u any pain
i only wanted one time see u laughing, yes
i only wanted 2 see u laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain, oh yeah
i only wanted 2 see u see u laughing in the purple rain

i never wanted 2 be ur weekend lover, no, no
i only wanted 2 be some kind of friend
can u hear me?
baby, i could never steal u from another
it’s such a shame
it’s such a shame this friendship it must end

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
U all hear me?
Purple rain, purple rain, oh yeah
i only wanted 2 see u, see u in the Purple rain

honey i know, i know, i know
i know times are changing
it’s time we all reach out, time we all reach out for something new
just ain’t talking about me, talking about each and every one of u
say u want a leader but u can’t seem 2 make up yo mind
maybe u better close it
maybe u better close it
let God guide u…
sing it!

Purple rain, Purple rain
if u know what u’re singing about, let me see u
Purple rain, purple rain
i only wanna, only wanna…

u can be the president

on January 31, i did something i had not done since 1991 -- supported a Presidential campaign with my money. when i donated to Barack Obama, i became one of 250,000 individuals to donate in JANUARY alone. i agree with this:

This milestone will be a clear signal to those who rely on donations from Washington lobbyists and spending from outside special interests to support their campaigns that we are a movement of people who stand for real change.

i have never been inspired by a living politician until now and 2morrow i will cast my first vote 4 Obama to be the next President of the United States. i invite u to do the same. check out the NY Times almost endorsement.

slight correction: in my Obama/Kennedy post last week, i stated the following:

i met Caroline at a book signing for the Patriot's Handbook and i was more starstruck than when I met Wendy, Lisa, or Prince.

okay, after serious reflection, i admitted to myself i've never been more starstruck than meeting my 3 lifelong music idols -- Prince when i worked at Paisley Park in 2001, Wendy & Lisa at the Family Jamm in 2003. so i more accurately say, i was AS starstruck as when i met W, L & P -- but way moreso than meeting Ben, Jen, or Christian. :)

back 2 the street where we began...

disclaimer: i'm going to get all Pete Wentz on u and gush about Panic and Barack.

i've been on the Obama-Clinton fence for several months, after an initial lean to Edwards as the closest to progressive candidate. it was Caroline's column that has pushed me off the fence and firmly to Obama. my interest in politics began with reading a JFK biography in 2nd grade. in 1983 i wrote a letter to Ted saying i was disappointed that he wasn't entering the 1984 race. a high point of my childhood was receiving a response from him. i went to college in Boston because of the Kennedys. i interned in Joe Kennedy's Boston office. i met Caroline at a book signing for the Patriot's Handbook and i was more starstruck than when I met Wendy, Lisa, or Prince. color me swayed.





find Nine in the Afternoon and listen to it NOW. it is a slice of billowy wonder beauty. hanging with my Guilty Pleasure comrades listening to it on repeat for, oh, over 3 hours the day it was released, i told them it is to the songs on A Fever You Can't Sweat Out as Raspberry Beret was to the songs on Purple Rain -- purely brilliant pop confection inspired by or at least owing a debt to the boys from Liverpool.

my repeat action followed me from the compound to the office. i now submit Exhibit A, details on the Top Ten most played tracks in my itunes:

1. Purple Rain Live	Prince And The Revolution	Atlanta '85	302
2. Let's Say	Girl Bros.	Girl Bros.	260
3. Erotica	Madonna	Confessions Tour Studio	234
4. Nine in the Afternoon	Panic at the Disco	Pretty. Odd.	179
5. Love... Thy Will Be Done	Martika	Martika's Kitchen	176
6. A Place In Heaven	Prince And The Revolution	Dream Factory Remastered	169
7. Love Song	Madonna and Prince!!!!!	Like A Prayer	162
8. Hands Clean	Alanis Morissette	Under Rug Swept	143
9. Future Lover	Madonna	Confessions On A Dance Floor	128
10. All My Dreams	Prince And The Revolution	Dream Factory Remastered	125

okay, so clearly, we're entering hallowed ground. i first noticed where it was at about 147 plays, when it was creeping up on Love song. i reported myself 2 S, and she replied, "just accept it. u already changed your wallpaper." and she's right. but the thing is, i've been on this machine for 2 years. my Top Ten, hell, my Top 25, is a finely crafted achievement meant to illustrate my musical leanings, my affections, my heart, my soul. and in 2 days, Panic is knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door! granted, that particular version of Purple Rain is 18 minutes +, so in actual listening time it'll be in the lead 4 a long while. but then again Pretty. Odd. doesn't come out until March. whaddamigonnalissen2?

did i mention i also got tix to opening night of the Honda civic tour at the Warfield in s.f.? that's right. poppin the panic cherry in April! don't u wanna come?

turn me inside out

guess i left u shell shocked, baby
didn't mean 2 cry so hard
u were minding ur own business
u said 'not in my back yard!'

turn me inside out, what's inside of u?
turn me inside out, and i am u
turn me inside out, what's inside of u?
turn me inside out
and i am u

trying to get through 2 u, baby
working on a sunken mind
all 4 one and none 4 all maybe
brother, can u spare a dime?

turn me inside out, what's inside of u?
turn me inside out, and i am u
turn me inside out, what's inside of u?
turn me inside out
and i am u

guess i should have thought first, but i
guess i have no sense at all
can u get 2 heaven faster
if u build a higher wall?

4 all of u who talk but don't do
u have used up ur last i.o.u.
i am telling u because i am through
i get nothing 4 loving u

turn me inside out, what's inside of u
(come on in) and i am u
(i dare u) what's inside of u (yeah!)
turn me inside out, and i am u

now turn me inside out, what's inside of u
turn me inside out, and i am u
turn me inside out, what's inside of u
turn me inside out, and i am u

4 all of u who talk but don't do
u have used ur last i.o.u.
i am telling u because i am through
i get nothing 4 loving u
loving u
loving u

uh-oh, don't look down...

in honor of Wendy & Susannah's birthday, the W&L song currently stuck in my consciousness, and a live Rotterdam clip from 1990 that i saw 4 the first time today!













devil to your knees
and take your hands off me
i thought we were friends
but you lie and lie again.

i hit the wall and the wall came down
i climbed the wall now i wont come down
to give up would be upside down
look up now
dont look down.

i've had hell to pay doing things my way
blessings are disguised, but the devil i recognize.

i hit the wall and the wall came down
i climbed the wall now i wont come down
to give up would be upside down
look up now
dont look down

...now get out the same way you got in.

rain fall (i might be stupid enough 2 want 2 fall again)

so what happens now?
that’s what Madonna asked
(well, Evita actually)
this isn’t where we intended to be
that’s what Webber wrote
(well, Rice actually)
whatever
i won’t say i wish i didn’t fall
because the falling was fun
even if i did it alone
i won’t say i wish i moved long ago
because the living was worth the fall
to trip is to fall, we all fall down
(that’s Wendy & Lisa)
i was your fortress u had to burn
u were my lesson i had to learn
(yes, Madonna)
i’m glad i learned it with u
safely
it’s such a shame our friendship had to end
(u know Purple Rain, right?)
anyway
if happiness lies in our own hands
we only see what our eyes want to see
and don’t see what our eyes don’t want to see
my secret is i’m not frozen
i can’t wait
(gotta love Stevie)
sweet dreams!