Monday, May 22, 2023

Remains of the Day (05/22)


HBO Max: Wow, The new Donna Summer documentary is a lot to unpack. Although I learned so much -- and my god is she underrated as a musical artist -- it was surprisingly painful to watch at times. The Queen of Disco never seemed to find any brand of happiness -- molested by a clergyman, a clearly unwanted baby just as she was finding success, abusive relationships, dismissive record label and even her "good" marriage seemed fraught with conflict -- and as a gay man who always gave her the benefit of the doubt, I was devastated to hear her own husband confirm that that hateful rumor wasn't created out of whole cloth, and was very likely entirely true despite what she said in her tearful press conference. (It is still possible she didn't really understand the severity of HIV at the time and she did apologize, which I don't discount.) Still, at one point my partner turned to me and said, "I think I'd rather just listen some of her music than watch this" -- "I Feel Love" was blasting on the screen at the time, of course, and we both had chills -- and I was feeling the exact same way.



Onward: I'm really enjoying Rosie O'Donnell's Onward podcast. Camryn Manheim and Ricki Lake were especially fun guests.



Page Six: Woody Allen saves 'embarrassed' pal’s life with Heimlich maneuver at NYC restaurant

BBC: Why some gay men still fear kissing in public

Dear Annie: I suspect my son is gay. Should I ask him or wait until he tells me?

The Gay Curmudgeon: Postcard from the Cruel World festival, where it was particularly cruel to Siouxsie fans

Boy Culture: Feast your eyes on Mr. Beardy in nothing but a pair of Walking Jack micro briefs and a smile


NYP: Uber diversity executive put on leave after hosting ‘Don’t Call Me Karen’ panel(!)

Back2Stonewall; White supremacists crash Montana Pride event

Pride: Joaquin Phoenix tackling first gay role with 'Carol' director Todd Haynes

JT: As Rahm Emanuel pushes Japan on gay rights, conservatives bristle

Dazed: Harry Nicholas’s novel explores life, love and sex as a gay trans man


Hot Cat of the Day: How come the only babies on my flights are of the crying variety?

Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 4:26 PM

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6 comments:

Don said...

I thought the Donna Summer doc was a bit of a mess and didn't quite convey the genius you accurately describe. I'm gonna be a documentary editor in my next life.

5:07 PM
Jaradon said...

That team player dude does not seem to be wearing a jock beneath his shorts

5:55 PM
martini421 said...

Donna Summer is my all-time favorite female vocalist and I have many I love. Part of me wants to watch it but mostly I don't because I don't think it will make me feel good. You actually gave it the best review I've read. I loved her music but I don't want to hear about her sad life. I never knew any of that -- so very sad.

6:35 PM
Jaradon said...

The one gift Donna Summer never lost was the voice- her music was part of the sound track of my youth

8:04 PM
martini421 said...

Agree Unknown! I've been listening to her double-albums these last few hours. Once Upon a Time and Bad Girls. I think it's the first time in years I've listened to album tracks in their proper order! I have everything on shuffle these days. Such original and fantastic albums showcasing her fantastic vocals. And she wrote or co-wrote many of those songs. She was a splendid talent!

11:15 PM
Randy Slovacek said...

Yours is one of the best reviews of the Donna Summer documentary I've read. I agree across the board. The primary "good thing" I walked away with was - what a great voice/instrument. But in trying to be "artistic," I felt like we got lost along the way. And I really expected the music to be more front and center. My husband and I looked at each other at the end and were somewhat perplexed by the whole thing. And then, I listened to her music.

7:27 PM

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