05/13/2008
Sheena Easton Launching 'Bold Bid to Be Gay Icon'
The last resort on a "dried up" pop star's list, according to The Scotsman:
"The Scottish singer has sold more than 20 million records around the world in a career which has spanned three decades – but recently the hits have dried up and she is without a major record deal. Now the Grammy-winning 48-year-old is making a comeback and is counting on the power of the pink dollar to catapult her back to the big time. This summer Easton will top the entertainment bill on a prestigious gay-friendly cruise around the coast of North America. The '9 to 5' chart-topper is also headlining Gay Pride events across the US – including a carnival at Palm Beach which is expected to attract a crowd of more than 100,000. Despite keeping a low profile in recent years, Easton has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among sections of the gay community in the States, where her kitsch Eighties hits and sassy style are venerated."
Folks in her home country aren't too impressed.
Said Steven Taylor, the producer of Glasgay!, Scotland's biggest gay festival: "As far as I'm concerned she is pretty much a washed-up has-been. We have a very young funky audience who, to be frank, are into much cooler acts than Sheena Easton. The idea that we would ask her to come back and perform in Glasgow is completely laughable. Gay audiences do love their ageing divas, but I think Sheena Easton is pushing things too far. In Scotland straight and gay audiences both tend not to like people who go away, change their accent and lose complete touch with their roots. I'm very sorry, Sheena, but your invitation to come back to Glasgow is not likely to be sent out any time soon."
AFTER THE JUMP, a couple blasts from the past...
Posted 12:03 PM EST by Andy Towle in Music, News, Sheena Easton | Permalink
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"9 - 5 chart topper"?? Am i missing something? Didn't our miss Dolly Parton sing that song? Sure of it as i watched that film on HBO overandoverandover again in junior high ;-)
Posted by: virgoboy | May 13, 2008 12:38:56 PM
9 to 5? You muthafuckin' mean Morning Train!
I am sure some gay guys will be thrilled with her return. Gay men toss around 'diva' to any chick whose ever had a song remixed to within an inch of its life.
Posted by: Marco | May 13, 2008 12:40:12 PM
Ladies, please. It ain't about "9 to 5."
Thou shalt not diss the woman who, along with Prince, brought us "Sugar Walls" and "101."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oiJElPRnz54
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ac-zIuiweuw
Posted by: 24play | May 13, 2008 12:54:42 PM
Steve Taylor is a douche. He needs to get over whatever he's being so bitter about.
Strut, Sheena, Strut!
Posted by: stan | May 13, 2008 12:59:14 PM
And they say gay culture is tasteless.
Posted by: Larry | May 13, 2008 1:08:02 PM
at least Teena Marie had balls, let's give her the work instead.
Posted by: A.J. | May 13, 2008 1:40:56 PM
FYI, the song was originally titled "9 to 5" in the UK and Europe. When it was released in the US, the title was changed to "Morning Train (9 to 5)" to distinguish it from Dolly Parton's hit. Since the article is from a UK paper, it only makes sense they use the UK title.
Posted by: Rob | May 13, 2008 1:43:22 PM
I thought Sheena Easton was born again since the 80s? Or was that Sheila E? Sometimes I get my "Behind the Music" episodes mixed up.
Posted by: crispy | May 13, 2008 1:48:24 PM
Anyone who remembers Sheena Easton has got to be excited by this. If she hasn't lost the talent she'll take the (gay) world by storm.
Posted by: MT | May 13, 2008 1:56:27 PM
Well the Lover in me would welcome her back.
I liked her music.
101 anyone?
Posted by: Maverick69 | May 13, 2008 2:03:53 PM
um.. i remember pretty distinctly she was a regular on the 700 Club. Just goes to show, secular, Christian, gay... it's just another gig.
Posted by: victor | May 13, 2008 2:06:59 PM
Crispy
That was former Prince find = Vanity who became a born againer because
She went so crazy that she claimed demons floated her above her bed. A good psychologist could have helped her out better than religion.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | May 13, 2008 3:00:49 PM
Oh, you are right, Jimmyboyo! I totally forgot about Vanity!
Posted by: crispy | May 13, 2008 3:09:59 PM
This inaccurate and unfair, just for the sake of being negative.
I don't think it's a last resort. I recall her appearing at G-A-Y in the early 00's as well as performing at Long Beach Gay Pride a couple of years ago and appearing on Graham Norton's TV show while still performing regularly in Las Vegas. I think she just goes where the work is. She may not have released any hit albums recently but she has continued to perform frequently.
She did turn her back on Scotland but I'm guessing that was purely a business decision because her records were more successful in America. Why not just wish her well and not be bitter? I will be thrilled to see her at any gay event.
Posted by: Michael | May 13, 2008 4:01:11 PM
:-)
Crispy
To this day I remember Vamity on the Joan Rivers show (remember that way back when???) telling about demons making her float above her bed.
LOL
Joan should said "Honey, that wasn't demons that was just some bad pot"
Anyway; it saddened me because if I was going to go straight, VANITY was the one I would have gone straight for (if possible) as a young kid.
Vanity was so hot till she went crazy
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | May 13, 2008 4:32:54 PM
retract those claws girls...shenna's got to eat too...DAMN, can a bitch live...?
Posted by: yeahisaidit | May 13, 2008 4:58:08 PM
retract those claws girls...shenna's got to eat too...DAMN, can a bitch live...?
Posted by: yeahisaidit | May 13, 2008 4:59:38 PM
don't cry for Sheena. She's had a VERY successful run in Las Vegas and is VERY wealthy--worth $100 million +.
Posted by: dc20008 | May 13, 2008 5:08:25 PM
9 to 5 was teh title around the world and when released in the US Dolly's hit 9 to 5 was sliding down the charts thus the title change.I love Sheena Easton and would certainly go see her in concert and buy her new album-just like I plan on doing next week with Donna Summers new release on May 20th.
Posted by: kirbyco | May 13, 2008 8:25:20 PM
This is nothing new out of Sheena, back in 2000 she did an entire album of remakes of classics gay/club anthems titled FABULOUS
Posted by: martymartymarty | May 13, 2008 9:05:49 PM
Awesome! I loved Sheena Easton when I was a youngin'! And yes, Sheena did "9 to 5" before Miss Dolly did. "You Could Have Been with Me" was my anthem in my single, relationship hopping days!
Posted by: Jerrold | May 13, 2008 10:16:43 PM
Didn't she also do a cover of "Angel in the morning"? That's my favorite version. I'd call her a quasi-diva and I wouldn't kick her out of my cassette player!
Posted by: Ted | May 14, 2008 12:34:23 AM
"In Scotland straight and gay audiences both tend not to like people who go away, change their accent and lose complete touch with their roots."
Like Madonna did?
Posted by: Ruddigore | May 14, 2008 12:26:33 PM
The real reason she is not welcome back n Glasgow is that many years ago she gave an interview on TV and said she was ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: A Ogg | May 14, 2008 2:54:59 PM
yeah, and after she gave that " I'm English" interview she did return to Scotland for a concert in George Square and was booed off the stage within 2 minutes of starting to sing. Tough audience.
Posted by: Paul | May 14, 2008 3:01:00 PM