News Round-Up: August 28, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Actor/model/InstaHunk Tyler James (above) offers this Tuesday tidbit of wisdom: "Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets."

• A 41-year-old straight correctional officer says he was taunted as "gay" for months in the workplace to the point he developed facial paralysis.

• The Telegraph is reporting that Facebook targeted young LGBTs with ads for so-called 'conversion therapy.'

• In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Australia pop star Sia admits she refused to take a photo with Donald Trump backstage at SNL. When asked for the photo op, she replied, "Actually, do you mind if we don’t? I have a lot of queer and Mexican fans, and I don’t want them to think that I support your views." #Bravo

• John Goodman confirmed to The Times that Roseanne Barr's character will indeed be killed off in the upcoming reboot of the rebooted Roseanne sitcom, now to be titled, The Connors.

•Porn star Stormy Daniels was asked by Vogue Magazine about her infamous one-night-stand with Donald Trump. Daniels reply - “How many details can you really give about two minutes?” #Ouch

• I'll bookend this News Round-Up with one more by the handsome Mr. James, who proves in this pic he has clothes, albeit they may be coming off in the photo...

Hold your own, know who you are, and go your own way... and everything will be fine. • • • Captured by @brandon_jameson. #MotivationMonday #MaleModelMonday #malemodelscene #malemodel #fantastics #MondayMotivation #GoYourOwnWay #MensEditorial #fantasticsmagazine

A post shared by Tyler James (@itsmetylerjames) on Aug 20, 2018 at 5:08pm PDT

Music Video: Sia "Free Me" (Feat. Zoe Saldana & Julianna Moore)

Sia dropped the powerful music video for her song "Free Me," this week.

Actress Julianne Moore narrates as Zoe Saldana is featured as a woman learning she is HIV+ in a doctor's office.

As with many of Sia's videos, the video features moving interpretive dance by longtime Sia collaborator, Ryan Heffington. The piano-led ballad incorporates soaring orchestral passages, and emotionally raw lyrics:

Free me, free me
From this pain I've been running from
I'm tired and I'm free falling
Free me, free me
From this shame I've been running from
I'm lost and I am calling you.

Hilton Dresden writes for OUT:

“The HIV/AIDS epidemic is one that can affect anyone, particularly child-bearing women around the globe,” said Sia in a statement. “I’ve proudly joined forces with the Abzyme Research Foundation and the #endHIV Campaign for the release of my song, ‘Free Me,’ to help raise funds and awareness for a potential breakthrough cure of the epidemic.”

#EndHIV is an initiative of the Abzyme Research Foundation, which believes they've discovered a cure for AIDS through the use of an antibody, called an abzyme "Our immediate goal is to raise the funds needed to commercially manufacture the vaccine to FDA standards and to gain FDA approval for a human clinical trial," says the Foundation on their site.

Sia's new "Free Me" video concludes with a sobering statistic: HIV is the number one killer of women of reproductive age around the world.

One hundred percent of proceeds for the single will benefit the #endHIV campaign.

Watch below.

New Music: Sia "To Be Human" feat. Labrinth

In anticipation of the premiere of the upcoming Wonder Woman flick on June 2nd, check out "To Be Human" by Randy Report favorite, Sia, from the film's soundtrack.

And, in truth, who better to voice a track from Wonder Woman than Sia?

The film, starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, marks the first superhero film ever to be directed by a woman (Patty Jenkins) with a leading female protagonist in the storyline.

No stranger to film soundtracks, Queen Sia has contributed songs to 50 Shades Darker, The Hunger Games, Twilight, The Neon Demon, and San Andreas.

U.K. artist Labrinth guests on the sweeping, anthemic track.

Listen below.

News Round-Up: March 13, 2017

Some news items you might have missed:

• Joe Manganiello (above) hopes you had a great Monday :)

• A new tell-all book reveals Dick Clark worked to keep "American Bandstand" dancers in the closet.

• A Texas lawmaker has proposed legislation that would require men to get an unnecessary rectal exam before they could get a prescription for Viagra to make a satirical point about the obstacles that Texas women face every day.

• Congressional Democrats will reintroduce The Equality Act, which would amend existing civil rights laws to add protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in workplaces, housing, and public spaces.

• Sorority Alpha Chi Omega announces transgender women will be welcomed into the sorority effective immediately.

• Stargate, the production team behind Katy Perry’s “Firework”, Rihanna’s “Rude Boy”, and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” team up with Sia & Pink for their latest track, “Waterfall."

New Music: Brooke Candy Feat. Sia "Living Out Loud"

Just in time for the weekend!

Rapper/singer Brooke Candy releases “Living Out Loud” ft. 8X Grammy nominee Sia today at all digital providers.

The track was produced by Jesse Shatkin (Sia’s “Chandelier,” Kelly Clarkson) and written by Geoffrey Early (Ziggy Marley, Beyoncé, David Guetta), Priscilla “Priscilla Renea” Hamilton (Rihanna, Fifth Harmony), Sia and Greg Kurstin (Adele, P!nk, Beck).

Speaking to Noisey last March, Candy shared, "The new record we've been working on together has a strong message, but the sound is more polished. I've been describing it as thoughtful pop, like Luscious Jackson meets Smashing Pumpkins meets Madonna. The melodies are clean and bubbly, but the message is real. I want to make music that makes people feel some sort of bliss. That makes people want to spread some sort of love and light onto this planet because I think we're in a sort of dark age and the planet really needs it."

Both artists have been open about their past troubles with substance abuse, and they put the issue front and center with "Living Out Loud:"

Twenty-four hours it's a day at a time
Twenty-three lived a hell of a life
Twenty-two such a blur, it's passing me by
Twenty-one I caught a glimpse of the light
Twenty drinks later in the back of a ride
Nineteen momma kicked me outta the house
Eighteen minutes 'till you bail me out
Seventeen magazine was telling the truth
When they said we all have issues

Just thinking out loud
Screaming so loud
Foolish and proud
Living out loud
Living out loud
Out loud

The track is imminently listenable: uber-melodic, strong hook, big house-pop beats and, of course, Sia's iconic power vocals .

“Living Out Loud” is the first official single from Brooke’s upcoming debut album Daddy Issues which is set for release spring 2017.

News Round-Up: January 4, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• These high school sweethearts share their love story in OUT's latest "Love Portfolio"

• A NYC bartender is suing Manhattan restaurant Bagatelle for writing him up as "dressing up like a gay porn star" and looking "like a faggot." The manager then posted the write up for employees to see.

• Over 1,200 law professors have told Congress to drop Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination for U.S. Attorney General.

• A new study shows one in five straight men like to watch gay porn.

• Repealing ObamaCare would increase the budget deficit by $350 billion over 10 years, according to a new study.

• The home of a California gay couple was trashed, painted with slurs and covered in bleach in apparent hate crime.

• Check the new music video from Randy Report fave Sia, "Never Give Up," featured on the soundtrack for Lion.

New Music: Sia "Never Give Up"

Sia delivers her signature vocals over a bouncy Bollywood beat on this new track, “Never Give Up.”

“Oh yeah, I’m haunted by the distant past / Called to the skies but she was she overcast / But I won’t ever give up, no”

The track is to be featured in the upcoming flick Lion, starring Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, opening this coming Friday.

New Music: Sia "The Greatest"

Fans of Aussie pop superstar Sia got a holiday weekend surprise when she dropped her latest single and video for "The Greatest."

The haunting video pays tribute to the lives lost in the June 12 mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Led by frequent collaborator Maddie Ziegler (sporting rainbow tears on her cheeks), a group of still bodies lie on the floor of a locked cell. Music builds, bodies rise, and soon Ziegler and company break free of their confines.

“Don’t give up, I won’t give up. I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive.” 

The song is available now on all digital download sites including iTunes.

Funny: Céline Dion Plays "Wheel of Musical Impressions" On The Tonight Show

Céline Dion, currently promoting her new French language album Encore un soir which drops August 26, showed that she's game for a good time as she took part in one of Jimmy Fallon's favorite Tonight Show games "Wheel of Musical Impressions."

As a "random generator" came up with famous singer/song combinations, Céline delivered her impressions of Cher, Rihanna, and Sia with abandon.

The best moment came as she pulled her hair over her face to deliver a Sia inspired "Hush Little Baby," and then thanked the audience with her back facing the audience.

The Canadian diva also dropped by The Today Show on Friday, belting out several of her hits. But this beautifully subdued version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was particularly artful.

(h/t NewNowNext)

Sia Joins THE LATE LATE SHOW's James Corden For Some "Carpool Karaoke"

The fabulous Sia joins The Late Late Show host James Corden for some "Carpool Karaoke," and the results are big fun.

Corden, who finds himself lost on the way to work, sees Sia and realizes SHE is the perfect person to give him directions to work.

Along the way, Sia and Corden belt out some of her biggest hits like “Chandelier”, “Diamonds," “Elastic Heart”, “Alive”, and “Titanium.”

The awesome Aussie also explained the famously over-sized, face-obscuring wigs and hats: “I don’t wear this unless there’s cameras around. I only wear this to maintain a modicum of privacy.”

At one point Corden takes issue with Sia's diction while singing. And she just laughs LOL...

I love that I had the unexpected but fabulous experience of meeting Sia when she visited Las Vegas in March of last year. She came to see her idol, Olivia Newton-John, in concert and she came backstage for a spell. She was more than joyous, and very happy to take a pic with me. Like just about every Aussie I've ever met, she was full of life and completely down to earth. 

Sia Returns To SNL: "Alive"

While most of the attention for Saturday Night Live this weekend went to Donald Trump's appearance (with mixed reviews), the luminous Sia also returned to the late night show with her new single "Alive," to explosive vocal effect.

The single is from her upcoming album release This Is Acting, due out January 29, 2016.

For the performance, the Aussie singer covered her face (as usual) with an oversized wig and painted eyes on her cheeks as a dancer interpreted the song to dramatic effect.

Music: Sia "Alive"

Sia drops the first track off her upcoming album This is Acting today, a raw, scorched-earth anthem about survivorship - "Alive."

Originally written for Adele's next project, it didn't make that album but Sia decided to record it herself. Sia says although the song was written specifically for Adele, she liked the challenge of singing a song meant for Adele's perspective.

The title of the album, This Is Acting, refers to the fact that the songs were all written for other performers. Sis admits, these songs aren't necessarily something she would say. ‘It’s more like play-acting. It’s fun.”

From the song:

I was born in a thunderstorm
I grew up overnight
I played alone
I played on my own
I survived
Hey I wanted everything I never had
Like the love that comes with life
I wore envy and I hated it
But I survived

I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go
Where the wind don’t change
And nothing in the ground can ever grow
'No hope, just lies
And you’re taught to cry in your pillow
But I survived

Music: Sia Covers The Mamas and The Papas "California Dreamin"

International superstar Sia comes out swinging with her signature powerhouse vocals on this classic by The Mamas and The Papas.

Grand and orchestral, this lush cover shows that a great song, like a great play, can always stand up to reinterpretation when the artists involved understand their material.

From the soundtrack of the upcoming disaster movie San Andreas. Check it out on iTunes.

Music Video: Giorgio Moroder - "Déjà Vu" featuring Sia

Disco legend Giorgio Moroder has been teasing out a few tracks from his upcoming album that will feature high name factor recording artists like Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.

Today, he shares his collaboration with the fab Sia, "Déjà Vu."

Drew Lipson is the handsome male lead of the video; Moroder makes cameo appearances as the DJ and the Driver.

Great song - watch this be huge on the dance floor.

Funky Friday: Giorgio Moroder Teams Up With Sia "Déjà Vu"

The internet "hustle" is a bit more fun today thanks to the title track of Giorgio Moroder's upcoming album DEJA VU featuring vocals by the fab Sia.

I shared Moroder's collaboration with Kylie Minogue for the project back in February.

Click below to listen to the track via Spotify. The album drops June 12th.

(h/t JMG)

So This Happened Last Night

Me with Sia at the Flamingo Las Vegas

Can you imagine?

Last night, huge pop star Sia attended Olivia Newton-John's sold out "Summer Nights" concert at the Flamingo Las Vegas. And I had the chance to meet her backstage!

I'm a big fan of hers. And she is a BIG fan of Olivia's. So, it all worked out great, huh?

Sia has a "no touring" policy. But that isn't keeping her from getting offers to do so. And apparently huge offers. So, she's recently stated that she might consider touring... IF.

What if? This if: “I don’t care about doing it so I’ll throw the most ludicrous idea out and say say ‘I’ll do a live show if you can get Olivia Newton-John to perform with me’, because that’s my childhood dream."

And so, there she was last night, dancing throughout the concert to all those ONJ hits. And then afterward, she came backstage to meet her idol.

Very, very cool night :)

Shia LeBeouf & Maddie Ziegler Guest In New Sia Music Video - "Elastic Heart"

The official video for "Elastic Heart" directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, featuring Shia LaBeouf and Maddie Ziegler. choreographed by Ryan Heffington.

This is the follow up to 4-time Grammy nominated hit "Chandelier," on iTunes.

At first glance, I shied away (see what I did there?) from the video when I saw it featured Shia LeBeouf, as I've had enough of his "hot cup of crazy."

But watching the video, the musical and choreographic textures were really intriguing. The rhythms, dance vocabulary... Very watchable. And, to be honest, the two sexy bodies weren't hard to look at either.