Last Choir Standing?

Sunday 27 July 2008 saw the Pinkies heading for the sunny south coast. A bunch of us met up to catch the train from London Bridge to Brighton where we were met by the chairman of the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus. After a rehearsal and sound check, we were treated to a lovely high tea laid on by said choir which included a delicious home made quiche.

Sated and half asleep, we gathered to watch the first half of the show. I found the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus really entertaining with their style of parody and cabaret acts. The theme of the show was a journey round the world flying from Shoreham-on-sea. As we jetted through New York, passing by Paris and visiting Berlin, we listened to a selection of songs from these countries.

Soon it was our turn to hit the stage to begin the second half. The Pinkies carried on with the theme of the evening kicking off with a full Italian opera in Italian Salad, dropping by Paris with Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, continuing onto the South Pacific with Nothing Like A Dame (giving the boys a chance to wear their vests and hamming it up - none better than Philip), whizzing past Detroit with Forever Motown and finally landing in Transylvania with Love Song For A Vampire. As ever, Love Song drew a lot of praise (thank you Andy) and all too soon the show was over.

Being Sunday night meant that most of us rushed back home after our performance leaving the Brighton Chorus as the last choir standing. However a handful of us stayed behind to catch up on gossip and chat with the Brighton Chorus. I found them to be a very friendly and interesting bunch. I was just sorry that the timing of the event didn't allow us a chance to spend more time with them and get to know them. I do hope that it won't be too long before they are singing with us again.

Back at base, I for one am glad of a rest after the hectic long season. But I know that a concert such as the one we've just had with Brighton always puts me on a high and looking forward to the next concert. Roll on the next season.... Now where did I put my travel bag for Paris and Malta....

It's Just An Illusion (Ooh Ooh Ahh Ahh!)

Here's quite a cool little auditory illusion (as opposed to the visual kind). It is called the Shepard-Risset glissando, and it sounds like continuously rising scale. In fact it really does not go anywhere since the first note is the same as the last, but the differing volumes of the notes in the scale give that strange sensation that you are continually ascending.

Listen to it here: Shepard-Risset glissando

More information, and an explanation of the pictorial representation, on Wikipedia. Now, what I'd like to see is this as a kind of warm up for the choir!

Someday A Time, Someday A Time

I've been to see a number of musicals in the last few months, and every time I see a show I really enjoy I think that this is it, the art form can get no better. This was certainly my experience of Hairspray which I reviewed not that long ago.

Modern musicals certainly get the entertainment aspect down pat, but when it comes to the passion, the classics should not be forgotten. I was reminded of this when I went to see West Side Story last night at Sadler's Wells. It is so rare to get the convergence of song, dance and storyline which elevates a simple night out into an evening of pathos, and I am very glad to say that this musical does just that.

First of all though, let me say that I have never seen West Side Story on the stage before; I have only watched the iconic film. While the film itself is amazing, there were moments of melodrama in it, and there really is a limit to the number of times you can look into Natalie Woods' glistening eyes before feeling like you want to slap her. Then again, the film was made in 1961, in a less cynical age. In the theatre though, the raw emotion and exaggerated acting makes much more sense.

Sophia Escobar, who plays Maria in this version, has a gorgeous, passionate and innocent voice, with a very natural Puerto Rican accent. You watch her and do believe that she could fall in love with Tony in the space of one night. When she reprises Tonight, she has to pluck a note out of the air unaccompanied, to which the orchestra than rises to meet. She does this with confidence and conviction, and was spot on. Brava!

Ryan Silverman, who plays her paramour, certainly has the stage presence and gentle masculinity to add to the illusion. His voice too was incredibly beautiful. The role of Tony calls for a very high tenor, and Mr. Silverman switched with ease from chest to head voices and then to falsetto in a smooth scale. My only complaint was that he was rather flat in some of the higher notes, and the final high note of Somethings Coming, his opening solo, verged on painful to hear.

The remainder of the cast was good too, although the weakest vocal link was by far Lana Gordon. She was no Rita Moreno, nor would I expect her to be, but her diction was quite poor, and she swallowed the repartee in America which meant that some of the humour was lost. That said, she is an amazing dancer. Indeed the real highlight of the show was Jerome Robbins' incredible choreography which has stood the test of time. It is energetic and poetic at the same time, and helps to propel the story.

All in all I had a grand evening and strongly recommend watching the play while it is still on. It always strikes me as snobbish when opera-lovers look down on musical theatre as an inferior art form. West Side Story demonstrates that this is clearly not the case.

Transsexual School Toilet

I always view the Beeb as a fairly sedate new source, but have noticed that of late that there is a certain 'tabloid' quality to some of the articles. Case in point, this story on a separate toilet for transsexual pupils at a school in Thailand. In fact, I first read about it on digg about a fortnight ago which simply confirms the slightly populist nature of the reporting. That said, the BBC goes in depth by actually visiting the school and doing a video of the transsexual students using the loo (okay, washing their hands, but it is still an invasion of someone's privacy).

What really intrigues me is that there are enough students in this school (10-20% of the school year!) who are transsexual for the school to justify setting up a separate toilet for them. Now, being gay and being transsexual are very different things, but I say power to them!

Brace! Brace!

This is just a quick reminder that if you are going to be in Brighton this rather hot and sunny weekend (and why wouldn't you be?), come and watch the Pink Singers as we perform with the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus in their concert at the Sallis Benney theatre called "Brace! Brace! Around the world with 40 gays!". Tickets are just £8.50 and you can get them from their website both by phone and on-line. I'm looking forward to the little excursion as most of this season's Pinkies take the train down on Sunday. It will be fun!


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The Making Of Me

I watched "The Making Of Me: John Barrowman" last night on BBC1, and learned a few pithy truths. The first is that John Barrowman (yes, he of Dr. Who fame) has a really gorgeous husband called Scott Gill. The second is that when he is at home he speaks to his parents in a very broad Scottish accent - ironically, even broader than his own parents! The third is that I actually don't care why he is gay, or indeed why anyone is gay, nor do I think it should matter at all.

The premise of the show is a good one. John goes on a hunt around the world chasing various scientists to find out the theories being bandied about as to why anyone is gay. It is interesting that most of the people researching this are themselves gay, although once again I am saying this based on my admittedly defective gaydar. I really shouldn't be surprised though, because if you go to any of the GLADD (Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists) meetings here in London, you'll find the majority are psychiatrists, perhaps indicating an inclination to self-analysis?

Anyway, the happy ending is that there is no one reason why people are gay. Hooray. What I did find somewaht disconcerting was the way Mr. Barrowman kept trying to find his "ticket" into homosexuality; for some reason he needed some kind of biological justification for it. In the end he settled on the idea that the more older brothers you have, the higher your likelihood of being gay.

Good for him, but what worries me is that this seems to perpetuate the myth that it is okay to be gay because it is ingrained into you from the moment you are conceived. This may be reassuring to some people, and silence certain critics, in that biological ordination somehow trumps personal choice on the morality scale, but the reality is that it shouldn't matter whether one is gay because one is born that way, or one has chosen to be that way. Indeed, if it is a personal decision, then it is an entirely valid personal decision. Embrace it because you have chosen who you want to be!

The flip side of the argument is that if you can find a biological cause for being gay then you can somehow influence development of the foetus to prevent this from happening. First of all this smacks of eugenics, and being gay is not the same as being born with a fatal congenital disease. It is society which makes being gay less appealing, not some kind of internal biological time bomb.

Although there is undoubtedly some curiosity as to why some people are gay while others are not, I really don't think that anyone needs a "reason" to be gay. If you are gay then you are as beautiful as anyone else. There is no need to explain your existence.

Pitvertisment

This is clearly the product of a tortured genius' imagination. I've not actually seen this in action, but apparently, a deodorant manufacturer has decided that a good way to advertise is by putting little LCD screens under the arms. Speaking as one who detests getting on the tube at rush hour, and whose stature means that I am constantly at staring into people's armpits, I think this could make an interesting distraction...

'Last' Versus 'Best'

I have always found choir competitions to be a slight contradiction in terms. Unlike, say, sports teams, members of choirs get together because they like to perform, and not because they are trying to beat another choir at singing. Indeed, if you are in a hockey team it would be rather pointless to train and not play against another team, whereas if you are in a choir you could go your entire singing career without ever 'winning' or 'losing' against another choir. It really is unnecessary. The Pink Singers are always singing with other choral groups, whether at our own concerts, at the invitation of others, or at festivals like Various Voices, and in such situations it is more collaborative than competitive.

So it is with some trepidation that I watched Last Choir Standing on the Beeb this and last week. The ostensible purpose of this show is to find the eponymous 'last choir standing', and I think they have done well to avoid the term 'best choir'. A cursory listen to the many choirs performing, from small jazz groups, to gospel choirs, to male voice choirs just goes to show how diverse choirs are, let alone their repertoire, and in the end, this contest really is a comparing apples to oranges, to pears, to bananas. You get the idea.

In any case, the decision is left to the three judges: Sharon Clarke, Russell Watson and Susan Digby. Of the three, the one who I really respect is Susan Digby. She says exactly what I am thinking, and has a good ear for pointing out where choirs can improve. Continuing the fruit analogy then, at this level of the competition you can tell how well formed an apple or orange is, but later on, when the competition gets to be about perfect apples versus perfect oranges, that's when the process of elimination is indubitably going to be highly subjective.

Last night the choir we are performing with on Sunday, the Brighton Gay Mens Chorus, were eliminated from the competition. They are dynamic, enthusiastic and look like really good fun. And they have a great assortment of facial hair patterns! Chorally, they were up against a number of excellent male voice choirs, so it would have been very tough for them were they to proceed further into the show. I'm really looking forward to singing with them - the Pink Singers are a very different choir from them and I think we will suit each other really well.

Who Watches The Watchmen? Me!

If, like me, you grew up reading comics by the likes of Alan Moore, you will have nothing short of a nerdgasm watching the trailer to the Watchmen movie. All the players from the original comics are there, and if it is anywhere as dark and richly layered as the original story it will be a real treat. I can hardly wait.

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish!

One thing I didn't mention in the last post is how this past concert was Lynne's last before she steps down as chair, and from the Pink Singers. I have never known the choir without Lynne, and I realise now that she has shaped my experience of it. Being a choir leader is a fairly thankless task. There is no way that in a choir of sixty people you are going to be able to balance the needs of individuals against the needs to the choir, without stepping on someone's toes, but the slow and steady progress that the Pink Singers have made over Lynne's tenure is a testament to her, and her devotion to the choir.

Lynne is mediator, she is mother, she is leader, she is organizer, she is so many things it is nearly impossible to keep track of the many ways in which she has contributed to our well being. Speaking as someone who is very into the internet, technology and new media, and someone who would love to push the choir to make use of all these mechanisms of publicity and promotion, I realise that sometimes there are others in the choir who are not ready for this kind of change, at this kind of speed. Lynne has always been there to temper my enthusiasm with some, occasionally harsh, realities, and I am glad that she does. She has really kept our choir together and on track, despite all the different forces pulling us in all directions. The success of our last concert is a testament to this.

So, Lynne, thank you from the very bottom of my heart for what you have done for the Pink Singers, and for me. I salute you, and wish you all the best, and please, please come back to the choir when you have your well-deserved rest. We love you!

We Did It: What A Rush!

Well it is now the day after the day after, but I am still riding high after our 25th anniversary concert. We have worked jolly hard this season: not only did we have to perform the full concert with all the repertoire that involves, but we also had learn and perform the choreography with last minute tweaks all the way through. The past few months have been long and arduous, but it all paid off in the end - what an amazing concert we gave!

The day itself began early, starting at 2pm with our stage rehearsal. We ran through the entire concert, from Locus Iste to Come What May, and have to say that there was the usual horror of sounding terribly flat through nearly all the songs. This was interspersed with the similarly traditional trauma of having to get on and off the stage, and getting into the right positions for our moves. I have to say that running through There Is Nothing Like A Dame for only the second time on stage with last minute jiggery and pokery to the choreography was not the easiest experience on my nerves.

By the time the run-through was over, nearly three hours later, my nerves were fairly well shot through and I was totally exhausted. Usually, I'm a bundle of nerves and can't eat a thing just before the concert, but given that we were on our feet for so long, I was absolutely famished. There was no time to go out for our meal (plus the choir is now huge, so we would have filled Pizza Express quite easily) so we had a 'pot luck' type meal down in the canteen of the Royal Academy of Music. This worked out really well for us as some people had really gone out of their way to prepare some amazing food. Kudos especially to Nathalina for making the most beautiful fairy cakes known to mankind! Yum! We also had Warren to thank for being the man behind laying all of the food out in an artistic and oh-so-tasty-looking way.

Pretty soon it was time to get into costume and warm up backstage. This year, since we were doing both halves, we were given the option of wearing two outfits, and some people really made the effort. Lynne's spangly dress for the first half, followed by her corset for the second (ooh la la!) was one of the stand outs. Jo C's full length tail coat was a stunner, and of course people like Amy always look glamorous. Ben P, who is already very cute anyway, looked very Prada in his black ensemble including pencil tie, and Johnathon and Naomi's rock chic(k) leather trousers certainly turned up the heat in the second half.

We gathered backstage as Mark Bunyan introduced the Pink Singers. Unfortunately, we couldn't hear anything of what he said, but in his ten minute preamble he gave a little bit of the history of the Pink Singers, and apparently led the audience in song with I Am A Homosexual, the first song the choir ever sang at that Pride twenty-five years ago. I think it must have been quite a surprise then when we got onto stage and opened with Locus Iste!

I am always nervous on stage, and more so when I know I have to make an announcement or sing a solo piece. It always makes me feel really edgy which means I can't really get into the singing until after the ordeal is over. I'm much happier melding into the background. That said, from the moment we finished singing the Bruckner Motet, I knew that this was going to be an amazing concert. We have never sung that piece better, and there was a wonderful union of voices, we didn't drift in pitch and the ebb and flow of the dynamics was amazing. It certainly set the tone for what was to follow.

If I had to pick out a slightly weaker piece in the first half it would have to be the Triumphal March from Aida. The piece is a grandiose one, and still, I think, a little bit beyond the reach of a sixty voice choir with piano accompaniment. I have to say that Karl Jenkin's Requiem never sounded better though, and Italian Salad was a triumph! Our soloists Adam, Michael D, Simon and Sally Ann really camped it up, and I especially liked Sally Ann's little kick of the heels at the end of her piece. It made the audience, and me, giggle.

The final piece of the first half was Ave Maria, one of the songs we performed at the IndigO2 a couple of weeks ago, with Gari Glaysher returning his visit. If anything, I think this performance was better, partly because we were singing along to Michael D's piano accompaniment, and could therefore be a little more fluid. Gari's voice was as wonderful as ever, although from where we were on stage you could not really hear it well. By this stage I think of Gari as a real friend of the Pink Singers, which reflects his intrinsically friendly nature. It was wonderful having him come along.

By the time we got to the second half things were much more relaxed and I think the whole choir really got into the performance aspect. America certainly gave us a chance to interact with each other, and a friend who came for the first time remarked how much it looked like we were having a good time as part of a team. I couldn't agree more. Everyone really dug deep and pulled what they could out of the bag.

There is a certain schizophrenia in the Pink Singers in that we sing a very varied repertoire, and the two halves really highlighted this, but whether you are singing classical or Motown, the same level of concentration and skill is required, even if the vocal style is different. If I had to choose a favourite piece of the evening, it would have to be Love Song for a Vampire. It seems superficially simple, but to imbue the song with the amount of emotion it deserves is no easy task. I thought the basses were particularly wonderful and their opening line, "Come into these arms again" was the most fused and piano that I have ever heard them. It made me go weak at the knees.

Actually, all the love songs were beautiful, and I spotted some of my friends at the back bawling their eyes out at Your Song and If We Hold On Together. As Andrew F pointed out in his introduction, Michael D's arrangement of the latter song allows for a virtuoso performance on the piano, and I have so say that his fingers flew through that, and all the other songs that evening. It must feel very vulnerable to be so exposed, but Michael D is extremely talented and he turned out a near flawless performace.

Of course, the lynch pin in all of this is our wonderful musical director Mladen. it is impossible to emphasize how important an MD is in tying together the various sections and music, and Mladen does it all with panache. Even if you have only been in the choir for one season, Mladen's directions are like an open book: one gesture and you know when to really go for it, when to slow down, when to hush your voice, when to stop. The Pink Singers would definitely not be at the standard we are without him.

There are times when Mladen has to step aside, and that was certainly the case for the choreography-rich Forever Motown. And what a way to end the concert! The audience was clapping and singing along and we were having a whale of a time. This was followed by a standing ovation from the wonderful and enthusiastic crowd. I almost didn't want it to end.

But end it eventually did, and I have to say that I was running on empty by the end of it. To me, it was the best concert I have ever been priveleged to have participated in, and an example of how far we have come. This season the choir has been pushed harder vocally than ever before and it was very rewarding to see it all come to fruition. At the same time it was so much fun and I've made many new friends this year.

We have just one more gig in Brighton in a fortnight and then it is the end of the summer season. Summer 2008 will definitely go down in my memory as one of my best ever Pink Singers experiences. Pinkies rock!

Dress Rehearsal Yesterday, Concert Tomorrow!

Things really are hotting up! Yesterday after work the majority of the Pink Singers trooped back to our old hunting rounds, the Royal Academy of Music, for our dress rehearsal in advance of the concert on Saturday. It was a chance for us to fine tune the choreography, especially in the context of the risers on the stage, and for the soloists to check out their projection as well. Thankfully nothing was disastrous, although there was much which was improved. Certainly America and There Is Nothing Like A Dame felt better for having run through it on stage.

I also took quite a few photos, with the intention of adding to our collection of publicity shots. The lighting in the Duke's Hall is good, but still rather dim by photography standards, and because we actually move around a lot on stage, it was difficult to avoid blurring (example above). I have tried to use a flash before, but the flash on my camera is too feeble to fill the hall and I end up getting dark, underexposed shots. Anyway, while most of the photos weren't horrible, it might be an idea next time for us to pose rather than dance our way through the photo shoot!

The show starts at 7.30pm at the Royal Academy of Music. Get your tickets now: we're going to have fun and I know you will too!

Things Aren't So Simple

As a child of the 70s, and seeing how bad things were growing up gay in a parochial, conservative society, I realise that things would have been significantly worse had I been born a decade earlier, and assume that things would have been significantly better had I been born a decade later. Things are rarely so simple, however. Here is a poster found on the streets of Portland, Maine accompanied by the poetic words of David Wojnarowicz.

In 1983 this boy was born into the middle of a deadly epidemic. It would be decades before he understands the severity of his situation and the ghosts haunting his unclaimed and abandoned histories of sexual liberation.

Had he been born decades earlier like his sister, his lifeless diseased body would be just one among hundreds of thousands of other boys just like him rotting in the ground. But he lived, only to inherit a world steeped in fear and hatred of his tiny little body and the desires he would pursue before long.

Feared and hated because he will soon learn what it is like to find pleasure in the naked bodies of other boys. He will be faced with the all consuming anxiety of safer sex paranoia and the panic that ensues when waking up with the most mild of fevers and chills.

But he will carry on despite the daunting “I hope you die of AIDS faggot” taunting because the dangerous pleasures he will intimately know are both sustaining and addictive. “Every time we fuck, we win”, he will someday whisper in his two lovers’ ears, reassuring himself as much as them that every day they stay alive is a revolutionary act; their desperate pleasures becoming the most insurrectionary moments of defiance imaginable in a world that would just as soon leave them for dead…

Makes me think.

You Can't Stop The Beat

Last night a bunch of us went down to see Hairspray, the stage musical. Having only just watched the film(s) a couple of months ago for the first time, I was an instant convert, and I knew I just had to see it in the theatre. Straight off I just want to say that it met every expectation and I have not seen such an energetic and enjoyable show, ever!

What do I look for in a musical? Well, like any other medium, it really does depend on the style of the show. For instance, as you know, I am a major fan of Chess, and the reason I think it is a great musical is that the songs are melodic and memorable, the storyline is believeable and emotive, and at the end of the day I leave humming a few tunes and feeling like I have been through something worthy.

Hairspray is not the same as Chess. For one it is uncompromisingly happy; and this is even when it is trying to address the important social issue of racial segregation, and by proxy, and through some none-too-veiled hints, about being happy with who you are and showing some (gay) pride. The songs are all danceable, and the characters from Tracy to Link, to Mr. and Mrs. Turnblad and even the Von Tussels are big and overblown but easy to feel empathy towards.

The original John Waters film which starred a fresh-faced and even larger Ricki Lake as Tracy and a 5 o'clock shadowed Divine as Mrs. Turnblad was pretty weird as films go, and included the memorable scene of Mrs. Von Tussel trying to pop her daughter's facial pimple. If you have not seen this version of the show there is a terrible close up of dripping pus best watched on an empty stomach.

The musical came after this, followed by the film of the musical, so by the time you get this far down the line the whole experience is sanitized. It is still thoroughly enjoyable, but partly thanks to Zac Efron who playes Link in the second film, reminds me more of High School Musical than the original film's Bride of Frankenstein.

Thankfully, the musical itself strikes the delicate balance between the two. Yes, the pimple crushing scene is preserved (although since we were in the gods, we were spared the visuals) and Mrs. Turnblad was more Divine than John Travolta. Indeed, much is made of Michael Ball is Edna, and I have to say that it is entirely justified. As a wonderful musical tenor, Mr. Ball is forced to since in a slightly higher register than usual and manages to keep the slight raspiness of man obviously pretending to be a woman. The other stand out performances for me were Ian Talbot as Mr. Turnblad, Adrian Hansel as Seaweed (what a voice!), Leanne Jones as Tracy, and an utterly outstanding Johnnie Fiori as Motormouth Maybelle.

Did I think the stage show better than the film? You betcha! The actors were clearly enjoying themselves, the dancing was electric, and at the end you just could not help getting up and doing a little boogieing. I was eyeing some of the choreography and definitely think that if the Pinkies can convey even half the amount of excitement on stage this Saturday we will have given a truly outstanding performance.

MacGruber: This Video Is Gay

Unfortunately, in common parlance "gay" means naff, so it is about time we reclaimed it! Here's a skit from Saturday Night Live of an on-going series called MacGruber, a spoof of an 80s show called MacGuyver, the show that Aunt Selma always watches in the Simpsons. This one guest stars Shia LeBoeuf (he whose name has far too many vowels), the actor from the Transformers and now Indiana Jones, playing the role of MacGruber's son. And the video really is gay, in a good way!

The Pink Singers: 25 Years Of Pride

"Pride" is such an odd term. In its original sense, the concept is quite un-British. We are almost expected to feel embarassed about our accomplishments. So when I get asked, "What are you proud of?", the conflicted mix queasiness and confusion is exactly the same as I get when asked, "What are your strengths?" in an interview.

When it comes to the Pink Singers, however, I find it a lot easier to know exactly what I am proud of: I am proud of the fact that we are a very diverse group of individuals from all backgrounds, all shapes and sizes, with very different temprements, who all get along with each other. I am proud that we come togther once a week for just twelve weeks or so, and put together a slick, polished and musically accomplished performance. I am proud that the Pink Singers provides a safe and supportive space for people who love to sing who just happen to be gay and lesbian. And the best thing is that we have been doing all the above for 25 years.

I am very proud of the fact that the Pink Singers were created to add a musical accompaniment to the London Pride of 1983, and we have been singing at every single Pride since then. This year was no exception, and nearly the entire choir showed up to strut our stuff and wow the crowds in Trafalgar Square. Things started out rather grim that morning with torrential rain pouring down, but come midday, the clouds cleared and the sun came out in force. By the time Simon and I got down to Pizza Express to meet Lynne and the other Pinkies it was blazing down.

Pride (this time with a capital 'P') is that one day of the year when it seems like London's entire gay population turns out at once. There is an incredibly festive atmosphere and everyone, gay or straight, seems that much 'gayer'. Our maitre d' gave us a knowing wink when we sat down and you could tell he was checking out the passing hordes of muscle marys, twinks, drag queens and the much larger undefined majority as they poured out of Charing Cross station on their way down to the square.

After a hurried lunch - this is the second time the Pink Singers have eaten at Pizza Express in as many weeks, so we don't really even need the menu to order! - we joined the rest of the group up front and wandered backstage in preparation. Michael led the warmup by singing Son Of A Preacher Man. The altos really gave it all and I have to say they are sounding really excellent; they got us in the mood and there was a lot of jumping and jiving going on, and we weren't even on stage yet!

When we emerged from our marquee to make our appearance the atmosphere was electric! The sun was shining brightly and there were thousands of people standing in the square. It was a riot of colour and, thanks to the assorted sponsors, a cacophony of whistles. It is funny how little things prick that sense of pride in you, but seeing the words 'lesbian', 'gay', 'bisexual' and 'trans' in large posters on the parapet at the top of Trafalgar Square made my heart swell. The cheers when we finally got on stage certainly helped as well.

Philip R worked the crowd, Michael played the introduction to Son Of A Preacher Man and we were off! And for once, the sound engineer gods were kind and managed, by the second verse, to get the balance of piano and choir right. Old Pinkies in the audience, including our favourites like Ritchie, Andrew D (with Jamie) and Kay, were waving like mad and singing along. It always puts a huge smile on my face to see members of the wider Pinkie family coming along to give us support.

By the time we got to Forever Motown, spirits were so high and I was singing so loudly I would say that all musical nuances were called off. The sense of unbridled happiness I get when we start singing "Ah... ah... ah... ah!" in unison at the start of Ain't No Mountain always sends a shiver down my spine. This was by no means our most subtle performance, but it really didn't matter at all, and the cheers from the audience were loud and sustained at the end of our set.

Unlike previous years where we both opened and closed the ceremony, this time our duty was only to open the celebrations, so we could wander in and around the crowds. We were tasked to give out flyers to the concert this Saturday (see link to the right for details and tickets by the way!) and it was remarkably easy to do. I had people coming up to me to find out more about the choir, when the next gig was and how they could join. The Pink Singers are nearly at maximum capacity, but with members leaving at the end of every season there is always a space for new recruits.

After that it was off to Soho to fight our way through the mass of gay humanity along Old Compton Street and Soho Square. It was indeed a big 'family' reunion and I ran into several friends, many Frontrunners, and assorted members of our extended choir family. Who would've thought there were that many gay people out there? What really reassured me is that although there were many who fell into one or other of the 'gay' categories, there were many, many others who do not subscribe to these stereotypes. I blogged recently about the hijras in India and how they are the fighting for gay rights in India, and at that early stage of progress, I think you do need such high visibility. Thankfully British society has moved on a bit and there is less need for that kind of identity.

Indeed, to me the Pink Singers are a microcosm of our community. We have a few bears, a few queens (I'm not saying who!), not nearly enough muscle marys (join! join!), butch dykes and lipstick lesbians, but we mainly have a whole lot of members who just don't fit into any category, and who just want to sing. Now that is something to be proud of!

Sinsational!

While we're on the subject of Pride, there is allegedly an on-going battle between a guy called Josh, and the religious fundamentalists (and their rehashed poster) who stalk the Pride in Atlanta, with rather amusing consequences. As Homer Simpson would put it: mmm... sacrilicious! More details on Flickr 1 2.

Gay In India

The British have a lot to apologise for, at least in terms of legislating against homosexuality in their former colonies. Unfortunately, the more prudish nature of places like Singapore and India mean that the laws, enshrined in the Victorian age, are not likely to be revoked any time soon.

The Economist has an interesting article on India's first ever gay Pride. It is easy to scoff at the "hot pink saris" but the cross-dressing hijras are at least fighting the good fight! I'm glad I live in London rather than in India, but it is something to think about as we celebrate Pride this weekend.

Despite a burgeoning gay scene in India’s big cities, many Indian homosexuals worry more about exposure to their families and colleagues than about the law. “My brother knows; my mother doesn’t,” says Pankash, a 23-year-old year-old student who likes to be known as Tina when he goes on dates dressed as his glamorous alter ego. Though he was not incognito on Sunday, many of his fellow paraders were. Waving placards with slogans such as “Gay and loving it”, many still wore paper masks, lest they were “outed” on television.

4 Minutes And 29 Seconds Of Happiness

If you have four minutes to spare, I guarantee this will put a smile on your face, and perhaps even the odd tear of joy.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

It's That Motown Groove

Sunday was choreography day and we spent the entire first half of the rehearsal shakin' our booties. Of course, this being the Pinkies, some of us shake much more vigorously than others, but I do think that after years of adding a little movement to our songs we are getting more experienced at it.

We've embellished our moves from a fortnight ago and I have to say that Forever Motown is looking a million times better, although I will also say that since this is our first time, I know that in future performances it will just get more elaborate as people relax into the song.

We're also jazzing things up for America and Son Of A Preacher Man. But you won't see any of these moves on the Pride stage because it's too small. So come to the concert and see us perform in our full glory why don't you?

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly

Well, if by 'jolly' you really mean 'gay'. No, it isn't Christmas, it is the height of summer and the time for all things Pride related. The real biggie of course is the London Pride march and rally this Saturday. As usual the Pink Singers wll be on stage and we are performing just after 3pm. It is interesting that we will be sharing the same stage as Boris - he who hath quoth negative things about our community in the past - but stranger things have happened, and perhaps a sudden realization, and political expediency, have caused this fundamental shift. Sufficeth to say that at least the leopard has changed his spots.

We're doing just two songs this Saturday - Son Of A Preacher Man and Forever Motown, a medley of Motown Classics. They are fun, and upbeat, and should go down well with the crowd. I am not overtly political, and am convinced that to a certain extent we have moved on from the gay dark ages just a decade ago, but part of me does wonder whether we could be doing something a little less frothy and a little more meaningful. Then again, I guess the crowds in Trafalgar Square are showing a sense of solidarity, something that is much needed in a time when parts of the Church of England are breaking away (in all but name) based on the "gay agenda". I mean really, if all the so-called gay agenda means is seeking equality then sign me up!

The other Pride event I'm taking part in is the London Pride Run which happens on Saturday the 16th of August. Since joining the Frontrunners about 6 months ago (see previous posts) I have actually felt the health benefits of going for my bi- or tri-weekly jogs. In fact, this is a good chance to combine my love of the Pink Singers with my love of the Frontrunner - I'm trying to get a team together for the run. Thankfully this is made slightly easier by the fact that this is not a sponsored run (no canvassing required) and all the monies raised goes to Stonewall. Wow, I'm feeling leaner and more virtuous already!

Nella Fantasia

Well, as you know the Pinkies performed at the IndigO2 last week. It was quite thrilling for us because we are an amateur choir and don't often get requests to do this kind of gig, in this kind of venue. All in all it was a fantastic opportunity.

I had a number of friends coming along for the show, some of whom had never heard us perform before, and none of whom had ever heard of Gari Glaysher. They were in for a real treat! Gari's repertoire certainly suited those who were more intrested in popular classics, and gentlemanly as ever, between songs he kept the banter going. Unlike other concerts I've been to, Gari is an open-hearted performer and kept the tone quite personal, which certianly worked to his advantage as it established a good rapport between him and the audience. And it helped that he also had ties to each of his guest performers. Apart from us, he also had a pianist, a rather interesting flamenco dancer, a pop singer, guitarist and an operatic soprano. So something for everyone then!

Of course, what people came to hear was Gari's voice, and what a wonderful voice it is too. He managed to fill the IndigO2, which is a cavernous venue to say the least, and there was a warmth and character to it which I had not heard at our rehearsal. Sustaining that level of quality through a two hour concert is no mean feat, and I was impressed that Gari did admirably.

On our part we started gathering form 7pm at the venue. Unfortunately the tube was jammed after work on a Friday and I was running very late. I had organized for some of us to meet in advance for a meal, but by the time I had arrived (with a dozen text and answer phone messages beeping on my poor mobile) the other Pinkies had found each other. We were seated in Pizza Express with a table that seemed to extend every five minutes as more Pink Singers showed up!

What was expecially great was seeing people like Ben R there. It is always heartening to see old Pinkies come along for support. In fact, when it comes to the concerts there is nothing like seeing familiar faces in the audience. The choir is getting larger and larger, and I will admit that getting to know everyone now is a much more arduous task than before, but I think we are still maintaining a sense of cohesiveness which keeps even retired Pinkies coming back.

Our warm-up space backstage was really huge and included a proper dressing room with an attached bathroom/shower. I felt really posh - normally we have nowhere to change apart from the loos, and our rehearsals just prior to the gigs have generally been in more makeshift surroundings. Unfortunately, the run through left me with a false sense of security. When we finally got onto stage and started singing I was shocked to find my voice being swalowed up by the venue, and not only that, I couldn't really hear anyone else either.

Most choirs, but expecially ours, needs some kind of reverberation, if only as a means of feedback so we can tune into each other, and also as a confidence boosting measure. When we can't hear ourselves, much less the rest of the choir, we tend to sing more tentatively, and that reduces our volume. There may have been some problems with our amplification as well because my friends in the audience said they had trouble hearing us over the piano. That said, despite all of the anxiety, I think we did pull it off, and with aplomb. Things can only get better for our concert on the 12th of July.

I Can Dance By Myself!

Yup! It is another Paleday gig. The best bit? it is a full 45 minute set, and it is free!

The details:

Paleday @ The More Music Festival
The Scoop
Queens Walk
South Bank
London SE1 2AA

Wed 16 July, 6pm (show starts 6.30pm sharp!)