It’s a big music day isn’t it here? Well Donovan is all about Rihanna, but I’m going to throw down for the yin to her yang. My favourite (and I’m sure she’s yours) Lady Gaga!

The Lady premiered the song in a little snippet on Saturday Night Live in an piano medley during her second set. I was a bit late on this one, and found out there was a leaked version, with some guy yelling stuff in the background as a vocal watermark, and loved the track.

But the final mastered version, is SO INCREDIBLE! One thing that I’ll always remember about Gaga, is that she said somewhere that she will never release a song without a good hook. Honey, we’re all hooked again! This song I’m SURE will skyrocket to #1, which is where it belongs.

An pick up her 2 disc re-release of The Fame (called THE FAME MONSTER) out November 23rd, coincidentally the same day as Rihanna.

Check out the single after the jump

Rihanna released the first single today from her upcoming album aptly titled, Rated-R. The dark ballad written and produced by Ne-Yo debuted on Rihanna’s official website. I’m surprised she choose to go with a slower song as the lead-off single instead of a more club-friendly dance track. I guess that’s what remixes are for, right?

I love the fetish-inspired cover art for the single. You can never go wrong with an eye patch, chains and barb wire. Rihanna’s recent fascination with guns (she added a tiny gun tattoo on her side recently) plays a prominent role in the just released single. The song is all about enduring a turbulent relationship with a dangerous boyfriend. Sounds familiar, don’t you think? Here’s a sampling of the lyrics:

“You can see my heart beating, you can see it through my chest/I’m terrified, but I’m not leaving/Know that I must pass this test,” Rihanna sings on the chorus, “So just pull the trigger.”

Check out the single after the jump

Who knew an orange jumpsuit and alien head could cause such an uproar? Looks like Target, Walmart and other big outlets now know. These big box stores have received many complaints over an “Illegal Alien” costume being sold on their shelves. The costume depicts a space alien in a prison orange jumpsuit while hold a big “green card”. This depiction has outraged many in the Hispanic community and those concerned over immigrant rights.

Here’s what the official product description says:

“He didn’t just cross a border, he crossed a galaxy! He’s got his green card, but it’s from another planet! Sure to get some laughs, the Illegal Alien Adult Costume includes an orange prison-style jumpsuit with ‘Illegal Alien’ printed on the front, an alien mask and a ‘green card.’”

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Last night a new show called Peak Season premiered on MTV Canada, that is like the The Hills and The City, but maybe better? It takes place in Whistler, B.C. which is a plus, and rather than being a “reality show” it’s actually supposed to be a docudrama series. It captures all the partying and the drama of a tight-knit group of people living in Whistler. It stays true to the fact that there are a lot of Aussies, so there is a balance of Aussies living in Whistler with Canadian born people as well. MTV The Aftershow’s Dan & Jessi do a hilarious job of showing the extreme differences between how the Peak Season cast members differ from The Hills cast members when they go out for dinner, deal with drama, and go partying. It was so bang on. Peak Season is just a lot more fun, a lot more real, and a lot less pretentious. It’s time to grope the slopes with Peak Season!

Interestingly enough, When Adam and I were in Whistler for a week in February during Gay Ski Week (because I was there as a sponsor through masc and he was helping me), we were invited to a dinner party at the house we were staying at (did I say house…? I meant mansion) and this couple was there as well as friends of the host. They were there filming a new show called Peak Season that hadn’t been picked up by any network yet, and after dinner we got to see the promo reel, introducing the characters and how they relate to each other…and now, it’s on MTV! Pretty cool. You can actually download the first episode for free right now on iTunes!

Here’s the core cast / group of friends and what they’re all all about…

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How many times have we uttered those words into the ear of the gorgeous guy who caught our eye across the club… or signed off our final manhunt correspondence with this “last check” before you head to their’s? It’s the customary question most of us singles are trained to ask instinctively before the hotel room keys are exchanged or buzz codes are passed out. I think most of the time the words flow carelessly out of our mouths and we expect to hear “yup” in reply… but sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we’re told:
“Actually, I’m positive.”

What do you do then?

Having encountered this situation about 3 times in my few years as a sexually active gay man, it has made me realize that assuming an answer from the stud with the vodka soda is not at all a given. Don’t worry, this article is not going to turn into a “you need to realize that people with HIV and AIDS are out there and that it’s not just ‘on TV’ etc.” piece. Instead, I’m looking to discuss my experience with this situation and understand how others see it.

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Now I’m ALWAYS one for a new place in the LGBT community of Vancouver to have some drinks, especially with our little city having the highest gay population in Western Canada, and uhm, oh yeah NOT a lot of extra curricular choices. So it’s a bittersweet feeling to see Pulse Nightclub go south. Actually I didn’t even know it wasn’t North until I was walking home from work tonight and saw “Junction Public House”.

First reaction? This trendy Public House Social Haus’ trend is OVERPLAYED, but here I am giving anything a chance that gives me a little variety in my community. So no more nightclub. It’s done. Instead in it’s place is what I’m told is a new pub. I want to kick and scream that what we need is more clubs (WHAT WE NEED IS MORE CLUBS!!!), but I won’t *grin*, because that’s what Pulse was, and the niche it filled was apparently not enough to keep it afloat SO, beggars can’t be choosy, we get a pub instead. I don’t need another casual drinking place. I have Fountainhead and Score ….and Jupiter….and Oasis and 1181, BUT MAYBE YOU DO! Right? *grin*

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Oh boy. 23 Year old Stephanie Pratt from The Hills was arrested in the wee hours of Sunday morning (around 3:45am) as she was suspected to have been drinking and driving. After being arrested outside of Empire Nightclub, she was booked in jail in the San Fernando Valley. With a $5,000, she was released. What is it with this young Hollywood Starlets these days? Seriously. Publicity is one thing, but putting other people’s lives at risk is another.

Apparently, she was celebrating Holly Montag’s 26th birthday with other The Hills stars when it all went down. Hmm, interesting because in the previews, it’s Holly that Speidi sends to rehab! Looks like they have another one coming their way. I hope that the cameras were there and that the arrest is part of the show because as much as the “The Bitch is Back” on The Hills this season, I’m finding it to be quite boring, unfortunately. Stephanie was released later that morning, and will return to court for a hearing.

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Looks like Rachel Berry is getting a male counterpart. Glee co-creator, Ryan Murphy announced today Jonathan Groff will be joining the cast for a five to six episode story arc later this season. Groff will be playing the lead male vocalist of Vocal Adrenaline (McKinley High’s Glee Club’s main competition). Vocal Adrenaline has already performed Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and Duffy’s “Mercy” on the show.

The Pennsylvanian native, got his start on ABC’s soap, One Life to Live, and most recently starred in Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock”. In 2007, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor. Funny enough, it was his role as Melchior Gabor from “Spring Awakening” where he first met Lea Michele. Looks like the two Broadway stars will be working again real soon- Groff’s character will serve as a potential love interest for Michele’s Rachel Berry. Can’t you just picture the duets now? Ryan Murphy stated Groff’s character will be a “MIVA”, a male diva.

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