Sassy, brassy, and classy — “Dangerous” features the humorous work of singer/songwriter Clare de Lune. Imagine a cross between the enigmatic vocals of Marlene Dietrich and the bawdy flair of Mae West. Clare de Lune is the Cabaret’s Mistress of Ceremonies, singing perverse polkas, dizzying waltzes, mad circus songs, and beer-hall ballads, all chock full of double-entendre, suggestive innuendo and tattle-tell tales of hot dames, old flames and infamous characters. This album debuts the vocal talents of the inimitable chanteuse Ginger Snap, and is graced by the vocal harmonies of Miss Patti Cakes. Cabaret Decadance has performed for over a decade, combining music, song, comic acting, and the clever choreography of the lovely and lively “Decadancers” to create a completely unique stage show.
This vampy, campy collection of songs moves through moods and genres like a cabaret dancer trying on pumps at a shoe sale. For all its stylistic promiscuity, it always remains true to its risqué roots in cabaret and burlesque. The album opens with the rushing sounds of a city street and the dreamy, dark meanderings of a saxophone. This haunting and candid torch song sung by Ginger Snap looks in on a day in the life of a “Lady of the Night.” Next Clare de Lune turns a traditional children’s verse into an adults-only cautionary tale of ingénues, fallen angels, and wicked strangers in “Never Talk to Strangers. The third song is “Cheatin’” a funky defense of a woman’s right to flirt. Well, Ginger may be talking about a bit more than flirting; but still, she ain’t cheatin’!
Clare de Lune explores the deep significance of a proper gentleman’s cane in “Walking Stick.” The result is either a teasing burlesque romp or a Freudian nightmare, depending on your perspective. The mood then turns slow, seductive, and fatally irresistible as Ginger sings “Dangerous.” Be careful or you’ll fall prey to her charms! If you do, don’t worry. The hard-hitting blues number “The Bare Essentials” follows, and Ginger lets us in on the secret of what it takes to make a lady smile. In “Topper,” Clare de Lune has some titillating stories for lovers of all persuasions and dares her audience to “top” her wild tales. On the next track Ginger Snap sings: “Can it be that you were never warned, this Rose has thorns,” in this lively cha-cha-cha about a beautiful heartbreaker. Up next is the swinging hot number “Girls from Harlem,” an ode to those beautiful uptown girls. In this upbeat tune Ginger gives us a heads-up that: “if you don’t know how to dance, you better walk right out that door.”
A cool walking bass is the lead-in to “Gigolo,” a song about a character who looks smooth, but may be a bit of a little boy lost. Meet us at the “Speakeasy,” that’s up next. We’ll be honky-tonking in this prohibition era tune about the real old-school gangsters, and molls, and bathtub gin. Then Clare de Lune is at her ribald best singing “I Want It Both Ways”—an upbeat polka about the joys of having it all. But getting what you want is not always that easy. In the snappy, swinging ”Pretty Please” Ginger lets a wandering lover know that he’ll have to ask real nice to get back in her good graces. Clare de Lune cracks the whip in “Discipline,” a funny and frantic circus polka. She points out the many ways men can go astray, but assures us that: “it can work out with a little discipline!” The album concludes with “That’s as Far as I Go.” This old-fashioned waltz features both Clare de Lune and Ginger Snap who are joined by Mortimer Bustos and Patrick Rollinson of Bourbon Knights fame, for a boozy sing-along where the beer hall girls tell us just how far they will go. Once they reach their limit… well, that’s the end of the show!
Cabaret Decadance is:
Clare McCall as Clare de Lune — Vocals
Bridget Shepherd as Ginger Snap — Vocals
Pat York as Patti Cakes — Vocal Harmonies and Percussion
John McCall as Jean E. Noire — Keyboard
Gwen King as Clara Knut — Clarinet, Tenor & Alto Saxophone
Andrew Santiago as Santiago High Hat — Drums
Our live shows have often featured the talent, charm, and slapstick antics of the legendary and beloved Decadancers. Over the years many talented Decadancers have graced our stage. Our gratitude and love go out to Kate, Nicky, Kim, Nikol, Darla, Shannon, Maggie, Amber, Christey, Shelly and Beth!
The CD art features images of: Clare McCall as Clare de Lune on the cover, Shelly Smothers (left) and Christey Carwile (right) on the back as Scarlet Fever and Lola Mambo, Gwen King on the inside as Clara Knut, and John McCall as Jean E. Noire on the disc.
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