Countess LuAnn de Lesseps Talks Music, Ramona's Buzz and Her Upcoming NYC Performance
By Elizabeth Thompson
Let's be frank: not every one on the Real Housewives of New York would be accepted with open arms into Manhattan society. For the show's past two seasons, however, Real Housewife LuAnn de Lesseps's preference for Bridgehampton over the city, preoccupation with propriety (etiquette guide Class with the Countess came out in 2009), and her well-mannered children's lack of camera time on the show has made de Lesseps seem like the lone Housewife with a name most likely to be found on museum boards rather than message boards. The show's third season, however, has shown de Lesepps loosening up (who can forget the season two episode when she treated her daughters' teenage friends to a day of etiquette lessons?), dating, and getting in touch with her inner pop-star. De Lesseps chats with PAPERMAG about her music, her upcoming live performance at Splash and Kelly Bensimon's recent on-air breakdown.
Why did you decide to include your singing on the show?
I sing all the time on the show, and the producers never include it. I was singing songs by music legends that Bravo wasn't going to pay for the rights for, so I started writing my own songs. I ended up meeting Chris Young who is my producer and we instantly connected. He thought we could make something great together.
Your single "Money Can't Buy You Class" really gets stuck in your head. Are you planning an entire album?
Well I just signed with Ultra Records, so we'll see. I'm working on another single called "Chic, C'est la Vie." That basically means "chic is the life" in English.
Will you be performing at all in New York?
I'm going to be doing a performance at Splash on June 17th. Andy
Cohen is going to present. I also have to host a benefit that night for SoHo Partnership, so I have that event and then I'm heading over to Splash. It's going to be a big night.
Do you know what you're going to wear to Splash?
Oh darling, I don't know yet. I don't start thinking about stuff like that until a week in advance.
Do
you think that Kim Zolciak paved the way for "Money Can't Buy You Class" with "Tardy for the
Party?"
I support all the girls in what they do, but do I think she paves the way for me? I
think I would be singing in any case, because I love to sing.
Who are some of your favorite performers?
I love country and rock, performers like Bonnie Raitt. I love cabaret. Madonna is one of my biggest influences because I love to dance.
Who hasn't listened to "Borderline" with the volume all the way up?.
She's been inspirational in that I love to dance. Mo-town. I love that, too.
Victoria has considered it and we've talked about it, and
that's something I would support if she
wanted to do that. She's also interested in becoming an artist and a designer.
In one episode of this season you mention that Victoria broke her arm sneaking out of your
house. Did you also have a rebellious streak when you were a teenager?
I
wouldn't call it rebellious, I would call it adventurous. I think that
every mother can relate to that -- we've all sneaked out to
see the boy. That's why I talked
about it, because people can relate. I certainly didn't have to
say that's what happened, but I thought it was funny.
We asked some of our Facebook and Twitter followers if they had any questions for you and a lot of people want to know where you get your hair cut.
I
go to Mary at Fiber, between Lex and
3rd. She's great, it's like a little boutique-y salon. She's up in the penthouse,
and there's a little garden outside. It's so nice.
How do you feel about your portrayal on the show this season?
I think people think they know the real us from this show, but it's just a sneak peek of our lives. When you put seven housewives on a show and
you have commercials, there's really not much time left. There's a lot of editing. I sometimes feel like people don't see who we really are
because of how [producers] want the story line to go. Real Housewives is really more of a docu-drama than a reality show. Not that it's scripted,
because it's not. But, for example, I start the show saying, 'I don't
feel guilty for being privileged, I feel lucky,' and they whacked the
'lucky' part off. But I'm a countess, right? So they play up that whole thing. People just shouldn't forget these these are just pieces of who we are, not who we really are.
You've been fighting with Bethenny quite a bit this season and siding with Jill. How much of that is reality?
Well,
I wasn't really in the middle. They make it seem like I am,
because I say to Jill in the scene at Ramona's 'let's go' and my brain was
just not thinking about the the fact that these two were in a sparring match that they just
couldn't resolve. I had to pick up more clothes for the homeless! So I was like, 'I've got a car downstairs. I need to go.' But producers made it look like I was interjecting when I truly just needed to leave. But, I must say, I wasn't really feeling the love for Bethenny this season. Because, as Bethenny told me 'We're not really
friends.' I was like, 'Ok. That's news to
me.' And on top of that do you want someone in your life who calls you a drag queen?
Bethenny's mouth gets her in trouble sometimes.
Well, it gets her in trouble but it's funny, too. She's a double-edged sword.
There's been a lot of talk about Kelly Bensimon's breakdown on the last episode. Did you feel like that was also the product of editing?
There
was some help from the other Housewives there that you
didn't get to see. Let's put it that way. I think that it was four against
one, but I do think that she could have gone with the flow a little bit
more, and not have instigated as much. She needed a
backup. She needed somebody, to go, 'we know, Kelly, we know.'
Are you glad you weren't on that trip?
Oh, boy, am I glad, darling. And I love that Ramona said that Jill and I weren't invited because we're buzzkills. Nobody could kill Ramona's buzz.
If
you had to choose between going on a date with Simon or Bobby -- in a world where they aren't married to your friends, of course -- who would you choose?
Oh, I can't answer that darling. But it's a very interesting question. People can always ask interesting questions, but it's now always in my best interest to answer them.
Your Comment
Posted at 7:58 on May 27, 2010
live for this
Posted at 1:24 on May 28, 2010
I love LuAnn! And people have no idea what a genius dancer she is, I mean great, and coming from me, that's saying something...
Best,
Michael Holman
Posted at 10:29 on May 28, 2010
Lu is as crazy as Kelly if she thinks the four of them were ganging up on Kelly. Kelly has been fed bs by you and Jill and went down there with her little pea brain ready to do battle. She not only lost, but she lost it. The girl is waca-doodle. Oh, and you can't sing. They can't edit you to stay in tune can they?
Posted at 10:53 on May 28, 2010
Duh! Bobby!!!!! Love him.
Posted at 11:41 on May 28, 2010
I can't wait to see the Countess perform at Ascension Fire Island!
Posted at 12:48 on May 28, 2010
so how come she said before that there wasn't even really a car waiting downstairs but she said that just because she wanted to "diffuse" the situation?
Either keep notes or pick a story and stick with it, darling. Jill is rubbing off on you. However, you look great so that's all that matters.
Also, you are meddling by stating that the ladies ganged up on Kelly when you weren't even there. Kelly herself never mentioned this at the lunch. She stated the reason for her breakdown was because Bethenny was talking about cooking, Bethenny said she needs a one night stand (it was Sonja), and that she needed jellybeans. That isn't ganging up off camera...she confirmed that what bothered her was A) Exactly what we all saw and B) Nonsense
Posted at 4:44 on May 29, 2010
Why didn't the Countess where an ice skating skirt like Jill's outfit? It was the best!
Posted at 10:20 on May 29, 2010
At least the countess can sing better that Britney Spears!!!!!!!! WTF check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z06NISh-NY&feature=related
Posted at 1:21 on May 31, 2010
"I had to pick up more clothes for the homeless! So I was like, 'I've got a car downstairs. I need to go.'" LOL @ Countess Luanne.
Posted at 1:22 on May 31, 2010
Countess Luann = ultimate oxymoron
Posted at 1:34 on Jun 03, 2010
She very clearly makes her own point: Money (nor an x-husband's title) can buy you (LuAnn) class!
Posted at 9:07 on Jun 03, 2010
THIS IS AMAZING
Posted at 8:33 on Jun 06, 2010
darling
Posted at 5:20 on Jun 09, 2010
It will be some "performance." Thats for sure.
Posted at 4:50 on Jun 16, 2010
Yecchhh!!!! Can we spell p-h-o-n-y?
Posted at 9:31 on Jun 16, 2010
This is what happens when someone with "money" is bored and has nothing else to do...and yet another reason why rich people need to stick to what they're good at...and in this case...Dahling, don't quit your day job (or your hobby for that matter)...
Posted at 10:13 on Aug 07, 2010
God, I miss this husky-voiced angel and all of her LU-nacy. The new D.C. Housewives are so boring.
Posted at 9:17 on Aug 08, 2010
girl, when are you playing again?
Posted at 11:26 on Aug 10, 2010
Elegance is learned MY FRIEND. Love you LuLu!
Posted at 4:39 on Aug 11, 2010
She really calls people "darling" ? That makes her even seem older then she already acts/looks etc. Granny.