For those of you who know Chaka Khan, I really don't need to say much other than to deliver the great news that Chaka's bringing back funk with a new album that will be ready to download on September 25--or sooner for you really clever queers. And for the older ones among us who still buy those dust collecting CD's, FUNK THIS will be in stores (you remember stores, don't you--brick and mortar things) on that same day.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with Chaka, especially the ones who think music was born on the day Madonna purchased her first pair of fishnet stockings, you're in for a thrill. Chaka Khan is one of the icons and pioneers of R&B, Funk and Pop. And for some supernatural reason her voice and majesty seem more spectacular and powerful today than ever before--even after a career spanning 30 years.

Chaka Khan is one of those artists other singers reference when you ask them who they count among their influences. Chaka is among the celestial pantheon of diva's divas that includes very few other female vocal pioneers--among them Aretha and Tina.

And even if you don't think you know Chaka, if you're gay, you do know Chaka. Among other iconic hits, Chaka is the woman responsible for one of the top ten gay anthems of all time: I'm Every Woman. No, I'm Every Woman was not originally recorded by Whitney Houston, Ru Paul or your all time favorite drag queen. It was Chaka. And it's a song, like Chaka that has as much power and impact today as it did when it was first released in 1978. Yes, dudes. 1978. It was a feminist anthem that immediately transcended gender and spoke to all of us, regardless of anatomy or sexual orientation.



Some of you may be wondering what the hell is funk. So a little musicology is in order: Funk is a uniquely American musical style that originated in the mid-to late-1960s blending soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic and very danceable (and very much worthy of naked dancing in your living room) new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Among some of the pioneers of funk were James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth,Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang and Rufus. Chaka was the lead singer for Rufus; she was/is also the most enduring voice to come out of that genre.

Funk strongly influenced the development of Disco and hip hop.

Chaka is bringing funk back with her new CD, but this is far from a retro experience. It's fresh, it's 2007 and I'm addicted and have already been living room naked dancing to it. (Some of you may be frightened by that visual but I don't care. It's a thing I do, it's private and I'm proud of it.)

Chaka herself explains it best--not my naked dancing but her new album: "This album may remind people of my early Rufus albums because I'm in a similar 'soul space'. I've been on a little journey in the last few years, finding Yvette again [her birth name]. I went through a period of being insecure. I'm walking a different path now. I've changed. This album is different from any other album I've recorded because it reflects what I'm about, who I am now."

And who she is now is an amazingly confident and powerful voice. But we needed to know more, and happily, this little queer boy who grew up with Chaka's music, had the honor and privilege to be the only gay blogger to share some private time with the diva's diva, the voice Whitney worshipped. I went baby boomer to baby boomer with Chaka Khan.

It was a brief conversation but Chaka was happy to go gay with me and make this interview as gay as gay could be. Well, except she wouldn't let me try on her dress.

Richard: How do you feel about your status as a gay icon?

Chaka: Gays have always been one of my most loyal audiences and it is a blessing to be loved.

Richard: What are the messages in I'm Every Woman that have elevated it to the status of a top ten gay anthem that has endured the test of time?

Chaka: Because it's a song of empowerment. In my shows, I tell the women AND the men that it's a song of empowerment for both genders.

Richard: There's a line in the pop opera BARE spoken by a black women to a gay white boy: "Inside every gay man there's an angry black woman." This line really resonates with a lot of gay man even if they're not sure why. What do you think is the connection?

Chaka: Nobody wants to mess with an angry black woman, do they??!!!

Richard: Considering the extraordinary influence you've had on American music and the number of artists who have been influenced by you, I'd love to know which young artist today you think will have significant influence on the evolution of music in years to come? Who are the young innovators of today?

Chaka: Lewis Taylor from England, Ledisi and Rahsaan Patterson.

Richard: According to some stories in the press,you've "returned to Christianity." Has that changed your feelings about your gay fan base in any way?

Chaka: Absolutely not. Furthermore, I haven't returned to Christianity--I never left. I have always been a spiritual person; even through my craziness.

Richard: Who are you top five favorite singers/song stylists of all time? Who is Chaka Khan listening to when she's relaxing or looking for inspiration?

Chaka: Joni Mitchell, Lewis Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Aretha and Rahsaan Patterson.

Richard: Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers before I strip off my clothes, hit the play button on Funk This and go back to naked living room dancing?

Chaka: Click here for her answer and then watch the following music video from the new CD,.