I'm Gonna Be Strong
Carson Kressley was the MC and came with several outfit changes. The Puppini Sisters were the opening act, and while most of the Pride contingent had not quite made it over the bridge yet – the rest of us were subjected to probably the worst rendition of “I Will Survive” ever staged. Wanna piss off a gay crowd – dare to mess with a disco diva’s classic. Ugh!!
Next came Andy Bell of Erasure. Last year, Erasure came on much later (Vince was there) and there was strobes and disco lighting. This year it was just Andy in broad day light sans special effect. He respectfully sang along to a soundtrack. The crowd was amused and Bell bounced and gyrated around the stage. It was kinda sad, he looks old and tired. Which reminds us, we are old . . .
Wanda Sykes was the comic relief. She talked about gay marriage, working gay cruises and dick soup – well, you had to be there. My favorite linel of the night were - "If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry someone of the same sex" and "When do I get to vote on your marriage?"
After the intermission, The B52’s took the stage – well the crowd was ready – most of them had finally made it over the bridge. And they were not disappointed. Along with some new tracks off of Funplex – they did Rock Lobster, Roam, and Private Idaho. We sang along, we bounced, we even gyrated like Andy Bell!! If Andy Bell made us feel old, The B52’s made us feel like we were back in college and listening to the best party band ever . . .
And then the Crème de la Crème . . .
Cyndi Lauper took the stage in a giant Statue of Liberty hand – yeah!! She reminded the crowd to vote, she talked about being “friends and family of” and basically kicked ass!
She too was touting a new album – and a new single “Into the Nightlife” And of course there were all of the standards She Bop, Time After Time, Money Changes Everything, When Your Were Mine, sisters of Avalon, and True Colors. But she brought the house down with an a cappella version of “I’m Gonna Be Strong.”
All in all, it was a fun night.
