One of my favorite singers and people, Debby Holiday is back with a new twist on a chart topping classic "I Like You." The song celebrates the 30-year anniversary of Phyllis Nelson’s original. It was a #1 hit on the Billboard Dance Chart in 1985. I checked in with Debby to get an exclusive comment for Entertain Me on her current gem: "What an amazing journey this has been with Tony Moran. From the first phone call when he told me about the song - to our time in the studio & filming the video! Tony works with passion & focus like I do … & I'm thrilled to hopefully honor the beautiful & talented Phyllis Nelson. Music … what a blessing!" Yes, it was Mr. Moran's idea to cover the Phyllis Nelson original and he asked Debby to do the honor. I for one am glad he did. This is Ms. Holiday's third collaboration with Tony - hey if it ain't broke, keep going!
Award winning singer/songwriter/actress Debby Holiday, who has had 10 top 25 Billboard dance hits (Dive, Half Mile Away, Joyful Sound, Heaven, Never Give Up), and award--‐winning writer/director Del Shores (Sordid Lives, Queer as Folk) have teamed up to produce the anti-bullying music video for the song:
KEY TO YOUR SOUL by John LePage featuring Debby Holiday.
The video addresses a topic close to both Holiday’s and Shores’ heart - bullying.
Told in an uplifting manner, the video speaks to anybody who ever felt different…and rose above!
Filmed in Dallas,, TX at the iconic Rose Room Ms. Holiday has this to say about the song:
"The fact that young people are out there being attacked for who they are, simply because they may not fit into some ridiculous mold someone has determined to be "normal", well ... it breaks my heart. They deserve our support. Since I make music for a living, it has just always made sense to send a positive message while you're rockin' out or shakin your booty. Might as well feel good about you - while you're doin it!"
Agreed, this buoyant anthem is sure to become a huge hit this summer, and put an optimistic spin on a serious issue that is all too commonplace.
"I am truly grateful to John LePage for bringing Jeff Fedak & I on board to help write the song & to Del Shores for working tirelessly on the video & coming up with the whole storyboard. I am blessed to know so many talented souls."
What’s the in color this Summer? Why Redd of course, as in Raquel Redd. Redd is a one of a kind performer with a hot new single and video for her latest club hit “Right On Track” featuring Debby Holiday and re-mixed by the ubiquitous Scott Anderson.
So when someone tells you to “Get Redd” this Summer, they are not wishing you sunburn or heatstroke - they are wishing you a rollicking good time! Without further adieu here she is, “Right On Track” to stardom, Raquel Redd!
RR: I just read your E-mail that said this is your land line and you are going to record this?
MS: Yes.
RR: I am driving to Atlanta right now, is the sound OK?
MS: It’ll work you sound fine. BTW I love that you went to The Berklee College of Music., it’s an amazing place that turns out really good talent.
RR: Yeah, I actually went there by accident (laughs) My High School chorus teacher said I should go there, and I ended up getting a vocal scholarship. I didn’t know what it was until I got there, and then I was like, oh this is kind of a big deal. (laughs)
MS: A lot of my friends who are great musicians went there, it is a big deal! Let’s get into you cross dressing, that seems to come from an artistic place, am I wrong?
RR: Oh no, most definitely it does. It’s a whole different shade of my personality as an artist and a person when I get into drag and come out as Raquel, it’s a lot of fun! I can get away with murder. (laughs)
MS: So, this is performance art for you I take it.
RR: Correct, there is a whole other side to this that is not normally common in the drag world.
MS: When I listened to “Right On Track” I found out a friend of mine, Debby Holiday backed you on it.
RR: Yeah, she was the black girl element that we needed. (laughs)
MS: (laughs) She’s such a game girl, always up for anything.
RR: I love her, she’s really, really cool.
MS: Since you “get away with murder” as Raquel, how did she evolve for you?
RR: It all really happened by accident, I was always going out to the clubs doing boy glam. When I moved to Los Angeles, CA about four years ago I was working at a MAC Cosmetics store. Once I went to work in drag for an event, and I sent a picture of it to a friend of mine, he said: “You need to be doing this”. I’m like, “yeah, yeah, whatever” (laughs) - after that I went out for Halloween in drag, and then other Drag Queens in West Hollywood, invited me to come do shows and stuff, and I think “Wait a minute, I can do this” which was a lot of fun! Then it just kind of snowballed….
MS: Awesome! Your good I actually thought you might be a Tran-sexual from the video footage I saw of you, I wasn’t sure.
RR: You’re not the only one who thought that. I have to tell people it’s all an illusion, no I’m not in transition or on hormones. (laughs) A lot of people want to know how I get my boobs to look real like they do. I tell them that information costs extra (laughs)
MS: Did you hear Lance Bass got taken to task for use of the word Tranny by the way?
RR: Really? People always ask me what they should call me, and Tranny is fine with me it’s just a word and I don’t have time to be offended. (laughs) It says more about the people who are offended by it than it does about anyone else.
MS: I agree with you. So how far do you want to go with your music career?
RR: Music is something I have always loved. I’m taking as it comes right now and having fun with it. The minute I stop having fun I’ll stop doing it. Wherever it takes me, I ‘m really fortunate to have been given the reception I have gotten so early into it. There are a lot of people in West Hollywood still beating the block and trying to get in shows. Here I am being contacted by clubs who are asking me to host shows, so I am very fortunate for that too. For Billboard DJ’s and people like that to take note of my music is pretty awesome, I am very grateful.
It has been officially confirmed, after an initial press leak, that Christopher Meloni, formerly of "Law & Order SVU" (Special Victims Unit, for those who need an acronymn translation) is coming to season 5 of my beloved "True Blood" (A special shout out to Debby Holiday for my intitial alert to the leak) ....
According to the press release he is playing a "powerful and ancient vampire" uh, aren't they all?!
As a fan of both shows this has got this fang banger quite stoked, can I get a heart ripped from someone's chest high five?!
No word yet on whether he is a good vampire or a bad vampire, I am guessing he is a total bad ass, and after last years annoying and lackluster villain Marnie (yes, she of the over articulated voice and a demeanor that only an infant could fear) I can't wait for someone as fierce as Mr. Meloni to let loose his devil inside..!
Here's to plenty of "doing bad things to you" on the upcoming season of "True Blood" Meloni style...
Debby Holiday rocks, oh, and has a great dance beat too. With Billboard hits such as “Dive” and “Bring It On” Debby is a one of a kind Rock-N-Roll dance diva!
My fellow “True Blood” fan is here to chat about her upcoming single, movie and intimacy…OK Debby, let’s rock!
MS: Hey Fellow Fang Banger how are you?
DH: That’s so weird I was just trying to call you and the line was busy, that’s because you were trying to call me.
MS: It must be serendipity since we are both “True Blood” fans! (both laugh) Thanks for alerting me that Christopher Meloni will be joining the cast.
DH: And you know he will be hot! (both laugh)
MS: And you know Russell is back next season and it has to be Pam that let him out.
DH: Of course she is pissed off at Eric, her maker because he doesn’t love her the way he used to, he loves Sookie.
MS: Yeah, Sookie and her “precious fairy vagina.”
DH: Right? I mean she is cute and everything, but c’mon y’all! Who would commit suicide over “fairy pussy”? (both laugh)
MS: Let’s talk about “An Intimate Evening With Debby Holiday.”
DH: You know, I love my dance diva stuff, it’s so much fun. Between that and my TV & Film licensing, It pays my bills, it’s my living. But I perform by myself, to tracks…this is the saddest story and I don’t know if you want to print it, but I had four shows back to back in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. About six months ago. I performed on stage doing maybe four or five songs, I got to the fourth song and I said, for our next song, and I turned around as if there was a band there. I thought “Oh my God I have lost my mind”! I missed playing with my band so much that they were there as imaginary band members. (laughs) I miss them.
MS: I bet.
DH: It’s cost prohibitive trying to do local Los Angeles shows. So I thought how do I perform and pay my band well?
With all my diva stuff I am always belting, there is a whole other side of my voice I am not using, I thought "you know I want to sing some of my softer stuff and original songs" and that is where I came up with my intimate evening. My first one is a private party this week.
MS: You also have a single coming out in January.
DH: Yes, I do, it’s called “Never Give Up” and it’s with DJ Phil B. - who I love!
MS: I’m not familiar with him.
DH: He’s a handsome Brit with a heart of gold. Every time I see him he is nothing but hugs and love and smiles. He’s just squishy yummy! I was so happy when he called me and said: “I have this song, I keep hearing your voice on it and I think we should do it.” I thought: “If you keep talking to me like that, I’ll do whatever you want”! (laughs)
MS: Too funny!
DH: It’s a cover of a song by Yolanda Adams and it’s really, really great! I love it because it is so positive. The song is out the middle of January, and Phil B’s mix is amazing!
MS: Your idea for an intimate evening is great BTW everything is so detached these days.
DH: It’s funny the other day I was iChatting with someone, then it hit me, we live three blocks away, I said: "Do you want to meet at the Coffee Bean and actually talk in person"? She was like: “Oh, yeah”…we left our homes and went outside and actually saw each other’s faces.
MS: That really puts your intimate evenings into context.
DH: Yes, it’s real and it’s happening right now, which is not the same as performing to a track, which I love too, I just would like to add that live connection with other human beings on stage together to what I do.
MS: Rumor has it you are making your movie debut soon.
DH: Starting in February, I’m getting really excited about being in the movie “The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife.” It’s the Del Shore’s play I was in for almost 4 years…it’s almost finished and goes to film festivals next year. Octavia Spencer from “The Help” is in it, plus some other really amazing co-stars, Beth Grant & Dale Dickey & David Steen. Also I get to sing and wear some really awesome red dresses throughout the entire film.
