I myself am gay, but i think is stupid to label some music as gay or straight or black & white i just like my music to be music....

But i don't get it i heard Motown artists i love are ''gay' icons and idk i never exactly knew Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder where ''gay'' icons like people tell me.

And then a lot of people say that a lot of New Wave/alternative band's i love like Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, The Cure, Talk Talk, Pet Shop Boys, Blondie

What exactly make's say Depeche Mode a gay band? i mean yeah they dressed kind of fruity in the 80's but so did everybody else and none of the members are actually gay like in Pet Shop Boys

So can someone explain to me what make's these and other band's gay icons or gay music?

TRUTH: Whoever presented that music to you as "gay" music is a moron.

jeidee said:

TRUTH: Whoever presented that music to you as "gay" music is a moron.

I was thinking the same, but it seem's when i watch a lot of these show's like i love 80's or w/e that stars say the same thing's

I Remember i recent episode of South Park where a closeted gay guy was saying hey i'm not gay or anything but i think Depeche Mode is a great band lol

I don't see why music can't just be music

But say if i like Madonna, or Pet Shop Boys people mock it and call it gay music i don't get what make's that term gay music lol

Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder gay icons? Diana Ross sure but those two?

The Village People.

Gay Icons to me = Sylvester, Donna Summer, Village People, Gloria Gaynor (not sure why), but can't think of any others right now. I agree. Too many labels and micro-labels. Y'like what'cha like, but you don't have to call it anything. It just izz what it izz.

Gunsnhalen said:

So can someone explain to me what make's these and other band's gay icons or gay music?

I've been around for a few seasons, and I've absolutely NEVER heard that Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder were considered Gay icons - never heard (or felt) that in my entire life. And if I were you, I'd be highly suspicious of the "people" that told you that.

But if Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, The Cure, Talk Talk, Pet Shop Boys, & Blondie are considered Gay icons at all, it's because their music gets heavy play in Gay clubs & bars, and has little to do with the sexuality of the artist.

HotGritz said:

Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder gay icons? Diana Ross sure but those two?

ik

whitechocolatebrotha said:

Gloria Gaynor (not sure why)...

...it's because of every single word in the lyrics to "I Will Survive", and because she's so closely associated to Disco - a Gay-driven genre. And among many other things, Gay folks are survivors (usually against of all manner of opposition). That Gloria Gaynor would be a Gay icon is a given.

Id say that at the time all the bands you mentioned were seen as "alternative" or different from the mainstream. Dress, style, instruments, and the general tone in their music. Which pretty much ties into how teen gays or other non sterotypical, i.e. jocks/cheerleaders, teens at the time identified with.

Also I believe that OMD had a gay member as did new order. Blondie is just fun pop everyone likes that.

[Edited 3/23/11 18:05pm]

Idk. Nowadays you can put on a pink wig, make danceable songs and be considered a Gay icon.

PDogz said:

Gunsnhalen said:

So can someone explain to me what make's these and other band's gay icons or gay music?

I've been around for a few seasons, and I've absolutely NEVER heard that Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder were considered Gay icons - never heard (or felt) that in my entire life. And if I were you, I'd be highly suspicious of the "people" that told you that.

But if Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, The Cure, Talk Talk, Pet Shop Boys, & Blondie are considered Gay icons at all, it's because their music gets heavy play in Gay clubs & bars, and has little to do with the sexuality of the artist.

Timmy84 said:

PDogz said:

I've been around for a few seasons, and I've absolutely NEVER heard that Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder were considered Gay icons - never heard (or felt) that in my entire life. And if I were you, I'd be highly suspicious of the "people" that told you that.

But if Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, The Cure, Talk Talk, Pet Shop Boys, & Blondie are considered Gay icons at all, it's because their music gets heavy play in Gay clubs & bars, and has little to do with the sexuality of the artist.

Well I dont know but I can say this none of the gay bars in chicago play any of these artist on a regular bases. Occasionally on a afternoon or early evening, but none of this is thumping on the dance floor on a friday or saturday night.

lazycrockett said:

Timmy84 said:

Well I dont know but I can say this none of the gay bars in chicago play any of these artist on a regular bases. Occasionally on a afternoon or early evening, but none of this is thumping on the dance floor on a friday or saturday night.

Yeah guess it depends on what type of bar you go to. Gay clubs typically get stereotyped as always playing fast music only.

2freaky4church1 said:

The Village People.

That's an interestng choice. Naw. Yesss. In their prime they were a good example of a "straight" iconic band that was actually gay. So many straight people have visceral responses to their songs and parted with some good money for the VP sound. But over time I think they grew into being gayiconic; well revered by bent people, gay and straight and queer, trans.

Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder gay icons? Sure, absolutely, but perhaps not in an obvious or numbered manner ("RUTH: Whoever presented that music to you as "gay" music is a moron." Yeah, that may be right.) It's just that they are also so iconic and "owned" and revered by straight culture. They are not particlularly exclusive to, or particularly recognizing of, queer people in some special way. I seem to be convincing myself more and more that they are not gayiconic. But Ray and Stevie express an interior world that dances with broader integral human experiences. What could be more on a queer mind? I listened to a boatload of Stevie when I was young, and then when a few years later added Ray Charles.

I may get stoned for this but I never got the big deal about the Village People.

Timmy84 said:

I may get stoned for this but I never got the big deal about the Village People.

Me neither man! they had some fun.... dancy track's. Some where kind of funky and they where ok singers. But idk if i want to listen to a whole album worth ha

I never really heard that Depeche Mode was considered iconic in the gay community but I do believe that the keyboardest for DM is gay. He wrote just about every song and if I hadn't read an interview with him, I would never have given it a second thought. Just really excellent lyrics and music...Listen to "People are People" and I guess now I can see how it may have been written from a gay perspective.

Timmy84 said:

I may get stoned for this but I never got the big deal about the Village People.

PANDURITO said:

Timmy84 said:

I may get stoned for this but I never got the big deal about the Village People.

^The idea with VP was that each persona was a iconic gay image singing subtle gay themed songs. They were meant to be camp, but crossed over to the mainstream which didn't get or understand the "gayness" of the band. Im sure when The Villiage People were strutting their stuff on American Bandstand many Mo's at the time were laughing at the straight people wondering how can those breeders be so clueless.

lazycrockett said:

^The idea with VP was that each persona was a iconic gay image singing subtle gay themed songs. They were meant to be camp, but crossed over to the mainstream which didn't get or understand the "gayness" of the band. Im sure when The Villiage People were strutting their stuff on American Bandstand many Mo's at the time were laughing at the straight people wondering how can those breeders be so clueless.

Probably were, who knows?

wishuhvn said:

I never really heard that Depeche Mode was considered iconic in the gay community

I considered Depeche Mode to be sexually ambigious. All of them (almost) actually lead productive lives with their own families (even Dave Gahan). But their music seems to speak to gay teens who are far more alternative than the gay teens who loved the mainstream shit.

lazycrockett said:

^The idea with VP was that each persona was a iconic gay image singing subtle gay themed songs. They were meant to be camp, but crossed over to the mainstream which didn't get or understand the "gayness" of the band. Im sure when The Villiage People were strutting their stuff on American Bandstand many Mo's at the time were laughing at the straight people wondering how can those breeders be so clueless.

i don't think their songs were subtle at all... they sang songs called 'fire island' and 'YMCA', very popular gay spots at the time. the funny thing is, most of the dudes in the band were gay, except the singer, who used to be with roxie roker at one point.

MJJstudent said:

lazycrockett said:

^The idea with VP was that each persona was a iconic gay image singing subtle gay themed songs. They were meant to be camp, but crossed over to the mainstream which didn't get or understand the "gayness" of the band. Im sure when The Villiage People were strutting their stuff on American Bandstand many Mo's at the time were laughing at the straight people wondering how can those breeders be so clueless.

i don't think their songs were subtle at all... they sang songs called 'fire island' and 'YMCA', very popular gay spots at the time. the funny thing is, most of the dudes in the band were gay, except the singer, who used to be with roxie roker at one point.

He also was known to whup Claire Huxtable every now and then.

but yeah, i would say 'gay music' or 'gay icons' represent music or individuals which gay people could resonate with in some way. like mary j. blige, she has a pretty significant gay following. i asked a cousin of mine if he liked mary, and he said "i LOVE mary! she got me through some thangs."

also, a lot of artists do so much which would be considered 'camp'. you got gay dudes going around talking about beyounce's weave, saying she looks like a drag queen or whatever. and let's not forget her jacking of bob fosse... HA! i think many gay men (at least a lot of them i've known in my life) model themselves after these artists, like diana ross, donna summer, jody watley... joan crawford, elizabeth taylor, greta garbo... a lot of gay women i know also love the same artists as the gay men. it's also that these artists are very clear in their support of gay rights.

but yeah, there are gay people who are popular with heterosexuals, like elton john or johnny mathis.

cher is a funny one, because she has a HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE gay following, and is for gay rights- but when her daughter came out as gay she was PISSED. i do like her honesty in that though. she was honest as a mother who recognizes the lack of human rights for gay folks.

Timmy84 said:

MJJstudent said:

i don't think their songs were subtle at all... they sang songs called 'fire island' and 'YMCA', very popular gay spots at the time. the funny thing is, most of the dudes in the band were gay, except the singer, who used to be with roxie roker at one point.

He also was known to whup Claire Huxtable every now and then.

wait? homeboy used to be with phylicia ayers-allen? i didn't know that! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU DON'T WHUP NO PHYLICIA!!! i bet you NOW he he was with her, she would put that foot up his azz!

Timmy84 said:

I considered Depeche Mode to be sexually ambigious. All of them (almost) actually lead productive lives with their own families (even Dave Gahan). But their music seems to speak to gay teens who are far more alternative than the gay teens who loved the mainstream shit.

i always thought stuff like depeche mode was 'gay euro pop'. yeah, me and a lot of my gay friends actually DO define some of this music as 'gay'. i admit it. it just lends to a gay sensibility... like the smiths. all these gay dudes used to be like, 'morrissey! he is speaking to me!'

but the main gist of the thread is onto something, because i ALSO know gay people go to the clubs and listen to akinyele and snoop doogy dogg, and all that craziness. and they sing all loudly to it too. so yeah, what does define 'gay music', besides some gay people identifying with it, or being performers who are gay?

MJJstudent said:

Timmy84 said:

He also was known to whup Claire Huxtable every now and then.

wait? homeboy used to be with phylicia ayers-allen? i didn't know that! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU DON'T WHUP NO PHYLICIA!!! i bet you NOW he he was with her, she would put that foot up his azz!

And he's also a crackhead but apparently he's still paid off the royalties from Village People records (since he wrote the majority of their hits).