And I'm just not satisfied

It is indeed a shame that the opening gala of the 27th Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (LLGFF) at the British Film Institute on Friday clashed with our cherished Polari.

For, as it says on the festival website:

...it "kicked off in flamboyant style with the gala screening of I Am Divine, a new documentary about the legendary actor and drag queen Divine.

An LLGFF favourite following the screening of his film Vito at last year’s Festival, director Jeffrey Schwarz flew in for this international premiere, four days after the film was unveiled at its world premiere at America’s SXSW festival. Several friends of Divine were among the audience, including sculptor and performance artist Andrew Logan, record producer Pete Waterman and Mark Moore of S’Express.

The after-party was held aboard HMS President, in tribute to Divine’s legendary performance on a paddle steamer on the Thames during the Gay Pride parade in 1985."

Festival programmer Brian Robinson was there on the riverbank in 1985 and recalls Divine’s show:

"It was a very funny day, very busy. There were lots of stalls along Jubilee Gardens. You could hear the sound of Divine singing on the boat before you could actually see Divine. And when the paddle steamer hoved into view, you could see Divine gyrating. It was an extraordinary sight. In the middle of the river, even Divine looked small, but it was a great moment that I’ve never forgotten."

And neither have I - for I too was there!

One of the campest moments of my life...

Native Love (Step by Step)
Dance-ah feel the heat
Rock your body to the native beat

Step by step
Slowly I turn
Step by step
Come on

Well here I am I got the beat
I'm gonna rock to the rhythm of the body heat
Come on now let's have big fun
Rock to the rhythm let's get undone.

I've achieved my teenage dream
Cuz love was on my mind
This native love is restless
And I'm just not satisfied.

And I'll never get enough
Of that native love.

Step by step
Slowly I turn
Step by step
Come on

My car is my Ferrari and my body's Jack LaLanne
My clothes are by Armani and my hair is by Elaine
Tiffany and Cartier are telling me the time
This native love is restless
And I'm just not satisfied.

And I'll never get enough
Of that native love
Dance ride feel the heat
Rock your body to the body heat.

What it looks like
What it is
Say pungra, jungra
Say damn to the thungra

Step by step
Slowly I turn
Step by step
Come on

This native love is restless
And I'm just not satisfied
This native love is restless
And I'm just not satisfied

Hey GQ man, here I stand
For everyone to see
And if I'm not your type, well that's alright
Cuz that don't matter to me.

Got the rhythm and the rhyme
I'm right on time
I'm gonna blow your mind
This native love is restless
And I'm just not satisfied.

The Lesbian and Gay Film Festival continues until 24th March 2013.