“We came up with the idea of a Valentine’s Day event called ‘Songs of the Heart,’ but then we went with ‘Songs of the Heartless’ because it’s more bitter and gay. Who hasn’t had their heart broken? Or been bitter about relationships?” asks Stephen Martin, head of production of this year’s annual fundraiser for Singing Out, Toronto’s LGTBQ Community Chorus.

“There are some songs that are about the beautiful or pure side of love and other songs that are a bit more about the nasty side,” Martin says. Among the many items on the agenda that will capture the heartlessness of Valentine’s Day is a version of “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand’s duet. “It will be complete with Afro wigs. It’s a great disco number,” says Wayne Sujo, marketing director. There will also be a sensuous, soulful version of LMFAO’s “I’m Sexy and I Know it,” presented by a woman with a guitar. “We have a song about the whole Chick-fil-A fiasco in the States,” Martin says. 

The cabaret-style event will give select members of the 90-voice chorus, who usually blend into the sea of voices, a chance to ham it up in the spotlight. Martin will break out his parody of “I Dreamed a Dream,” from Les Misérables. “I’m dressing up as Anne Hathaway, and I have an Oscar in my hand, and I’m singing about wanting to win the Oscar and overacting and the whole nine yards.” — Jeremy Willard