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Queerness In Music

Queerness In Music. By K enny. 1920s – 1940s: Blues. 1920: popularity Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues” led to an explosion in blues music, especially among female singers Ma Rainey: “Prove It On Me Blues” Bessie Smith: vaudeville performances, race records Lyrics laced with double entendres.

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Queerness In Music

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  1. QueernessInMusic By Kenny

  2. 1920s – 1940s: Blues • 1920: popularity Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues” led to an explosion in blues music, especially among female singers • Ma Rainey: “Prove It On Me Blues” • Bessie Smith: vaudeville performances, race records • Lyrics laced with double entendres

  3. 1920s – 1940s: Blues • 1935: Lucille Bogan (Bessie Jackson) – “B.D. Woman’s Blues” • Popularity of blues declined in the 1940s • Visibility of queer artists also declined during that time

  4. 1920s – Present: Jazz & Cabaret • 1920s-50s: Cole Porter • “I Get A Kick Out of You” • “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love” • 1930s – 1980s: Liberace • Flamboyant pianist • Strongly denied being gay, frequently sued people who accused him of being gay

  5. 1920s – Present: Jazz & Cabaret • 1930s – 1990s: Frances Fay: jazz, cabaret, showtune singer • “My name is Frances—I’m very gay, gay, gay” • Numerous double entendresin lyrics • Peter Allen: Liza Minnelli's ex husband

  6. 1920s – Present: Jazz & Cabaret • Billy Tipton: jazz musician • Assigned female at birth • Lived as a man throughout his music career (some say because of sexism in music industry) • Rufus Wainwright: heavily influenced by Cole Porter

  7. 1950s – Present: Pop • Johnny Mathis: active since the 50s, came out as gay in 1982 • “Wonderful, Wonderful” • Christmas songs • Obnoxious vibrato • Dusty Springfield: openly bisexual • “I Only Want To Be With You” • “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”

  8. 1950s – Present: Pop • Laura Nyro: wrote songs for Barbra Streisand, The 5th Dimension, many more • Elton John • 1980s: explosion of gay pop & new wave artists • Boy George (Culture Club) • George Michael (Wham!) • Pet Shop Boys • Erasure • The Smiths • B-52s

  9. 1950s – Present: Pop • Jill Sobule: “I Kissed A Girl” (1996) • “Supermodel” from Clueless • Pink Pearl • Lance Bass came out in 2006 • Rise of Lady Gaga & Born This Way domination • Adam Lambert

  10. 1930s – Present: Country • 1939: “Lavender Cowboy” by Vernon Dalhart, banned from the radio • 1973: Lavender Country released debut album • k.d. lang: Canadian country singer • Came out as gay in 1992, not well received in the U.S. • 2010: Chely Wright came out

  11. 1970s – Present: Folk • 1972: Joan Baez came out after ending her marriage • Bernice Johnson Reagon: lead member of Sweet Honey (all women’s a cappella group) • Indigo Girls: both openly gay, strong queer fanbase • Lilith Fair: Sarah McLachlan’s all women’s summer tour, 1997-99 & 2010 • Anne DiFranco: “poster dyke”, radical queer?

  12. 1950s – Present: Rock • 1950s – present: constant speculation about Little Richard’s sexuality • 1970s – present: David Bowie • Rise of glam rock • Androgynous • 1970s-1990s: Freddie Mercury • Lou Reed • “Walk on the Wild Side” • The Velvet Underground

  13. 1950s – Present: Rock • Janis Joplin: bisexual woman, prominent figure in rock music • “Me and Bobby McGee” • “Piece of My Heart” • Joplin & Juanita Green placed a stone on Bessie Smith’s previously unmarked grave • Joan Jett: lead member of The Runaways • “I Love Rock N’ Roll” • Linda Perry: 4 Non Blondes • “What’s Up”

  14. 1950s – Present: Rock • Riot grrrl movement • Sleater-Kinney • The Butchies • Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is openly bisexual • Melissa Etheridge: came out in 1993 • “Come To My Window” • “I’m The Only One” • SigurRos: lead singer Jonsi is openly gay • Laura Jane Grace: lead singer/guitarist of Against Me!, came out as trans in 2012

  15. 1970s & 1990s: Disco • Largely centered in urban areas, with visible gay & lesbian communities • The Village People: parodied gay stereotypes, sold over 65 million records • Grace Jones: androgynous model & disco star • “I Need A Man” • “Pull Up to the Bumper” • Sylvester • “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) • RuPaul: “Supermodel”

  16. 1980s – Present: Hip-Hop & Rap • Openly and viciously homophobic lyrics • Hypermasculinity (and homoeroticism) • Irony of “swag” • Queer hip-hop artists • Rise of sissy bounce from southern hip-hop • Azealia Banks • Caushun • Nicky Da B • Le1f • Mykki Blanco • House of LaDosha

  17. 1970s – Present: R&B • Teddy Prendergrass • Caught with a trans woman after a car accident • Eddie Murphy • Found with a trans female prostitute • Luther Vandross • Media constantly speculated his sexuality • Frank Ocean: came out as bisexual in 2012

  18. 1960s – Present: Reggae • Openly homophobic lyrics • Artists frequently promote queer bashing & murder in their songs • Beenie Man • Elephant Man • BujuBanton

  19. Current Queer Music • The Radio Dept.: Swedish shoegaze& dream pop band • “Keen On Boys” about a straight-identified man sleeping with a gay man • The Knife: Swedish electronic duo • Shaking The Habitual covers current topics in queer theory • Perfume Genius: openly gay singer-songwriter • Many songs about his experiences as a young gay prostitute & his battles with drug addiction

  20. Current Queer Music • RostamBatmanglij: Vampire Weekend & Discovery • Owen Pallett: composer, singer, violinist from Arcade Fire & solo career • Amanda Palmer: The Dresden Dolls, solo career • Tegan & Sara • The Hidden Cameras

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