Song of the Day: 'Rush Rush' (live) by Debbie Harry

This is probably the best live performance I've heard Debbie Harry give in ages. (Every time I see her she changes the tune and the words and scats her way through her songs.) Such a pity that I’ve been told she had "zero connection with the audience" on this 2007 tour for Cyndi Lauper's True Colors United charity. I love that she did more obscure solo material but can only imagine what the general public was thinking!

Cyndi Lauper & Friends Are 'Home for the Holidays' to Raise Awareness for Homeless LGBT Youth

Delighted to see Cyndi Lauper's dedication to the LGBT community continues, with her True Colors Fund's upcoming housing facility for homeless LGBT youth and now the fifth annual Home for the Holidays benefit.

 From a release:

Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund today announced the lineup for its 5th annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert on Saturday, December 5th at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness. 100 percent of the net proceeds from the concert will support the True Colors Fund’s programs.

Cyndi Lauper will be joined on stage this year by Boy George, Cam, Judy Gold, Ledisi, Keb’ Mo’, Sharon Osbourne, Jordan Pundik, Richie Sambora & Orianthi, Valerie Simpson, Anne Steele, Joey Taranto, Justin Tranter, Kurt Vile, and host Carson Kressley. Additional guests will be announced soon. Tickets will be available to the general public at Ticketmaster.com starting on Friday, November 6 at 12pm.

“For the fifth year, ‘Home for the Holidays’ will feature an incredible night of performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth experiencing homelessness," said Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. “I’m so grateful for the artists who will donate their time and talents this December in support of a cause that we can’t ignore. This concert will enable the True Colors Fund to continue our work to create a world in which all kids can be their true selves. I can’t wait.”

Tickets and info HERE.

  In case you missed it -- Steffi Graf did a killer Cyndi alongside Andre Agassi as Donald Trump! (He's a big Democrats, so don't worry.)

Blond Ambition

Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Erasure and Margaret Cho will headline the ambitious "True Colors" tour, which will hit major cities nationwide to promote gay rights. The 15-city event kicks off in Las Vegas on June 8 and ends in Los Angeles on June 30. The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip and The Misshapes are also on the bill, as well as select guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright, Rosie O'Donnell, and the Indigo Girls. "Every time I talk to a band, they're like, 'I want to go!'" Lauper explained.

The tour, sponsored by Logo, will provide information to fans who attend, as well as purple wristbands with the slogan "Erase Hate" from the Matthew Shepard organization. A dollar from every ticket sold will be earmarked for the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

It sounds like a really noble effort and I'll be curious if the way it's packaged stops straight fans of some of these artists from attending. Lauper, whose sister is a bull dyke lesbian, believes more Americans would be supportive of equal rights for gays if they knew the discrimination they faced. Amen to that, now we shall see how it goes this summer. (Tour Web site)