Changing Our Tune
The iconic “I Want to Break Free” music video, which the band Queen found themselves having the first banned music video by a band on MTV. Source: YouTube.
Queer popstars have sprinkled camp into the music industry since the moment they were born. Today, society sells their right foot for a seat at Elton John’s final shows, and battles the urge to play Troye Sivan’s “Rush” every 10 minutes. These LGBTQ+ artists are trailblazers who paved the way for modern musicians, shaping a realm of queer celebration to be enjoyed by all.
Undeniable icons such as David Bowie, George Michael, and Freddie Mercury challenged social norms on a world stage, and confronted gender roles in the height of the 70s and 80s. Even if they weren’t always warmly welcomed into the mainstream, LGBTQ+ individuals have always had a prominent presence.
Queen’s outstanding music video for “I Want to Break Free” showed the band dressed in drag, only to receive vast criticism and be the first band to have their video stripped from MTV.
But today, we can see history repeat itself – Troye Sivan also dressed in drag for his “One of Your Girls” music video. The video was beloved by many, with the depths of queerness being uncovered with the highlighting of its difficulties.
One commenter on the video explained, “this is the new standard of what is an iconic queerness. A visual masterpiece, but also an audio evocation of the mashup of juxtapositions - namely the universal feeling of wistful longing, combined with the specific and unique experience of queerness.”
In the past decade, we've witnessed a significant shift in pop culture's engagement with queer identity, especially in the hot 2010s. Lemonade Mouth idol Hayley Kiyoko emerged, releasing music which openly celebrated queer love and desire. Kiyoko's "Girls Like Girls" music video was released in June 2015, depicting the poignant story of two girls falling in love while struggling with a violent boyfriend.
This marked the start of Kiyoko’s proud bisexual journey, coinciding with the Supreme Court's landmark decision to legalize gay marriage in all 50 states. This synchronicity underscored the evolving acceptance and visibility of queer individuals in society, emitting a sense of hope that the trajectory of queer love will continue to be more accepted.
In recent years, artists have become more overt in their expressions of queer identity, normalising the feelings and stories involved with the queer experience. However, as queerness becomes more mainstream, artists must navigate accusations of queerbaiting and address intersectional issues of identity.
It is not uncommon for artists to be accused of queerbaiting when their music or videos divert from heteronormative expectations of sexuality or the gender spectrum. Billie Eilish copped a profound amount of heat for her music video her song “Lost Cause”, due to her supposedly being straight. Two years later, she confirmed her bisexuality, quashing the ability for people to further accuse her of wrongdoing. This highlighted the toxicity of queerbaiting accusations.
Alongside Eilish, society is greeted with a new generation of queer artists who are boldly stepping into the spotlight and modernising LGBTQ+ music in the mainstream. Artists like Lil Nas X, Ethel Cain, boygenius, Fletcher, and Chappell Roan are reshaping the landscape of pop music with their unapologetic approach to their identities and music.
Lil Nas X, on stage embracing his sexuality. Source: POPSUGAR
Lil Nas X, one of the world’s best-known Black queer male artists, has boldly embraced his sexuality while challenging homophobia with outspoken lyrics and provocative visuals. His fearless approach has not only flipped the pop and country music landscapes on their heads, but has also inspired a new wave of queer artists to be unapologetically themselves.
Chappell Roan's 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is a testament to the power of current LGBTQ+ representation in music. Roan, a sapphic pop singer who recently opened for Olivia Rodrigo, has a lively stage presence and a terrific grasp of pop sound. She sings of sapphic relationships and features local drag performers at her shows. Plus, “Red Wine Supernova” is just a downright bop.
Two trans artists who have consistently stayed relevant are Ethel Cain and Kim Petras. Cain puts her own twist on the alternative folk-pop genre, intertwining it with elements of Christianity and countrygaze. Petras, on the other hand, is a total pop star, creating campy, electronic dance music. Both artists have made contrasting yet mutually compelling work which resonates with millions of listeners.
Drag queen Trixie Mattel has revolutionised country music. Her music blends pop elements, deviating from traditional country themes – similar to Lil Nas X and Cain. She has created a niche for drag in the genre.
Indie supergroup boygenius, comprised entirely of LGBTQ+ members, released their debut album The Record in March 2023. The album received an outpouring of love from both new and old listeners, as well as critics, claiming three Grammys.
boygenius on stage performing. Source: Pinterest.
Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications and Talent at the LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation GLAAD, told Billboard, “[s]eeing LGBTQ women dominate three of the biggest categories is something to be really excited about and proud of, especially today.”
Ramos acknowledges the room for improvement for representation of non-binary and transgender artists at the Grammys, but is excited about the bright future for the LGBTQ+ artists. “This is a moment for everyone to realise that accepting yourself affects the art that you put out in the best way.”
So how did queer pop become so ubiquitous in our current society? Along with clear talent from the artists, queer individuals are often searching for reflections of themselves in the pop scene. But the internet undoubtedly enhances the personal, intimate and fresh discourse around the queer pop culture scene, constantly expanding its growth whilst re-coding straight social norms.
A little closer to home: the cherished local band There’s a Tuesday, who often cover LGBTQ+ themes in their music. In an interview with The Big Idea, There’s a Tuesday explained, “I think we try to be real and honest, and sing about things that are important and not commonly spoken about, such as mental health and being queer, things like that. Because I know growing up, there was a little bit of that kind of stuff, but no one I could relate to as a young, queer anxious woman.”
It's refreshing to hear queer narratives running through the music industry – boppy rhythms and sexy lyrics that head towards a happier, queerer music industry domination.