Tomorrow is Always a Day Away What is it with this Blog? Every time I promise an update on a certain day, or on a certain subject, the cook's block or something hits the kitchen and you're left with stale month old Züri G'schnätzlets. Thanks for all the cards and letters. I am still here. And still well. However, I've spent the last month engrossed in the new Amy Grant album, living life and showing my beautiful sister the wonders of Switzerland by bus, tram, train, and bicycle.

I Still Believe in Simple Things Yes, that countdown was really all about the release of Amy Grant's first album of new material in over three years (remember she even started her own blog as she was recording the album but she only squeezed two entries out). And yes, one of my absolutely favorite things is hearing a new Amy Grant album for the first time, which is why I was counting down to Amy Day. Yep, Amy Day usually comes no more than once a year so it's a day to mark! (And yes Alonso, you did tell me.) And what do I think? I think Simple Things just might turn into my favorite Amy album of all. It's dancy. It's poppy. It's sexy. It's holy. It's mentally well-balanced. It's totally honest. Amy gives us the benefit of her years of experience, and perhaps a touch of therapy. What a gift. Yeah it's over way to soon, but that just means you can listen to it twice in an hour and a half

In case you already haven't bought the album (why haven't you?) ... the Friends of Amy posted inadequately password protected previews of five songs off the album before the album's release date. Since I wanted to protect my own little Internet only mini-album I didn't post the links then (the bandwidth run on AmyGrant.com from you throngs of Züri G. readers might have alerted her webmaster), but now I have the album so here you go:

Simple Things	Wow! Baby, baby, get me an orange.
Eye to Eye	Luscious! But Amy. Faith Hill and Shanai Twain called. They want their voice synthesizers back.
Innocence Lost	Healing! I can't relive my my life; I can't retrace my steps; I can't undo what's done; there's no going back;I chased a selfish dream, did not survey the cost; illusions disappeared - I found my innocence lost ...
Happy	Einfach Sexy!
Out in the Open	In the open! A reminder that compassion and not judgment - brings about healing. - Amy Grant (liner notes)

But ... If you're still whining about the length get out your CD burner and combine the non-hymny songs from Legacy with the tracks from Simple Things for one maxi-CD.

Are you a Friend of Amy? Remember, back in the queer old days when there was a secret code to ask if someone was gay? The discreet question (which may also have ben a tribute to diva-icon Judy Garland) was "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" Well early this summer I became a friend of Amy. Oh I've always been a friend of Amy, ever since the family stereo's needle dropped onto Straight Ahead (my first full album purchase as a teenager), and I performed every song (to perfection) in front of the big mirror in the hall. But early this summer, I finally joined Amy Grant's official fan club which is called Friend's of Amy. Much to my surprise, many people on the fan club's message boards are surprised to find that Amy Grant has a large gay fan base. Why I always figured everyone realized that young queers of a certain age, certain bible belt region, and certain religious upbringing could never be a friend of Dorothy's but were just waiting to find a friend in Amy. Oh yes. Think of Judy, Barbra, Marisa, Bette, Madonna - gay boys do need their diva's. And think of Amy. She had great hair. She was strong and outspoken, yet timid and a bit frightened at the same time. She was ostracized by some for making flamboyant decisions. She danced with polka-dots and puppies. She performed barefoot at the grammy's, and she wore lime green leggings with a hot pink blazer. Not to mention in her concerts she changed costumes every two songs (those were the days). Who else would we choose. And, once in love with Amy - always in love with Amy.

Cher's promoters saw the potential when they approached Amy to tour with Cher recently (according to Amy on one to the Friends of Amy live chats). Sadly the talks fell through. Someone must have realized the chaos that would ensue when the Cher-queens met the Amy-queens at intermission. Wigs would fly.

But really aren't you glad that all us gay boys had a diva like Amy to be a friend of?

Misheard Lyrics ... according to the lyrics on the CD liner notes it's "chit chat in a street cafe"

(and by the way) ... I am NOT - and never have been - a drag queen. I am an occasional semi-professional Amy Grant impersonator.)

Feels Like I'm a Little Girl I though you might want to see my Amy Day Suit. I haven't worn that since I was a "little girl" in 1986. Amazing I can still get into it again. More tasty Züri G'schnätzlets are cooking up now ... so keep reading. Big changes are cooking. (watch the All New AmyDay Flash Tribute or the Original Recipe AmyDay Flash Tribute again, while you wait ...) Amy Day is over, but ... Amymas is coming (Vince is getting fat ... )

posted by Steve at 9/19/2003 08:49:00 AM

I've attempted to leave this blog in the state it was in early 2006 as a historical artifact, but Google broke my original Archive page. What you see above is a quick reconstruction to rebuild some archive functionality without altering the original blog layout (or researching too deeply into Blogspot).

Original Contents Copyright 2002 - J. Stephen Holyer. All Rights Reserved.