[Diva Week] Regina Spektor: Russian Anti-Folk Diva

For Diva Week at Pictures & Conversations we will look at 4 modern gay icons as well a special look at the diva I've idealized and followed (and not really fully realized until I read My Diva) since childhood. And no, you won't find out who that is until Friday. Yes, I'm a tease... First up is Russian-born anti-folk singer Regina Spektor.

As I've mentioned before, I found fiery NYC-dweller Regina Spektor thanks to VH1. Her video for "Fidelity" was in heavy rotation for a while, the black and white decor and costuming was eye catching pop art and the ending, where Regina and her male costar star throwing pigment inks around the apartment, was sheer joyful punk insanity.



I wouldn't classify Regina Spektor's music as punk, despite her intentionally "punk" sound on songs like "Your Honor" and "Poor Little Rich Boy". But her music is classified as "anti-folk" - a bizarre catch-all genre encompassing artists who blend punk, folk, blues and classical music in a strange swirl of postmodern pop.

Besides the music video, VH1's interview clip that accompanied it was also engrossing. Here was this Russian-born, Bronx-dwelling pixie talking about being influenced by art and literature in her music. It sounded so very high brow and new, so I had to buy the album.

Begin To Hope ran the gamut of sounds and influences. Her ode to Billie Holiday "Lady" features smokey jazz influences as well as lyrics that pay tribute in a slightly subversive way.

Corner street societies
They believe her
They never leave her
While she sings she makes them feel things

Meanwhile the chorus speaks directly to my own reaction to Billie's music:

She says I can sing this song so blue
That you will cry in spite of you
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder

Also on the weepy-gay-boy front, "Samson" just kills me. The biblical tale of Samson's infamous strength-killing haircut takes a new, quieter tone with Regina's Samson eating a slice of Wonder Bread after his haircut (with "a pair of dull scissors in the yellow light") and goes to bed. I've already wrote a whole post on this classical-influenced single so I won't go on too much more. But the video is also brill:

Regina Spektor - Samson


Other amazing song from Begin To Hope are "Edit" in which Regina uses the piano as a percussion instrument and the dramatic classical influenced "Apres Moi." Her latest effort, Far, features songs with a Dark City vibe ("Machine") and tales of a lost wallets and people winning awards for being the Human of the Year. It's lyrics like that, influenced by art and literature then refracted through a strange prism of insanity, that draw me in.

But to be one my Modern Gay Divas you need more than talent and a vajayjay. You need to be giving back to the gay community that has made you a diva. Regina has done that in two remarkable ways, by participating in 2008's True Colors Tour (headlined by Cyndi Lauper and featuring Joan Jett, Tegan & Sara, the B-52's and Joan Jett) as well as allowing the use of "Fidelity" in a heartbreaking anti-Prop 8 video for the Courage Campaign. That's my diva!