Music & Concerts

Kanye’s ‘Jesus’ is all-out gospel effort; Brooke Candy debut is unabashed sex-a-thon

Pop divas of yore have certainly gone the salacious route, but ‘Sexorcism’ is wilder

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2019

Sexorcism review, gay news, Washington Blade — Brooke Candy’s new album ‘Sexorcism’ is shallow, sexy and wild. (Image courtesy NUXXE)

Pop music has lost its soul. That is, if this week’s dispatch to be believed. Two new album releases are evidence of the state of affairs. Kanye West released his anticipated gospel album, “Jesus Is King.” Up-and-coming rapper and singer Brooke Candy is out with her debut album, “Sexorcism,” after a 2014 EP and series of singles and collaborations.

Kanye, whose innumerable controversies over the past several years need not be mentioned, has made a full-length gospel album, which has fallen short of the expectations of the many attentive critics. For my part, I mention only that the supposedly spiritual music often resorts to triviality in its lyrics. Look no further than “Closed on Sunday,” which reads more as ad copy than genuinely profound. But his decision to rebuff the mainstream in favor of gospel points rightly to the emptiness just under the excessively sexualized, materialistic shell of pop music today.

For this, Brooke Candy has a different answer entirely. Push pop music to its limit: Shallower, sexier, wilder.

If you haven’t heard of Brooke Candy, you likely haven’t been to see Charli XCX or Lizzo on tour recently — Candy has been a frequent opener for both in the past several years. Her 2014 EP “Opulence” which featured a collaboration with Diplo, has made its way into dance clubs and she has found some commercial success on the Billboard Dance Club and Top Hip-Hop Album charts. But for Brooke Candy, who identifies as pansexual, “Sexorcism” is her first big statement as a pop artist, and it is, if anything, a test of the power of shock value.

Of course, female pop singers have a long history of playing using shock to gain publicity for their music: Early Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are prime examples, following in the footsteps of Madonna. Gaga’s fashion sense (who can forget the infamous meat dress and her iconic platforms) as well as her outspoken positions on LGBT political issues such as marriage equality, brought her millions of both admirers and detractors. But everyone knew who she was.

But for Brooke Candy, shock is not simply a corollary to her artist production; it’s the essence of her music. With singles “FMU” and “Drip,” Brooke Candy offers a steady stream of monotonous, sex-obsessed club music: “I could be your medicine/I could be your gun metal, fuck toy, cherry medal/I could be your dirty little/murder weapon, sex doll, cyanide, sour Skittle.” This is the model for most of the album, with songs consisting of description of some part of the sexual act, often in a way that makes Nicki Minaj’s music seem fit for church choir. And Brooke Candy is certainly indebted to Minaj for the delivery of her best lyrics, though they mostly lack the pervasive clever humor associated with latter’s best work.

Lead single “XXXTC,” featuring Charli XCX and Maliibu Miitch, is a slower dance number, the sort of grinding club music driven by a lethargic bass bump. It’s a well-produced earworm, bound to find its way into clubs. And fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will be pleased that the song “Rim” features season seven and season 10 winners Violet Chachki and Aquaria. The beat of the song feels more akin to something from RuPaul’s 2015 album “Born Naked.”

There are a few notable exceptions to the largely static musical style. The track “Cum” with Iggy Azalea offers something of a ‘90s synth-pop catwalk feel. It’s a refreshing and needed change of pace. And “Freak Like Me” feels like it belongs to another album altogether, mostly a run-of-the-mill pop track that takes a more personal tone: “I got a suit of armor, come and take your best shot/I been the weirdest for a minute, made me tough as nails.”

In its monotonous excess — which is simply the amplification of the dominant tendencies of pop songs today — this album points a finger at music merely pretending to have soul. Maybe Brooke Candy is in on the joke.

Related Topics:Brooke Candy Charli XCX Diplo Jesus Is King Kanye West Lizzo Sexorcism

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.