As it turns out, I have always secretly wanted to record my voice and put out an album (old-fashioned term) or in this case, to record a CD.
The reason for this CD was that I recently heard a tremendously talented artist’s CD entitled, Broadway, My Way. The artist is Linda Eder and she had recorded such songs as I Am What I Am, the Man of La Mancha and Edelweiss. Her idea was to record some of her favorite songs always sung by lead MALES in a Broadway musical.
The concept intrigued me, as I have always loved to sing popular FEMALE ballads and up tempo songs. After all, my mother and grandmother raised me. They loved to listen to the big, dramatic torch songs sung by Barbara Streisand, Vikki Carr and Julie Andrews. I thought, I could sing some of my favorite tunes recorded by women and sing them from a male perspective. I also felt strongly about not changing the gender on certain songs. As a gay man, I really wanted to express my true feelings about my relationships with other men.
In the song, Knowing When To Leave from Promises, Promises, I feel very strongly that if you in a relationship with someone and it’s not working, the best thing to do is leave before you are stuck in a nightmare. On the flip side, with the song, Vanilla Ice Cream, from She Loves Me you can tell there have been some problems with the relationship. But, after receiving a delicious dessert from my love, my feelings are beginning to change towards him.
I want this CD to be an expression of my love for Musical theatre, but also to break some new ground in the recording industry. I hope to share a gay man’s expression of his love and desperation with the men in his life. My wish is enlighten the world about one gay man’s plight to seek happiness. Even though my desires mirror a straight woman’s needs in a relationship, the meaning is clear; we are human and seek a connection with another person. And, that we all seem to face the same conflict. We can’t get what we want from that other person!
So until that time, I will sing the praises and frustrations of relationships with whoever will listen to me.
