LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Talk |
by Bill Sievert |
Pop Stars Sing a Different Tune about Gay-Themed Hits
Mainstream rock and pop stars have long flirted with homosexuality via gender-bending dress, makeup and performance styles. In the fabulous 50s, Little Richard shook things up even more than Elvis with his outrageous eyeliner, Liberace-inspired attire and shivery vocal delivery. In the early 1960s The Beatles wink-winked at male-to-male infatuation with Ringo's lead vocal on "Boys." During the post-Stonewall 1970s, many gay people were drawn to the seemingly out-loud personas of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. But much of what gay listeners perceived as expressions of personal liberation through performance art turned out to be mere posturing for publicity. According to Village Voice writer Rob Sheffield, Bowie's then manager, Ken Pitt, encouraged his client to target the gay market in 1970, first with a feature in England's only major gay magazine, then with an interview for the widely circulated Melody Maker in 1972. In that article Bowie proclaimed, "Yes, of course I'm gay and always have been." Once the shock value had worn off, however, the often drag-clad performer began telling the press not to believe anything he said. True queers had a right to feel used as rockers like Bowie and Mick Jagger jumped out of and back into the closet, while superstars like Elton John and Freddy Mercury remained firmly locked inside theirs. To this day, pop/rock stars continue to titillate us with suggestively queer lyrics, while encouraging their record labels and agents to pronounce them personally hetero. Take, for example, the band Franz Ferdinand, whose 2004 hit "(Come on Dance with Me) Michael" is as strong a testament to homoerotic attraction as ever has been put to disc. Gay men bought countless copies of the record with its persuasive (no coyness detected) tale of the singer's desire for a hot dance-club boy with "leather hips" and "sticky lips." (To add to the effect, lead singer Alex Kapranos has been known to change the lyrics in concert to "come all over me, Michael.") Kapranos has said that his song was written about two male "friends" who partied one evening and that his role was simply as reporter or storyteller. Fair enough, I suppose. But just once I would like to hear a young performer-songwriter of a hit record with a gay theme say: "Yeah, that's my story I'm singing." Sure, gay men and women can enjoy a growing number of out-and-proud musical artists. But with a few exceptions, notably veterans Melissa Etheridge and (finally) Elton John, openly gay singers haven't come up with much in the way of hit records. They produce self-circulated CDs and perform at gay cabarets and campgrounds. Gay voicesand especially gay storiesare still way underrepresented on the pop charts and the radio. Part of the reason is that the music industry continues to aim for the widest audience and perhaps the lowest common denominator. But, truth is, many of today's music buyers are sophisticated enough to enjoy a great pop song with a storyline like Franz Ferdinand's "Michael." New outlets for singer-songwriters to bring their compositions to the public's attention through internet sites from You Tube to My Space give hope that more gay-themed hits are on the horizon. Meanwhile, my attempt to compile a collection of the greatest gay-themed songs of the rock era to dateparticularly recordings that made some impact on the pop chartshas been a challenge. So many more hits might have made the grade if only their lyricists had substituted gender-neutral pronouns like you-me for he-she. (When you grow up gay, you get used to substituting pronouns in your favorite songs.) The following songs require no substitution of lyrics to tell stories of special relevance to gay listeners even though their performers/writers may or may not be gay, bisexual, straight, pansexual, asexual, or wealthy as a result of making these recordings. In chronological order: "Lola" by The Kinks (1970): In this million-selling record, Ray Davies fell for a guy in a dress andonce he became aware of his love's identity was quite happy about it. "John I'm Only Dancing" by David Bowie (1972): Ziggy Stardust got turned on by a guy named John, and that made the singer feel oh-so good. "Daniel" by Elton John (1973): I don't care what he and Bernie Taupin say about its inspiration, this is an amazing song of male love and lossone to which tens of thousands of gay guys came out crying. "Another Love" by Stories (1974): Ian Lloyd and his band had a huge hit with their saga of interracial love "Brother Louie," then followed it up with this account of a gay romance. "Glad to Be Gay" by The Tom Robinson Band (1978): In what was arguably the most outspoken, angry gay anthem ever, punk rocker Robinson urged listeners to express their pride in being queer even in the face of ugly gay bashings. The song was a big hit in England and made waves in America. "I Am What I Am" by The Village People (1978): Led by vocalist Victor Willis, these gay icons (though most of the members deny being gay) sang their hearts out on this tribute to pride and the freedom to be yourself. Other VP gay anthems include "Go West" and "Fire Island." "The Killing of Georgie" by Rod Stewart (1979): Rod penned this poignant tale of a young man who flees his intolerant family to become the "toast" of Broadway, only to be murdered by thugs while strolling hand-in-hand with his boyfriend. At a time when most hits were frivolous fare more akin to his own "Do You Think I'm Sexy?," "Georgie" touched the hearts of a wide audience, eventually appearing on Rod's "Greatest Hits" album. "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat (1983): In a rebellious falsetto, Jimmy Sommerville spun the story of a young man fleeing his intolerant parents for gay life in the city. "Star Power" by Sonic Youth (1986): Singer Kim Gordon reportedly was thinking of Joan Jett as she sang, "She knows how to make love to me." "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen (1993): From the movie, the Boss' Oscar winning ballad helped the public see the human side of AIDS. "Same Thing in Reverse" by Boy George (1995). Music critics across the world heralded the Boy's thematic album of gay pride, "Cheapness and Beauty," including this simple song about how much alike we all are. "Michael" by Franz Ferdinand (2004). Honorable Mentions: Roberta Flack's "Making Love" (theme to Hollywood's first gay love flick in 1982), Patti Smith's "Gloria," George Michael's "Teacher," Jill Sobule's "I Kissed a Girl," Jonathan Richman's "Dancing in a Lesbian Bar," Jose Cotton's "Johnny Are You Queer," Elton Morello's "Jet Boy, Jet Girl," Nirvana's "All Apologies ("what else can I say; everybody's gay"), and Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" (what else could it be about?). Also noteworthy: anything by The Pet Shop Boys, including "The Night I Fell in Love" about a tryst with hip-hopper Eminem (2002), and everything by Rufus Wainwright, who has become surprisingly popular among young straight as wall as gay music fans for his own compositions as well as his current album of Judy Garland classics. Feel free to send your own recommendations for this GLBT hits list to BillSievert@earthlink.net. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 03 April 04, 2008 |