Kate Pierson - 'Mister Sister'

Here's the video for Kate Pierson's lead single - 'Mister Sister' - from her first solo album due out in February. Yes, you read that right, Kate Pierson (*that* Kate Pierson from the glorious The B-52's). She has one of the loveliest pop voices in the past 35 years and she's still going strong. At last she's chosen to release a solo record!



I think this is a great, catchy, poppy song that could help to normalise transitioning from one gender to another. It's not a treatise on transgender politics, it's a fun song with a message about individual empowerment and what's wrong with that?

If you look at the comments underneath the video on YouTube Kate now seems to be embroiled in a transgender political correctness argument much like the arguments last year about the word 'trannie'. I recall reading posts from people like Kate Bornstein and Justin Vivian Bond about how 'trannie' was part of their collective history and was a badge of honour rather than an insult.

I'm particularly puzzled by the comments about Kate singing 'you are a beautiful girl' - I don't hear that as supporting the 'norm' about who and what beautiful people are and should be, I hear it as saying 'now you're really yourself you're beautiful and don't listen to anyone else'. You don't have to be traditionally beautiful to be beautiful, just have the confidence that comes with knowing who you really are and that makes you beautiful.

I'm beautiful (in my own way) and so are you. Just because I'll never feature on the cover of 'Vogue' or any of those glossy magazines doesn't mean I'm not.

Justin Vivian Bond ' 'The Golden Age Of Hustlers'

You may remember that last year I blogged about Justin Vivian Bond starting a Kickstarter appeal to make a video to immortalise Bambi Lake's Song, 'The Golden Age of Hustlers'. Well, I supported it and have patiently awaited the result. And I haven't been disappointed. Here's the video:



I first saw Justin perform this song about 8 years ago and I've been transfixed ever since. What is it about the song that draws me in? I've no idea, but it's a description of a world I'll never know but was so real at the time. Justin is doing the world a big favour by keeping it alive. And keeping Bambi alive. I think it's important that these glimpses into past worlds aren't forgotten. The world keeps changing and we need to keep track of these changes to prevent ourselves becoming lost.

Thank you Bambi and thank you Justin. Good stuff!

Justin Vivian Bond - 'The Golden Age of Hustlers'

I've mentioned Justin performing 'The Golden Age of Hustlers' by Bambi Lake in this blog a few times and I don't apologise for mentioning the song again. This time it's for a Kickstarter appeal to raise funds for Justin to do a video of the song. I'm all for it. This is what Justin says:



I don't know what it is about the song that enthrals me. It's a world I don't know and will never know since it's long gone. I suspect that's part of its allure, much like the Berlin of the 1930s and the London of the 1960s. It's almost within touch and sight... but not quite. Listen to Justin singing it live on the Kickstarter page.

Please support the Kickstarter appeal by clicking here and pledge whatever you can afford. This isn't a promo vehicle, it's about keeping the past alive for any curious souls that might like to be a bit adventurous. I've pledged my support.