A Rain-Soaked Trip Down Memory Lane: Olly Spirit and Skye Blue Reignite a Classic.
Certain performances stick with me. They linger in the back of my mind and hold a special place in my heart. Sometimes, it’s the music. Other times, it’s the era they represent, but more often than not, it’s how they make me feel. For me, these performances have become a symbolic bookmark in the story of my life. They’re reminders of nights filled with energy, music and community. One such performance that holds a special place in my heart is Olly Spirit and Skye Blue’s rendition of “Rain on Me” by Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga.
If you were lucky enough to be around during the days of The Stand, you’ll remember this one. It wasn’t just a crowd favourite. It became a beloved staple, almost mythic in its reputation. An iconic moment that defined a beloved period in Brisbane’s drag and alt performance scene. When discussing powerhouse duos on a Brisbane stage, few come close to the chemistry of Olly Spirit and Skye Blue. It is absolutely electric. So when they decided to dust off this number and bring it out of retirement for Alt? It felt like Christmas had come early.
The energy was electric when the first beat dropped, and Skye stepped onto the stage. As soon as Olly appeared, you could feel the crowd pulse, hands clapping, and hearts racing. It was as if everyone in attendance remembered all at once how we missed seeing the pair on the stage and how exceptional that performance truly was. Olly and Skye have this incredible way of commanding the stage. With this pair, it’s never just a performance. It’s an experience.
And after a bit of a break from the Brisbane stages, seeing Olly Spirit revive this iconic performance with Skye was heaven. It was a beautiful throwback for those of us who remember the original days of this performance. For the newer faces in the crowd, it was an introduction to why Olly Spirit and Skye Blue are so loved. Either way, it was one of those rare performances that reminded us why we show up time and time again, for moments like this.
