Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide's celebrating Pride Month!
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Despite the misses, SouthSide did note a lot of hits about Pride in the Park. The musical lineup was spectacular! To see Taylor Dayne and Steve Aoki as well as many others perform live - what a FANTASTIC job the organizers did to get performers like them to come to Chicago. This reviewer was able to catch Taylor Dayne celebrating 30 years of her number 1 hit singles like Tell It To My Heart and I Will Always Love You (gosh, she feels SO freakin old right now). She also performed a solid but soulful rendition of Prince's/Sinead O'Connor's song Nothing Compares 2 U with shout-out dedications to Prince, George Michael, David Bowie, Maurice Waters, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson before doing a funky version of Barry White's Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe. In between dancing and reviewing, SouthSide getting recognized by those who read her blog or seen her around town...but she had fun meeting people visiting the city as far away as San Diego, CA. She met a woman from the Ukraine and this was her first time in the Midwest - "WOW" was her reaction to the music, city and everything else. She was in town for the parade happening on Sunday with a group of friends.
Then next it was Kathy Sledge from
the Sister Sledge fame featuring the hit song - We Are Family. Yes, blogspot readers, everyone in attendance were one big happy family as a group of lovely Queens shared the stage with her during this song as well as a few dancers to show off their skills as the Greatest Dancer. SouthSide would pick the guy in the lime green clothing as the winner ...his movements along with his fan display was totally a crowd pleasing. Then it was local hip hop/rap artist KC Ortiz who took the stage in the best sparkly sequin green dress of the day! Even this reviewer has tried to pull off wearing green and it doesn't look right on her. Two finger snaps in the air for her/him. Steve Aoki, blogspot readers, had the wildest and best music performance of the day. From performing bits of Old Town Road to his infamous Cake Me (yes, he actually tossed 10 9x13 sized cakes into the audience}, Steve pumped a lot of high energy into the crowd especially during the BTS and the Pikachu songs and when he's standing on his DJ stand. Yet, the highlight of his set was his remix of John Lennon's iconic song - Imagine which brought tears to SouthSide's eyes before ending with a HUGE explosion of confetti everywhere!. Cake and confetti ...felt so sorry for the poor maintenance workers having to clean up the mess after his set.
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Before SouthSide forgets, in between acts, there were mini show-stopping numbers performed by local drag personalities and there was even appearance by one of Ru Paul's Drag Race contestant too. In the meantime, Tamar Braxton wins for having THE hottest male dancers to ever strut around on stage, blogspot readers. Her set included a brief rendition of Lady Marmalade in between featuring her song list of
hits and karaoke contest during her song Love and War. However, sadly, blogspot readers, Iggy Azalea's headlining set had some minor setbacks like a late start which meant her set had to be shortened and fuse blown in which she had to perform part of a song on a dark stage. SouthSide's new group of friends - April, Tracey, Chef Marco and his husband the cute chico named Paco were so excited to see this artist ...joining the crowd shouting for Iggy to come on stage. She dedicated one song Goddess to her social media friend who is also a Trans woman named Michelle (who also joined her on stage during the song) because she felt inspired by what this woman has to go through in life. Trans people face discrimination, hate crimes and even murder ...and believe it or not, their life expectancy is 35 years old! We have to do more to protect our Trans people, blogspot readers.
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Immediately after her set, the night skies were ablazed with a firework display in the park, blogspot readers!
Pride in the Park was fun..hopefully there will be one next year, blogspot readers.
Until next time, support your local scene.
SouthSide
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