www.ExpressGayNews.com • November 17, 2003 Q1 Q_COVERstory After ‘The Kiss’ Britney Teams Up with Madonna, Offers Straight Talk About Gay Fans By Larry Flick Perhaps most significant is the Special to The Express appearance of pop icon Madonna, who lends “Let’s face it, As she vocally saunters atop the sleek, her voice to the single “Me Against The classic-funk groove of “Me Against the Music.” Collaborating with one of her all- gay guys are Music”, Britney Spears is doing more than time greatest musical influences was a dream more deeply living out her dream of performing with come true for Britney. Madonna, she is firmly establishing herself “The experience was beyond words or in touch as one of the gay community’s enduring description,” she says. The two forged what icons. has become a powerful bond while rehearsing with their With a little help from producers Red Zone, for their now-notorious performance on the emotions. Spears packs it all in—a slippery bass line, MTV Video Music Awards this fall. “As we sex-charged chants and an edgy, impassioned were working together, there were moments They’re performance. Although she creates music that when I simply could not believe that I was more open, the masses consistently embrace, Me Against standing there on stage next to her. It was The Music seems custom-made for one of the never even in the realm of fantasy for me.” and they’re more impassioned sectors of her massive As far as that kiss is concerned, Spears audience. Why? Perhaps it’s the appearance doesn’t see what all the fuss is: “It was a not fearful of Madonna. Maybe it’s the rhythmic depth split-second in time. People acted like they’ve of revealing of the song. It could be both, but the artist never seen two women kiss before. It’s crazy believes that it’s simply a matter of sharing an to me that two women kissing can cause such their hearts.” emotional, psychic connection with her gay an uproar. We live in a time where we —Britney Spears listeners. shouldn’t be so shocked by such things.” “Let’s face it, gay guys are more deeply Beyond the kiss, the musical union of in touch with their emotions,” she says. Britney and Madonna shows each of them “They’re more open, and they’re not fearful at their most kinetic and soulful. The song’s of revealing their hearts. They can more easily accompanying video clip, directed by Paul connect with intensity and emotion— Hunter, shows Madonna enticing Britney whether it is about love or enjoying life or through a maze-like underground club, only anything that comes from the gut. I think to disappear into thin air when Britney gets they can feel that my music comes from that close enough to touch her. The clip is rife place. It comes from my gut.” with symbolic gestures of Madonna passing They also connect with the journey Spears the baton of pop power to Britney—an has traveled. Her evolution from a teen image that the young artist finds exciting, renegade into a provocative young woman is humbling and perhaps a bit premature. undeniable throughout In The Zone, her fourth “There is only one Madonna—and there Jive Records collection. She also displays the will always only be one,” she says. “My goal kind of larger-than-life persona that gay is to have a career that is equally as special, listeners require from their divas. but one that is completely unique to who I am. “The funny thing, though,” she says, I’m honored by all that Madonna brought to “is that I never think in terms of being a diva. this song. I really love the flow we share— I just think about doing good work, having a both on the track and as friends. I think you good time and making music that people can can feel the chemistry and positive energy we respond to. If that leads people into seeing shared. It’s completely natural and relaxed.” me as a diva, well, I guess that’s cool—as What Spears’ fans will feel is undeniable long as it’s a diva in a positive sense and not glee at two of their favorite artists come in a negative or bitchy way.” together in such an powerful fashion. Like like ‘Girlfriend, those pants are making your saying anything. You don’t even have to First and foremost, though, Spears Madonna, Spears forged an alliance with the butt look BIG.’ You’ve gotta love that kind of touch me, just breathe on me.” wants to be viewed as an artist of growth. In gay community that she continues to count honesty.” Among the more sensual songs on the The Zone shows her flexing notably strong on. Not since Madonna has a pop icon But as she basks in the mutual album is “Touch of My Hand,” on which and mature songwriting muscles. She co- generated such batty buzz. admiration she shares with gay fans, Spears Britney seductively floats her voice atop an wrote seven of the project’s 12 sterling new “You can’t ask for the kind of support is also optimistic that they will relate to the arrangement of pillowy strings and languid, compositions, collaborating with such heavy I’ve gotten from my gay audience,” Spears songs that fill In The Zone, on which she Middle-Eastern-kissed guitar lines. “It’s hitters as Red Zone (“Me Against The says. “It’s extraordinary.” It’s also enhanced shows her sultry side—particularly on the tastefully done,” she says of the track. “And Music,” “The Hook Up”), the Matrix her personal life. “Well, gay clubs are the steamy, turntable-ready “Breathe On Me,” a I think it’s real. It’s nice and it’s real. It’s (“Shadow”), Moby (“Early Mornin’”), and best places to hit if you want to be exposed Mark Taylor production that she whatever your take is. Some people may think Cathy Dennis (“Toxic,” “Showdown”). Also to cool new music. My gay friends are like characterizes as being “very vibe-y, trance- it’s a little much, but that’s where I’m at with contributing hit worthy material to the album my best girlfriends. We go shopping and y. It’s about being with a guy and not even my life. ... It’s not freaky freaky, it’s just a are R. Kelly (“Outrageous”) among several hang and just have a blast. My best gay male having to really be with each other, but just little freaky.” others. friend will tell me straight up about anything, the intensity and the anxiety between not And isn’t that exactly how we like our icons? Q2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • November 17, 2003 Q_EXPRESSinterview A Diva Comes to Dinner Original Supreme Mary Wilson to Perform at GLFSF Event By Andy Zeffer titled Theft of a Dream, which includes two new Features Editor chapters. In addition, Wilson keeps busy with Attendees at the Seventh Annual Gay scores of concerts and appearances. She has and Lesbian Foundation of South Florida acted in many off-Broadway plays and appeared (GLFSF) Recognition Dinner on Nov. 22 will in films such as Tiger Town and the recent be treated to a legendary diva when they wine critically acclaimed Motown documentary Only and dine among the stars. Original Supreme the Strong Survive. Mary Wilson is officially on board as the It was on the famed Motown 25 special in evening’s entertainment for the star-studded 1983 where Wilson’s rift with Diana Ross really affair, which will see showbiz luminaries came to fruition. Ross famously pushed Mary Terence McNally and Sir Ian McKellen back during the Supremes performance, shocking honored, among others. both the audience and fellow performers. Since Wilson will perform a set of classic hits then, relations between the two former group by the Supremes in one of her sweeping gowns members have been tense, to say the least. Their reminiscent of the famed girl group. rocky relationship was resurrected in headlines “I won’t have time for my full show, so it a few years ago when a planned Supremes is a scaled down version,” Wilson says. “But reunion was in talks. When negotiations fell it will be very special. I’ll be bringing two back- through after Wilson and other former up singers with me for the set. People can Supreme Cindy Birdsong (who replaced the expect to hear their favorite Supremes third original member Flo Ballard) numbers.” reportedly got offered the short end Besides being known as one of the two of the stick, Ross decided to go surviving original members of the greatest girl ahead with the tour using two group in history, Mary Wilson is known for replacement Supremes she her captivating autobiography Dreamgirl: My never worked with and who Life as a Supreme. The book went on to were in the group toward become a smash bestseller, moving hundreds its last days. Ross’s slap of thousands of copies. Written in 1986, it in the face shocked caused a media stir with its candid portrayal many, and her tour of the struggles and successes of life within failed miserably, getting the Supremes. Especially scintillating was scrapped in its first Wilson’s take on Diana Ross, her childhood days and losing friend and the other remaining original group millions of dollars. member. Wilson went on to write a sequel titled Wilson went on Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together See in 1990, which was also a hit.