Decided I needed to create a thread on this after the "Do Me Baby is Gay Porn!" thread in the Music & More forum.

Ever notice how rarely even an openly gay artist releases a song about love -or horrors! Sex -that specifically mentions gender?

Think about it -when's the last time Elton John or Melissa Etheridge or anyone else outright said Man or Woman in a song? Those living under a rock could easily believe they're straight. I'm sure songs exist that make it obvious what's going, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Why do you think this is? Could the artists be purposely leaving out mention of gender to make the song accesible to any listener -and if that's the case, why don't more straight artists do the same? Or is it simply a case of not wanting to scare off potential listeners? Nowadays more people are getting used to the idea of the existence of queer folks -but mainstream culture is still uneasy about accepting the sexuality that differentiates queers from straights -prefering instead to focus on our mad decorating and makeover skills.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a few Erasure songs that are definitely gender specific about men.

meow85 said:

in an interview, Melissa Etheridge was saying how early on in her career; her record company was telling her that it wouldn't be wise to mention gender, obvioulsy because of a homophobic society; and it would lose sales.
i think Melissa Etheridge is over looked as a songwriter/musician..regardless of her sexual preference, which i think her art is overlooked.

CHIC0 said:

I believe it.




homophobia is so gay edit
[Edited 11/16/05 22:00pm]

meow85 said:

CinisterCee said:

Maybe it takes a shocking lyric or two to really get people's attention and get them to see a new perspective.

You can't change anything if all you're going to do is play it safe. Maybe people's attitudes will change for the better; maybe they'll just become even more backwards and reactionary. But we won't know unless someone steps up and tries it, will we?

CinisterCee said:

I love that song!

the bulk of wendy and lisa's collection.

kd langs collection.


rufus wainwright's collection...

elton john's collection.

sosgemini said:

those are all NON-specific

Janet had some gay songs on Velvet Rope.


Prince certainly had some gay-ass titles: "Jack U Off"

CinisterCee said:

ummm...i really do read the entire post before commenting..


cyndi lauper's "when you were mine".

Morrissey have any gender specific songs?

David Bowie?

I'm thinking of something like "This Charming Man" as being specific.

CinisterCee said:

Does "Roy's Keen" qualify?

CinisterCee said:

Not that I can think of, no. Then again, I'm not a master of his catalogue, so I could be wrong.

how come folks dont count elton john's "daniel"?

Beatles "Boys"

Well, I talk about boys,
Don't ya know I mean boys,
Well, I talk about boys, now,
Aaahhh, boys,
Well, I talk about boys, now,
What a bundle of joy!

sosgemini said:

Maybe I missed something with this one....


I can't remember -does she keep the genders the same as Prince's version or did she change them? If she keeps them the same as the original, I guess it's sorta gay as it makes it sound like her man is cheating with another man.

sosgemini said:

It just sounds like it's about a friend. And it sounds like Daniel passed on.

New Order's got "The Perfect Kiss" and "1963".

meow85 said:

She kept the genders the same as Prince's version for at least one chorus.

sosgemini said:

Unless Sir Elly's got an incestuous streak, I don't think that song counts....


Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

They say Spain is pretty though I've never been
Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen
Oh and he should know, he's been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much

Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
[Edited 11/16/05 22:32pm]

TRON said:

johnnny...
don't point that gunnn at me


good one
[Edited 11/16/05 22:29pm]

CinisterCee said:

Really? I wasn't aware of that.

I guess it's kinda-sorta gay, then. But only because she covered a song written by a man and didn't really change the words.

What I meant was more personal-type songs. Like, a love song or a dirty, raunchy song. It's rare to find one done by a gay artist that makes it clear the recipient of the attention is the same gender.

meow85 said:

yeah, sorta like Rod Stewart's "Tonight's The Night" covered by Janet Jackson.

Can some Erotica experts post some Madonna lesbo lyrics?

CinisterCee said:

Well, Janet you could question anyway.