Monday Motivation

Let Me Motivate You
Miley Cyrus

While surfing images in The Big Picture section of E!Online this photo of Miley Cyrus popped! I hit me like a jolt of caffeine. Thus today Miley is Monday Motivation enough for us all I say.

Rather then give you a specific context as to why, I am going to throw all the various adjectives it brings to my mind at you. "Yes" you can decided for yourself which one gets you cranking on this Memorial Day. 

Here we go, time to get thyself motivated!

Energized, Excited, Determined, Motivated, Electric, Goals, Happy, Work Out, Trip, Run, Fun, Achieve, Believe, Love, Kindness, Wild, Sexy, Confident, Comfortable, Gregarious, Friendly, Acceptance, Self Esteem, Attitude, Self Love, Dominant, Beautiful, Successful...

And the list could go to infinity and beyond.

Miley on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/mileycyrus/?hl=en  

Another Broken Heart

Billy Winn Returns in Dreamland II, The Final EP of His Two-Part Series

Featuring Debut Single, “Another Broken Heart”

Billy Winn’s Dreamland II picks up where Dreamland I left off.  Thematically, at least.  Sonically, its debut single, “Another Broken Heart,” releasing May 24, turns up the drama with a heavy-octane dance number.  “I love going back to EDM, where it all started for me,” Winn explains.  “High energy dance is always a great place to get things started.”  

Both EPs tell stories from the perspective of a queer kid of color who has had his heart broken.  “It’s the only position that I can write from and it’s one that I can’t recall ever hearing in pop music,” Winn continues.  “My hope is that regardless of where you come from, who you are now, or who you are becoming; you’re able to find something in these songs that resonates and makes you want to play them over and over again.”

“Another Broken Heart” was inspired by a series of circumstances in Winn’s life, including the death of his father.  “He and I weren’t close but at the end of his life, I was asked to return home to take care of him and my family.  It was an extremely emotional situation, and definitely something that I’m still healing from.” 

Billy Winn

He didn’t intend on making “Another Broken Heart” a dance record.  Its original chorus was midtempo.   The idea to speed up the melody and make it a dance record came from his production team, Johnie & Elliot.  “Johnie turned the song into something rare,” Winn reflects.  “It’s a dance track with a strong, relatable message about something we’ve all been through at least once.  I think it’s the perfect summer song.”

Billy Winn is a Billboard-charting singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer who regularly thrills audiences with his shows and music releases, ranging from high energy dance records to emotionally charged EDM.  With Dreamland II, Winn notes his inspirations as being a mix of 90s R&B and the EDM of the last decade.

“I was listening to a lot of TLC and Janet Jackson while I was working on Dreamland II; specifically, Crazy, Sexy, Cool, Fanmail, and Janet’s Velvet Rope album.  At the same time, I was listening to artists like Flume, Owl City, Robyn, and Tove Lo; trying to find a place musically where all those influences could exist or become something completely different altogether.”

Last year, Billy Winn released Dreamland I, an album that explored life as a perception of fantasy and guilty pleasures.   Singles “Seal It with a Kiss”, “If You Really Cared”, and “Crash” were all presented as chapters in a larger story.    “Another Broken Heart” is the next chapter in Winn’s Dreamland saga. 

“In ‘Another Broken Heart’ and all of the songs in Dreamland II, the idea is that it’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings,” Winn says.  

Dreamland II is a bit angrier than the first EP with a little more underlying pain because the perspective has changed.   “I’m not only talking from one individual’s thoughts or feelings anymore. In Dreamland II, I consider multiple angles.”

It’s been a year since Winn released Dreamland I and the acclaim from the album has allowed him to tour and expand his fan base.  It has also taught him to not doubt or second guess himself.    “I’m trusting my instincts a lot more these days and I have to admit I’m pretty confident in the road ahead.” 

“Things will happen that are outside of my control, but I’m not letting those forces control me.” 

Billy Winn’s Dreamland II is being distributed by Ferocious Music and OneRPM and is available on iTunes, Spotify and all digital platforms.  For more information, visit BillyWinn.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

Release The "Vagina"

Alaska Thunder#ck

Alaska Thunderfuck  Surprises Fans with Her New “Vagina” Release

“This new album-- "Vagina" -- is a return to form for classic Alaska Thunderfuck music:  Hard electronic beats, songs about taboo body parts and lewd sexual acts, some total nonsense, and of course lots and lots of swear words.  But within all of this filth and frivolity, I hope some real meaning is able to seep through.  The album is called "Vagina" because it continues a movement through the chakras of the body.  My first album was "Anus," and the next chakra above that one is the genitals.  Naturally, the Vagina, the portal of all life, and the passage through which every human being comes into being was the only choice for the album title.  In the wake of the current political climate, where women's bodies are being regulated and controlled by men, I think the title grabs people's attention and it's a little dangerous.  I like that.”  – Alaska Thunderfuck  

"Vagina" is available thru all digital retailers: http://lnk.to/alaskav  

1.  Vagina

This song is a feminist anthem inspired by the Me Too and Time's Up Movements.  (It should also come with the caveat that not all women have Vaginas, and this song is for all women.)  I am not a female impersonator, and when I perform in Drag I am not dressing up "like a woman,"-- In fact I am worshipping at the altar the Divine Feminine and of all Womankind.  This song reflects that sentiment and I think it's the most important song on the album.  

2.  Leopard Print

Leopard print is my current obsession.  Since I've become obsessed with leopard print clothing, I've started to notice it in every facet of culture currently and even in the past.  Everything must be leopard print.  

3.  Everybody Wants To Fuck Me

I believe the message of this song is the underlying subtext behind most social media.  I spend all day looking at pictures of myself, and then I post pictures and videos of myself.  Because everyone wants to look at me.  Everyone wants to fuck me.  But what would happen if the switch got shut off one day and everyone's Instagram followers went back to zero?  

4.  Walk Into the Club

All of our favorite pop songs have a line about walking into the club.  So I wrote a song that is just about walking into the club.  I stole this idea from either Bob the Drag Queen or Trixie Mattel during a dressing room chat.  

5.  Getting Kicked Out (of Micky's on a Monday Night)

This song is based on a time that I didn't eat dinner and proceeded to have a few too many whiskeys and wines and ended up getting kicked out of West Hollywood Drag club Micky's on a Monday night.  The next day I woke up and I was ashamed and embarrassed beyond belief.  But I thought, if I can make something out of this terrible experience, maybe it won't be for nothing.  So I took my shame and vomited it into this song.  

6.  Cellulite (feat.  Big Dipper)

This is a song about fetishizing fat guys.  I like them.  

7.  Drip (Jodie Harsh Mix)

I think waterspouts are underrated.  There are so many songs about fucking, which can be a risky and dangerous behavior.  But piss is sterile and fun, and I think more people should be into it.  So this is a Piss anthem.  

8.  Snaked (Ellis Miah Mix) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atr9ZoCpcAY

When All Stars 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race aired, I became known as the queen of snakes.  As a result, many designers made me clothes that were snake themed.  I had all of these clothes saved up and I wanted to feature them in a beautiful way.  So Ellis and I wrote this song, and then I teamed up with Brad Hammer to feature all of the snake clothes in a music video.  

9.  Frances

This is a song about a young business woman named Fran Fine, who follows her heart of gold and in turn finds the family she's always wanted and the man of her dreams.  

10.  Pride

This is the little sister to "Hieeee."  It's a song about how to do Pride properly, complete with cracking fans and throwing shade.

11.  Twisted

A feel-good bop about getting wasted on various substances-- but none of them seem to compare to the feeling of love.  

12.  Land of the Midnight Sun

Sometimes I find it hard to say my feelings, and instead I run away from conflict and confrontation.  This song is about that, and is an apology to anyone I may have hurt by doing that.  It's also named after the state of Alaska, which is called "The Land of the Midnight Sun" because in the summer the sun stays out all night.  

Countdown To Crawfish

Aaron Neville

New Orleans Returns to New Jersey as the Best of the Big Easy’s Music and Food Arrives for Milestone Weekend Celebration at Sussex Fairgrounds in Augusta

 Tickets on Sale NOW!

Watch the highlight reel

 A New Jersey tradition will be marking its milestone 30^th anniversary celebrating two of New Orleans’ greatest traditions – music and food – with Big Easy backyard authenticity, when the likes of Aaron Neville, the Marcus King Band and over 20 other great Crescent City acts go “head to tail” with 10,000 pounds of specially imported crawfish and more at MICHAEL ARNONE’S 30^TH ANNUAL CRAWFISH FEST, May 31-June 2 here at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

Tickets are on sale NOW for the three-day festival, which annually draws close to 20,000 people for a unique weekend experience featuring the best music and food that New Orleans and all of Louisiana has to offer. The music spans Bayou-based Cajun, Zydeco, Delta Blues, New Orleans R&B, Brass, Gospel and Jazz across three stages, while the food highlights assorted other south Louisiana delicacies such as fresh Boiled Louisiana Crawfish trucked in alive, with Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Alligator Sausage, Po-boys (oyster, shrimp and catfish), Char Grilled Oysters, Southern Fried Chicken, along with the Louisiana chefs who prepare it all. 

Marcus King Band

Also scheduled to appear are Neville Jacobs, Rebirth Brass Band, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Cowboy Mouth, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, Bishop Gunn, Cory Henry and the Treme Funktet, John Papa Gros Band, Jonathon Long, Flow Tribe, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas, Darcy Malone and the Tangle, Amanda Fish, The Iceman Special, Jesse Lege and Bayou Brew, Tony Smith and the You Know How We Do Crew, and Big Mamou.

Festival goers can purchase 2019 Crawfish Fest Single Day, 2 Day Combo, Group, onsite 4 day/3 nights Camping/ Admission, and King Crawfish Krewe Tickets (main stage pit passes). Advance tickets start at $35 for adults (free for children under 14 with parent), and are available through the official website, www.crawfishfest.com.

“The great thing about this festival is its incredible authenticity,” says festival creator-producer and Louisiana import Michael Arnone. “It’s so real that for everybody who’s moved up North from Louisiana, everyone who’s homesick, this is like going home for a few days. The Louisiana atmosphere, the crawfish, the jambalaya, it’s all there. I tell people the music brings them, but the food keeps them.”  

Michael's Musings

The Twins
Michael Shinafelt

With all the BS going on in the world, Georgia and it's almost complete abolishment of abortion rights is currently public enemy number one. After all what does number two do? So I thought it was time to break out my twins and throw my support behind a woman's right to choose.

OK, I am breaking them out metaphorically, because if I broke them out literally, well then the censors who run my forum on the WWW would certainly gun for me too. "Yes" it's a mad, mad, mad world and we are living in it. 

FYI: I'm Pro-Choice, I'm also Pro people choosing their own pizza toppings

Unicorns come from a magical place, the land of a thousand horns

Incels, discuss...

I'm just mashing your taters

May I introduce you to Grumpy Bear? He was recently kicked to the curb by Angry Pup

Last night's season finale of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists was off the hook!

"Even a hooker deserves to have Thanksgiving dinner" - Denise Richards RHOBH

The Pounder is real, not to be confused with The Seether 

Preach Traci Lords! 

Satan says wipe your nose. Satan is your friend.

Caught Margaret Cho @ Largo this past Monday. Good times!

Things I will call you a whore for - eating my food

Crispy Calamari 

Immersed myself in the I Like Scary Movies experience - thus the photo op of  "The Twins" and myself via The Shining portion of it. A total blast!

Hit me with your best shot at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Seeing Red

The Woman in Red
Emma Thompson

I love when celebrities of the female variety hit the red carpet in, well red. "Yes" you know the old adage when the carpet matches the drapes? Well in this case it's the carpet matching the draping.

One of the key reasons for this is most women look smashing in red. Case in point, one Emma Thompson having some fun at the London gala screening of her latest Late Night, by doing what else? Striking a pose!

Late Night for the record is directed by a friend of mine, Nisha Ganatra - congrats Nisha on scoring, not one, but two great actresses for the project. Thompson, of course and Mindy Kaling who also wrote the screenplay. This is one I want to see based on the pedigree of the talent on and off camera alone.

So today I am Seeing Red and it is not a bad thing. In fact it is having quite the opposite effect and I am feeling groovy 😎

Late Night on IMDb -
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6107548/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1