The Wheel and Axle

“Horror” is perhaps indeed the most appropriate term to describe what I felt when I finally saw several clips and performances of the 2016 Fox remake of the iconic and groundbreaking musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Not a transvestite.

I was quite wary of this remake when I read about it months ago. For one thing, they cast Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and while I’m happy we’re providing our trans sisters more opportunities in Hollywood given how shabbily they’ve been treated by the industry, this is one situation where the casting completely misunderstands the material. The character is established as a transvestite, not a transwoman – and the lyrics and story clearly delineate the good doctor as a cisgender bisexual male who happens to love cross-dressing. Casting a transwoman in the role could even be viewed as being detrimental to the trans cause, as it can propagate the incorrect notion that transwomen are not women but are just gay men who cross-dress.

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On the same day that the King of Thailand passed away earlier this week, another piece of history was made when the legendary Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This is historic as it marks the first time the award was given to a musician, cementing the fact that music is poetry and deserves recognition not just for the sounds but also for the lyrics and thought.

My only gripe? Jim Morrison never won.

But that’s neither here nor there. Dylan – another master of words and social reality – most definitely deserves the recognition.

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With the talented lead, Via Antonio

So because I enjoyed Ako Si Josephine so much, I had to watch it a second time, which is typical of me. Watching it again most definitely did not diminish the awesomeness of the unique production.

In fact, the rewatch enhanced it – and given that it was also the final show of the run, there were a few added surprises (such as Yeng Constantino appearing during curtain call with a special song number).

The review I wrote for the show the first time I watched it largely focused on the story / material itself – on its subversive nature and how relevant it is given the current socio-political climate of the country. Now, I’d like to give the production itself, along with its cast, the recognition it deserves.

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Now while I of course will always remember Nicky Byrne’s birthday first and foremost, and while I still much prefer Jim Morrison over-all in terms of music, poetry, and artistry, and while Ringo will always be my favorite Beatle, we cannot deny the greatness and legend of John Lennon.

In many ways, and just in my opinion, he was the primary force behind the Beatles (sorry, Paul). His work, both with the group and as a solo artist, revealed a true master of music and social commentary, one whose influence remains to this d ay. He was controversial, a divisive figure whose statements were rarely tame (yet always thought-provoking).

In the end, he rightfully became an icon.

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Anyone who has known me for a long time would know that, despite all the celebrities I totally admire and crush on, it will always boil down to just one person at the top.

Westlife’s Nicky Byrne.

Yes, even up to now, approximately seventeen years later.

No, he may not be the hottest.

He may not have been the best singer in Westlife nor the best soccer player prior to his career in show business.

However, there’s just something about Nicky that will always make him tops in my book.

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Here’s a little throwback to when two of my favorite women in the world got together just to mess around and have some fun. When two influential and powerful ladies just let their hair down and do this, you know that despite the troubles, all will be right in this world.

Enjoy your Saturday, darlings. Make sure you get some of those velvety kisses along the way.

This is a few years old, but it’s still absolutely touching. This collaboration of YouTube personalities in support of the Trevor Project shows to me that there is still hope in this world and that LGBT youth still have folks who believe in them.

I’m not really a fan of Yeng Constantino, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I went to watch Ako Si Josephine, a musical featuring her songs (which, to be honest, I’m only vaguely familiar with).

I do love musicals, as anyone who knows me would know, and I’m especially thrilled that original Pinoy musicals have been experiencing a great renaissance in the last decade (the long-running ZsaZsa Zaturnnah which is long overdue for another staging, Rak of Aegis, Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady, and the film I Do Bidoo, among others). Factor into the equation that two of my good friends are in the cast (hello, mga ses Ricci and Doemi!), and it was a no-brainer that I’d watch Ako Si Josephine.

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The song about irony that was, ironically, irony-free gets a modern make-over, and it’s hilarious. Alanis Morisette even makes fun of that truism.

Is Alanis a vampire? She shows no sign of aging, especially for someone who made a living off of musical angst when Adele and Taylor Swift were wee little girls who likely still thought the world was all sunshine and strawberries. Alanis will always be queen.

As for James Corden… damn, what an adorable bear.

So my friends and I watched Oh Boy! at the Music Museum last night. Yes, yes we did. The primary common driver for most of us was to see rising artist Derrick Monasterio, whom I’ve been a fan of for a few years now. We’ve also been quite fond of all the other performers – particularly Aljur Abrenica and Jake Vargas, not to mention Rocco Nacino – but Derrick was really the main guy for three out of the four of us.

Because, well, look at him.

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