#1: Don't Stop Her Now
Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, and a wild night on the town. Plus, your next favorite artist based on your Spotify Wrapped.
It was panning out to be a pretty tame evening in the 1980s when actress Cleo Rocos and her friends, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, were curled up on comedian Kenny Everett’s couch watching Golden Girls re-runs.
Just like any casual group of friends does after a day of binge-watching, the age-old question of “what are we going to do tonight?” was tossed around. And according to Rocos in her autobiography “The Power of Positive Drinking,” the Princess of Wales was dying to let loose.
But there was one slight problem: how do you sneak Princess Diana, one of the world’s most recognized faces, into a club without getting caught? Well, it all comes down to location, ladies and gentlemen. That night, the group decided on partying at the iconic gay cabaret bar, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, in South London. And their solution? Dress Lady Di up in drag to get her through the door unscathed.
As the urban legend goes, the group dressed Diana up in a bomber jacket, baseball cap, and dark sunglasses to disguise her as a gay male model. It apparently worked like a charm.
Rocos continues to document the escapade in her book, describing the utter joy they felt when they succeeded in sneaking her through the throngs of club-goers without being noticed.
“We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren. Diana and Freddie were giggling…Once the transaction was complete, we looked at one another, united in our triumphant request. We did it!” - Cleo Rocos, “The Power of Positive Drinking”
The story has helped solidify the Vauxhall’s place as an iconic London hangout and has shined a spotlight on what is quite possibly the most powerful friendship of the century.
The British television channel, Sky Arts, has even dramatized this legendary duo’s night out in a recent episode of its show Urban Myths. In the episode, (fictional) Diana befriends a drag queen at the bar, who ends up inspiring her to later campaign for a cure for HIV/AIDS.
A scene from the episode “One Normal Night.” Credit: Sky Arts, Urban Myths
While it’s not known for certain whether this rambunctious night happened, the story has made its way into rock-and-roll lore just the same. With Rocos’ account corroborating it, we are just going to pretend that this was just one of the many hijinks this pair got up to in their friendship.
Welcome to your Spotify Recs
*disclaimer. I am not a Spotify algorithm. I am just a person. Please don’t take this too seriously.
If you, like me, spent most of 2020 turning to music as a comfort, then your Spotify Wrapped is probably really telling of whose music makes you happiest. And I get it, why break away from what you know and love, when you can always turn to the same reliable melodies, lyrics and beats to cheer you up?
But if you’re feeling adventurous or have already listened to everything in your Discover Weekly, I rounded up some of the year’s most popular artists, and here’s who I think you should give a listen to based on your #1.
Taylor Swift - Phoebe Bridgers
Swift is known for her iconic, vulnerable storytelling in her songs, and Bridgers is also excellent at doing this in her own way. Her lyrics are sharp and personal, much like Taylor’s. She’s also not one to shy away from calling out her ex-boyfriends in songs. Just take a look at this line from Motion Sickness: “You gave me $1500/to see your hypnotherapist/I only went one time
Song Rec: Scott Street, Stranger in the Alps
Phoebe Bridgers - Big Thief
It’s entirely possible that if you are a Phoebe Bridgers fan, you’ve probably come across this Brooklyn-based indie rock band on your own. But in case you haven’t, I really, really recommend them. There’s a closeness to lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s lyrics that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a private conversation, much like Bridgers does with her own words.
Song Rec: Paul, Masterpiece
The Weeknd/Ariana Grande - Kiana Ledé
If you haven’t heard Kiana Ledé’s TikTok-inspired song Cancelled, please drop what you’re doing and listen to it right now. There are so many incredibly-talented Black female artists who put out beautiful R&B music this year, but Ledé just happens to be one of my favorites. So I’m plugging her here.
Song Rec: Cancelled, KIKI
Dua Lipa - LÉON
LÉON’s self-titled record is the indie-pop album of your dreams. She somehow has turned songs about wrenching heartbreaks into absolute bops. Her vocals are also incredible, much like the artists that inspired this rec.
Song Rec: You and I, LÉON
Harry Styles - Joni Mitchell
If you found yourself replaying Fine Line over and over again in 2020, you might have Joni Mitchell to thank. Styles is known for pulling elements of his own favorite ‘70s musicians and working them into his own sound. Big influences on his second album include David Bowie, Van Morrison, and The Beatles. But there is an unmistakable folk-rock sound in Styles’ songs that relate straight back to Mitchell, and you’ll probably find yourself enjoying the same pure sound of strings in Mitchell’s tracks that are reminiscent of “Cherry,” and “Canyon Moon.”
Song Rec: California, Blue
Thanks so much for reading! Have any burning thoughts on this week’s post or just wanna chat? Leave a comment or shoot me an email at: sarahhallam17@gmail.com