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Gay Musicians Want to Break Country Music Barrier
Reuters ^
| August 7, 2003
Posted on 08/07/2003 4:45:16 PM PDT by sarcasm
NEW YORK (Reuters) - America's country music scene isn't exactly known for its gay artists, but a colorful pack of wanna-be stars pulled out their best rustic twangs and wailing guitars on Thursday to try to change all that.
Scores of country music hopefuls auditioned in New York for what is being billed as a television show to pick an openly gay country music star from about 50 contestants.
The musicians -- most of whom wore jeans and spit-polished boots -- wailed through Willie Nelson songs, crooned like Lyle Lovett and belted out ballads like Garth Brooks.
Livening up the day was The Dixie Chicks with Dicks -- singing drag queens in frilly petticoats and wigs big enough to make Dolly Parton envious.
Despite the gags and quips, most were serious musicians looking for a break, said Darren McDonnell of Baltimore.
``I hope it's not some kind of a joke. It could open up a lot of doors,'' he said, waiting on line.
``At the same time, it's a risk for everyone here,'' he added, calling the country music industry ``homophobic.''
Mark Taylor, who works in the design industry in Philadelphia but auditioned in cowboy regalia, said appearing on the show could be a bigger risk when it comes to facing his conservative family.
``If I make it onto the show, this will be the most silent Christmas we've ever had,'' he joked.
Producer Larry Dvoskin, who has not found a network to run the show tentatively called ``America Pride,'' declared himself pleased at the quality of talent. Final choices will be made in the coming months, he said.
With the success of gay-themed television shows, this one could be well-timed, said Scott Seomin, entertainment media director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, a non-profit media watchdog.
``The music industry with rare exception has been a bastion for homophobia, and the closet is still a place that artists who are gay are told to remain by record label executives, managers and publicity agents,'' he said.
Singer Matt Alber, who traveled across the country from San Francisco to audition, said: ``Country music record companies are scared America won't like a gay artist.
``I think it's ridiculous,'' he said. ``Don't they just want to hear really great songs? I hope this show will show America there's nothing to be afraid of.''
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amassingwealth; americapride; countrymusic; culturewar; downourthroats; gayelitism; gaymafia; heterophobia; homocontrolfreaks; homosexual; homosexualagenda; kdlang; lavendermafia; music; musicindustry; pc; politicallycorrect; popularmusic; prisoners; protectedclass; queer; quota; setasides; whataboutgoodmusic
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To: sarcasm
Give me a
break.
Hell, the "gay is not just acceptable, it is preferable idea has invaded nominally "Christian" churches, it may just do the same to country music.
21
posted on
08/07/2003 5:06:53 PM PDT
by
Recovering_Democrat
(I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
To: sarcasm
"We got a big ol' connnnnvooooy..."
...nah. Not goin' there...
To: martin_fierro
Come to think of it, "the mud and the blood and the beer" is kinda provocative.
23
posted on
08/07/2003 5:07:17 PM PDT
by
decimon
To: sarcasm
What's k.d. lange? Chopped liver?
(OK... I'm mixing my genres. So sue me.)
24
posted on
08/07/2003 5:09:26 PM PDT
by
Redcloak
(All work and no FReep makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no FReep make s Jack a dul boy. Allwork an)
To: decimon
,,, "don't it make ya brown eye blue?" - Crystal Gale.
25
posted on
08/07/2003 5:13:06 PM PDT
by
shaggy eel
(Checking in from 41º 18'S 174º 47'E)
To: sarcasm
I hope this show will show America there's nothing to be afraid of.
Fear is not the emotion that came to mind.
26
posted on
08/07/2003 5:13:43 PM PDT
by
microgood
(They will all die......most of them.)
To: Redcloak
Exactly. But (like Linda Farron, who was another gay female country/pop singer) k.d. lang writes songs understandable by anybody, and you don't have to join the gay "program" to like her.
What these gays, no doubt emboldened by the Episcopal Church, are doing is saying that all the rest of us have to accept their agenda. Sorry, but no.
27
posted on
08/07/2003 5:16:15 PM PDT
by
livius
Try counting the number of times on a given day that you hear the term gay and racist from all sources.
While home all day last week, I counted 18x, in one day!
Drip, drip, drip, you are becoming sleeepy...
28
posted on
08/07/2003 5:17:03 PM PDT
by
At _War_With_Liberals
("they took 2 steps to the left, I took 3 steps to the right")
To: sarcasm
Maybe they can have the Democrats pass a law forcing country music fans to buy gay country music.
To: sarcasm
I always found the Dixie Chicks' music gay, but maybe I'm confusing my terms here....
To: sarcasm
One question... where are they gonna tour...New York? California?
Pick one, cause thats the survivable choices.
To: sarcasm
Oh..I forgot...Billy Bobs! (snicker snort guffaw)
To: shaggy eel
,,, "don't it make ya brown eye blue?" - Crystal Gale.Dang, I wish I knew more country lyrics. :-)
33
posted on
08/07/2003 5:24:00 PM PDT
by
decimon
To: decimon
Dang, I wish I knew more country lyrics. :-),,, the fact that you don't is a personal triumph! Country music doesn't light me up at all.
34
posted on
08/07/2003 5:28:54 PM PDT
by
shaggy eel
(Checking in from 41º 18'S 174º 47'E)
To: shaggy eel
When I was a kid (in New York, no less) I liked "Ring of Fire", "I'd Walk the Line" and stuff like that. But that's heroic kinda shtick.
35
posted on
08/07/2003 5:33:51 PM PDT
by
decimon
To: Cable225
What do you get when you play a gay country music song backwards? You get back the soap you dropped.
36
posted on
08/07/2003 5:34:34 PM PDT
by
uglybiker
(I think I drink more beer than anything. Ever try to drink a case of Cokes?)
To: sarcasm
A lot of country stara are Baptists I guess these new one will be Episcapaliens.
To: Cable225
I am so tired of this gay agenda being pushed on us. Is it my imagination or in the last few months has there been a glut of "gay issues" projected on the public?
38
posted on
08/07/2003 5:36:17 PM PDT
by
estrogen
To: EggsAckley
Bingo! As soon as I read the headline, her name came to mind. She was "out" of Nashville, I think, in about 2 or 3 years?
39
posted on
08/07/2003 5:38:08 PM PDT
by
Joe Marine 76
("We few....We proud few....We Band of Brothers")
To: sarcasm
I'm so
*%#@ing sick of gay this, gay that and gay everything, I could puke! Why do these freakshows have to puff up and get in our faces about their sex lives? I don't want to know about it!!!!!!!!
40
posted on
08/07/2003 5:39:50 PM PDT
by
demkicker
((I wanna kick some commie butt))
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