Page 14 HIGH GEAR-Augus! 1980

ENTERTAINMENT

In response...

by Eric Kotila

To call Can't Stop the Music "this year's most offensive exploitation of gays by a movie" as Mr. Woodward has done is utterly absurd. In a year that produced the relentlessly brutal stabbings. fist-fucking. public sex, and psychosis of Cruising, any objections to Can't Stop the Music pale by comparison

Yes, the movie is bad, but there is a huge difference between a bad movie that happens to feature a gay group and a movie that is insulting and offensive to the gay community. American Gigolo, because of Julian's remarks about "faggots" and the film's Black bisexual murderer. constitutes a film offensive to the gay community: Can't Stop the Music merely bores the gays (as well as straight) viewer.

Can't Stop the Music's very banality may be a blessing in disguise Heterosexual America generally reacts to gays with fear, ridicule, and revulsion. Because the Village People's sex life is not thrown in the viewer's face, straight people will find nothing to fear: "Eunuchs" are non-threatening and these particular eunuchs are undoubtedly more likeable than laughable Furthermore, the film's mention of accepting people as they are and of recognizing the idiosynBAMBI'S VINYL VIEWS

crasies in all of us, as we as its subtle shots of gay couples walking and dancing serve an important psychological purpose. Any advertising executive can testify to the significance of subliminals: Those stimuli of which the viewer is not consciously aware cannot be consciously rejected. Hence, when viewing the film, 'the non-acutely observant straight viewer recieves pro-gay stimuli which seep directly into his subconscious. hopefully to being eroding anti-gay feelings

The film has its more blatant gay aspects as well. Certainly most Americans in their later teens and older have heard of the Village People's collective sexual orientation. A gay group being the subject of a feature film is a postive step which would have been impossible only a few years back. The song "Liberation" caused goosebumps in this reviewer as it well might for anyone who feels constrained by society's intolerance for physical. and psychological minorities.

Certainly the gay male viewer found aesthetic gratification in Felipe Rose's tintillating tits and in the humpy body builder clad in blue. The male anatomy was also exposed in the movie's highlight "YMCA. The repetitive splitsecond locker-room nudity employed was pointedly erotic

With the exuberant gymnastics of countless athletes. mirrored split-screen film techniques, and snappy editing, the YMCA" sequences enthused the viewer with its novelty and buoyancy Hopefully such a joyful tribute to "maleness" and male togetherness would clarify the meaning of "YMCA's" lyrics to all but the most naive straight viewers.

Overall, the movie is bad. In fact, the acting and script are so terrible that the viewer feels embarrassed for the actors because of their loss of face in a medium that projects their lack of talent to a worldwide audience. Can't Stop the Music does, however, have its redeeming characteristics--namely its production numbers. If the movie could be edited to a Ziegfeld Follies-type sequence of production numbers and shown as a television special, it would be a great success.

As it stands. however. Can't Stop the Music is a disaster. albeit a fun one. Its only success is that it is diversionary. Its only offense is that so many gay people could be involved in such a poor movie. But with the disaster of. Cruising in mind, the gay audience breathes a sigh of relief as it leaves the theater humming the catchy tunes "Can't Stop the Music."

Papa Zulu x-ray/My readings,4-9er/3;-3

Sheila and B. Devotion (Carrere) -Written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of CHIC fame, this is a very cute disco-rock album. The

first time I listened to it, I was reminded of some disco groups that my honey. Mohammed, used to play for me. Groups that were very popular in Iran, but didn't seem to make it here: Boney M. Belle Epoch. Munich Machine., etc. So I called my man up and asked him about Sheila. Yes, he had the tapes of her past albums and she and B. Devotion were quite hot in Iran. So much for history.

Side one opens with the hot single 'Spaces What a wonderful. song, "Love in his eyes/My heart skips a beat when i'm by his side/ He's a spacer A star chaser Next is a culo file disco-rocker called Mayday May Hoy!

I'm in trouble. the reason why I'm crashing is 'cause you can't raise your landing gear." The next track Charge Plates and Credit Cards' should sound fami-

liar to some taces about town. "Now I've borrowed an assumed name/To see if any banks are still lending." The cut 'Misery' closes out this side on an unusually serious note.

But we're back to silliness on side two. King of the World' ("Then he went out and won/The pole position/Oh his composition/Foiled the opposition") and Cover Girls' ("My skin is wash and wear") are sung in an almost New Wave fashion. The final two songs are very CHIC-ish and in that respect a bit disappointing. Overall, this is a very nice album and highly recommended

Grace Jones: Warm Leatherette (Island) Fortunately

..

•

the fir: song (?) on this ip is so bad that the album can't help but get better Still, this is a terrible record New Wave and Rock on a disco format just doesn't work. These songs are much to long and just have no energy If she repeats the phrase "Warm Leatherette once, she does it a hundred times; and, by the end of the title track I'm somewhere between a yawn and a scream, This record is boring and frustrating.

I dislike this album so much I don't even want to write about it. Side two is better than side one. But then. side one is worthless.

The Hunter Gets Captured 'By the Game isn't too bad except it's a bid too long. Bullshit is the best track on, this record: and. when she snarls "I'm sick and tired of all this bullshit."I couldn't agree with her more, I'm sure

The anonymous gourmet

Can't afford the rent

By Bambi Fontaine

The Boarding House 11311 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 216-421-8100

Decor: XX Food: XX Service: XX

Price: out of line Bambiance: XX

XXXX-excellent, XXX-very good. Xxx-good/average, "X-greasy spoon

Please note that in every category except Price, I have given The Boarding House a good/average rating. I don't mind paying $3.50 for a hamburger if the restaurant has something special going for it, like an unusual atmosphere and decor, exceptronal food and excellent service. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the Boarding House has none of these. Don't get me wrong. With a couple of exceptions, this restaurant is fine: good/average. However I also rated the Olympic as being good/average.

There is not much to say about the decor of this restaurant. It's okay: nothing special. Same goes for the service. My waitress was kind and polite and earned her tip. But that's to be expected.

F

Greg

there is more to be said about this album, but why bother? Oh, Grace, why did you do this???

Lipps Inc.: Mouth to Mouth (Casablanca) -Some say disco sucks. This certainly applies to

this record. Mouth to Mouth is a piece of fluff with some interesting percussion arrangements. admit Funkytown' is quite good; but. God knows they've played it for all it was worth: Almost eight minutes. The other song on this side 'A!! Night Dancing' represgnts the state of the art at least. five years ago.

Side two also contains only two songs. 'Rock It' strangely reminds me of I Feel Love' by Donna Summer, 'Star Love' by Cheryl Lynn, and possibly something else by Cerrone: Power' the second and last number on, this side is somewhat better but is also nearly eight minutes long.

Fare taste teated were the Chill, Fish, Chowder, Fowl Play. Sidney's Fish Sandwich, Fried Clam's; and Hamburgers. The best values are the Fried Clams (excellent) and the Chili (hot and spicy). The Fowl Play/sandwich is sliced turkey with bacon and cheese on whole wheat. Not bad. One thing that the. Boarding. House prides itself on is its selection of cheeses: Cheddar, American, Swiss, Blue, are there more? Can't remember. The Hamburgers are also good. Large and juicy with many possible combinations of toppings.

Unfortunately, however, the quality of the food does lack constancy. My fish chowder did not seem to contain any fish. But it did contain a piece of ciam shell that I almost broke a tooth on. And Sidney ought to be. tarred and feathered for that fish sandwich. The fillets were a little yellow and had both a fishy smell and taste. The french fries were

greasy.

My biggest gripe with the Boarding House is that, I think they are being rather pretentious. I don't feel I got my money's worth. High prices are not necessarily a sign of quality or chicness.

Photo by Bill Suhay

I bought this album for 'Funkytown' and that was all I got. Guest Reviewer Greg

DJ at Exedra

(as mumbled to Bambl)

Diana Ross: Diana (Motown)-Written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of CHIC, Ross latest album has a CHIC flavor but is not as repetitious. The most obvious dance and commercial cut Upside Down', is certainly not a disappointment. It contains a lot of energy even though it is, much slower than most of her other efforts. 'I'm Coming Out also has some possibilities for dance

On the other side, which is slower, Friend to Friend' and Have Fun (Again)' are personal faventes. Certainly this whole album deserves a close listen