Dan
Hello, it's Dan here. In the Key of Q is on hiatus until the first of March, but until those new episodes drop, here are clips from the patron exclusive feed, plus other treats from the main episode to keep you occupied.
This week we revisit Aron Duval. Turn it down, Nikki!
Aruan
Yeah, bring it down. A notch will be on her frequency.
Dan
This is an exclusive episode for our on subscribers, where I chat with all queer musicians about their five songs to save from Armageddon. Enjoy.
Hello and welcome to this, Pateron exclusive episode featuring Aruan Duval. Aaron, welcome.
Aruan
Thank you for having me.
Dan
Now I'm afraid to report to you that the end of the world is coming. And I know, I know, just, you know, just when you thought that it couldn't get worse. Literally, it's all coming to an end. And you can only see this, I'm afraid.
Aruan
OK, so this is like the season finale for the global pandemic.
Dan
It is. It is. But thankfully, thankfully, five songs can be saved.
Aruan
Gosh. Right. Okay.
Dan
I give your five and, you know, you could have one of your own if you want one of our artists did choose one of his own.
Aruan
That's a yes. No, I won't. Oh gosh, that's that's that's a that's actually a tough opening question. So I'll go by artists. So my favourite five artists and then I'll see if I can select this, OK?
So my favourite artist Prince, Bowie, Stevie Wonder. Let's go to Aretha Franklin and let's check in. Is it obvious to say Madonna? Forget Madonna?
Dan
If you want to say Madonna, Aruan, say Madonna.
Aruan
So let's start with Madonna. It's got to be Vogue. I mean, it's, you know, it's more for the look than that than the actual sound. You know, the powder wig Vogue at the MTV Awards. It's just, you know, it's the crowning moment.
I mean, it's just a no brainer that's going to be vogue.
Dan
So not Shoo-be-Doo?
Aruan
And not Jimmy, Jimmy, strangely enough.
So let's go back to what you just said, Aretha Franklin. I've always had a soft spot for think, particularly the Blues Brothers that she did. I thought that was pretty amazing. Everything she does is amazing. You know, she can sing the phone book. She's just incredible. And she's just got some incredible songs in the catalogue. So anything for that. But let's go.
I think Stevie Wonder. I'm going to go with this thing with Duke.
There's just a lot of love and a lot of his favourite artist mentioned in that. So I think that's the that's just a joyful song. And, you know, he is in a seminary. So, you know, I mean, he's just like the greatest singer in the known universe, and he's just absolutely wonderful.
Bowie, this is going to Bowie imprints. It's going to be these are going to be the default was how do we narrow this down?
Dan
Yeah, I was just thinking, I thought, How on earth do you pick a Bowie song? How about this, though?
Aruan
I'm going to go with it again. It's an obvious one. I'm going to go with Life on Mars, and I'll tell you for why. When I started devouring his back catalogue, which was way after many years after I should have done, I should have discovered him way sooner.
And I had a copy of Hunky-Dory, but until then, I'll be three plastic thing and I listen to it. It was so good. The album was so good and I was like, Oh wow, this is just this is like the best thing I've ever had in my life, and I got home and realised that Life on Mars didn't copy across. And it's like, This album is this good AND it has Life on Mars? I was just like, I was just like, Oh, I was just always in tears. It was just so fantastic.
Prince is a bit easier because I had thought about this one before actually it’s Mountains.
So that's from the Parade album, which the album also includes Kiss. It was fine. I love Kiss, but I find kisses just like that more of the slutty assister of mountains, which is a little bit more sophisticated, and that's just got beautiful lyrics.
Dan
There is always more fun hanging out with the slutty sister because this is the slushy sister knows where the wine is kept before the.
Aruan
Absolutely, yes. Yeah, of course. It's much more fun, but you know, if we're stuck on an island, you really want to be stuck on the island with Slice Sister. Do you want the sophisticated one? OK, I might change my mind!
Dan
Now, one of our one of our other guests, my official chose a Prince song, which I don't know, Shhh. And I'm curious what your thoughts were about that.
Aruan
That was something that's from Gold, isn't it? I think from Gold. Yes. Yes. That's a fantastic live track to that quite a lot like quite a lot of his stuff for me, anyway is actually better lives than it is on the record.
And I don't know why that is. Maybe because it's more opened up with the band and as more, you know, sort of different fields in it, whereas on the record, it would tend to just be him. I think actually it probably was recorded with the band because it's a quiet instrument, so I don't know.
But, but yeah, it's it's it's a it's a rapidly for sure. It moves all over the place and it just gets quite wild for a ballad. Yeah, a really, really interesting track. And I always find with an artist like him, it's not the singles you want to really be looking out for.
It's the album tracks. That's where the gold, that's where the gold is. So, yeah, good. Good, good choice.
Dan
So basically, Jimmy Jimmuy.
Aruan
Yes. Yes, exactly. I mean, who gets to choose the singles? I don't know. I mean, is it? Is it Madonna? Is it the artist? Is it the record? Just say, Well, these are the ones that are going to get to number one or these are the best ones of all. These are the most interesting ones. I mean.
Dan
Who knows? You know, I don't know. Actually, I'd always assumed that it was the PR people because effectively singles used to act as promotions for the album, didn't you? Because you got you got things like Dear Jessie, which never got released in America.
Or, you know, the Look of Love, which was only released here and in France.
Aruan
This is this is this clearly a mutual touchpoint? So this is a whole reference point, is because you just did hold a programme about Madonna. Just leave her there.
Dan
Just like I just I just want to talk about Where's the Party all day.
Aruan
Exactly. You know, Kylie’s Your Disco Needs You, which which I hated the first time I heard it. Absolutely love it. Now it's still I think it's one of those great records and that was released in the UK. Apparently, I don't know if this is true, but I kind of hope it is. The record company thought it was too gay, too gay for single release in this country, but it was a huge, huge hit in Europe and Australia. So how do these things get decided.
Dan
By dumb people?
Aruan
Who don't know what the fuck you talking about exactly.
Dan
So one of the main ambitions of this podcast is to introduce people to queer music that they might not have heard before. And I think often one of the best ways to introduce someone to an artist is to have a sort of gateway drug into their catalogue.
Do you know that one song that's going to lure people into your mood and your whole feel and your sound out of your songs? What do you think would be the best gateway track?
Aruan
I'm going to go with Go-Go, where we've talked about quite a few of the songs that have some sort of dark meaning and Go-Go's a good gateway drug because it's just a bit of fun. And I love it. And actually it was. It was it was actually the first track that we recorded thinking about it. So yeah, that that makes sense to be my gateway song.
Dan
Aruan Duval it has been absolutely lovely to have you on In the Key of Q and thank you for not deleting your album off the streaming platforms. Keep it on there, darling.
Aruan
Thank you so much for having me. And can I just say excellent title to the podcast. Top notch. Well done. Love you!
Dan
Thank you very much
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this episode, please consult the show notes for support links. Please do write and review this podcast on your podcast provider. It'll really help other people find it. You can support the podcast by visiting patreon.com/inthekwyofq.
Of course, it's always lovely to hear your thoughts and ideas and maybe future guests for the show. You can reach out on all the usual social media platforms or email me directly on podcast@inthekeyofq.com it'll be great to hear from you.
Our theme music is by Paul Leonidou at unstoppablemonsters.com. Big thanks to Kajann Kantha and Moray Laing for their support in making this episode. I'm Dan Hall and this podcast is made at Pup Media Consultancy.
See you next Quesday!
