Bear Necessities!

[Forrrce]

Just arrived home from my first gig in a gay club. What a night - the guys sure can have it - they're definitely up for the 'floor. It was pointed out to me during the evening that I have "bear" credentials! Were I thinking of making the switch, would I be the dominant half? :o :lol:

[QUINNY]

Forrrce: Dear boy, pray tell, what did you play for them?
This should be interesting!!!!!

[Videoskooter]

Probably everybody's gonna laugh at me now but what are "bear credentials"? :oops:

I sometimes play at "gay" gigs and they always ask something by Patrick Juvet which is great coz' I always liked his records.

[BrunoRepublic]

"bear" generally refers to someone who is big, hairy, and hopefully, butch. It's a scene within the gay community that first was a reaction to the pressures to conform to the image of young, slim, bleached, preened, and effeminate princesses. Unfortunately, while still very much against this type of conformity, it has become its own stereotype.

Nonetheless, I still describe myself as "bear-identified".

[sfbeary]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Forrrce: Dear boy, pray tell, what did you play for them?
This should be interesting!!!!!

would you say that if he had played for a black audience, you condescending, provincial twit?

oh, i forgot, you probably would.

:roll:

[QUINNY]

SF: Oh dear. Sticks and stones, sticks and stones.

I 'm interested 'cos Forrrce has always said, in no uncertain terms, that he only plays what HE likes at his gigs. So, not condescending of me to ask, as his taste in music is NOT generally what one would call, Gay inclined. Therefore a perfectly valid question, from a perfectly intelligent person.

Apology accepted, as I'm such a generous chap.

[Forrrce]

I'm not excessively hairy (nor does the fuzz start directly below my eyes :lol: ) and I smoke, eat and drink far too much to be fit, so I had no offers. :oops:

No great mysteries in the playlist. Here's a few.

Linda Hopkins 'It's In Your Blood'
Vicky Sue Robinson 'Hold Tight'
Kreamcicle 'Work Ya Body'
Letta Mbulu 'Kilimanjaro'
Alma Faye 'Don't Fall In Love'
Nancy Martin 'Can't Believe'
Nick Straker Band 'A Little Bit Of Jazz'
Love Club 'Hot Summer Nights'
Main Ingredient 'Party People'
...

Anyhow - before war breaks out, this is meant to be a bit of fun.

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by Forrrce

Anyhow - before war breaks out, this is meant to be a bit of fun.

Some of us actually realise that!!!

So, c'mon Forrrce, spill da beans. Did ya bend any (with ya playlist)?

[Forrrce]

Really, Q - I played stuff I usually spin - even 'Cocomotion'! Hudson People got aired, but I always play that anyway - and that was as jazzy as it got. The Alma Fayes, Linda Hopkins' and Letta Mbulus are very energetic records. The most Euro-influenced track I played was the recent re-edit of Ronnie Dyson's 'It's All Over Your Face', which was quite a big club tune here in '83. It has a feel not dissimilar to a Moroder production, but it's still quite soulful in a traditional way. This went down particularly well.

The Kreamcicle track is one I've always loved, but it never goes down particularly well. It's a kind of brash, tuneless electro-disco number with a screaming vocal. Last night, it did the job (and someone even asked me for my copy). It's only taken me nearly 20 years to break it! :lol:

[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by Forrrce

Really, Q - I played stuff I usually spin - even 'Cocomotion'!
The Kreamcicle track is one I've always loved, but it never goes down particularly well. It's a kind of brash, tuneless electro-disco number with a screaming vocal. Last night, it did the job (and someone even asked me for my copy). It's only taken me nearly 20 years to break it! :lol:

It's strange F, but I still can't believe you're a Cocomotion man.

20 years to break a track.....that's what I call devotion. Are you feeling elated or empty this morning?

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

It's strange F, but I still can't believe you're a Cocomotion man.

20 years to break a track.....that's what I call devotion. Are you feeling elated or empty this morning?

I can see why you'd think I may not like 'Cocomotion', but I don't think it's too far removed from anything resembling good taste 8) . What originally got me was the b-line, especially in the middle section. 'Let's Get It Together' was bigger here, but I liked 'Cocomotion' more.

Small victories (Kreamcicle) aside, I'm just grateful I don't have a hangover (they follow me around like a black cloud these days) and I'm quite pleased that last night seemed to go pretty well. Just going to tidy the bijou beardette up... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[buckaroo]

Originally Posted by Forrrce

Just arrived home from my first gig in a gay club. What a night - the guys sure can have it - they're definitely up for the 'floor. It was pointed out to me during the evening that I have "bear" credentials! Were I thinking of making the switch, would I be the dominant half? :o :lol:

Mmmm...A picture like this, conjures up a whole realm of new meanings... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[NickNack]

Originally Posted by sfbeary

would you say that if he had played for a black audience, you condescending, provincial twit?

oh, i forgot, you probably would.

:roll:

sbeary,

If I hadn't been here so long I might have reacted this way, too. However, there is a long-standing, mostly harmless, musical gay-straight divide we now and then get into on the board. It's mostly "us" vs. the UK funksters. It's been fun and interesting. So, as much as I love ole Quinny , I don't believe he meant anything derogatory. (Who knew I would ever utter these words. :D )

Forrrce,

Was this a "full night"? You know, more than 6 hours? And I love that Letta Mbulu. You can ask Art. I think I made him sick of it BITD.

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by NickNack

Was this a "full night"? You know, more than 6 hours? And I love that Letta Mbulu. You can ask Art. I think I made him sick of it BITD.

Guest spots in most places seem to be around 2 hours, here - this probably seems like mere warm-up time to you over there? Most I've done on the trot is 5 hours. The longer I'm on and getting a reaction, the longer it feels I could play for - as long as I don't run out of records. Anyway, last night seemed to go quickly so that's no bad thing.

I flipped when I first heard the Letta. An older DJ mate at the time said it was an ideal multi-purpose record - it worked with disco, soul and jazz-funk audiences. It's a lost classic, in my book.

Actually, Nicky - I see what you mean now about a 'full night'. It lasted around 9 hours, think - maybe more. I was there for just under three.

[sfbeary]

Originally Posted by Forrrce

Linda Hopkins 'It's In Your Blood'
Vicky Sue Robinson 'Hold Tight'
Kreamcicle 'Work Ya Body'
Letta Mbulu 'Kilimanjaro'
Alma Faye 'Don't Fall In Love'
Nancy Martin 'Can't Believe'
Nick Straker Band 'A Little Bit Of Jazz'
Love Club 'Hot Summer Nights'
Main Ingredient 'Party People'

well, for what it's worth, i would've danced quite enthusiastically if these were part of and typical of your set. i don't ever remember hearing it in a club, but "kilimanjaro" is indeed a killer. "it's in your blood" and "it's all over your face" i love even more. alma faye's "it's over" was the prefered cut in most clubs i frequented, but "don't fall in love" does the business as well. "a little bit of jazz" still makes me crazy. in fact, the only title on your list that isn't a favorite of mine is kreamcicle's "work ya body." i'm a big fan of kreamcicle's earlier "no news is news," but i think "work ya body" must've flopped at the same places in nyc that pumped "no news is news" like crazy because i don't have any memory of it. of course i'm curious to hear it again.