Tag: Divine

Divine – I’m So Beautiful (Germany 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

“Out, out tonight — feel like going out in the night…”

Today’s Pride Month feature cranks the glitter to eleven with a high-energy, high-attitude anthem from one of the most iconic figures in drag and queer music history: Divine. Released in 1984, “I’m So Beautiful” is more than a Hi-NRG dancefloor stomper—it’s a declaration of radical self-love, delivered with all the camp, charisma, and defiance only Divine could muster.

Produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken before their rise as part of the Stock Aitken Waterman powerhouse, the track is pure mid-‘80s disco magic. Pulsing synths, fierce basslines, and Divine’s unmistakable, commanding vocals all collide to form a club anthem that oozes confidence from every beat.

Lyrically Loud and Proud
From the moment Divine struts onto the track, she sets the tone:

“Out, out tonight / Feel like going out in the night
I’m gonna walk the street, walk the street
I wanna feel the heat, feel the heat
There ain’t nobody better than me / Can’t you see? Look at me!”

It’s a celebration of showing up, showing off, and not giving a damn what anyone thinks. It’s about seizing the spotlight, whether you’re dancing in a club or just walking down the street like it’s your runway.

And the chorus? It’s an eternal mood:

“I’m so beautiful / You’ve gotta believe that I am beautiful
I’m so beautiful, can’t you see? Look at me!”

This isn’t just camp. It’s empowerment. It’s freedom. It’s a disco-soaked act of self-affirmation at a time when drag queens and queer people were rarely seen—let alone celebrated.

👑 A Pride Anthem for the Ages
Divine was never just a performer—she was a force. A pioneer of gender rebellion, a star of John Waters’ underground cinema, and a drag icon who brought punk edge to disco elegance. “I’m So Beautiful” exemplifies everything that made her a legend: humor, heart, and a refusal to play by anyone else’s rules.

This song is a mirrorball manifesto, telling every outsider, every queer kid, every fabulous misfit: You are beautiful. Own it. Live it. Shine.

💖 So Turn It Up…
“Everybody’s welcome to this point of view / We’re all beautiful, can’t you see?”

Happy Pride, and remember: beauty isn’t just in the eye of the beholder—it’s in the boldness to be exactly who you are.

SIDE A:
I’m So Beautiful (Mix) 7:55
Mixed By – Barry Evangeli
Written-By – M. Stock/M. Aitken*

SIDE B:
I’m So Beautiful (Divine Mix) 4:42
Written-By – M. Stock/M. Aitken*

Show Me Around 3:20
Written-By – The Toy Shop

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Proto (2) – 120·07·117Bellaphon – 120·07·117
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released: Oct 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Manufactured and Distributed by Bellaphon Germany

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


Divine – You Think You’re A Man (UK 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

Celebrating Pride 2021

“You Think You’re a Man” is a single by American performance artist Divine, released in 1984. The song also appeared on the compilation album The Story So Far, released the same year. It was written by Geoff Deane, formerly the lead singer and main songwriter with both the Leyton Buzzards and Modern Romance and his sometime songwriting partner Keith Miller. Geoff Deane later went on to write the cross-dressing-themed movie Kinky Boots.

“You Think You’re a Man” was the first single produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman to reach the UK Top 75 chart, peaking at number 16 in August 1984 and number 14 on the Irish Singles Chart.

It spent nine weeks on the German Singles Chart, peaking at number 32 in September 1984. It was Divine’s third Top 40 single on the chart.

The single was most successful in Australia, where it reached number 8 in October 1984 (for two weeks) and remained on the Kent Music Report Top 100 chart for 18 weeks. It also became Divine’s first single to chart on the New Zealand Singles Chart. It debuted and peaked at number 27 in March 1985, and spent four weeks on the chart.

SIDE A:
You Think You’re A Man 8:04
Directed By – Matt AitkenMike StockPete Ware
Producer – Barry EvangeliPete Waterman
Written-By – Geoff Deane*

SIDE B:
You Think You’re A Man (Radio Mix) 3:06
Directed By – Matt AitkenMike StockPete Ware
Producer – Barry EvangeliPete Waterman
Written-By – Geoff Deane*

Give It Up 3:05
Producer – Pete Waterman
Written-By –  The Toy Shop

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Proto (2) ‎– ENA(T) 118, Proto (2) ‎– ENAT 118
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG

CREDITS:
Directed By – Matt AitkenMike StockPete Ware
Photography By – Greg Gorman
Producer – Barry EvangeliPete Waterman

NOTES:
Manufactured In The UK

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

Divine – Walk Like A Man (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

A. Front

“Walk Like A Man” is a song originally recorded by The Four Seasons in 1963. American singer, actor and drag queen Divine recorded a Hi-NRG dance version of the song in 1985 which was included on the album Maid In England. Divine’s version peaked at #23 on the UK singles chart. Although the song received significant club play in the US it failed to chart.

SIDE A:
Walk Like A Man & Man Talk 7:47
Written-By – Gaudio/Crewe*, M. Rosen*

SIDE B:
Man Talk 7:02
Written-By – Mark Rosen

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Proto Records ‎– ENAT 125
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop, Hi NRG

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Pete Ware
Artwork – The Bouncing Ball
Artwork [Costume, Hair & Make-up] – Van Smith
Engineer – Mel Jefferson
Management – Bernard Jay
Mixed By, Engineer – Phil Harding
Other [Special Thanks To] – Nick Tichener
Photography By – Bill Bernardo
Producer – Barry Evangeli

NOTES:
Dedicated to Frances and Harris with love.

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Divine – Hard Magic (UK 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

A. Front

RIP DIVINE  (October 19, 1945 – March 7, 1988)

“Hard Magic” is a single from the album Maid in England by Divine.

“Hard Magic” was Divine’s last single to chart on the UK Singles Chart. It debuted and peaked at #87 before falling to #90 in its second week.

The music video for the single has a African jungle setting and features Divine in two roles. One as a female captive of a voodoo tribe and one as the male chief (whose also a witch doctor) who controls the captive with a voodoo doll. It starts out with the captive trying to resist the control of the doll (as shown with him with the doll fully bound to a pole like the one the captive’s foot it tied to). The witch doctor is then shown to put the doll in a pot with water (not boiling) and the captive is shown with the same position. Then the captive is shown being chased by tribe members around the pole from earlier and then they catch her and are tying her to the pole. After freeing herself the captive manages to upset the chief and is imprisoned in a cage that is then wrapped with cloth by the tribe. A fire is lit and there is a close up of the cage and the members of the tribe are seen eating chunks of meat (from an unknown source).

SIDE A:
Hard Magic 7:09

SIDE B:
Hard Magic (Magic Mix) 6:50
Hard Magic (Instrumental Mix) 4:16

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Proto Records ‎– ENAT 131
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Synth-pop
Credits: Artwork [Hair, Make-up] – Van Smith
Design, Artwork – Bouncing Ball*
Engineer – Charles Gray
Lyrics By [Additional] – N. Titchener* (tracks: A, B1), P. Ware* (tracks: A, B1)
Management – Bernard Jay Management Inc.*
Photography By – Greg Gorman
Producer – Nick TitchenerPete Ware
Written-By – M. Flinn*, P. Morris*

NOTES:
“Divine Thanks” To Andrew Logan, Phillip Miller, and Lee Le Cuyer.

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi