Content deleted Content added
moving un-sourced material to talk page |
|||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
==Themes== |
==Themes== |
||
Although every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem does show a pattern among the songs. In the book, ''Queer'', the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems; they are:<ref>Simon Gage, Lisa Richards, and Howard Wilmot. ''Queer'', pp. 26-7. June 13, 2002. ISBN 1560253770 </ref> |
Although every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem does show a pattern among the songs. In the book, ''Queer'', the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems; they are:<ref>Simon Gage, Lisa Richards, and Howard Wilmot. ''Queer'', pp. 26-7. June 13, 2002. ISBN 1560253770 </ref> |
||
*'''Big voiced divas''': Rather than particular song, this area of gay anthems is more akin to a [[cult of personality]] of a large gay male following for some particular [[diva]]-style [[pop music]] vocalists who are almost always female [[gay icon]]s. Examples include: [[Patti LaBelle |
*'''Big voiced divas''': Rather than particular song, this area of gay anthems is more akin to a [[cult of personality]] of a large gay male following for some particular [[diva]]-style [[pop music]] vocalists who are almost always female [[gay icon]]s. Examples include: [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Gloria Gaynor]], [[Madonna (entertainer)| Madonna]], [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Kylie Minogue]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Donna Summer]], and [[Cher]]. |
||
*'''Overcoming hardship in love:''' Usually a narrative of a wronged lover who comes back stronger than before. Examples include, |
*'''Overcoming hardship in love:''' Usually a narrative of a wronged lover who comes back stronger than before. Examples include, ''[[I Will Survive]]'' by Gloria Gaynor and ''[[No More Tears (Enough is Enough)]]'' by Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. |
||
*'''You are not alone:''' Songs about coming together as a [[gay community|community]] or reassurance to the lonely that there are others like them out there. Examples include, |
*'''You are not alone:''' Songs about coming together as a [[gay community|community]] or reassurance to the lonely that there are others like them out there. Examples include, ''[[We Are Family]]'' by [[Sister Sledge]], ''[[Y.M.C.A. (song)|YMCA]]'' by [[The Village People]], and ''[[Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves]]'' by [[Eurythmics]] and Aretha Franklin. |
||
*'''Throw your cares away:''' A carefree narrative about putting your troubles |
*'''Throw your cares away:''' A carefree narrative about putting your troubles asides and partying. Examples include, ''[[Turn the Beat Around]]'' by [[Vicki Sue Robinson]]'', ''[[Step Back in Time]]'' by Kylie Minogue, and ''[[Holiday (song)|Holiday]]'' by Madonna. |
||
*'''Hard-won self esteem''' Here the themes involves fighting through oppression, darkness or fear to gain freedom, beauty or self esteem. Examples include, |
*'''Hard-won self esteem''' Here the themes involves fighting through oppression, darkness or fear to gain freedom, beauty or self esteem. Examples include, ''Free'' by [[Ultra Nate]], ''Supermodel'' by [[RuPaul]], and ''The Greatest Love of All]]'' by Whitney Houston. |
||
*'''Celebrating unashamed sexuality:''' The theme here is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature. Examples include, |
*'''Celebrating unashamed sexuality:''' The theme here is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature. Examples include, ''[[So Many Men, So Little Time]]'' by [[Miquel Brown]] and ''[[It's Raining Men]]'' by [[The Weather Girls]]. |
||
*'''Search for acceptance:''' Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives. Examples include, |
*'''Search for acceptance:''' Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives. Examples include, ''[[Somewhere Over the Rainbow]]'' by Judy Garland and ''[[There's a Place for Us]]'' from the musical ''[[West Side Story]]''. |
||
*'''Torch song for the world weary:''' A narrative about being used, abused and surviving to tell the tale of lament. Examples include: |
*'''Torch song for the world weary:''' A narrative about being used, abused and surviving to tell the tale of lament. Examples include: ''[[Maybe This Time]]'' by [[Liza Minelli]], ''[[You Don't Have to Say You Love Me]]'' by [[Dusty Springfield]], and ''[[And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going]]'' by [[Jennifer Holliday]]. |
||
*'''Love conquers all:''' Tales of not giving up on love despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Examples include |
*'''Love conquers the all:''' Tales of not giving up on love despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Examples include ''[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]'' by Diana Ross and ''[[As Long as He Needs Me]]'' by [[Shirley Bassey]]. |
||
*'''No apologies:''' Here the theme revolves around defiantly living one's life despite what others may want. Examples include, |
*'''No apologies:''' Here the theme revolves around defiantly living one's life despite what others may want. Examples include, ''[[I Am What I Am]]'' by Gloria Gaynor and ''[[I'm Coming Out]]'' by Diana Ross. |
||
==Notes== |
==Notes== |
Revision as of 22:01, 31 March 2009
A gay anthem or LGBT anthem is a song that has become widely popular among, or has become identified with, the LGBT community; usually with gay men. The lyrics of gay anthems are often marked with hope against the odds, pride, unity, or defiance.
Themes
Although every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem does show a pattern among the songs. In the book, Queer, the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems; they are:[1]
- Big voiced divas: Rather than particular song, this area of gay anthems is more akin to a cult of personality of a large gay male following for some particular diva-style pop music vocalists who are almost always female gay icons. Examples include: Patti LaBelle, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Gloria Gaynor, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Donna Summer, and Cher.
- Overcoming hardship in love: Usually a narrative of a wronged lover who comes back stronger than before. Examples include, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor and No More Tears (Enough is Enough) by Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross.
- You are not alone: Songs about coming together as a community or reassurance to the lonely that there are others like them out there. Examples include, We Are Family by Sister Sledge, YMCA by The Village People, and Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin.
- Throw your cares away: A carefree narrative about putting your troubles asides and partying. Examples include, Turn the Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson, Step Back in Time by Kylie Minogue, and Holiday by Madonna.
- Hard-won self esteem Here the themes involves fighting through oppression, darkness or fear to gain freedom, beauty or self esteem. Examples include, Free by Ultra Nate, Supermodel by RuPaul, and The Greatest Love of All]] by Whitney Houston.
- Celebrating unashamed sexuality: The theme here is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature. Examples include, So Many Men, So Little Time by Miquel Brown and It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls.
- Search for acceptance: Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives. Examples include, Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland and There's a Place for Us from the musical West Side Story.
- Torch song for the world weary: A narrative about being used, abused and surviving to tell the tale of lament. Examples include: Maybe This Time by Liza Minelli, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Dusty Springfield, and And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going by Jennifer Holliday.
- Love conquers the all: Tales of not giving up on love despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Examples include Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross and As Long as He Needs Me by Shirley Bassey.
- No apologies: Here the theme revolves around defiantly living one's life despite what others may want. Examples include, I Am What I Am by Gloria Gaynor and I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross.
Notes
- ^ Simon Gage, Lisa Richards, and Howard Wilmot. Queer, pp. 26-7. June 13, 2002. ISBN 1560253770
References
Bibliography
- Gay Anthems (Book & CD). Music Sales Ltd. ISBN 071199742X
- Leila J. Rupp, Verta Taylor. Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret. University Of Chicago Press, May 15, 2003. ISBN 0226731588