6 June 2023 - Demi Lovato - Heart Attack & Cool For The Summer (Rock Versions)

In 2013, Demi Lovato would release what would be a top 10 single - "Heart Attack".  Scott WROTE about this song in 2013.  

In 2015, Demi Lovato would release what would be a top 11 single - "Cool For The Summer".  I WROTE about this song in 2015.

I have to say, in the spirit of Wicked Guilty Pleasures, I love both of these songs.  We could have just as easily based this blog over our mutual appreciation of Demi Lovato as we could have over Ashlee Simpson.

Fast forward to 2022. In anticipation of changing styles, Demi held a funeral for her pop career.

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That does not mean that she forgets all her old music, though.  In celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of her biggest hits - "Heart Attack" - Demi rerecorded and rereleased it, in her new style.

I have to say, it works.  Clearly, you can hear the song's old style, but also, you can hear a new reading of the lyrics, sung by someone who, in 2023, has a lot more life experience.  In 2013, she was 20, a kid with a Disney career and not much life experience.  Now, she's 30, and she's had some struggles - in love, with drugs (she famously overdosed in 2018 and I'm quite thankful she pulled through), and in life.  She's singing from a different point of view now.  She, quite literally, has HAD a heart attack.  And it is, in many ways, a better song for it.

So, why rerecord ANOTHER song on its not-as-momentous 8th anniversary?

The rock version of "Cool For The Summer" was released on May 25, 2023 - just in time for Memorial Day and the summer season.  Having already expressed a desire to rerecord this song in a rock format for her last album, Holy Fvck, she finally did it - and as a song that pop-rocked in its original version, I didn't have high expectations that this would be better.  Or that she'd still be whispering "don't tell your mother" in a rock style.  

Holy Fvck, this song absolutely rocks.  The synthesizers from the original are gone and replaced with fuzzy guitars.  I was completely blown away by this.  It's a mature take by an adult on a matureish song sung by a not-quite-adult.  

By the way, I was right.  She changed the lyrics to "Go tell your mother", which is a more mature lyric. 

5 June 2023 - Donna Summer - I Feel Love

Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte (with Donna Summer herself) wrote AND produced this disco classic.  It helped cement Moroder's status as the King of Disco and Summer's as its Queen.

The song is pretty much a synth loop with simple vocals and a bangin' bassline, which seems pretty standard, but it was about a decade ahead of its time from a musical standpoint.  The combination made for a huge hit, hitting top 10 charts worldwide throughout 1977 and playing in clubs for decades after disco "died".

The song, in a remixed version, would once again be a chart hit in Europe in 1995 following the release of a remix by Rollo and Sister Bliss, with rerecorded vocals by Summer. Remember that I said that the song was a decade ahead of its time.  Here, nearly two decades later, it still sounded modern and in-place.  

2 June 2023 - Kim Petras - Coconuts

In a prior post, I mentioned that Kim Petras had a cancelled album, and once that happened, she started leaking the music from that album.

Since I posted that, Petras won a couple of Grammys for her collaboration with Sam Smith, "Unholy".  

The single she released between "Future Starts Now" and "Unholy" was a song about her tits.  

Yeah.  I said it.  "Coconuts", in this song, do not refer to the tree fruit known for its white flesh and creamy milk.  There's no tree mentioned at all.  She is very much encouraging you to take a look at her margarita-tas.  

There are a ton of double-entendre jokes made throughout this song, which is super dirty - but because of the rapid-fire jokes, I felt sharing the lyric video was wisest.  

1 June 2023 - CeCe Peniston - Finally

CeCe Peniston's debut single was released in September 1991, ahead of her debut album.  It would go on to become her biggest hit by far, becoming a top 5 hit in the US and topping charts worldwide.

Not only was it Peniston's first single, it was the first song she ever wrote, starting as a poem she had written.  While it was her biggest hit by far, it was far from her only hit, as she had a run of top 30 hits that followed this megahit.

The song is an upbeat delight, and you should enjoy it.

We're talking about this song in 2023, still, more than thirty years after its release. Surely, there must be something that kept the song in our collective consciousness that is appropriate for June 1st.

June is Pride Month, a month where we celebrate LGBTQ+ pride.  I'll talk more about WHY it's June later in the month, but know that this is a month where festivals and parades pop up around the world.  

So, why this song?

In 1994, there was a groundbreaking movie released out of Australia.  That movie was called The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.  The movie follows three drag queens as they drive a bus across Australia to Alice Springs and a huge booking. 1) I cannot recommend this movie enough. 2) This song features prominently in an emotional climax in the movie, as our heroes perform to this song in Alice Springs.  On the strength of that scene, and the iconic nature of the movie in the gay community, this song has become something of an anthem.

Anyway, here's the scene.   

Penniston has embraced her biggest hit's status as iconic song and her expanded audience.  Here she is performing the song at 2018 Vegas Pride.

Here she is at LA Pride in 2011.

31 May 2023 - Berlin ‎- Sex (I'm A...)

Hello, fellow pleasure-seekers! Today, we dive headfirst into the scandalously seductive world of Berlin's provocative hit song, "Sex (I'm A)." Buckle up and get ready to embrace your guiltiest of pleasures!

Berlin's "Sex (I'm A)" burst onto the scene in 1983, immediately raising eyebrows and temperatures alike. This audacious track, with its bold and risqué lyrics, left listeners blushing and gasping for breath. It's the musical equivalent of a secret rendezvous in a dimly lit alley—raw, daring, and oh-so-naughty!

At the helm of Berlin's tantalizing tunes is the charismatic and sultry Terri Nunn, the voice and heart of Berlin. Nunn's seductive vocals and uninhibited performance style turn up the heat, ensuring this song etches itself into the guilty pleasure hall of fame. Her ability to exude both vulnerability and fierce confidence makes us weak in the knees.

Can we talk about these lyrics for a second?!  "Sex (I'm A)" tantalizes with innuendos and cheeky wordplay that would make even the most composed individual blush like a schoolgirl. With lines like "I'm a push and a shove in your thighs," Berlin masterfully combines sensuality and suggestive wordplay that leave little to the imagination.  In an era of post-Sexual Revolution conservative norms and whispered desires, these lyrics broke through the chains of societal restraints. "Sex (I'm A)" challenged the status quo, bringing sexual liberation to the forefront. By doing so, the song inspired countless conversations, pushing boundaries, and leaving a lasting impact on pop culture's perception of sexuality.

Despite its titillating subject matter and radio bans, "Sex (I'm A)" skyrocketed up the charts, taking the music world by storm. The song reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, on limited airplay. Berlin's audacity paid off, as audiences eagerly embraced the unabashed celebration of passion and desire.

Now, let's talk about the video.  Bathed in sultry red hues, it features Terri Nunn seducing the camera, leaving viewers both scandalized and spellbound. With its provocative imagery and bold cinematography, the "Sex (I'm A)" music video further solidified Berlin's status as pioneers of sensual visual storytelling.

So, enjoy this bold, adventurous, groundbreaking song.   

30 May 2023 - Enigma - Sadeness (Part I)

Remember that week in the 1990's when we all listened to Gregorian chants?

Today, we explore the mystery of our collective quirky musical preferences to unravel the enigma surrounding the iconic song, "Sadeness (Part I)" by Enigma. 

Enigma is a musical project of Michael Cretu, with a revolving roster of supporting artists.  This song sampled Michael's then-wife, Sandra (a pop star in her own right), singing some French vocals, as well as some James Brown drum beats and a 1974 chant by Gregorian monks.  

That magical combination was a top 5 hit in 1991.  

Gregorian chants made the pop charts in the United States.

Yep, as many times as I say that, it doesn't seem real.

So, let's address that. 

While traditionally associated with religious ceremonies, Enigma fearlessly incorporated these sacred vocal arrangements into their sensual soundscape. Imagine finding yourself torn between spiritual reflection and seductive daydreams. It's a musical rollercoaster that leaves you wondering, "Can I pray and dance at the same time?"

Yes.

The song ended up being groundbreaking, with other artists daring to blend classical music with modern beats to create something new.  But nothing beats the original.  

29 May 2023 - Jack Black - Peaches

Many of you have probably seen the The Super Mario Bros. Movie.  I have.  It's the highest grossing movie of 2023 so far.  

Jack Black voices the villian, Bowser.  Bowser's motivation in the film is his love for Princess Peach, who rules over the Toad Kingdom.  This love ballad features prominently in the movie, and has become something of a hit in its own right, even hitting the Billboard Hot 100 and other charts around the world.  

It is intentionally performed in the style of a ridiculous, over-the-top ballad. This video, featuring animation from the movie, is one of two for the song.

     

The other, of course, features Jack Black doing Boswer-inspired cosplay.