It's hard to believe how quickly the years are going by. Just three years ago, I was debating whether or not to make my annual Martin Luther King Day CD. New York City seemed to be changing drastically and the kids who were coming out to Escuelita were not interested in my traditional musical celebration of Rev. King.

Last year at this time, I posted a blog about my appreciation for the achievements of President Obama. That blog garnered me some unwelcome comments -  a well known drag queen high-jacked my blog to promote her agenda of bad-mouthing Obama. She went on and on about all the things he did wrong or didn't do. It was almost as though she was telling me that I had no right to be proud of our first African-American President.

And now that I am spending most of my time in Canada where they do not celebrate "Martin Luther King Day", I really had to take a moment to think about what the holiday means to me.

A long time ago, I looked up the word "nigger" in the Webster Dictionary. It defined the word as "a stupid person" and "a racial slur for Africans". As I look around in this New Year, it disturbs me that this word is part of the daily lexicon in our youth's culture. Thanks to Hip Hop artists keeping it real, everyone feels like it is okay to just drop the N-word whenever they feel like it.

Last year, a popular gay burlesque troop in Toronto had a major show where one of its black performers was being honored and a white dancer paid tribute by performing in black-face. A female impersonator from Toronto actually had professional photos of himself in black-face posted on his facebook page. And in the news, there were some firemen who dressed in black-face for Halloween.

And let us not forget the popularity of another black-faced performer....Shirley Q. Liquor. I must admit when I first heard her material I laughed. She is a brilliant comedian and if I had never seen her, I'd probably still be a fan.

A long-time friend released an old skool bitch track where he says "nigger please" twice in the recording and on his YouTube video. After closer inspection of some of his videos on YouTube, I noticed that the N-word was dropped very casually in several. I mentioned it to him, but he said that it wasn't racial it -  was just how the kids talk.

Almost every trip I take to New York City, I cringe at how many latinos are dropping the N-word like it's going out of style. But if someone said "wetback" or "spick" they'd be ready to fight in a minute.

Well in my opinion, all of these folks using the N-word (or any racial slur) are the first definition of the word!

I dated an individual who was from St. Louis and he was what some might call a "wigger". He had all the slang and had no qualms about dropping the N-word. At the time, he really wanted to go out with me, but I told him that I couldn't.  Mainly because of his unfortunate use of the N-word. He saw nothing wrong with it. He tried to tell me that the young people of today have taken that word back and it has lost its power.

NO IT HASN'T! The older people who run congress and the finances in the United States have not forgotten what it means. The Republicans who are running for the oval office have not forgotten what it means. The people who hire and fire employees have not forgotten what it means. It's just your stupid asses who are running around disrespecting the African-Americans who gave their lives for you to be able to walk and talk freely. And this is what you do with your freedom? Sitting on subways talking loud and cursing while calling each other "nigger".  That is the true meaning of "a stupid person".

Because I was raised by my grandmother, I grew up with a different sensibility about race. I know what it is to have a bottle thrown at you from a passing car as someone yelled "nigger". I watched my grandmother get spit on in a grocery store by a white woman who called her "nigger" because she wanted to skip her in the check-out line. I grew up watching my grandmother despise "All In The Family" because the Archie Bunker character was just a little too real for her. So, don't tell me that the word has lost its power.

Just like slavery was abolished, so should the word "nigger" be.

Back in the 70's, my mother had an album by The Last Poets. On it was a track called "Niggers Are Scared Of Revolution".  I used to listen to it even though I didn't fully understand the meaning behind it. It wasn't until much later in the 80's that I really got what they were saying. The stupid people were afraid of change. And in a way when I hear a young black kid say "nigger" I believe that his family and education has taught him to hold on to that word. There is a safety in that word. You know where you stand with that word. I have never accepted that word and never will!

I don't believe that Martin Luther King or Malcolm X died for black people to accept being called that word. No matter who is saying it. You as black people are giving everyone the right to call you that word when you callously just drop "nigger" in a sentence.

I remember watching Jay Z on Oprah and she had an issue with the word in his music. He explained that rappers are telling stories that the police don't want you to hear. BS! You stupid people are letting the music industry exploit you. They give you a lot of money to get on a mic and be as black as you can be. Meanwhile, back at the ranch....some midwestern teenager thinks it’s cool to sound and act black. But deep down inside, they would never want to be black. They know the repercussions and deep down inside, so do you. You have been conditioned to let that word live. Let it be an anthem for black youth. Well, I say it sucks!

As a drag performer, I occasionally lip synch to Millie Jackson. Most of her material uses the N-word. So, I always give a disclaimer about the N-word (especially if it is a predominantly white audience). I tell them that it is not cool to use that word. I advise against it. Why do I do that? I do it because I feel a responsibility to those who came before me. All of the people who fought for equal rights. All the people who died in the struggle. And I know the word isn't going to go away. But I would hope that as this Martin Luther King Day arrives everyone will take a moment to really think about what the word "nigger" is still doing to our lives and culture.

Well, it’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. 2011 was quite a year. From the ridiculous candidates for the next presidential election in the States to the State of New York passing Gay Marriage. It was definitely a year that kept you on your toes. Just when you thought you had heard it all, someone would say something that just made you wanna clutch the pearls.

First I would like to pay my respects to those who passed on this year. Of course, there were many who left us, but these are the people who stuck out in my mind. Elizabeth Taylor, Amy Winehouse, Patrice O’Neal, Heavy D, Andrea True, Joe Fraizer, Andy Rooney, Steve Jobs, Jack Layton, Bubba Smith, Betty Ford, Clarence Clemons, Jeff Conaway, Gil Scot Heron, Randy Savage, Loleatta Holloway, Nick Ashford, Jane Russell, and Michael Gough. But there were some deaths this year that effected me more than any of these well known people....I’m talking about the many gay suicides that were caused by bullying and humiliation. Names like Jamie Hubley, Tyler Clementi and Jamey Rodemeyer made headlines and brought the “It Gets Better” Campaign to the mainstream.

On the entertainment front, my annoyance with Lady Gaga rose and fell a couple of times this year. From all the twinks who whined their requests for her music to me at my booth when they probably just listened to the damn songs on their way to the club to the many images and ideas she stole from artists like Grace Jones and Bette Midler. Her Thanksgiving special was a joke and a waste of air time. I must say that I was impressed with her meeting with President Obama and talking with him about anti-bullying legislation. But I was dissappointed with her fans bad mouthing Adele because she was nominated for Artist Of The Year for the upcoming Grammy’s.

And it also occured to me why Beyonce has succeeded. She sings her lyrics instead of rapping them. Think about it.....only she can cram a bunch of words in one phrase and still make it work.

My love affair with under-rated R&B vocalist, Ledisi really blossomed this year when I found out that she had done a cover of one of my favorite songs by Maze & Frankie Beverly....”Happy Feelings”.  After being crowned twice this year as Jade Elekra performing her live version of “Take Time”, she has become my Artist Of The Year.

Speaking of Ms. Elektra....I got an interesting message from the head of AIDS Action Now that said that their organization could not use my “H-I-Vogue” track as a fundraiser because the lyrics were too stigmatizing. Just because I said that “Those A4A profiles can be murderous”. Then about a month later I noticed a photo on facebook of one of their posters that read “I Party, I Bareback, I'm Positive, I'm Responsible”. No wonder so many people are afraid of HIV positive people. With campaigns that sound like we are going out to purposely bareback with negative people, getting folks to understand why HIV postive people don’t disclose is gonna be moot.

It’s a shame that we lost Mr. Steve Roseland this year. He was the manager of George’s Play but died suddenly. I’m sure that he would have made more use of me being crowned Miss Play 2011. But I hope that my most recent crown of Miss Toronto Continental Elite will prove to be more exposure for Jade Elektra.

Another unbelieveable set of events were the fake death tweets on twitter. Bill Cosby, Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Murphy, Nelson Mandela, Ruby Dee, Daddy Yankee, and even President Obama (assasinated on the 4th of July) according to twitter at various times this past year. I have seriously considered killing off Paprika Jones to see if anyone would notice on the internet.

The political climate has really drawn out the worst characters this election season in the US. I’m just glad that Sarah Palin is out of the picture. But Newt Gingrich....c’mon! Is this the best that the republican party can do? That damn Tea Party really divided the country and even it’s own base. Now we have Republicans hating on each other because some are mormons. And I never took Herman Cain seriously from the start. That loud mouth had no idea about how to run a country....I mean, PLEASE! The republicans better recognize that Mit Romney is there only choice to run against Obama. And if he wants to pull in some big names, he should ask Anderson Cooper, Susan Lucci, Alice Cooper, Chaka Khan, James Earl Jones, Charles Barkley, Adam Sandler, Janet Jackson or Britney Spears to endorse his campaign. It’s so funny how money shapes what political party you are in.

And speaking of money....I really wish that everyone would just stop watching the Kardashians. They have enough money. Especially since Kim got paid $600,000 to just show up at a New Year’s Eve party in Las Vegas. Is everyone that obsessed with being rich that they are willing to continue to make these assholes richer by watching every report and reality show? The “Housewives of...” franchise is counting on it! These shows are just pathetic! I totally get watching American Idol, The Voice, or X-Factor because most people have dreams of being performers. But all these other reality shows are just a joke.

2011 did bring me some great opportunities. I visited my hometown after almost a decade. I worked with such talents as DJ Fierce Tease, Vjuan Allure, DJ San Fran, Cesar Murillo, Adam Law, Bryan Greenwood, Jennifer Walls, Ryan G. Hinds, Harmonica Sunbeam, Jesse Volt, Corey Wesley, Marcy Rogers, Donavon LeNabat, Jamie Bird, Brandon Bent, Rene Bogovic, Amanda Jean Mountford, Adrien Clarke, ILL Na Na DiverseCity Dance Company and Brian Finch. Plus I also finally got an album posted on iTunes.

So, now that 2012 is here I am looking forward to continuing my work on Jade Elektra’s live album and next dance singles. I look forward to branding DJ Relentless in the Canadian nightlife. And most of all I am looking forward to spending another wonderful year with the man I love....John Richard Allan.

Back in August right before my birthday, I posted a blog in my facebook notes called “The MTV Generation: Disposable Lives” where I wrote how MTV changed the face of television and contributed to the short attention span of today’s youth. I spoke of how disgusted I was with an inappropriate comment about 30 soldiers who had given their lives in Afghanistan and how we watch the news of world events differently because of the music video. I couldn’t believe that the channel that brought me so much joy when it first broadcast back in 1981 had evolved into a source of bad teenaged Reality TV.

After reading the blog a couple of months later, I decided that I wanted to reminisce about those first few years when MTV was the world to me. I was introduced to so many new artists and visions. It shaped who I am as a DJ and as a performer. Although I don’t like what it has become today, I still love the original concept of Music Television 24 hours a day.

So I decided to sit down and put together a tribute mix. But not just any retro mixed set....I wanted to give it an updated feel so that listeners in club-land today could understand it and possibly feel the excitement of what these recording artists did to pave the way for some of the popular chart toppers today.

The very first video to air on MTV was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Bugles. So, I chose the Living Electro Remix to get the mix off to a great energetic start. This song totally told viewers exactly what was going to happen to radio. Nothing would be the same.

One of the biggest bands to use the video format was Duran Duran and their video for “Rio” took you on a journey in search of the perfect woman. Although everyone was crazy for Simon LeBon, I actually preferred Andy Taylor. Erek McQueen did a fantastic job with his “Dancing On The Sand” remix.

Now when I think of the 80’s, I can’t help but think of that very unusual, corky girl with the bad posture. I’m talking about Cyndi Lauper. Her video for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” became an anthem and 'til this day will still pack a floor on a Friday night. The Hy2rogen Bootleg Mix is sure to keep the party going.

Michael Jackson is credited for breaking the color barrier on MTV. Although he had solo music videos (and a few with his brothers as the Jacksons) before MTV, “Billie Jean” was a monster hit. And I can remember waiting hours for it to be shown again. They probably played it at least 3 times each evening between 5 PM and midnight. Today kids don’t know what it is to wait to see a music video. With the internet at our fingertips, you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want. Songs and artists were appreciated more when they weren’t as accessible. The Lookas Peace Mix gives the song an electro makeover.

I know that Madonna’s performance of “Like A Virgin” at the first MTV Awards show was considered legendarily shocking, but her first concert music video was “Dress You Up”. I actually got to see that tour. The Beastie Boys opened for her. I had a horrible seat because it was off to the side, but I got to see her topless while she was changing because the curtain to her little dressing room got pulled down in haste between sets. With her new album in the works at the moment, many DJ’s and producers are digging up her classic tracks and remixing them. In this case, Liam Keegan has transformed this 80’s production into a new club anthem.

MTV also spawned a new culture in teen films. So, I had to use “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds from John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club”. The angst in the lyrics seemed to speak to all the kids who felt different or out of place. Ironically, the Jakob Carrison Remix does not actually use any of the lyrics, but that familiar wale is very prominent.

Coming from a 70’s R&B background, MTV introduced me to commercial rockers like John Cougar. “Jack & Diane” was a little ditty that you couldn’t escape back in the 80’s. I was pleasantly surprised by the Gomi & DJ Escape Mix. Great production and the pitch control and time stretch on the vocals is magnificent.

In my opinion there were three main players in the music industry in the 80’s...Madonna,, Michael Jackson and  Rogers Nelson, best known as Prince. “Purple Rain” was basically a long form music video. And the first single, “When Doves Cry” was the driving force behind the sales for the soundtrack. Eddie Thoneick did an excellent job at reinventing the wheel with his remix.

I was disappointed that there were no new remixes of “Change” by Tears For Fears. That was truly one of my favourites by them. So I settled for Hardwell’s Black Shout Mix of “Shout” which gives this song a Big Room edge.

One of the more colourful characters of the 80’s was Boy George. And even though he was a complete ass to me at the opening that featured paintings of him and myself as my alter-ego, Jade Elektra by Olan Montgomery, no tribute to MTV would be complete without a Culture Club song. Because of its very different choice of instruments and production, “Church Of The Poison Mind” was always a nightmare to program and mix back in its day (at least it was for me). The Budgie Man Electro Mix gave me another opportunity to use this track.

One of the rare video clips on MTV was Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”. I think I caught it only a couple of times. Perhaps Marc Almond’s unapologetic homosexuality was not welcomed in prime time back then. I recalled seeing the video really late at night. The Club 69 Future Mix solved the high BPM problem of the original. Peter Rauhofer has had some amazing ideas over the years.

Another gender-bending icon from the MTV 80’s was Annie Lennox. I honestly remember being blown away by Eurythmics videos. Secretly I always wanted Annie to record with Grace Jones. That truly would have been a mind fuck for the gender roles. Imagine if they had kissed like Madonna and Britney. Wow! But I digress. “Sweet Dreams” seemed like a perfect choice for this mixed set. And Steve Angello’s Bootleg Mix is definitely a Hard Floor classic!

Even though I did see Pete Burns before I saw Boy George, he never quite pulled the androgynous look off as well. Dead Or Alive’s cover of K.C. & The Sunshine Band’s “That’s The Way I Like It” was pretty good, but “You Spin Me Round” helped usher in that Stock, Aitken & Waterman sound.  The Matt & Vitto Promo Only Remix gives us a moody synth production that breathes new life into the track.

To close out my mix, I chose another classic alternative group....The Cure in “Without You, I’m Nothing”, Sandra Bernhard gives a perfect example of that black eye-linered, tortured ambivalence that the cutting edge teenager felt while setting up her version of “The Beat Goes On”. The Milk Mix of “Let’s Go To Bed” seems to put a period on my sentence. Remembering standing in a club called “Masquerade” back in Tampa, Florida and thinking...”Yeah, I could just fuck anyone. It won’t matter. I’m not going anywhere anyway.” Boy...was I so wrong. I actually thought that scene was the end all. It didn’t get any better than that. Thank God I actually got out of Tampa and changed my life with my relocation to New York City. I guess they are right....it does get better!

Enjoy the mix! Here it is.

 

Like most of you, the first time I heard of Matthew Shepard I was watching the news back in the fall of 1998 and heard of this horrible story of a  college student who was tortured and left for dead in Laramie, Wyoming. He was attacked on October 7th, but died from his injuries on October 12th while in the hospital. Unfortunately, being from the south...this was not an uncommon story to hear, especially if the victim was gay. And with all the stories about serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer out there, most of the community was on alert to be careful who you go home with. Always make sure that you let someone know who you are leaving the bar with if you don’t know the person.

The second time I noticed the name Matthew Shepard was while watching a documentary called Dear Jesse. This independent film was about the notorious racist and homophobic Senator Jesse Helms. It showed the contrast between the openly gay filmmaker, Tim Kirkman and this anti-gay rights public servant. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it. It’s a great documentary that drives the point home that we need Hate Crime Laws in place to protect the LGBT community and contains a short interview with Matthew and his African-American boyfriend.

It’s a shame that it took 11 years for that law to be passed by Congress and then signed by President Obama. Republicans like Helms and so many others fought to keep this legislation off the table. Why? Because if they let it pass then gay marriage was not too far behind. Thank God for the patience and strength of Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard to keep the fight up to make that happen. In 2009, she wrote a book called “The Meaning Of Matthew: My Son’s Murder In Laramie, A World Transformed”.

The struggles of the Gay Rights Movement are significant because if we got our rights it would legitimize our lives. It would show that LGBT people are full citizens that contribute to society. Of course, we always have, but right wing conservatives  need to feel like they are in control. Their values are what are most important. Instead of “live and let live” they want to keep as many minorities in check as possible. The new oppression is economics.

The gay dollar is a powerful one. Up until the late 90’s, most gays didn’t have kids. They worked and they had disposable incomes.  And that was dangerous to those who controlled the purse strings. If they ever figured out that they could raise as much money as the conservatives, they might actually start lobbying Congress to get their agenda passed. And we can’t have that! So, let’s keep them in the closet.

Something happened in the Gay 90’s that the religious reich didn’t expect. The internet allowed gays to communicate all over the world. And besides the obvious, people started sharing their stories and experiences. Stories of persecution like those of Matthew Shepard and Brandon Teena enraged the community. We started fighting back with activism and it wasn’t just ACT UP anymore. Organizations like the Pink Panthers and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) started picking up steam and paving the way for more gay rights groups to step forward. One of my new favourite pages is "Wipeout Homophobia On Facebook".

Brandon Teena

Because many gays and lesbians work in the entertainment field, we started taking these stories to the little and big screens. Although a lot of the catalogue of films were labeled “gay”, most were really to educate the straight world about our culture and existence. I definitely don’t see Philadelphia as a gay film. I see it as a movie that gives a different audience a view into what having AIDS is like in one man’s gay world. In my opinion Brokeback Mountain, Boys Don’t Cry and Transamerica were not made for gay audiences, but all of were part of that wave of social change.

On this thirteenth anniversary of Matthew’s death, I can’t help but think about the latest tool of oppression: cyber bullying. Now the mean kids don’t even have to lay a hand on the person; all they need to do is post something vicious about the person online and damage their reputation and self esteem. If the person kills themselves because of the postings, you didn't kill them and no one is to blame. That seems to be the mentality behind it.

But hearing stories about Tyler Clementi killing himself after his roommate posted a video taken from a hidden camera of him having gay sex on the internet really makes me believe that something needs to be added to the Hate Crime Law. It's horrible that kids like Jamey Rodemeyer not only get bullied at school, but now have to endure it on social media sites as well.

Ironically, October 11th was National Coming Out Day. It seems kinda funny that we still need this day with all of the gay, lesbian and transgender people who have bravely kicked down their closet doors, but it is still very important that more and more people stand in their truth. The more people who come out the more the stigma and shame attached with being in our community dies. There shouldn’t be a need for young gay people to feel like they are alone. They need role models and other people to talk to and share their life experiences with.

Rating System: 

No * means horrible
* means you'd better get used to it
** means there is something to like about it
*** means I like it alot
**** means I love it

Okay...summer is over. The kids are back in school. And this is the time of year when a lot of recording artists test the waters to see where they are in the music stratosphere.

And speaking of music.....here’s a few tracks that I recently listened to.

“You and I” (The Remixes) Lady GaGa (Interscope Records) So, I barely watch anything on MTV anymore since it is not music television. It’s more like teen reality show television.

So, when I started reading all these critiques of her drag king debut on the MTV Video Music Awards, I was curious what all the fuss was about. A friend had recorded the show, so I got to see it. Her new character, Joey looked like a cross between John Travolta in “Grease” and Brian Setzer of The Stray Cats.

I think what I was impressed with was her commitment to the character. I had seen the music video for “You and I” and I thought...”okay, that;s one way to reinvent herself”. The first time I heard this song was on American idol when Casey sang it in the competition. And then Mother Monster did it as a farewell on Oprah’s final season. But that was months ago. And now it seems that the track is a new anthem. So far I have received four different remixes. The 10 Kings Dance Remix and the Mike Taylor Remix are both functional mixes, but the Jay Sanity Electro Remix is hot. And my favorite is the Brian Cua Remix. **

“Rain Over Me” (The Remixes) Pitbull featuring Marc Anthony (Polo Grounds Records) And let's move on to Mr. Worldwide. Pitbull (who I affectionately refer to as the whore of the industry) has teamed up with the newly divorced Marc Anthony for his follow up to “Give Me Everything”. Benny Benassi, Quintino, Tom Piper and Riddler did great jobs at remixing this track, but Miguel Vargas really sealed the deal with his House Mix. It’s catchy and it has a good energy about it. Girls seem to really connect with Pitbull’s voice. And Mr. Anthony hasn’t had a dance hit in a long time. “I Need To Know” was back at the beginning of the century. I definitely think it will do better than Jennifer Lopez's “Papi”. Sorry, Jennifer. ***

“Last Friday Night” (The Remixes) Katy Perry (Capitol Records) You would not believe how many remixes there are for this song. Months before it was released as single I had received about four bootleg remixes, so i knew it would be a release. And with it’s release, Katy became the first female artist to beat Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album for number of singles from an album. Congratulations, Miss Perry!

And might I say you were looking very vintage Lady Miss Keir from Deee-Lite at the MTV Video Music Awards with your pink hair. And even though I thought your husband was kinda dirty looking when he first came on the scene, he’s looking kinda right these days. His role in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” helped change my mind quickly. But I digress. My favorite mixes of “Last Friday Night” are the remix featuring Missy Elliott and the Carlos Cid & Greg Bahary’s Hott 22 Club Vocal really rocked my world. If only we could find a way to combine Missy’s rap on the Club remix and I would be in heaven! ****


THE RELENT-LIST 9-10-11

Here iaremy Top Ten Songs for this week’s BPM (boys-party-music) at WAYLA Bar

1) In The Dark (DJ Vice Bootleg Mix)-Dev featuring Kanye West

2) Someone Like You (DJ Danny’s Deep Soul Bootleg Mix)-Adele

3) Someone To Love Me (DJ San Fran Remix)-Mary J. Blige Iglesias featuring Lil’ Wayne & Diddy

4) Super Bass (Liam Keegan Remix)-Nicki Minaj

5) Moves Like Jagger (Cutmore Club Mix)-Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

6) You and I (Brian Cua Remix)-Lady GaGa

7) Give Me Everything (Mikael Wills & Justin Sane Remix)-Pitbull featuring NeYo & Nayer

8) Otis (Pete Down Hype Edit)-Jay Z. & Kanye West

9) Best Thing I Never Had (Lil’ Jon & DJ Kontrol Club Mix)-Beyonce featuring Shawty Putt

10) Last Friday Night (Remix)-Katy Perry featuring Missy Elliott

And this week’s Throwback Track is “You Know How To Love me” (Friscia & Lamboy Mix) by Phyllis Hyman