126 songs in my iTunes version, 108 in this Spotify version. I expected things to be missing; what surprised me is what’s here, from Kevin Aviance’s “Cunty” (a ballroom classic) to the song that gives this playlist its name, Dog Park Dissidents’ queer punk “Queer as in Fuck You.”
The Stonewall riots — which, lest you need to be reminded, were riots, not peaceful rainbow-soaked demonstrations, parades, et.al. — happened 50 years ago last month; I was born about 18 months later. I’m so grateful for the sacrifices made by those involved, by those who came before, and those who came after (and are yet still on the march). I’ve done my share of marching, too, though admittedly not enough.
The current tenor of the U.S. has made me feel a bit combative. If you don’t think I deserve the same rights as you, let alone personage, I’m not interested in a hand-holding “let’s come together” conversation. You don’t think I’m worthy of the same things you are? Then FUCK YOU. Not apologizing.
Hopefully, this wide-ranging playlist gives you that mood, that feel. Not that it’s all angry; there’s room and time for celebration, certainly. A few of the big dance songs on here are here because they’re anthems and/or made by gay icons (Barbra/Donna, “I’m Coming Out,” “So Many Men, So Little Time,” RuPaul before she soured). A few more are here because I have very specific memories of dancing to them in gay clubs (J-Lo, “I’m Gonna Get You,” Aguilera, and yes, thank-God-he-finally-came-out Barry Manilow).
Not everything here is super obvious; I skipped Pet Shop Boys’ “Being Boring,” for example, in favor of the likes of “Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend” and “In Private.” I included “Relax,” but also Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s album cut “Krisco Kisses.” (You’re welcome.) The Village People tracks aren’t their biggest hits, but their gayest songs. I made sure to include plenty of the political, too, from Communards’ AIDS requiem “For a Friend” to Boy George/Jesus Loves You’s “No Clause 28.” There’s some women’s music, mostly from the ’70s, arguably its most fertile decade. (If you’ve never heard the astonishing Olivia Records comp Lesbian Concentrate, run-don’t-walk. A few of its songs are here.) I’ve also included a fair bit of early ’70s gay male folk that you may never have heard.
Notes on a few selections:
“Ain’t Nobody Straight in L.A.,” the Miracles (1975): According to the Wiki for this song’s parent album, “City of Angels is a concept album, depicting of [sic] a man from “Anytown, U.S.A.” who follows his estranged girlfriend Charlotte to Los Angeles, where she has gone in hopes of becoming a star.” Which helps the song make a lot more sense; I’d always wondered what the Miracles were doing with a song like this. Which, by the way, is surprisingly favorable towards queers.
“Another Man,” Barbara Mason (1984): In which Ms. “Yes, I’m Ready” (who also had a number of great soul sides in the early ’70s) signs with West End and discovers that her man has been taking up with another man. Escandalo!
“Automatic Man,” Michael Sembello (1983): I’m not saying, or even insinuating, that Sembello’s queer. I’m just saying, well, check out the album cover of 1983’s Bossa Nova Hotel. (Also, this song, his official follow-up to “Maniac” and only other US hit (#34 pop), is a banger.)
“Back Chat” (1982) and “Don’t Stop Me Now” (1978), Queen: I know that everyone refers to “Stop” as Freddie Mercury’s out-without-being-out song, but listen to “Back Chat” and C’MON.
“Candy Says”, the Velvet Underground (1969): It’s not just the second verse of “Walk on the Wild Side” that’s about Warhol starlet and trans trendsetter Candy Darling; it’s also this entire song from the VU, sung by Doug Yule.
“Castro Boy,” Danny & the Serious Party Gods (1983): A spoof of Frank Zappa’s “Valley Girl” set to Hi-NRG and talked-sung as stereotypically gay as it gets.
“C7osure (You Like),” Lil Nas X (2019): Welcome to the club, kiddo.
“Deadbeat Club,” the B-52’s (1989): A heartbreakingly sad, sweet song about the Athens band’s good ol’ days, when Ricky Wilson was still with them, before he’d died from AIDS. Alfred wrote a beautiful, brief paper about it for this year’s PopCon.
“Emerge,” Fischerspooner (2003): What a supernova, but occasionally, I think this performance is one of the greatest works of queer art of the 21st century.
“Girl,” the Internet feat. KAYTRANADA (2015): How in the world this Frank Ocean-affiliated neo-soul group got a love song both for and sung by (lead singer Syd) a woman onto Adult R&B radio I do not know. But I know that a) it’s great and b) it matters.
“I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round),” Alicia Bridges (1978): Did you know that Bridges is not only openly lesbian but went on to work in women’s music in the ’80s? Well, now you do.
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Whitney Houston (1987): I included this not because of rumors about Houston’s sexuality, but because these lyrics, in 1987, hit so hard for queers, starting with the title. Who doesn’t feel this?
“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight (Tony Moran’s Extended Club Mix),” Barry Manilow (1997): First of all, I think any historical queer mix should include Manilow, a superstar for decades who finally came out about two years ago. But also, back in the mid-late ’90s, my then-best buddy Jeff, who’s straight, would drive the two of us 2 hours south from northern Indiana down to Indianapolis so we could go dancing. Jeff was no fool: he knew that the best dance music was at the gay clubs (back then — sadly no longer true), and he graciously also understand that this was my only gay outlet. Once ’97 night we went to my favorite club, Our Place/O.P.’s, which has a magnificent dance floor and is just an all-around great gay club (and is still in business, bucking the current trend!). We walked in and immediately saw, on one of their 6-foot-tall video screens, gay porn playing: specifically, a huge, hard cock. Jeff, without flinching, said, “Okay then!” and went to the bar to get us drinks. And among the many songs we assuredly danced to that night, this one stood out, originally from Manilow’s ’96 album Summer of ’78, wherein he covers soft pop classics from the era. He sings this one so beautifully, and I’ve always cherished this remix by Moran, formerly half of the Latin Rascals and openly gay himself.
“I’m Still Standing,” Elton John (1983)
“In Private (Stuart Crichton Club Mix),” Pet Shop Boys feat. Elton John (2006)
“Wrap Her Up,” Elton John feat. George Michael (1985)
The first is here for its lyrics, and its gay, gay, gay video. The second because this is, finally, Elton singing as an out man, duetting with Neil Tennant. And the third because it’s the saddest form of performative heterosexuality, especially its video: this is what it looks like when a gay man (men, really, including GM) attempts to appear hetero. (Additionally, the laundry list of women they sing over the coda is so absurd: you know who straight men really like? Billie Jean [King, presumably]. Annie Lennox. Nancy Reagan. (Elton, c’mon.)
Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), “The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia” speech (1986): Because gay men of a certain age all know this by heart, from the second episode of Designing Women, and I can’t imagine being queer without it.
“Well, now you do.”
Remember: celebrate Pride, either as a queer person or as an ally, year-fucking-round. It’s not just about #rainbowcapitalism and the month of June. We are who we fucking are, and that will never change.
Oh Manchester, So Much To Answer For 