Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

THE LIFE LIVES ON!!

Its not like me to abandon my habitual downloading routine, drive up to a store and actually BUY an album, so you better believe that this album is damn worth it. And i'm not the only one who thinks so -just ask the Argentinians, the Austrians, the Dutch, the Finnish, the Swiss, the Swedes, the Brits, the Taiwanese....you'll find that the new Coldplay album, Viva La Vida, is a HUGE score - no. 1 everywhere!!*

Their second release, "Viva la Vida" whose live performance was (hands down) the highlight of this years MTV Movie Awards, was the 999th song to top the Billboard 100 in the rock era.

The tracks employ some strange sounding music instruments that, honsetly speaking, take a couple of listens to "dig"- if you're used to mainstream. There's the regular distorted guitar, keyboard, mellow piano, digitalization, then there's more of Chris's oh-so-necessary vocals, hand claps, middle eastern and north African inspirations, among others.

Track listing:
1. Life In Technicolor
2. Cemeteries In London
3. Lost!
4. 42
5. Lovers In Japan/ Reign Of Love
6. Yes (and the hidden "Chinese Sleep Chant")
7. Viva La Vida
8. Violet Hill
9. Strawberry Swing
10. Death And All His Friends

(Album Cover) "La Liberté guidant le peuple" Painting by Eugene Delacroix

Oh, you can also sample some of their songs on the Coldplay widget on the right...just click on where it says music player and it'll start playing

My Favorite "Gay" songs

Now when I say "Gay" i don't necessarily mean gay themed (though some of them are) but rather songs that are what they are largely due to popularization by gay culture.

1. Songs that appear on the surface to be actually gay:
1. I'm coming out - by Diana Ross
excerpt: "..I'm coming out..i want the world to know, got to let it show..."
no explanation necessary. considered by many a gay anthem.

2. Its raining men - Geri Halliwell
excerpt: ".its raining men! Amen...I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get absolutely soaking wet.."

3. So Many Men, So little Time - Miquel Brown (she's a she)
the song may not be gay, but don't let the guys in the music video fool you..

2. 70's gay songs:
1. Ring my Bell - Anita Ward
excerpt: "you can ring my be-e-eell, ring my bell"

2. I Love to love you baby - Donna Summer
The title of the song was sampled in Beyonce's Naughty Girl

3. YMCA - the village people.
I swear i can still do that dance
--Abba: mama mia, fernando, chiquitita


3. 80's gay songs:
1. You spin me round (like a record) - Dead or alive.
i think this was during the glam rock era...see the video and you'll know why..
this popular song had been played in gay price concerts in the mid 90's

2. Tainted love - Soft cell
I LOOOOVE this song!! its been covered who knows how many times. the most recent covers were by the Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna's (beat cover) SOS.
the song speaks loads for the gay culture.

3. ALL of Madonna's 80's songs: True Blue, Papa don't preach, Holiday, material girl and lucky star, like a virgin to name a few.

4. Kylie Minogue - locomotion, i should be so lucky

4. 90's gay songs:
1. Believe - Cher
This song was a huge smash worldwide and her bigger hit ever. it won a Grammy in '98 and is probably the most popular song by a gay icon. it also made her the oldest chart topper in the hot 100 rock era..she was 52.

2. Madonna's 90's hits such as vogue, Frozen, power of goodbye, ray of light, don't cry for me Argentina.

3. Dancing Queen - Abba
I especially enjoyed Kylie's cover in the (i forget the year) Olympics

4. I'm too sexy - Right said Fred
Nothing like this song to bring out that narcissism.

5. 2000's gay songs:
1. Michael - Franz Ferdinand
Currently my favorite band ..

2. I kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
Fun and catchy track that's currently at number 3 on the billboard singles charts

3. Kylie Minogue - Slow (fav dance track), can't get you out of my head, in your eyes, red blooded woman, chocolate, 2 hearts...all of them!

6. Sports gay songs:
1. Rock and roll - Gary glitter
this "gay"song has been played in football games, and was also featured in the 1994 world cup.
2. We are the Champions - Queen
that's right...believe it! RIP Freddie Mercury

7. Super-old school gay songs:
1. My guy - Mary wells (1964)
2. At last - Etta James (1961)

8. Hip-hop gay songs:
lol yeah, right...if you got one, I'm listening.
maybe Vanilla ice?

9. Other miscellaneous gay songs:
1. Barbie girls - Aqua
2. Slave for you - Britney
3. Satisfaction - Benny Bennassi
4. R.E.S.P.E.C.T - Aretha
5. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
6. Man, i feel like a woman - Shaniah Twain
7. I will survive - Gloria Gaynor
8. Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
9. Moulin Rouge - Christina, Mya, Pink, Lil Kim (originally by Patti Labelle)
10. t.A.T.u - All the things she said

10. ALL of Janet Jackson's songs. She's MY favorite gay icon.

got any of your own?