History Deep in Vogue Is the Message, as Well
posted by on December 20 at 15:59 PM
I got to know MSFB’s “Love Is the Message” because the Larry Levan version of it was sampled in Malcolm McLaren’s “Deep in Vogue,” which appeared on the single for his “Waltz Darling” in 1989, released during the height of the Harlem drag ball culture immortalized in Paris Is Burning. Over a trotting disco beat, several voices commemorate the most famous New York “houses” —LaBeija, Xtravaganza, Magnifigue, Saint Laurent, Omni, Ebony, Duprée.
Who the hell are they? You know, they’re somebody when they’re in that little ballroom.
Malcolm McLaren - Deep in Vogue
Right- or Control-Click to Download.
Were you creeped out for infinity years by McLaren’s v.v. fey yet reedy speaking voice? It’s like his pharnyx is wearing a dress.
Ooh, and here’s the video—one of the first to display voguing (certainly before Madonna’s mainstream hit) and featuring Legendary Father Willie Ninja. This one uses a heavier, more tribal beat than the original, with lots of small interludes and lots of samples from audio interviews and Paris Is Burning soundtrack:
On a related note, I totally admit that I was part of that meme in 2004 or whatever where everyone was making fake iPod ads, except for how I was also totally getting into Old Way vogue. Don’t you just wish?
For y’all children that have no idea what’s going on, perhaps you should go to school.
Tagline, for sure is: "10,000 sickening songs for the banjie boy."
mclaren's voice is the single worst thing about his 80's work (and did he do anything besides speak on some songs?). it's like listening to the sugarcubes: you could conceivably like it if it weren't for einar's grating, stupid voice. i can't even listen to mclaren's 'buffalo gals' single - his voice is too much.
Einar performed with Björk when I saw her on tour a few months ago, and he still does that shit—and still with his free jazz trumpeting. He's in this duo called Ghostigital now, and his Dada business, when combined with electronic beats, has become rather like rapping. In Icelandic, mind you.
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