Music you may have missed: The B-52s - Funplex

Welcome to Funplex, the first record of the 21st century from The B-52s.

“It’s loud, sexy rock and roll, with the beat pumped up to hot pink,” says guitarist Keith Strickland. And anybody who was lucky enough to catch them at Red Rocks for this year’s True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper knows that it’s true.

“Funplex sounds like us, updated,” adds Fred Schneider. “It’s The B-52s now – or fifteen years from now.”

Fun fact: All of the main members of The B-52s are gay or lesbian except for Cindy.

Music you may have missed: Idina Menzel - I Stand

Idina Menzel (Broadway’s Wicked) has released a powerful collection of exquisite self-written new songs.
Menzel’s career began as a teenager in Long Island, New York singing for weddings and bar mitzvahs. In the winter of 1995, Idina auditioned for Broadway-bound ‘Rent’ and won the part of Maureen, an outspoken bisexual performance artist. In 2003, she originated the role of ‘the green girl’ in ‘Wicked’ which included her show-stopping performance of the song “Defying Gravity”.

Music you may have missed: Cyndi Lauper-Bring Ya to the Brink

Possibly my most favorite celebrity in the world, Cyndi Lauper burst onto the world stage in the 1980s as the quintessential girl who wanted to have fun. After more than 20 years and record sales in excess of 25 million, she has proven she has the heart and soul to keep her legion of fans compelled by her every creative move.

“Bring Ya to the Brink” firmly asserts her position as one of the most beguiling, innovative, and downright exciting recording artists of this – or any – generation.

Music you may have missed: Leona Lewis - Spirit

Leona Lewis was definitely this year’s ‘Next Big Thing’. Her striking beauty, down-to-earth personality and huge, soaring voice took over the UK, where her debut album Spirit entered the charts at Number One and became the fastest selling debut of all time.

But don’t compare her to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Celine Dion.

“Those women are the true divas,” she says. “They’re amazing performers whom I’ve listened to for years. These are the people who’ve inspired me to sing, so it’s flattering that I’m being compared to them. But I have a lot of hard work to do first!”

Music you may have missed: Lalah Hathaway - Self Portrait

With Self Portrait, Lalah Hathaway is poised to express who she is.

“This album is like a movie of my life over the last couple of years,” she says. “The portrait I see of myself is of a very confident, smart woman who is extremely funny, independently wealthy and well-traveled – all things that I am to a small degree. Every day, I realize that I’m walking toward the woman I’m going to be.”

Music you may have missed: Duffy - Duffy

Duffy’s soulful voice beguiled the nation’s tastemakers this summer with the song ‘Mercy’ and the rest of her eponymous debut album. Some might refer to it as retro but Duffy herself prefers to identify it as ‘classic’.