Machette Kills, the Lady Gaga "Aura" Trailer

Lady Gaga makes her acting debut in the upcoming movie MACHETE KILLS alongside an all-star cast featuring Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Carlos Estevez, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Demian Bichir, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding, Jr., William Sadler, Marko Zaror and Mel Gibson. 

 Check out this new trailer for MACHETE KILLS featuring a sneak preview of Lady Gaga's never-before-released song "Aura" -- from her forthcoming album ARTPOP, available November 11.

Music News: Battle of the Divas - Katy Perry vs. Lady Gaga

By John Hill

The Pop Gods took pity upon mankind this week, with not one pop diva releasing new music, but TWO! Because every gay boy will have an opinion, let’s break down the new offerings from Katy Perry and Lady Gaga who both have new albums coming out in mid-October.

Katy Perry - Roar
At first glance, this is a paint-by-numbers pop song for 2013 preceding her upcoming disc Prism. That opening bit sounds just like Sara Bareilles’ current single “Brave,” and the verses steal vocal stylings from Avril Lavigne, but the chorus is decently solid. There isn’t anything all that substantial to the track, and even the backing track sounds a bit half-hearted, but don’t count the track out because after a few listens it WILL be stuck in your head. A decent track, but a bit of a letdown next to much stronger cuts from her last album Teenage Dream.

 
Lady Gaga- Applause
If “Roar” sounds like someone is capitalizing on current musical trends, then “Applause” starts out cashing in on a retro mid-80s punk sound pioneered by female-led groups like Missing Persons and Berlin. In fact, Gaga seems to have taken a few notes from Dale Bozzio in her vocal style and delivery on those verses (“I’ve heard your theory/nostalgia’s for geeks” hits home instantly). But once she segues into the anthemic chorus, it’s all Gaga vocally and the track takes flight. This is how you kick off the promotion of a new album like ARTPOP.


So who wins this Battle of the Divas? Gaga, and it wasn’t even close. Both tracks are now on Amazon and iTunes, so cast your vote with your wallet and let your inner diva OUT!

While his full-time job is in education, John Hill also writes a successful music blog titled Pop Music Notes. He is also active on Twitter @popmusicnotes and lives in Denver with his partners in crime James and Bruiser.

Lady Gaga Announces New Single, 'Applause'

Multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning artist Lady Gaga has announced that the first single from her long-awaited forthcoming album/app ARTPOP is "Applause", and has released its single artwork shot by Inez & Vinoodh. "Applause" will be available worldwide beginning August 19th, and is the first single from the pop icon's highly anticipated fourth studio album/app ARTPOP, which will hit stores around the world on November 11th through Streamline/Interscope Records.

Due to popular audience demand, the pre-order for ARTPOP will also now arrive on August 19th - two weeks earlier than previously announced. Fans who visit iTunes on August 19th will be able to purchase the single "Applause" and pre-order their copy of ARTPOP with just one click. The single will also be available at digital retailers across the globe at the same time, and CD pre-orders will be available at Amazon.com and other select retailers.

Lady Gaga is set to perform "Applause" for the first time at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on August 25th.

Lady Gaga and Oprah: Live in one hour

Click here to watch the Born This Way Foundation launch event live stream one hour from now!

Lady Gaga announces official launch date for Born This Way Foundation

Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, announced today that they will officially launch the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF) on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre. Lady Gaga will be joined by some very special guests as she personally unveils BTWF before a crowd of policy makers, non-profit organizations, foundation leaders and youth themselves who are working to create a kinder and braver world. The one-day event will be co-hosted by BTWF, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The California Endowment.

"My daughter's foundation was born out of her passion to create a better world where people are kinder and nicer to one another and are accepted for who they are, regardless of how different they may be,” said Cynthia Germanotta. “She has experienced many of the struggles that our youth encounter today, and identifies with the lasting effects they can have without proper support. Together, we look forward to creating a new movement that will engage and empower youth and accept them as valuable members of our society."

The foundation has partnered with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The California Endowment and The Berkman Center at Harvard to explore the best ways to reach youth and create a new culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment. BTWF, a non-profit charitable organization, will address issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and advocacy. With a focus on digital mobilization to create positive change, BTWF will lead youth into a braver new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be. BTWF is partnering with the Harvard Graduate School of Education on this special event to raise awareness of these issues and to provide insights on reducing all types of bullying.   

“We share the spirit of the Born This Way Foundation in our commitment to inspire social change, empower youth, and foster moral communities. It is an honor to host this historic event on our campus,” said Dean Kathleen McCartney of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Additional details concerning The Born This Way Foundation launch will be announced closer to the event date, February 29^th, 2012.  Please visit: www.BornThisWayFoundation.org to take the pledge and become part of the movement.

MileHighGayGuy Gift Guide: A Very Gaga Holiday

Lady Gaga is making a splash this holiday season - the singer's brand new 'A Very Gaga Holiday' EP is out now on iTunes, and includes Gaga's versions of "White Christmas" and "Orange Colored Sky" along with Born This Way's "Yoü & I" and "The Edge of Glory."

You can preview the tracks on Soundcloud.

In addition, Gaga's 'Born This Way: The Collection', which includes 'Born This Way: The Remix' and 'The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden' Blu-Ray/DVD, is now available for purchase, along with the Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson photo book.

Portrait of a Lady: Lady Gaga on Advocate

Lady Gaga tells all to Advocate – and takes her first self-portrait for a magazine cover.

Lady Gaga's The Edge of Glory video to premiere tomorrow during So You Think You Can Dance?

The video for “The Edge Of Glory,” the newest hit single from Lady Gaga’s sensational Born This Way (Streamline/Interscope/KonLive), will premiere in an extended preview on Thursday, June 16 during “So You Think You Can Dance?” on FOX (8 p.m. ET).  The complete video, directed by Haus of Gaga, will be available online at Vevo.com.  “The Edge Of Glory,” the third official single spun off from the fastest-selling album of the year, debuted #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Gaga’s 10th consecutive Top 10.

Written by Lady Gaga, “The Edge Of Glory” was produced by Gaga, Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.  In its review, NME called the song “quite simply a Great Pop Moment.”

Country Road version of Lady Gaga's Born This Way to benefit GLSEN

 The country version of Lady Gaga's smash hit “Born This Way” has become such a viral sensation since being released through her Twitter page that she has decided to officially issue the track for sale today with a portion of the proceeds to benefit charity.  The “Born This Way – Country Road Version”, produced by Lady Gaga and Fernando Garibay, was recently recorded while on tour and features new Lady Gaga vocals and added guitar and harmonica.  

First released March 24^th as a gift to her fans (she has become the first person on Twitter with 9,000,000 followers), overwhelming praise for the recording--marked by over 1,000,000 YouTube views in it's first few days of release--has prompted Lady Gaga to release the track officially, with Lady Gaga, her record label, and her publisher donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of the track to benefit the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). 

The original version of “Born This Way” spent six consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting with its debut February 11^th.  The fastest song in history to reach sales of 1,000,000 copies, “Born This Way” is the first single and title track to Lady Gaga’s hotly anticipated upcoming third album, Born This Way, scheduled for release on May 23^rd.

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Here it is, the video you've all been waiting for - Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way'!

Help Lady Gaga help us

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), announced today that Lady Gaga released an online video message directed to her supporters and followers to push for repeal in the senate lame-duck session.   

Re-tweet Gaga now: RT @LadyGaga A message from Gaga http://bit.ly/g8cI68.

True colors keep shining through: A conversation with Cyndi Lauper

Music legend and gay icon Cyndi Lauper will be in Denver tomorrow night at the Paramount Theatre. Her most recent album 'Memphis Blues' has spent 12 weeks at the top of the Blues Album Chart.

I was lucky enough to catch up with her recently to talk about her upcoming reality show and autobiography, fighting for gay rights with her True Colors Fund and the Give A Damn Campaign, her thoughts on Lady Gaga, and when we can expect the return of the fabulous True Colors Tour.

Drew: Congratulations on the success of 'Memphis Blues.' You've been putting out a lot of interestingly themed albums in the past few years - blues, acoustic, electronic, standards. What musical styles or influences are left that you would like to explore?
Cyndi: Who knows what I will be doing next? I still have tons up my sleeves. Guess you will just have to wait and see what’s next!

Which of your albums is your personal favorite? How about a favorite song?
Just one? That’s going to be too tough. Because it changes from time to time.

The Give a Damn Campaign, which is a project of your True Colors Fund, is aimed at straight people who are interested in GLBT rights. What would you say are the two or three most important things straight people should know about GLBT rights?
Cyndi: There is so much that people need to know, which is why we created the Give a Damn Campaign. We wanted to create something that took all of the mountains of information out there and break it down to the basics so it was not so overwhelming. There are a ton of facts and information about the many forms of discrimination against gay people that straight people need to know about and can find at www.wegiveadamn.org. But, the most important thing that straight people need to know is that when one group of people's freedom is put up for grabs it means that it could be your group or the group of people that someone you love belongs to that could be next. Either we all are equal or no one is. I would also say that all of us in any majority have a responsibility to stand up as human beings for the minority, to stand up for the underdog. That to me is what being an American is all about.


What do you think gay people can do to enlist more straight people as allies?
The most important thing is to let the straight people in your life - your family, friends, co-workers - know who you are. Share your life with them. Let them know what being a part if a minority feels like, what being discriminated against does to a person. Open up to the people you share a personal connection with, that is the most powerful and meaningful way you can hopefully change people's minds or get people who support equality to get involved for the first time. Same goes for straight people, talk about why your support equality with the other straight people in your life. Lead by example.

You've worked with Lady Gaga on recent projects and she's cited you as an artistic inspiration. What are your thoughts on her as an artist and as a GLBT activist as it pertains to her recent work to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell?
There is no one quite like Gaga. She is definitely one of the hardest working girls out there. I adore her. I am blown away by her performances, everything from the energy to her passion on stage. Working together on the MAC Viva Glam campaign and talking about HIV/AIDS prevention for women has been really important to the both of us. We have a lot in common and have become friends through the work we are doing together. I admire her for the recent work to repeal DADT. Good for her. I always feel that if you are famous it's good to use your fame to help others. Give a voice to a cause that needs it. Its payback and it's the right thing to do.

I hear you're working on an autobiography. What will it be called and why write it now?
I am writing an autobiography that will be released via Simon & Schuster in late 2011. I am in the middle of writing right now so ask me this question again next time we chat!

What is that process of writing an autobiography like and can you give us any hints about the juiciest bits or most interesting chapters?
Its a bit like therapy. I am working with a great writer named Jancee Dunn, who was a writer for Rolling Stone -where we first met - and has gone on to write some really great books. As for the process, we spend time together, I write her long emails, we get together to talk, I write some more to send to her, she sends it back. It's focused on my life from the age of seventeen when I left home for the first time.

You were a huge hit on 'Celebrity Apprentice'. What was the experience like for you?
I had a blast on the show. I wanted to play for the True Colors Fund and knew so many people watch the show that it could really help me push the mission of the fund forward. If I had to do it all over again I would so I could raise even more money for the True Colors fund and have another chance to talk about civil rights and the gay community.

I hear you have your own reality show in the works. What's it going to be like?
Yes, I did a deal with Mark Burnett Productions before I signed on to 'Celebrity Apprentice'. Mark Burnett is probably the most successful producers of Reality TV so I am really happy to be in partnership with them The folks there are smart and creative and I think it's going to be a lot of fun to do. I love the medium so I'm excited about it. It is going to mostly be about me and my day to day life as I focus on my career. We start filming in January.

Are you a fan of any other reality shows? Who's your favorite castmember of 'Jersey Shore'?
Yes, of any of Mark Burnett's shows, of course! Which is pretty much all of them on TV right now. As for 'Jersey Shore', I don’t know too much about it. Been touring and working so hard, I don’t have much time to just sit back and relax.


The True Colors Tour's Red Rocks shows were some of the best I've ever been to. Can we expect another True Colors Tour in 2011?
Of course we will do True Colors in 2011! This year I wanted to focus on 'Memphis Blues' and bring it on the road. That's the main reason for not having a True Colors Tour this year. The other reason is that the economy is still pretty bad and a lot of folks just don't have the money for those big ticket festival shows. The more acts on the bill, the more the ticket has to cost. But we do want to do it in 2011. We are going to do a three-day festival in NYC and take it out on the road as well. Stay tuned!

Lady Gaga takes on Don't Ask, Don't Tell at the MTV VMAs

LadyGaga.com was transformed into an action page to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" following her record 8 wins at the MTV Video Music Awards. She arrived on the red carpet with service members impacted by the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. The message to Senators: Vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal the week of Sept. 20!- via Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Summer Music: Deluka, Lucy Woodward, Alexis Jordan, Robyn, Cyndi Lauper, Lady Gaga

Deluka are an indie electronic band from England, whose sound has been likened to nearly every genre from punk to disco and is a perfect storm of fluid electronic beats and hailing rock riffs. Check out the video for their single 'Cascade.'


"I wanted to make a modern-day torch record, but I didn't want to do a record of all standards because I had stuff I wanted to say," says Lucy Woodward of 'Hooked!', her third album. "At first I was resistant to the idea of doing covers, but then I fell in love with the process of taking a song and trying to make it my own."


Alexis Jordan got her start in 2008 on 'America's Got Talent' and made it all the way to the semi-finals. Now, after working with multi-platinum, award-winning production and writing team Stargate, she offers up her first single 'Happiness.'


Robyn says'Dancing On My Own' was inspired by her "love of inherently sad, gay disco anthems.' 'Nuff said!

Cyndi Lauper's newest, 'Memphis Blues,' is a gritty collection of blues covers songs.

"This is the album I've wanted to make for years," she says. "All of these beautiful songs, and all of the great players on the album, were carefully chosen because I've admired them my entire life."

Above she performs 'Just Your Fool' live on 'Celebrity Apprentice.'


'Lady Gaga - The Remix' features ten songs from 'The Fame' and 'The Fame Monster' including hits like 'Just Dance', 'Poker Face', 'Bad Romance', and 'Alejandro'. I was just in San Diego for Pride and Lady Gaga is all anybody played - these songs have some serious staying power!

Tickets for Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour go on sale Monday

Get 'em while they're hot! - via Out Front Colorado

Lady GaGa recommends condoms by Jeremy Scott

MTV and PlanetOut report that Lady GaGa has endorsed a line of condoms designed by Jeremy Scott.

I'm not sure how one exactly "designs" condoms but everybody loves Lady GaGa and condoms are important so take a gander at ProperAttireCondoms.com.

They also have some limited edition Keith Haring condoms with packaging incorporating Keith Haring’s classic image of two figures holding up a heart that are kind of cool.

GLAAD loves Glee and Gaga

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has listed 116 nominees - including singer Lady Gaga, director Lee Daniel's film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" and the TV series "Glee" - for its annual GLAAD Media Awards. Former "Sex & the City" co-star Cynthia Nixon is slated to receive special honors as an out media professional who advocates on behalf of LGBT issues. The first of three ceremonies will be held March 13 in New York.

New NowNext 2009 Year in Review

Take a look back at the best and worst of 2009. From celebrities we love and hate to the movies that rocked our world to all things Gaga,let NewNowNext Year in Review 2009 remind you what made this year so outrageous. Watch it now on Logo TV.

Music Monday: Diva Edition

I had a lot to be thankful for this past Thanksgiving week when I found my mailbox packed with the latest from a quartet of music's fiercest divas.

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
The Fame Monster includes the four-million selling album 'The Fame' as well as eight brand-new songs. Says Lady Gaga, "On 'The Fame Monster' I wrote about everything I didn't write on 'The Fame'. While traveling the world for two years, I've encountered several monsters, each represented by a different song on the new record."

Leona Lewis - Echo
The 24-year-old beauty behind Britain's fastest-selling debut album of all time - 'Spirit' - returns with a follow-up album with a little bit of something for everyone.

"I knew that I had evolved as a singer, songwriter, and performer," says Lewis, "so it was important to me to take the songs on 'Echo' to the next level and show what else I could do."


Jeffree Star - Beauty Killer
"My last shit was very bright, all about candy and desserts," says Jeffree Star about his new album 'Beauty Killer', "I just wanted to flip it and show the other side of me because not many people give that side a chance. ... Everybody wants to hear about how I shop all the time. No one wants to hear about my alcoholic family and how my cousins are in jail because of meth."

Shakira - She Wolf
One of the few truly global superstars of our time, Shakira's long-awaited follow-up to 2005's groundbreaking 'Oral Fixation, Volumes 1 and 2' is here.

About 'She Wolf' Shakira says, "My biggest motivation was to make an album that people could just have fun with, and forget about their troubles. Now I can use music for the purpose it's created for - to amuse and entertain people."

Lady GaGa: How to be famous

Lady GaGa explains what it takes to be famous. Have you got the stuff?