The Sexually Ambiguous 80s Music Scene: Annie Lennox

Nothing epitomizes the sexual ambiguity of the 80s, than the Eurythmics, featuring the singing of Annie Lennox. Wearing a man's suit with a bright red crew cut, Lennox rocked my world in the Sweet Dreams video. An early introduce to how blurry gender can be.

Link to the video.

The Sexually Ambiguous 80s Music Scene: Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti, the post-punk / New Wave band from the UK, peaked in popularity with their 1985 release, Cupid & Psyche 85. The single "Perfect Way" got airplay in the US and UK, and the video was in regular rotation on MTV. The band's name is a bastardization of "political writing" in Italian.

Frontman, Green Gartside embodied the 80s push towards post-modernism. Gartside sang in falsetto over synth beats and keyboards, grew out floppy hair, wore manicured clothing, and name dropped Jacques Derrida (of course I had no idea who that was back then) in one of his songs. The end results made his lyrics, which sound like he is singing about girls, also sort of not sounds like it.

Madonna's Men: Warren Betty

Beforethe filming of "Truth or Dare," Madonna began seeing Warren Beatty, after starring in his film version of "Dick Tracy." His prophetic line in "True or Dare" - "Why would do you anything off camera?" has increasing relevance to the current social norms of today.

As Breathless Mahoney, she does a decent job in the comic strip adaptation. Of course, Madonna is playing a vixen night club singer. Beatty, with his player reputation, made an interesting match Madonna. Alas, by 1991, they were done and Madonna was added to the list of Beatty's substantial ex-list (Carly Simon, Cher, Brigtte Bardot, Candice Bergen, etc.) Although hey didn't work on another movie, his follow ups Bugsy, Love Affair, and Town & Country all bombed, with Madonna no where to be seen.

The post script of the story is that after decades on bachelor infamy, he met and married Annette Bening in 1991. They are still married with four children.

Madonna's Men: Sean Penn

Madonna gave Sean Penn a shout out as her true love in pre-reality television, film "Truth or Dare" in 1991.

Empowered and self-determining, citing Madonna as the prime example of the post-feminist is almost academic. Her fascination with film is one of the rare instances of a career and artistic endeavor which had lead to mixed results. Part of her fascination seems to result in the dating of men in that field (Early in her music career, she also dated DJs and music producers.)

In 1986, she met and married Sean Penn. They separated in 1988, and divorced in 1989. During their relationship, they starred together in Shanghai Surprise, infamous for terrible reviews, and even worst box office take. It wasn't "so bad it's good," it was just bad. It was also the first of a handful of movies that she starred in with boyfriends or husbands.

Marring Madonna has got to be one of the most emasculating experiences a guy can do, which is also slightly ironic because the men in her life also tend to be very "male" in appearance and demeanor.

Blowoff NYC

I had a late night and made it to Blowoff at the Highland to hear Bob Mould and Richard Morel spin. Opening the door at midnight was brutal if you didn't have Columbus Day off, which I didn't. But it was worth it, as I heard a couple of nice indie label remixes from Hercules and Love Affair as well as Santogold that I'll have research. Here is the set list, which should be up soon. I must say that I love the artwork.