Tuesday, January 11, 2022

SONGBIRDS

 I have seen the premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race, and will most likely watch the second half, before deciding if I'll watch the whole season. But if like so many other people, if your burnt out of Drag Race and want to watch something of a different flavor, I highly recommend Queen of the Universe. I just finished watching most of the season in one weekend, and I have to say it is far more superior to Drag Race. Queens from across the globe come to battle it out in a live singing, not lip synching, competition to see who will reign supreme. Now this is a breath of fresh air, with no drama, no editing, no bricking, no filler, no staging and just plain old performing, and the best thing to having a front row seat at a drag show. And these bitches are creme of the crop, while some of the queens, not necessary well known. The talent is undeniable, and the style of these queens is all over the board and top notch, I dare say old school drag. And the judges' panels is excellent, and judges that actually make sense. We have Michelle Visage, Vanessa Williams and Lenoa Lewis as the singing experts, and Trixie Mattel,  the drag judge on the style and wigs, not to mention the singing as well. Graham Norton rounds out the ensemble as the host. I would have hated to be a judge on this show, as all the queens are so talented and sound amazing, which takes drag to a whole new level. If this were to replace Drag Race one day, I wouldn't mind that at all. Some of my stand outs for me of the jaw dropping queens, in some snippets.

Leona Winter. Leona is probably one of the most talented drag queens from France, this queen has her act together, nice and tight, and was a force to be reckoned with in this competition. She is after all a countertenor baritone with a three-octave voice. Her costuming was very top notch.

Grag Queen was one of the youngest queens on the show and is a social media personality, of which is where he started doing drag, and has become one of Brazil's jewels...and was ultimately the winner of the season. He often sang the songs by various artist,  but would add his own take to each one as well. Every song and style he did was simply amazing.

Gingzilla, is a 7' bearded glamazonian from Australia, and is no stranger to the big stage having completed on The X Factor and America's Got Talent. but when his premier song started, Human, jaws hit the floor including mine. A very nontraditional queen and he pulls it beautifully.

La Voix, I have had the pleasure to meet on several occasions, as her cabaret act has brought her to New Hope several times. La Viox hails from the UK, her shows are always top notch and extremely entertaining, and she has no problem performing to huge crowds or drag royalty having come face to face and performed for the Royal Family.

Ada Vox is also no stranger to performing to large crowds as she too was on America's Got Talent, and to sold out cabaret shows in her hometown of San Antionio Texas. Talk about a pristine and well put together queen. I thought for sure she was going to be the crowned winner. I'd pay a mint to see one her shows. This song brought the house down. WOW.

Woowu is a self-taught singer, inspired by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Cher and others. I absolutely loved her, even though she didn't make it pass the third show. But by taking part she is hoping that she shined a light on drag in China, where it can still be frowned upon, and also break some of the barriers. I adored her take on Material Girl.

And finally, I loved Chy'enne Valentino. Talk about some old school drag kids. This queen is soooo polished and has her shit together. Chy'enne hails from the windy city of Chicago, where she is no stranger to the pageant systems, and is very active in the Miss Continental Plus pageants. And henny, can she sing!!!! Loved her version and take on Wreaking Ball.

If you get a chance, check this show out. So much more entertaining and something fresh to showcase some real talent.

34 comments:

  1. I was sooo mad at myself when I realized I'd forgotten to check my calendar and missed Drag Race last week. Fortunately, the previous episode is always repeated before the new episode, so I'll catch up this Friday. "Burnt out of Drag Race"? Not me ... Never.

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    1. Don't get me wrong Drag Race was good, but won't be the strongest season...but this new show....WOW!!! Rupaul may have hit gold with Queens of the Universe.

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  2. I enjoyed all these clips -- but my fave was Ada Vox, then Gingzilla, and honourable mention to Leona Winter.

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  3. Cap Chasen1/12/2022

    I actually subscribed to this network since I don't watch much regular tv or have cable. I wondered what you'd thought of this show. My first front runner was Leona Winter, but when I heard Ada Vox...my jaw hit the damn floor. You couldn't tell me that wasn't Ette James.

    And I agree with your point of it being a fresh show. I too enjoyed it more than Drag Race. These queens had their stuff together.

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    1. Same here Cap. When she hit that first note, I had chills.

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  4. When I was at mt daughters, I caught most of this. I too enjoyed it more than Drag Race. Not a bad queen in the bunch. I found myself rooting for them all. But Ada had me in tears more than once how beautiful he sang. And I sure didn't expect that voice from Gingzilla. How adorable was Grag Queen? And Leona was so elegant and graceful. Betty Bitchslap, loved her edge. What I found interesting was each queen was so entirely different from the next, and they all tied their culture into their act and songs.

    I hope the show comes back.

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    1. I love me some Betty Bitchslap. Over the years she has put out some fun music. And yes...Ada...I have never heard a drag queen sing that good, except maybe LaLa McCallan who sings opera.

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  5. Ada was the classiest contender. Still my favorite, but I adored each and every one of them. I was almost sad the showed ended. I was surprised to see Jujubee.

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    1. I adore me some Jujubee, but I feel she was the weakest of the queens of this show.

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  6. I loved it! The queens from Brazil, Mexico, France and India were EVERYTHING! Leona gave me chills more than once. And loved Matane Alex and her yodeling, and Betty Bitchslap's rock. I love them all already.

    The fact of this competition being international makes it absolutely far more exciting.

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    1. It's heartwarming to see all the queens from all over and getting along and being sisters.

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  7. I didn't see this, but now I wish I did get Paramount damn it.

    Leona and Ada were BREATHTAKING! Beautiful inside and out.

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  8. Ada Vox is SUCH a beautiful spirit AND an impeccable vocalist! GO SIS! The queens on this show were all top shelf.

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  9. As you know handsome, we both love our drag queens. We didn't see the show yet but the clips had us wanting more. I can see we may have to view this somehow. This is simply amazing to have such a diverse group of people representing their regions, their cultures, and their drag, which in some ways make it more entertaining than Drag Race itself.

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  10. Woowu has one of (if not the) most beautiful faces I've ever seen. She is so freaking stunning

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  11. I agree, I didn't see it, but the clips alone are wanting me to see more. More drag shows like this that feature queens around the world...YES PLEASE 😍 it's so lovely to see. Loves the judges panel too.

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  12. Absolutely amazing. I would watch this!

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  13. That looks like fun.

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  14. Ada gave me chills listening to her sing that song. WOW. That is my kind of drag!!

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  15. Thank you for these! They're wonderful and refreshing.

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  16. There's only one Piaf and her Je ne Regrette Rien has never been surpassed although Leona Winter (a relative of Nuclear Winter?) comes close. I would love to hear her sing Dove Sei from Handel's Rodelinda

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    1. I just adore Leona's voice. I'd gladly buy any CD these queens put out.

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  17. The singing is outstanding! Wow!! And yes, I love that they sing and not lip synch!

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    1. I love any drag queen...buy those with the real singing and have a strong talent will be here for years.

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  18. I still wish every season of DR had folks like DelRio, Alaska, Rajah,
    clever talented sharp-clawed bitches, but that's just me.
    😜

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    1. I still like drag race...but i think the queens are not quite as camp and snark edgy as they used to be.

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  19. Ada Vox has a great singing voice! Too bad Gingzilla's clip was so short as I would've liked to hear the entire song -- expecting a feminine voice from a bearded drag queen and getting a masculine voice instead is disconcerting, but really fun!

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    1. Finding the clip was frustrating for me. Some of the clips were the whole scene, and others were just 30 seconds. I search high and low. But it at least gave a flavor of their voice. But Gigzilla, Ada and Leona had the most unique voices.

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  20. Queen Vanessa Williams!!!!!!! I’m so glad she is a judge!

    I loved all these queens... totally talented and gifted. I will need a second season of this show I'm surprised there wasn't an opera singing queen there.

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  21. Talent and beauty... not unlike our own Miss Maddie!

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  22. Whoa.
    The TALENT!
    I'm going to have to watch Queen of the Universe. I have not watched RPDR's premiere yet. I think the manfriend recorded it but he's clumsy with the TeVo.

    Miss Valentino, though... Whoa.

    XOXO

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  23. They premiered the first episode on VH1. It was incredible! Love Gingzilla and Leona Winter. At the end, 7 more contestants appeared. Jujubee! I am so excited !!!

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