Vanessa Williams is also a well-spoken and core of Rage: this new CD.
longtime advocate for equal rights in the LGBT VW: I tend to sing about love just because it’s a
community. It was a pleasure to speak with her about universal theme that everyone’s gone through—
the new release, her thoughts on gay marriage and whether it’s wishing for love, longing for love,
just what this former Miss America thinks about the remembering love or wishing you’d never been
recent Miss California controversy. The Rage Monthly in love in the first place (laughter). I chose some
is proud to present the “real thing” Vanessa Williams. of the songs for sentimental reasons. My dad
loved Bill Withers and Sérgio Mendes—they
Rage: You have had such a busy schedule with Ugly Betty and were huge influences on me while I was
filming Hannah Montana: The Movie. How did you find the growing up—so “Hello Like Before” and “The
time to record a new CD? Real Thing” were included to pay tribute to
Vanessa Williams: I originally wanted to make my dad.
a Brazilian album, but we didn’t have a lot of time
because of my shooting schedule in L.A., so we had Rage: So what do you make of the recent
to make the most efficient album we could with uproar involving Miss California?
people I already knew. So I started calling my friends VW: I didn’t watch the Miss U.S.A.
and getting material. Babyface, whom I’ve worked Pageant, and I don’t know the girl’s
with before and known for years, wrote two songs. name; all I know is that it’s a complete
We started recording in L.A., worked on it in Nashville hot-button issue, and I’m surprised.
when I was shooting the Hannah Montana film last This person is not a legislator or an
summer, and then finished up in New York after they elected official, so I don’t get what
moved Ugly Betty. So it took a couple of years to com- the big deal is or why we’re paying
plete, but it sounds consistent and cohesive. so much attention to her. It’s really
fascinating.
Rage: Was “Come on Strong” originally performed by Lena
Horne? It has a very Wilhelmina feel about it. Rage: How do you think you would have
VW: “Come On Strong” was a Lena Horne track, and handled Perez Hilton’s gay marriage ques-
those lyrics are definitely apropos for where I’m living tion during the Miss USA contest?
as Wilhelmina on a weekly basis. I’m proud that Ugly VW: Well, I won Miss America—not
Betty is a very musical show. Our producers always Miss U.S.A., which is a completely dif-
get some unusual music that just sounds different, ferent system and kind of a completely
especially in the end montages. That unique musical different breed of girl. But I just did
quality is another reason why people love our show. it once and won it, so I’m no expert.
[Laughs] Way back in 1983, our interview
Rage: Are there any plans in the works for another musical was like a seven-minute conversation, as
episode of Ugly Betty? opposed to a one-question game show
VW: We are doing a musical episode on Ugly Betty where you can either sink or swim. I was
this coming season! I’ll be singing and dancing on a able to speak freely; I was not sat down
soundstage in New York, which is always fun. by a panel of people and told what I was
supposed to say or believe in. I was asked
Rage: When you accepted the Human Rights Campaign “Ally about ERA, and I said I was pro-ERA and
for Equality” award in 2008, you reintroduced “Colors of the that everyone has the right to be equally
Wind” as a gay equality anthem. Is there a song on the new employed. They asked if I was pro-choice,
album that may also hit a chord with your gay audience? and I said that I was pro-choice and that my
VW: I’ve got a couple remixes in the works, so own beliefs should not prohibit a woman’s
hopefully we can turn some of the songs into dance right to choose. I was never stifled, so I don’t
tracks. But it’s so hard to say what’s going to appeal to know what that’s like. I’m glad that I’ve always
a gay audience, because gay people are individuals. had freedom of speech, because that’s what
One of my biggest fans was Kevyn Aucoin, a huge our country is all about.
gay icon and masterful makeup artist we lost in 2002.
He was always drawn to my ballads because they Rage: Have you always had gay friends in your life?
told a story, and I know that if he were alive, he would VW: I grew up in New York. Yes, definitely,
love “I Fell In,” a beautiful love song about not being including some couples who have been together
in control written by Phil Galdston, who wrote “Save for over 25 years—longer than both of my mar-
the Best for Last.” riages combined. I know the people behind the
banner of gay rights, and that’s what it’s about:
Rage: The emotions of love are definitely at the central people, love, choice and acceptance. photography by Gilles Toucas
July 2009 | RAGE monthly 17
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