LGBT+ Representation in Music

[Rez]

An article popped up in FB news feed last night about LGBT+ people and stories in music and it was mostly music from before 2005.

So I'm wondering about music/music videos with LGBT themes that is popular now.

I know a number of us were fanboying over Troye Sivan over in the 'My Favorite...' thread. The Blue Neighborhood Trilogy is amazing and heartbreaking (view spoiler)[and once you realize that singer Troye is not singing the actor Troye's part, but is singing the opposite character's part, it is even more heartrending. (hide spoiler)]

My friend pointed out Hozier's 'Take me to Church' video which is a depiction of LGBT struggles in Ireland.

Anyone have any music videos with LGBT themes that strike them?

[Kaje]

Great topic! I look forward to comments.

[Sammy Goode]

Well this is right up my alley!!

I will try to link a few here.

Mary Lambert's She Keeps Me Warm is gorgeous!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG4nR...

Bruce Springsteen's (who also wrote the score for the film, Philadelphia ) Tougher Than The Rest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91hN...

From the movie CAMP but here sung by the gay men's chorus: Here's Where I Stand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91hN...

(love this song!)

Beautiful by Christina Aguilera--a tribute to Trans folk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAfyF...

and finally, Runaway Train by Soul Asylum

this was (according to the group) written to show all the fears about coming out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRtvq...


what a fun thread--thank you rez for posting it!!!

Hope the links work!

[Wren]

Will Young just released a music video called Brave Man and the music video features a trans boy

[Sammy Goode]

oh--and of course, Pink's F**ck*n Perfect!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpAjf...

[Rainbowheart]

I read that Hozier mentioned it was supposed to be set in Russia, but either way, Take Me to Church has an awesome video.

I also like A Great Big World's Hold Each Other. One of the few songs on the radio with explicitly gay lyrics.

[Kaje]

Steve Grand's "All American Boy" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjiyj...
and "Stay" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3G3x...

[Eric]

Watching Steve Grand's two videos back to back is like seeing the video version of half of the M/M novels written today. (That's not a complaint!)

[Eric]

I agree Kaje. What a great topic for a thread. Watching my way through the videos posted.

[Eric]

If you haven't seen Will Young's "Brave Man" video, drop whatever you are doing and watch this. Beautiful video and very powerful! Wow! Thanks Wren for the suggestion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsPT7...

[Kaje]

Thanks for the link and Wren for the suggestion :)

[FoxClouds]

I love this thread!

[Sammy Goode]

This one--bullying--amazing song! Ryan Dolan--Start Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShBSK...

[♫✯Em loves Hollenstein✯♫❤the summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation❤]

OHMYGID I LOVE BLUE NEIGHBOURHOOD- IT DESTROYED ME
Girls like girls by Hayley Kiyoko, Cool for the summer by Demi Lovato- kinda like I kissed a girl but not as 'I'm using you because my boyfriend thinks it's hot"- it's basically about experimentation, and it's portrayed positively.

[Nikki]

Rainbowheart wrote: "I read that Hozier mentioned it was supposed to be set in Russia, but either way, Take Me to Church has an awesome video.

I also like A Great Big World's Hold Each Other. One of the few songs on t..."

I heard "Hold Each Other" on the radio Friday after work and have been trying to figure out what the song was all weekend. You have saved my sanity!

[Kim]

Jamal on the T.V. show Empire used his great performance of the series' original song "You're So Beautiful" to come out to the world, against his homophobic father's wishes.

I'm editing to add that the actor playing Jamal, Jussie Smollett, is openly gay as well in real life.

[Kaje]

<3

[Tanya]

Rise Against wrote a song a few years ago about the bullying and pressure from society/religion/family that gay teens face. It also mentions the five teens who committed suicide around the same time in September of 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP4cl...

[Tanya]

Kim wrote: "Jamal on the T.V. show Empire used his great performance of the series' original song "You're So Beautiful" to come out to the world, against his homophobic father's wishes.

I'm editing to add tha..."

Jamal is my favorite character on the show. He's the whole reason that I started watching it.

[Ifrah]

This one is a bit more international but I love it all the same. :)

It's by a Japanese band called "Shinsei Kamttechan". The song is called "Zuttomo".

Note: The main singer himself is genderqueer from what I've heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxyA2...

[Is]

Years and Years, his song Shine is written for his boyfriend

[Kim]

Pauley Perrette did this lovely anti-bullying song in support of QUITBAG youth, "Beautiful Child," with a bunch of other celebrities, including Lance Bass.

[Luke]

As someone said before, Demi Lovato's "Cool for the Summer" is basically about experimentation.

I love, love, love her "Really Don't Care" music video, which was shot at the LA Pride Parade; plus, she said, "I wanted to make it more empowering. When I thought of the lyrics 'really don’t care', it made me think of bullying, and made me think of the LGBT community, who deal with that so often, but they accept themselves." Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJGUb...

Also, the music video for Katy Perry's "Firework" was dedicated to the "It Gets Better Project"; it has LGBT representation in it. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuM...

[Flora]

Hayley kiyokos girls like girls has already been mentioned but it's really good so check it out.

She by Dodie Clark (Doddleoddle on youtube) is a cute love song for the girls she's fallen for. It's not been released though so you'll have to find it on youtube.

[Kaje]

I love all the links we're getting <3 Thanks.

[Sammy Goode]

This is some fantastic music!! Thank you everyone for taking the time to post them!

[❤♥♔Nia♔♥❤]

I'm not sure if these count...

Boys in the Street- Greg Holden

Lil Mix- Secret Love Song pt 2


And Halsey!!:
Ghost
New Americana
Cliff's Edge

Oh, and everyone know's Macklemore's Same Love

[Kaje]

Thanks for the additions <3

[Iván]

You guys should see this videos ❤️
"First time he Kissed a Boy" - Kadie Elder
"Timebomb" - Tove Lo
"Empire"- Of Monsters And Men
Marvin Gaye" - Charlie Puth

[Carrie-Anne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWF2... - Panic! At The Disco - Girls/Girls/Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEJRu... - Trevor Moran - I Wanna Fly (youtuber just like our fave Troye, came out in this music video, just like another youtuber....)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcwo_... - Joey Graceffa - Don't Wait

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZpWn... - Will Young - All Time Love (Others have posted another of his songs but this one is one of my favourites)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGBa... - Anyone remember t.A.T.u?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jPba... - Eli Lieb - Young Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrVHv... - Father Tiger - First Love (just found in the recommended bar!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_6N... - Kelly Clarkson - Heartbeat Song (the two guys really got engaged on the set!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldWSM... - Laura Jane Grace, singer of the band Against Me! transitioned a few years ago, one of the bands recent albums is called Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q5Gw...

Jay Brannan has a lot of great songs like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaMix...,
and this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNxzF...,
and this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqezN... (although the video doesn't depict it you can tell by the lyrics that it's about a female falling for Brannan who is gay - didn't go the gay route for the video but the song is still great and represents)

....ok one last one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OuGz... He also acts in the gay films Holding Trevor and Shortbus (not for the young ones of the group to watch!)

[Kaje]

Carrie-Anne wrote: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWF2... - Panic! At The Disco - Girls/Girls/Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEJRu... - Trevor Moran - I Wanna Fly (youtuber just like our fave Troye, ca..."

Thanks so much for all the links :D

[Rez]

Carrie-Anne wrote: "... Trevor Moran - I Wanna Fly (youtuber just like our fave Troye, ca..."

I've heard a lot of Trevor's stuff, but there is something about his vocal tone that puts me off. Great lyrics and well directed videos tho.

I'll have to check the other links out later since I'm at work for the afternoon.

[Carrie-Anne]

Rez wrote: "Carrie-Anne wrote: "... Trevor Moran - I Wanna Fly (youtuber just like our fave Troye, ca..."

I've heard a lot of Trevor's stuff, but there is something about his vocal tone that puts me off. Grea..."

Yeah I'm not really a fan of his music, I know him mostly because he used to be a part of the youtube channel Our Second Life. I kind of like this song though, everything else I've heard from him has been grating and irritating

[Kaje]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Steve Grand - <3 for the holiday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlpnt...

And Steve Grand himself says : No matter what/why/who/how you are celebrating (or not); no matter who you are with (or not with) I wish you all the Happiest of Holidays! Thank you for all your love and support these last 2.5 years :) - Steve
Buy this track: https://stevegrand.bandcamp.com/track... (No time to get it up on iTunes)

[Kim]

I enjoy listening again each year to Kurt and Blaine's holiday duets (even if they weren't technically together as a couple during two of the three), "Let It Snow," "White Christmas," and Baby, It's Cold Outside." =)

[Kaje]

Troye Sivan - Wild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdXNN...

[Riina]

Kaje wrote: "Troye Sivan - Wild - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdXNN..."

Troye! Make sure to check out

PART2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxg22...
PART3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo3lx...

as well :)

The Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy can also be viewed here:

http://www.vevo.com/artist/troye-sivan


And while I'm at it, he did that short intro to one of his songs (HEAVEN) which is just... heartbreaking.

https://youtu.be/XOsr4w49dxk

In the teaser video for “Heaven”, Troye explained the meaning behind the song

"When I first started to realise I might be gay, I had to ask myself all of these questions […] If there is a God, does that God hate me? If there is a heaven, am I ever gonna make it to heaven? […] Eventually I got to the point where I was like, if there is a heaven but I can’t be myself up there, then maybe I don’t want heaven."

Everyone should have a listen @his album; It's just very beautiful and hopefully will inspire many many people in 2016

[Kaje]

Thanks for the links and info <3

[Riina]

Kaje wrote: "Thanks for the links and info <3"

Sure :) Well, Rez had already mentioned the Trilogy before, so it wasn't much new info I'm afraid ^^

[Riina]

While listening to A Great Big World's Everyone Is Gay

I found this link on one of their web sites:

The Gayest Compilation Ever Made

http://everyoneisgay.bandcamp.com/alb...

Tracklist:

1.Bess Rogers - Everyone Is Gay (except for me) 01:12
2.Jenny Owen Youngs - The Ballad of Kristin & Dannielle (An Abridged History of Everyone Is Gay Dot Com) 03:59
3.Mike Doughty - Gay As Fuck 01:54
4.Vintage Gramma - My BFF'Z Graight. 03:15
5.Lightyear - It's Time 03:30
6.Dan Romer - Love Who We Love 04:10
7.A Great Big World - Everyone Is Gay (Acoustic Version) 02:03
8.Ingrid Michaelson - Free 01:42
9.Charlene Kaye - I'd Go Gay (for Tina Fey) 03:17
10.Greg Laswell - Everybody'zzzzz Gay 00:56
11.Lelia Broussard - Super Fucking Gay (Stay Gay) 01:35
12.Krannielle - Seeing The Forest For The Trees (a rap about cats) 02:32

There are also two more volumes on the website... :)

One of my favorite songs from last year: Different Colors by Walk The Moon.

https://youtu.be/tqw4LCOdD04

I don't know if any of the band members are LGBTQ, but the song's featured on the most recent compilation.

Same goes for Jukebox The Ghost - Your Love Isn't Different.

http://everyoneisgay.bandcamp.com/tra...


That band has a few really nice songs! :)

[Riina]

I just got this song recommended by Spotify:

Love Always Wins By Mikey Wax

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBna7...

[ida]

Being the Swede that I am, I just have to recommend a Swedish girl called Beatrice Eli. She's gay and her music is really really awesome. Basically all her songs are about girls.

This is her most famous track, 'Girls':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orffm...

[ida]

Diplomat's Son by Vampire Weekend is also gay themed.

As is I Still Remember by Bloc Party.

[Kaje]

‘American Idol’ star Rayvon Owen comes out in new music video

http://attitude.co.uk/american-idol-s...

[Kaje]

"Son of a Preacher Man" - Tom Goss (**warning - suicide ideation - this is a Trevor Project support video**)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJStT...

[Carrie-Anne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYAgh... New Troye Sivan video for Youth

[Juli]

I had seen this thread going around and I found it quite nice (especially the Troye love!) but I thought I would mention the song Home by One Direction. Now, it's not a declared LGBT song or anything, but the song is about not finding that something in someone and then finally finding it in someone unexpected. The song starts out with pronouns that imply heterosexuality but switches to neutral and it's been taken as an inspiring LGBT song by many of their fans, me included. It's a great listen if you give it a chance, especially with a chorus that belts 'it's alright'.

[Christopher]

All American boy by Steve grand

Steve grand is a singer but he's sadly not well known

[Kaje]

Christopher wrote: "All American boy by Steve grand

Steve grand is a singer but he's sadly not well known"

I love his music and the reality and hope in them - I watch "All American Boy" followed by "Stay" :)

[Kaje]

A music video from author Brent Hartinger - to go with his NA book (extension from his YA Russel Middlebrook series) - The Road to Amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlr_o...