Laura Bell Bundy talks about her gay club gigs
While Nashville may not be home to many out-loud and proud gay country artists, the talented and outspoken spitfire known as Laura Bell Bundy has enthusiastically volunteered to help blaze a trail of tolerance and acceptance in the land of the Grand Ole Opry.
The singer, much-loved for her Tony-nominated performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde on Broadway, has made no secret of her support of the gay community, having forged a strong connection with her gay fans since she began performing on the New York stage at age nine in the cult hit Ruthless! The Musical.
“The most creative people in my life have been gay people,” she says. “It was gay men who taught me to sing and to hone my talent. Gay people have taught me there there’s really no ‘right’ way to live—it’s all okay. That’s helped to bring me to the place I’m at now where I’m not afraid of anything anymore. I’m the most fearless I’ve ever been.”
Brimming with enough brio to break down any stereotype that gets in her way, Bundy has made a big splash in the country world recently with her unconventional Mercury Records debut, Achin’ and Shakin.’ A bold concept album, the collection is broken down into two different “sides”: the Achin’ side is a collection of slow and sultry songs dripping with sensuality and solace, while the Shakin’ side is for those nights (and days) when you’re feeling like you want to kick up your heels, show off what you’ve got, and laugh your butt off. The album recently debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart, and the video for Bundy’s first single, “Giddy On Up,” was recently nominated for a CMT Music Award.
Here, Bundy talks about her passion for songwriting, her recent performances at gay clubs, and the thrill of seeing her drag doppelganger performing her single “Giddy On Up.”
Q: People know you primarily as a singer and a Broadway actress. They may not know that you’re also a very prolific songwriter. You wrote or co-wrote all but one of the songs on Achin’ and Shakin’.
LBB: Some people know that I’m a songwriter, and some don’t. People have asked me why I decided to sing “Giddy On Up” and put it on my album. I say, “Well, actually I wrote that song,” and they feel so bad. For me, it’s all about creating, turning my experience into songs that are catchy and sassy, like the ones on the “Shakin’” side of the record, or more thoughtful and sad, like those on the “Achin’” side. I’ve been writing songs for over 10 years. It’s like therapy to me.
Q: Were you always interested in writing country songs?
LBB: One thing that makes me feel very deeply that country music is the right thing for me is that when I started writing songs, they all came out country. I can write better stories with country music. There’s an honesty about country music that allows me to go deeper emotionally.
Q: I know that a lot of country music artists, both men and women, avidly shop around for songs for their albums rather than writing their own.
LBB: When you shop for songs, music publishing companies mostly play you songs that they think radio wants to hear. The kind of album I wanted to do, I couldn’t take anyone else’s songs. I wanted to do a kind of Country Motown thing that has never been done before. I also call it Funktry—country and funk. I got lucky because I have a label that really trusts me. They said, “We like your songs. We’re going to let you put your songs on the record rather than getting other people’s songs.”
Q: Your videos have been causing a stir recently. The “Drop On By” video got a rave review in Entertainment Weekly, and the video for “Giddy On Up” was nominated for a CMT Breakthrough Video Award.
LBB: I was so excited about the nomination for “Giddy On Up,” especially since it’s an award that’s voted on by the fans. The video has been very successful on CMT. It’s been viewed over a million times.
Q: The “Giddy On Up” video is very sexy, particularly when you strip the guy of his clothes at the end. The video’s got a kind of camp appeal that I’m sure your gay fans are loving.
LBB: You know, I’ve had a supportive gay following throughout my career, no matter what I’ve done. I’m actually amazed—and so thankful–at how supportive both the gay community and the Broadway community have been about my country music career. Of course, there are the fans that want me to come back to Broadway. I will at some point, and I actually want to write songs for a musical. The great thing about gay men is they always tell you what they’re thinking. Some are going to love what I do, and some aren’t. It doesn’t matter. I love that community, no matter what.
Q: You’ve been performing a lot in gay clubs recently. You and your hot male dancers put on quite a show.
LBB: It’s been so much fun performing at places like Splash in New York and The Abbey in L.A. And the reaction has been great, and not just from people who already know me. I’ve had guys come up to me that have never heard of me before telling me they’re going to buy my album. But the most rewarding part was seeing someone sing one of my songs in drag at Therapy in New York. That’s the most wonderful thing that could happen to a girl like me. Now I know I’ve made it!