Queerics Home Recent Additions Suggest a song Lists and articles Musicians' preferences Links Shop
The 20 Queer Songs You Have To Hear
A homo-primer

16. Tori Amos, "Raspberry Swirl" (1998)



I like it when women rock un-self-consciously; there's so much of that "I'm rocking! NO LISTEN TO ME! I'M A CHICK! AND I'M ROCKING! ISN'T THAT COOL AND EDGY?" crap floating around. Now, if you want to claim that Tori Amos doesn't rock that hard I'm not going to argue with you, but what she does do, she does without handwaving about it. Or she did--it seems like she's gotten a lot more self-aware and annoying over the years.

... But let's not get too bogged down with musical criticism. I AM NOT YOUR SENORITA. (Motherfucker!)

Why you really need to hear it: It's so sassy! One big fat "You're DOING IT WRONG" to the straight boys.


15. U2, "Until The End Of The World" (1991)



This one is great from the howling guitar at the beginning to the apocalyptic crescendo at the end. I think people tend to overlook what a weird bunch of deviants U2 are--they don't even do songs about Jesus in a normal way. I blame radio stations and their ceaseless playing of the drivel that is "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

Why you really need to hear it: Because it sounds like a Nam flashback. (So actually, if you're a veteran, maybe you shouldn't hear it.) In all seriousness, this is the only time you're going to find an ostensibly-straight Irishman making Judas and Jesus sound so gay for each other.


14. Final Fantasy, "He Poos Clouds" (2006)



They might be gimmicky on occasion, but I love strings, and Owen Pallett doesn't let them overwhelm his songs with "OMG! I'M PLAYING A VIOLIN!" In this case, I think they're perfect for the subject matter, because nothing will remind you of playing Zelda all summer like a triumphant orchestra will. (Except maybe an ocarina.) The vocals are perfect, too--the cycle of calm-to-shrieking should also seem familiar to you gamers out there.

Why you really need to hear it: This man is comparing videogames to his relationships with real boys. Go on, try to find another gay song that pulls that one off without sounding like a joke.


13. Manic Street Preachers, "Nobody Loved You" (1998)



Everyone knows the story, right? Manic Street Preachers, glamour twins, Richey Edwards disappears in 1995 and everything gets sad and sports-casual? I do hesitate at reading homoeroticism into people's personal tragedies, because 1) of course people are going to be especially effusive about people they miss, and 2) I think western straight men's unwillingness to express their affection for their friends is doing them a world of harm emotionally, so I don't want to discourage them by insinuating that they're a bunch of fags, but seriously. Even if there's nothing genuinely gay here, it's a gorgeous song.

Why you really need to hear it: James Dean Bradfield is one of the most gifted guitarists and vocalists I can think of--he didn't write the lyrics, but from his delivery you would never guess that those aren't his words.


Previous [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Next