In early April, Grammy-winning American artist Allison Russell flew to Toronto to get a guest judge Canadian Drag Race In the country she grew up in. She released an updated version of “Superlover,” a Chicago-era bird song she sang every night in the Rainbow Union Ensemble during her tour with Hozier last year.
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“Tears of Anger, Sadness / To Palestine, Israel, Tennessee / We Need Super Love / We Need Super Enthusiasts,” Russell declares in a new version of the song she sings with artist, activist and former Eurismics frontwoman Annie Lennox. In the song video, Russell gently plays the banjo, and she and Lennox praise their voices in pleas to understand these horrifying times.
“I think Super Love is someone who leaps towards empathy, tolerance and compassion, understanding, forgiveness and non-violence,” Russell says. “This song, unfortunately, continues to evolve as we continue to do horrible things. [conflict]. ”
“I’m not just talking about war or aggression, but the violence I’m watching at home here… there’s a complete war going on with my trans brothers.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration targets immigrants of all positions. It’s immediate and personal for Russell, as she thinks she’s re-entered the US from Toronto.
“Our democracy is adjacent to falling at this point. We have extrajudicial deportation, and I have a high risk for that. Some people deport green cards and brown or dark skin every day,” says Russell. “I don’t guarantee that I have your documents anymore, so who knows if I’ll return to the country when I come back?”
Dana Trip
“Superlover” was released on Birds of Chicago’s 2018 album. Wartime love. Russell then released two solo albums. Outside kids (2021) and Returner (2023). (Ord to the queer performer’s early girlfriend also escaped from violence. Outside kidsIn response to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Russell signed a bill in 2023 to ban youth care and limit drag in his hometown, Russell made a profit by organizing the Life Affele Love Rising Concert LGBTQ+ Cause. A year later, she won a Grammy Award.
Related: Queer music that flourished at Love Rising LGBTQ+ Benefits concerts in Nashville
Along the way, she became part of the “Joni Jammers” including Brandi Carlis, Lucius, Sistastrings, Celis and Lennox. Russell brings her singular voice and clarinet solo to Mitchell Hit. She and Lennox met in 2023 at the Valley Amphitheater in Washington State for three days of music and Mitchell celebration. They were immediate matches as musicians and activists. For decades, Lennox has defended women and children with HIV or AIDS, with both women openly speaking about Palestinian fears.
“I think she and I are sensitive sympathizers who have lived a considerable amount of trauma in their own way. I think we are aligned in the sense that there is no arbitrary volitional line between the personal and political,” says Russell.
Russell wasn’t even when Lennox first hit in 1983 with Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams.
“I listened to Annie Lennox for the rest of my life. My mother loved her music. I can’t dance without thinking about people who don’t know “sweet dreams,” she says. They have since become a chosen family. “My daughter calls her grandma Annie,” Russell shares.
Russell calls these eras the “global phenomenon of authoritarianism and fascism and far-right domination, hierarchical extraction, exploitation, violence, greed and storage.
“Apparently, we’ll do more until there’s a massive chunk that’s big enough to say ‘good enough’,” she says.
Still, Russell sees comfort and light in the stage and off-climbing community building.
“We believe we can do better. Annie also knows that every day is an opportunity to reduce harm,” Russell said of hope. “I’m not under the delusion that all violence is over and everyone loves each other, but there’s a way to throw away the severity of the harm.”
Check out the official “Super Rubber” video here:
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
