I was just reading some of Curve magazine book reviews, and came upon a couple of books I thought people here might be interesting to people here.
Here’s one about this nation’s “founding feminists,” called Sisters: The Lives of America’s Suffragists.
(Note that she uses the correct term, suffragists, and not the derogatory ‘suffragettes’, in her title.)
For you musicheads, there’s one about the rise of queer rock via Homocore called Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock.
Start Shouting
There’s a thread for favorite songs and one for great lyrics on the message boards, and today – well today, this is the one for me. It’s becoming a theme song for me, since I just got told on a trans-partners list that I have no right to complain about Betty’s transness because I knew she crossdressed when we met.
Well you know, fuck that. I’m going to listen to this over and over again so I don’t have to choke anyone.
“Stop Whispering”
And the wise man say I don’t want to hear your voice
And the thin man say I don’t want to hear your voice
And they’re cursing me, and they won’t let me be
And there’s nothing to say, and there’s nothing to do
Stop whispering, start shouting
Stop whispering, start shouting
And the mother say we spit on your son some more
And the buildings say we spit on your face some more
And the feeling is that there’s something wrong
Because I can’t find the words and I can’t find the songs
Stop whispering, start shouting
Stop whispering, start shouting
Dear Sir, I have a complaint
Can’t remember what it is
It doesn’t matter anyway
It doesn’t matter anyway
Thanks, Thom.
Trans Rockers
On Saturday night, after seeing our very own Penny play a gig at Galapagos in Williamsburg, a bunch of us from the MHB Boards went to the Trans Rock Music Explosion at the Bowery Poetry Club.
And there, with a lovely gathering of trans and non-trans alike, a few bands that had trans members (from one to all, depending on the band) they rocked their hearts out. I didn’t get to see all of them, since we weren’t there from the start, but I did get to see Temptress, Vibralux, and Lisa Jackson + Girl Friday.
Temptress were fun, a bar band with three women on guitar, bass, and drums, and an MTF lead singer. (One of my friends commented after they were on that there should be a law about trans bands doing more than one song from Rocky Horror, which – there should be.)
Vibralux came in all the way from Kansas City. They reminded me of the New York Dolls in some ways – at least in terms of makeup application and slutty clothes. But they rocked – I have to give them that much. They had the energy of a midwest band in NYC, amped up with “we’re in New York!” attitude. They were a blast, and their song “Play with Balls” amused me. (The lyrics went something along the lines of “girls aren’t supposed to play with dolls/ no, girls, play with balls!” which was slutty and funny at once.)
But, Lisa Jackson. She is getting a little angrier in her lyrics and stageshow – a turn I like very much – but her older songs, like “Beautiful Freak” and “Fabulously Done” are still close to my heart. (The lyrics to “Fabulously Done” are reprinted as the very last page of My Husband Betty, because I like them so much.) She’s what the trans-movement needs, and it’s almost pathetic that the trans conferences haven’t lined up to book her for every single trans conference in North America. She is a one-woman anthem, a powerful singer, and a great musician. To be honest, – and I don’t say this lightly – Lisa Jackson is the first tranny I’ve ever seen that made me think, “it’s good to be a chick.” Which is no small compliment, coming from me.
Any of these bands are worth checking out, and all of them are worth supporting.
http://www.temptressrocks.com/
http://www.vibralux.org/
http://www.lisajacksonandgirlfriday.com/
(These events get announced – and people plan to go – via the MHB Boards as well. Folks are free to join us, or at least can come knowing there’ll be a contingent on hand.)
Donations – and a Gift
To encourage donations, I’m offering a little gift for this month’s donors: a CD (the musical kind) of love songs to celebrate Valentine’s Day with. It’s an eclectic mix, containing a few songs anyone might love, and hopefully a few new musicians/songs you haven’t heard before who might become new loves.
I figured Valentine’s Day is a good time to show the love – so you show me yours, and I’ll show you mine. 🙂
If you’re liking my blog, or the MHB Boards, or my trans-erotica, let me know by sending a small donation to keep the site – and my work – going.
Donate $25 or more by February 28th, and you’ll get a copy of the CD.
Thanks again – and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Helen & Betty
Rufus Wainwright's new CD
This has nothing to do with transgender anything, but everything to do with my loves in this world, the chief musical one among them for the past 4 years or so being one Rufus Wainwright. His new CD (that’s Compact Disc) is coming out in a couple of weeks, but VH1 has a preview up.
Listen here
Lisa Jackson rocks!
Betty & I went to a mixed trans night recently (FTM & MTF) at a lesbian bar called Meow Mix, and we saw trans- musician Lisa Jackson perform. It was my second time hearing her sing, and for the second time I was especially struck by one of her songs, called “Fabulously Done.”
^ Minerva, Betty, Zoe and Flawless Mother Sabrina are the ones in this photo, singing one of Lisa’s songs to Lisa as part of the celebration.
If trans- folks (esp MTFs) are looking for an anthem, girls – this is it!
Read these lyrics:
The make up and the clothes I wear,
The fancy do and the underwear,
It’s a mystery, you see, to anyone who’s not like me.
So please retract those words of hate
‘Cause I’m the boy you used to date.
Yes I’m your lover and I’m your son. I’m your brother; we’ve just begun.
Somehow around the age of 8
I learned that I should hate
The fairies and the queers-you know they’re just so fucking weird.
But little did my siblings know that I was putting on a little show
In the mirror of the bathroom as my mother ran the vacuum.
I’m not the only one. I’m not the only one
Who wants to be painted, and pretty, and shining and fabulously done.
It has taken some 20 years
For me to learn to ignore the fear
That there are people who will hate you, and people who will shame you.
But be the first to cast your stone, ’cause I would rather be all alone.
Yes If I am gonna be living, then I am gonna be giving all I can.
I told that girl, but that girl went away.
And I told my brother, but my brother thinks I’m gay.
I told my sister, but my sister could not hear.
And I told the world, ’cause I am tired of this fear.
Buy her CD! or at least find out more about her at www.lisajacksononline.com
Has anyone else out there seen her perform? What did you think?
(update 7/17/05: Lisa Jackson’s website is now: http://www.lisajacksonandgirlfriday.com)