Oh, Alex
I remember Alex Newell when Glee was on. Remember Glee? Oh, those were innocent times. Well, now Alex is on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (I catch it on Hulu because yes, I don't have cable, thankyouverymuch) and I am pleasantly surprised. And I say I am pleasantly surprised because REPRESENTATION, of course. And that voice!
I think Alex has a fantastic personality and one of those big voices you find in many House Music divas: big, soaring and it can fill a room. But I find also that Alex's voice deserves a bigger platform. Why is that voice not recognized while other (more mediocre voices) get acclaim and are heard by more people? I think that going against the binary is something that many queer artists find to be a limitation and they don't get the widespread admiration that they deserve. I love Alex's voice. It reminds me of Sylvester. it has that same energy.
But like Sylvester, Alex does not conform to what people consider 'mainstream' and the world is not ready for it, honey. Mainstream music does not seem to have changed much since Ozzie and Harriet, right? It still demands that sharp separation between genres, both musical and between what it's considered masculine and feminine. Funny, no? The Masc for Masc crowd have certainly heard that song before. Add to that that Alex is a Black artist and then you have the perfect storm to being pigeonholed in one music genre. A minority within a minority.
But all in all, I think Alex has managed to make that obvious talent a selling point and is now part of yet another successful series and has kept very active musically (Nile Rodgers? Work!). What better way to come back at critics than being fabulous and successful at many things? I can't think of one. So today I decided to give you all a chance to dance a little bit. So kill the lights and shake that booty! I know even Dave stomps his foot once in a while with a bop like these.
Channeling Sylvester.
Dissing Nyle
Not letting Miss Quarantine mess you up is what? FUNDAMENTAL.
XOXO
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Let's see ... queer person of color who is amazingly talented.
ReplyDeleteHuh, what could it be ...?
Haha
DeleteI know, right?
XOXO
I give you major props for watching Glee...I could not get into it. It was to sweet and bubble gummy and made me want to stick ice picks in my ear. I tend to not like things to sweet and syrupy. I think that's why I also am not a fan of Alex's music. I love and adore Alex though. I would like to see a hard dance or disco sound and some edge sound it . Still to sweet and teen sounding. I'd love him to do some Sylvester covers... While the lyrics are good...i just can't get into the music sadly... like I wouldn't see me listening to a whole CD while around the house. That would be more a Deelite Madonna or Yma Sumac thing to do for me.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Basically Over You is closer to what I'd like to see. I could take that one.
DeleteI thought Glee was adorbs. I also liked the queer storylines. Yes, it was syrupy but hey. I love Alex. That voice! Also, that personality! Portraying gender non-conformig people is tricky.
DeleteAnd BOY is a bop!!
XOXO
I liked Glee...but, I mean, Hello! Theatre nerd. Talent abounds in Alex...yes, indeed. Great tone, great range. But, "Zoey's..." came off my playlist. A bunch of great voices, dancers, etc, etc, etc. But...they don't stick to the "idea" that she hears these other people in song. They stray from it and it breaks the spell for me.
ReplyDeleteThat said (to quote Maddie), I could listen to that voice for an entire CD so long as the beat and genre mixed it up. XoXo
I know! Glee clubs definitely nurture talent.
DeleteI don't really know much about music but I know what I like to hear. I like Alex's voice. And you are right about Zoey's. As much as I like musicals, sometimes it didn't click.
XOXO
How exciting. I actually bought Kill the Lights, when it first came out just based on the song, having no idea who was singing it... well, the Nile Rodgers connection was what initially caught my eye. and Jess Glynne is in the mix somewhere there, too. How fun to learn about the artist. I watched Glee for about two minutes... it was just to 'gay' for me. Which is saying a lot, because I love me some gay. The other talent that I expected more from on that show was Chris Colfer. I saw him in a cute gay movie... can't remember the name and then... poof. I have not seen Zoey's Playlist, but remember all the hype leading up to it. People were saying it would tank... and NOPE. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteOMG same! I bought it because I have one of the music Alex has put out.
DeleteLOL I feel you about Glee. It could get really GAY. But I enjoyed it. I also liked some of the boys.
And Chris Colfer has such a sweet voice! He writes children's books now, I think. Zoey's PL is cute. Skylar gives me heteroflexible vibes...
XOXO
I enjoyed Zoey’s. And Alex as the neighbor was fantastic, but I don’t think they used his voice enough. I liked his short stint on Glee.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I saw on my news feed that the actress that played Santana on Glee is missing from the boat she was on. Authorities found her young son alone on the boat. 😕
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
It's a cute program! And Alex should have had more camera time, I agree.
DeleteAnd yes! Naya Rivera is missing! So sad!
XOXO
Sorry, I never watched Glee. Main Stream music is Main Stream because it's forgettable. Unforgettable will never be Main Stream.
ReplyDeleteHahaha of course you didn't.
DeleteBut Glee clubs are based on mainstream music. Mostly theater? What I liked about Glee what the portrayal of queer relationships and queer people. Representation matters.
XOXO
Love gender male to female. They show a strong personality.
ReplyDeletehere my contribution about Alex Newell
Yes!
DeleteAlex is very cool.
XOXO
I don't know ha 😏 Should I know ha? 🤷♂️ Thought it was Lizzo but, nope. I've seen Skyler or whatever his name is in Pitch Perfect though, at least I think he was in that...
ReplyDelete