Ever year, I hear the same Christmas songs blaring in my ears while doing my shopping. At least at home I can choose my own brand of holiday music, and I don't care if they're redone or completely new contemporary wintertime tunes — I just like them different from the same songs I hear every single year. ("Jingle Bell Rock," get out of my life.)

A lot of artists record songs for this time of year, so I'm going to focus on those of the Sapphic variety. No, they aren't lesbian Christmas songs per se, but they are sung by out artists. (Is lesbian Christmas different from regular Christmas? Maybe it is and I just never knew about it. Must only be visible to the straight eye.)

Here are some of my favorites (for listening or for laughing at; your choice).

Various Artists — A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 (1992)

This charity holiday album featured several well-known singers doing renditions of traditional tracks as well as more newly penned songs, including Sinead O'Connor's cover of Bob Dylan's "I Believe in You." Not too Christmasy, but fitting enough. … continue reading

Fall has yet to officially begin, but the album releasing schedule has started to pick up some steam. Now that Labor Day has come and gone, watch for several anticipated full-lengths to drop.

Sonya Kitchell — This Storm (Decca/Velour)

She's only 19 years old, but she could be the best new jazz singer around. Her voice is a throwback to simpler times. She also scores some points with us for hailing from Northampton.

Various artists — Bones: The Soundtrack (Nettwerk)

If we could just pretend these were all Emily Deschanel's favorite picks, the soundtrack would feel like a mix tape from her to us. She must have great taste in music like sis, Zooey. The ethereal soundtrack features Placebo's cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," a Sinead O'Connor song and a Sarah McLachlan remix. … continue reading

It's St. Patrick's Day! I'm never quite sure what to make of this particular holiday, since it immediately brings to mind losers wearing green hats and guzzling green beer — or worse, parades that won't let the gays in. But in an attempt to accentuate the positive, here are seven (that's lucky!) delightful Irish people and things:

1. Carly Smithson

I'm still not entirely sure she can live up to all the hype, but American Idol contestant Smithson was great last week. I hope she'll continue to rock out, though I really don't think the Ann Wilson comparisons are right. There can be only one Ann Wilson. But kudos to Smithson for bringing Heart to the masses.

2. Roisin Connor (Siobhan McCarthy)

If you stopped watching Bad Girls after Helen and Nikki left the show, tune back in to see Roisin and Cassie, another star-crossed couple. Sometimes they wear very nice soooots.

3. Emma Donoghue … continue reading

Sinéad O’Connor on Oprah? No, this is not a Saturday Night Live sketch. Instead it’s a rare American television appearance for the Irish songstress. Today on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sinéad will talk for the first time about her struggles with bipolar disorder. Her appearance comes almost 15 years to the day of her controversial SNL performance. Life has a strange symmetry sometimes.

From the first moment I heard Sinéad tear into the heartache of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” I knew I’d stumbled across something strange and wonderful. And over the years she has straddled that line between strange and wonderful, often hopscotching between the two. But always there was her voice, that clear and resonate instrument of her truth. Man, that woman can sing.

… continue reading

Of course, that same voice made her a lightning rod for controversy.

She's been out of public consciousness for awhile, but I still love Sinéad O'Connor. For one, she possesses one of the most beautiful shaven heads on the planet, something which fascinated me as a teenager (much to my mother's anxiety).

Not to mention the flexibility and power of her voice. "Nothing Compares 2 U" is still a classic. … continue reading

Last week, Spinner.com made a list of the “20 Rockin' Gay Moments.” I know, I know — another list. Stop the audible groaning. You know you can’t resist them and, clearly, neither can I. So let’s put on our yelling caps and take a look at this puppy.

Of the 20, four and a half are women (the half goes to the Equality Rocks concert featuring female performers like k.d. lang and Melissa Etheridge). Of those, the highest ranking moment was No. 6 which was — wait for it, wait for it — the Britney Spears-Madonna-Christina Aguilera MTV kiss. Oy, does anyone have an antacid?

The other ladies on the list: … continue reading