Tank Top Tuesday: Music Edition

Music makes the people get together. Or at least that’s what Madonna said at the Super Bowl. But I think it also makes the people get sweaty. And when the people get sweaty, might I suggest they wear a tank top? Yeah. You saw that one coming. Today, as you might have guessed from the thrice-as-nice Pink, is all about musicians getting their tank top on. Or as Pink also illustrates, a little bit off.

Alicia KeysWas anyone else all “Whaaaat?” when you learned she was married to the CEO of Megauploads?

Brandi CarlileI had to miss her when she was in my area. I still have not forgiven myself.

Ani DiFrancoThere’s just something about a woman straddling a chair. And that something is hot.

FeistIs she going to give us some new music again? Soon, please.
p.s. Shoot, she did? Damn, never mind me & the rock I live under...

Michelle BranchI understand she’s gone country. If she keeps wearing stuff like this, I say yeehaw.

Tegan & SaraRemember when I met them over the summer? They definitely weren’t wearing this eye shadow then.

Missy HigginsShe went blonde. I know I’m not supposed to be noticing that, but oh well.

Meshell NdegeocelloPut on “Beautiful” for your girl and try to not get laid. Hint: It is impossible.

Emily HainesI could watch her dance around and play the tambourine on stage forever.

See, Madonna was right. Looking at musicians in their tank tops made us people come together. Happy Tuesday, kittens.

Little folk singer, redux

While researching a post for Tumblr over the weekend (yes, I haven’t even been on Tumblr a week and I’m already breaking my fun, easy, no words rule), I rediscovered the distinct joy that is listening to Ani DiFranco all night. It’s not that I don’t listen to her anymore. I do. It’s just with the advent of shuffle and Pandora and other such music mixologists, I tend not to listen to one artist exclusively anymore. (Well, that is unless I’ve just bought her CD and can’t stop playing it, cough, Adele, cough.) But I popped in Ani in the early evening and one album led to another and another and another. The rawness of “Imperfectly.” The hurt of “Dilate,” The irreverence of “Little Plastic Castles.” The growth of “Evolve.” I (and imagine Robe Lowe’s character from “Parks & Recreation” saying this here) literally have all of her albums. Yes, all of them. I’ve seen her probably a half dozen times. I even got to interview her once. It will remain a high point in my life forever.

While I didn’t really discover Ani until college, she has since been with me through almost all of my major life developments. Graduating. Finding a job. Moving across the country. Breaking up. Hooking up. Watching presidents come and go. Fighting for change. Growing older, growing up. Each record, especially the older ones, plays like a record of a time and place in my life. Sometimes they remind me of a specific person, sometimes they remind me about myself. But it’s always fascinating, like musical archeology. You uncover layers of your life that you thought were long buried. But once dusted off, given a wash and shined up, the emotions rush back like yesterday.

Just a few favorites, out of too many to count.

Shy


Dilate


Little Plastic Castles


Swan Dive


Evolve

Oh, Ani. You’ll be in my neck of the woods this week and I won’t be able to make it. But I’ll be there in spirit, singing along to every single word. I’m sure many a gal – gay or otherwise – feels the same way. Or perhaps you have another musical time capsule. Well, by all means, don’t be shy – share.

Sing me a song

Today, I feel like a little song. Words just fail me sometimes. And that's where music comes in. Nothing invigorates or inspires me more than live music, particularly when sung by amazing women. So today, how about a selection of live, unfiltered sounds? All these songs are lovely and thoughtful and have a sweet melancholy about them that is almost impossible to resist. Sure, some of these videos are shaky. And, granted, the quality isn't always the greatest. But it's that raw experience that makes it feel more personal. After all, life isn't perfect, but we just keep trying anyway.

Ingrid Michaelson, “Corner of Your Hear”


The Watson Twins, “Just Like Heaven”


Maria Taylor, “Clean Getaway”


Ani DiFranco, “Independence Day”


Vienna Teng, “City Hall”


ADD: Natasha Richardson, “Maybe This Time”

Beautiful, heartbreaking, a true talent that the world is now so much worse for having lost.

So, feel like sharing a song? Sing it sweet and low to me below.

Monday Morning Music

I’m tired of all of my music. It happens sometimes. It’s not that I don’t like my music – in fact some of my albums are like old, dear friends. But, every now and then, when I want some sound to accompany my working/blogging/driving/what have youing I look at my collection and I think, blah. Part of this is probably because I bought a new laptop last month and haven’t had time to copy my iTunes catalog over yet. Shuffle takes the hard work out of “What should I listen to?” Part is because I don’t think I’ve bought a new CD since February (yes, that includes downloads). So, my pretties, this is where you come in. What sounds good to you right now? Who should I be listening to? Help a gal out.

For inspiration, here are four songs – some newish, some oldish and some very, very old – that I’ll never get tired of listening to.

Great Northern, “Low Is a Height”

I saw them live last year and met singer Rachel Stolte after the show. Her voice is the kind of haunting you wish for. Plus, she wore these amazing knee-high boots. p.s. If the song sounds oddly familiar, it’s being used in the NBA Playoffs “There Can Only Be One” campaign.

Feist, “I Feel It All”

How much do I love the vest and tie Feist wore for Colbert? I don’t think science has developed a way to count that high.

K’s Choice, “Believe”

I bought this CD 10 years ago from a remainder rack. I’ve never stopped playing it. I play this song almost every time I fly. I don’t know why, exactly. Maybe because it’s hopeful and yearning and feels like flight. p.s. Sarah Bettens dinged my gaydar so hard from the “Cocoon Crash”album art all those years ago, I remember spending a good day searching “lesbian” and “Sarah Bettens” online. But this was before she was out, so I had only my suspicions and, of course, that voice as clues. Of course now you look at her and you’re kind of like, duh.

Ani DiFranco, “Little Plastic Castles”

I love Ani and will always love Ani. I have all her CDs, have seen her about half a dozen times and even got to talk with her once. She laughed a lot. It was lovely.

UPDATE I: Wow. No, really, wow. Y’all delivered like Domino’s with the suggestions. Thank you, thank you 51-times and counting thank you. I plan to check them all out.

UPDATE II: Oh, if you emailed your suggestion, thank you too. I am terribly behind on my replies, so if you’ve sent me mail in the last week, thank you and please don’t fret. I am getting to you. Just, um, slowly.

Tank Top Tuesday

Holy God. No, seriously, holy God. I know this picture is 20-plus years old, but still…damn. In fact, Angelica Huston and her white tank top have inspired (well, that’s the polite word for it) me to create yet another semi-regular feature, Tank Top Tuesday. Yes, I know we already have Tina Fey Tuesday, but on the weeks when the Fey Fabulous is resting, I just might have to take solace in the simple splendor of the white-ribbed tank top. After all, it is the No. 2 lesbian fashion accessory for a reason.And, last but not least, an oldie but a goodie.UPDATE: Patience, patience, little kittens. I can’t blow all the tank toppy goodness in the first post, now can I? All your favorites are coming. And, oh yes, there will be Lena. Also, different tank top colors. Hell to the yeah.

Tina Fey likes us, she really likes us

OH MY GOD! Tina Fey mentioned AfterEllen.com on Conan O’Brien last night! That’s so fucking awesome, I’m going to have to repeat it: Tina Fey mentioned AfterEllen.com on Conan O’Brien last night! Fucking-A! OK, OK, I’ve composed myself. Sort of. Fine, not at all. But I will fake it, for Tina’s sake.

So, Tina was on Conan last night to promote today’s premiere of “30 Rock,” which we are all going to watch, right? Right! First of all, she looked amazing. She was in a little black dress with some cleavagy action going on. Rawwr. She talked about how nervous she was about getting dressed for the Emmys and how “You can’t compete with the beautiful orange ladies of Los Angeles.” And then she mentioned how her parents have her on Google Alert and a couple months ago her dad called her all excited:

“Great news, you are no. 7 on the lesbian crushes on AfterEllen.com.”

As if I didn’t love her enough before, now they’re going to have to invent an entirely new level of adoration. Seriously, “crush” does not even come close. Also, I think I might love her dad, too. How cute. The whole interview was classic Tina. Her impression of the Emmy red carpet interviewers was hilarious: “So, Third Rock is good. You and Alex Baldrick are wonderful.”

She also talked about her cover girl status on Geek magazine, which, really, is a match made in heaven. And as if to cement her status, she said how big a “Star Wars” fan she was.

“I’m not going to brag, but I had the 24-inch Millennium Falcon, as a kid. The full Falcon. You know, and I didn’t go on a lot of dates and stuff. So I had to stay home and make sure the Falcon stayed pristine and the action figures were well cared for.”

Of course, Princess Leia was her favorite character. She even got Carrie Fisher to guest star this season and she actually got her to say: “Help me Liz Lemon, you’re my only hope.” To which Tina said, “I can die now.” No kidding, so can I.
p.s. Click on any of the images to enlarge the Tina Fey goodness, particularly that last one. Tell me if you notice anything, say, right in the center of the photograph. Look carefully. Hello.
p.p.s. The night’s musical guest was Ani DiFranco, so it was practically the best late-night guest slate in the history of ever.
p.p.p.s. As soon as the episode is available, I’ll upload it for your viewing pleasure.

UPDATE: Here is is. See what I was saying about the dress. Nice.

My Weekend Crush

It’s fairly ridiculous that it has taken me this long to get to Ani DiFranco. I have, by my count, every single one of her albums (minus some official bootlegs and various collaborations). Lately, I’ve been listening to “Dilate” again with a certain amount of nostalgia. But anytime I put on one of her records, it’s like reacquainting myself with an old friend. This Tuesday, the Little Folksinger will release her first career retrospective, the appropriately titled “Canon.” As Ani’s art and life have evolved, I have grown along with her. Yet through the years her music has remained passionate and true. Whether she sings about affairs of the heart or affairs of state, Ms. DiFranco never fails to move me. Fiercely honest, she is a poet with a warrior’s heart. If truth is beauty and beauty is truth, then Ani is both. Happy weekend, all.

Righteous Baby

One Righteous Babe had another little Righetous Babe. Bisexual singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco and her partner/producer Mike Napolitano welcomed a baby girl, Petah Lucia, into the world on Saturday. Uh, Petah? That’s pretty close to “pita” and “PeTA.” The former conjuring up adorable images of a wee baby wrapped in a warm little pocket, the later conjuring up not-so adorable images of said wee baby being devoured in said little pocket. Regardless, the Little Folksinger is kick-ass in all regards. So now, I’m sure she’ll be a kick-ass mom. Congratulations.

Little Folksinger making a little one

Years ago, self-described Little Folksinger Ani DiFranco famously wrote a letter to the editor of Ms. magazine saying that she hoped her gravestone would read: "songwriter, musicmaker, storyteller, freak." Well, looks like she is going to have to add "mother" to that esteemed list.
Ani announced that she is expecting a little one February 2007, while accepting an award from the National Organization of Women this month. The father is music producer Mike Napolitano, who worked with Ani on her upcoming album "Reprieve."
Congratulations. Let's see how motherhood affects Ani's already deeply personal and penetrating lyrics.
"To split yourself in two, Is just the most radical thing you can do. - Ani DiFranco "Reprieve"

In more joyful news, the Little Folksinger is back

Moving on, the world can rejoice at the news the Ani DiFranco will return to the stage after almost a year out of commission due to tendinitis in her wrist.

I've seen Ms. DiFranco about half a dozen times and each time has been, well, Wow. If she brings her little travelin' road show to your town, go.

Seriously, go now.