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Jonathan Hellyer
Jonathan Paul Hellyer (born 27 September 1967) is an English singer, theatre director and drag queen, drag actor. He is best known for his time as the lead singer of Bronski Beat and collaborations with Wayne G. Early life Hellyer was born on 27 September 1967 and began his career as a drag queen and playing roles in theatrical productions in the 1980s. Career Joining Bronski Beat Hellyer joined the band, Bronski Beat following the departure of John Jon Foster and toured the U.S. and Europe with back-up vocalist Annie Conway, primarily touring nightclubs and LGBT movements, LGBTQ festivals/events. They released the album, ''One More Chance'' and covered the songs, "I Love the Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges and "I'm Gonna Run Away from You" by Tami Lynn. Collaboration with Eartha Kitt In 1989, Bronski Beat wrote and collaborated with American-singer Eartha Kitt, on the song "Cha Cha Heels" which was written for Divine (performer), Divine but following her death, Bronski Beat and K ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drag Act
Drag is a performance of exaggerated femininity, masculinity, or other forms of gender expression, usually for entertainment purposes. Drag usually involves cross-dressing. A drag queen is someone (usually male) who performs femininely and a drag king is someone (usually female) who performs masculinely. Performances often involve comedy, social satire, and at times political commentary. The term may be used as a noun as in the expression ''in drag'' or as an adjective as in ''drag show''. __TOC__ Etymology The origin of the term ''drag'' is uncertain; it may date as far back as the Elizabethan era in England, where it was used to describe male actors playing female roles in theaters where cross-dressing was the norm. The first recorded use of ''drag'' in reference to actors dressed in women's clothing is from 1870. One suggested etymological root is 19th-century theater slang, from the sensation of long skirts trailing on the floor. Another possible origin is the Yiddish term m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Why? (Bronski Beat Song)
"Why?" is a song by British synth-pop band Bronski Beat, released as the second single from their 1984 album '' The Age of Consent''. The song, recorded at RPM Studio in New York City and mixed at Townhouse Studios in London, pursued an energetic musical formula, while the lyrics focused more centrally on anti-gay prejudice. The song opens with a questioning vocal by frontman and vocalist Jimmy Somerville and the shattering of breaking glass. It was the trio's second top 10 success in the UK, throughout Europe and in Australia and is today considered a popular gay anthem. Single cover The drawing for the single cover, of a man with his head in his hands, was drawn for the band by Glasgow artist Robert McAulay, who was associated with the band at the time. Reception Reviewing the song for ''Melody Maker'', Adam Sweeting described it as "all rather twisted and tragic, especially when sung by those painfully keening vocals (the song is dedicated to murdered gay playwright Dre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cha Cha Heels
"Cha Cha Heels" is a pop song recorded by Bronski Beat and Eartha Kitt, released in June 1989 from her album ''I'm Still Here'' as a tribute to drag actor and singer Divine. History The band originally wrote the song for Divine to record and perform, but as the actor had passed away before it could be recorded, Bronski Beat member Steve Bronski consequently teamed up with singer Jessica James as she reminded him of Eartha Kitt. However, he eventually brought in Kitt herself to record the lines with James providing backing female vocals and Jonathan Hellyer for the male backing vocals and certain choruses. Hellyer also got his own solo part towards the end of the song with Kitt talking over him. The song's lyrics and instrumentation were recorded by Bronski Beat members Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek in what would be Steinbachek's final chart song and video appearances with Bronski Beat, although he did appear on the covers of "I Love the Nightlife" and "I'm Gonna Run Away f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Syphilis
Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms depend on the stage it presents: primary, secondary, latent syphilis, latent or tertiary. The primary stage classically presents with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy Ulcer_(dermatology), skin ulceration usually between 1 cm and 2 cm in diameter), though there may be multiple sores. In secondary syphilis, a diffuse rash occurs, which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. There may also be sores in the mouth or vagina. Latent syphilis has no symptoms and can last years. In tertiary syphilis, there are Gumma (pathology), gummas (soft, non-cancerous growths), neurological problems, or heart symptoms. Syphilis has been known as "The Great Imitator, the great imitator", because it may cause symptoms similar to many other diseases. Syphilis is most commonly spread through human sexual activi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Corden
James Kimberley Corden (born 22 August 1978) is an English comedian, actor, writer, producer, singer, and television host. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom '' Gavin & Stacey''. In the United States, he gained recognition as the host of '' The Late Late Show with James Corden'', a late-night talk show that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2023. Originally airing from 2007 to 2010, Corden co-wrote and co-starred with Welsh actress Ruth Jones in '' Gavin & Stacey'', for which he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance. He was featured, along with grime artist Dizzee Rascal, on the UK number one single " Shout". Corden created his Carpool Karaoke sketch in 2011. He hosted the Brit Awards (2009, 2011 and 2014), the Tony Awards (2016 and 2019), and the Grammy Awards (2017 and 2018). From 2010 to 2019, he presented the panel show '' A League of Their Own'' on Sky One. Corden has acted in films ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gavin & Stacey
''Gavin & Stacey'' is a British sitcom created, written by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one from Billericay in Essex, and the other from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the eponymous characters Gavin and Stacey, while Corden and Jones star as their respective friends Smithy and Nessa. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb co-star as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon plays Stacey's uncle Bryn. Baby Cow Productions produced the sitcom for BBC Cymru Wales. The first series, consisting of six episodes, premiered on BBC Three in May 2007 to positive reviews and strong ratings. It returned for a second series of seven episodes in March 2008, before being transferred to BBC One for a Christmas Eve special, due to the show's growing mainstream popularity. The third and final series aired from 26 November 2009 to 1 January 2010, forming a significant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shaw Theatre
The Shaw Theatre is a theatre in Somers Town, in the London Borough of Camden. It is a part of the Pullman London St Pancras hotel, located off Euston Road. The Shaw has 446 seats and two large foyers, four large dressing rooms for up to 60 people and extensive high-quality backstage facilities which include a workshop studio and laundry facilities. There is disabled access, cloakroom facilities and a bar serving drinks and refreshments. The venue is also used for exhibitions. History of The Shaw Theatre The Shaw Theatre originally opened its doors in 1971 as a purpose-built theatre within the St Pancras library, originally known as ''The Library Theatre''. The opening production was the show '' Zigger Zagger'' with a cast that included Barrie Rutter and Paula Wilcox. In 1972, Simon Ward and Sinéad Cusack appeared in ''Romeo and Juliet''. Later in the same year Vanessa Redgrave, Nyree Dawn Porter and Windsor Davies starred in ''Twelfth Night''. Other stars who appeared ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elegies For Angels, Punks And Raging Queens
''Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens'' is a musical with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and book by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' ''Spoon River Anthology''. Each of the monologues is written from the perspective of characters who've died from AIDS and the songs represent the feelings of friends and family members dealing with the loss. The piece was developed in the late 1980s and was originally titled "The Quilt." It was originally produced in 1989 by the TWEEDbr>New Works Festivalat the Ohio Theatre in Soho in NYC, where the new title was adopted. It was subsequently produced off-off Broadway in 1990 by TWEED's artistic director Kevin Malony and Justin Ross at RAPP Arts Center in Manhattan's East Village. In 1992, it was produced by Giacomo Capizzano at the King's Head Theatre in London, where it played for several months. In June 1993, the production was transferred by M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy Somerville
James William Somerville (born 22 June 1961) is a singer from Glasgow, Scotland who rose to prominence in the 1980s with the synth-pop groups Bronski Beat and the Communards. With Bronski Beat, Somerville achieved commercial success with the 1984 single " Smalltown Boy", which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, topped the charts in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and the Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. Additionally, the single peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and West Germany, and also charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United States. Bronski Beat's debut album '' The Age of Consent'' (1984) was the only release Somerville contributed to as lead vocalist before leaving the band in 1985 and joining The Communards. Following the deaths of Larry Steinbachek in 2016 and Steve Bronski in 2021, Somerville is the only surviving founding member of Bronski Beat. The Communards, with Somerville on lead vocal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Falsetto
Falsetto ( , ; Italian language, Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal cords, in whole or in part. Commonly cited in the context of singing, falsetto, a characteristic of phonation by both sexes, is also one of four main spoken vocal registers recognized by speech pathology. The term ''falsetto'' is most often used in the context of singing to refer to a type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the vocal range of the normal, or modal, voice (M1). The typical tone of falsetto register, or M2, usually has a characteristic breathy and flute-like sound relatively free of overtones—which is more limited than its modal counterpart in both dynamic variation and tone quality. However, William Vennard points out that while most untrained people can sound co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keening
Keening (, ) is a traditional form of vocal lament for the dead in the Gaelic Celtic tradition, known to have taken place in Ireland and Scotland. Keening, which can be seen as a form of sean-nós singing, is performed in the Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages (the Scottish equivalent of keening is known as a coronach). Keening was once an integral part of the formal Irish funeral ritual, but declined from the 18th century and became almost completely extinct by the middle of the 20th century. Only a handful of authentic keening songs were recorded from traditional singers. Etymology "Keen" as a noun or verb comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic term ("to cry, to weep"), and references to it from the 7th, 8th, and 12th centuries are extensive. Probably at the origin of "couiner" in French. Melody and text The tune and lyrics rely on the repetition of a couple of basic motifs which can be variably extended or shortened. It seems that there was never an established ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a Grade II listed gay entertainment venue in Vauxhall, London. It is also known as the RVT. It is South London's oldest surviving gay venue. History The RVT was built between 1860 and 1862 at Spring Gardens, Kennington Lane, on land which was originally part of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Although sometimes reported to have started life as a music hall, the venue was in fact constructed as a public house and has always served that function. After the Second World War, returning servicemen and local gay men were reportedly attracted to the venue, which held shows by female impersonators (drag shows). By 1975, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern had two bars around a kidney-shaped bar which doubled as a stage for the drag artists to dance along in their stilettos from the tiny apron stage at one end. Prior to the cabaret starting the bar would be cleared of glasses and drinks and the staff would clean the bar ready for the drag to dance along with it in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
