Rufus Wainwright “Not Ready to Love” Release the Stars 2007 Geffen
In 2005 Rufus met Jorn Weisbrodt. Not Ready to Love was written as a surrender to the idea of being loved and being able to maintain a relationship with Weisbrodt.

Telepathe “So Fine” Dance Mother 2009 IAMSOUND Records
Telepathe is a electronic pop-dup from Brooklyn featuring Busy Gangnes and Melissa Livaudis. Their debut album “Dance Mother” was produced by Dave Sitek from Tv on The Radio.

Stephin Merritt and company has returned to Merge Records with “Love at the Bottom of the Sea,” due out March 5, 2012 and followed with a tour starting in April.

By the early 20s, the Harlem Renaissance movement was gaining momentum through the migration of African American from the South moving to the North. Looking for a release from the southern oppression, the ‘New Negro’ idea of creation of art and literature would serve to “uplift” the race. As well as bringing on an era of tolerance and sexual ambiguity. Many key notable figures were inclined towards members of their own sex. And with Harlem nightlife, among African Americans and whites the Jazz and Blues era was able to thrive. After Mamie Smith became the first black woman to recorded an album in 1920, there became a high demand to sign other black female artist. And in 1923, Ma was signed to Paramount Records and starting touring with the Theater Owners Bookers Association throughout the South and Midwest, singing for both black and white audiences. Ma’s sexuality was no secret and in 1925 was arrested after a police raid at party where several women in her chorus were found naked together and having sex. Bessie Smith bailed her out of jail. Afterwards, Ma wrote the song “Prove Me the Blues,” that talks about her feelings toward men and women.

Ma Rainey continued to tour until 1928 and recorded several songs before Paramount ended her contract. The record label felt that her style of Blues was not favorable anymore. Ma retired in 1935 back to her hometown. Where she devoted the remaining years of her life to the ownership of two theaters, “The Lyric” and “The Airdrome.” Ma Rainey died in 1939 from a heart attack. Her legacy remains, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. And Alice Walker used Rainey’s life and music as an inspiration for “The Color Purple.”

Ma Rainey’s “Prove Me the Blues”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRn7_cC8N4

Nina Sky, the identical twin duo Nicole and Natalie Albino, released their first single “Day Dreaming” from their upcoming EP Nicole & Natalie. Scheduled for a release July 2012.

Seth Bogart has gone solo from Hunx and His Punx after the ‘Punkettes’ Amy Blaustein and Michelle Santamaria left the band back in June. The new band, just named ‘Hunx,’ debuted it’s new single ‘Always Forever’ directed by Hannah Lewon. Hunx’s first solo album is Hairdresser Blues, which refers to his co-owned Salon called “Down at Lulu’s.” Due out February 28th by Hardly Art.

According to Matador Records, the message from Google read:

“Any ads that contain non family safe material are disapproved. I noted to the team that the people in the video are not entirely unclothed, but the overall feeling of the video is one of a more adult nature, including promoting mature sexual themes and what appears to be nude content. As such, the video is non family safe. In order to have this video ad approved, you will need to bring it into compliance with our policy.”

This ‘non-safe’ 16-second features the artist Mike Hadreas in an embrace with Gay/Straight Porn Star Arpad Miklos from the music video “The Hood.” Both Hadreas and Miklos are shirtless in the clip, but neither is fully nude. Matador also notes that the song in the advertisement, “All Waters”, deals with “internalized homophobia” and being “self-conscious about gay [public displays of affection].” What makes this upset even more of an outrage is the full music video is still available on Youtube. To add insult to injuries, Lana Del Rey’s straight couple with a little bit of side-boob embrace promo has been approved?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGR1iDuKabU