Nothing says “Brazil” like winter sports, so Canadian bronze-medal Olympic skater Toller Cranston adds some ruffle sleeves to his black tights and lets loose on “I Go to Rio.” He also demonstrates a simple, ingenious technique for successful lip-synching: Keep that camera (or audience) as far away from your face as possible!
“I Go to Rio” was a hit for its writer, Australia’s flamboyant Peter Allen, a one-time husband of Liza Minnelli whose showbiz nickname was “Mr. Bicoastal.” Years after Peter’s death, Liza revealed that their marriage ended when she found him in bed with—get this—another man! —John Q. Sanchez
Thank you to NYC listener Gary for the clip.
Bonus beats: Peter Allen and Warhol superstar Jackie Curtis rehearse Peter’s composition “Half-Smoked Cigarette.”
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Comments
This video made my day! I love the incongruity of the ice and the latin costumes.
On the Jackie Curtis video, is that a COLD SORE I see on his lip? Poor Jackie, he was SO trashy.
Is this REALLY his voice? Is he even playing the piano here? This is so funny…
Fausto.. I’m so glad you liked the video. When I found it, I just had to share it. It really puts a smile on your face.
CGMC performed “I Go To Rio” a few years ago… definitely one of the gayest songs ever written, but then, Peter Allen was easily one of the gayest boys ever to hit the stage. I remember seeing him as a kid, and even THEN I knew he was gay. I didn’t even know *I* was gay!
All that aside, he was definitely a great performer, but certainly NOT a great lip syncher… hehe