What Do You Think Is The Gay Anthem?

[+ Avalon]

In that story about the coming out of the Florida State athlete it said that on an airplane trip he asked for "YMCA" to be played. There's one advantage that song has over "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". One can more easily dance to it! When one hears "YMCA" it makes one want to get up and move about!

[bostonman]

In that story about the coming out of the Florida State athlete it said that on an airplane trip he asked for "YMCA" to be played. There's one advantage that song has over "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". One can more easily dance to it! When one hears "YMCA" it makes one want to get up and move about!

 

"YMCA" was written, in part, by a gay man, performed by a group that had a clear gay sensibility, and was about a specific aspect of the gay lifestyle.

 

"I Am What I Am" was written by a gay man for a musical whose book was also written by a gay man, based on a film about the gay lifestyle, and was the first Broadway musical (March Of The Falsettos, which preceded it, was off-Broadway) to deal frankly with gay issues and gay marriage. The song, in context, is both angry rebellion and joyous affirmation, in the face of the character having been asked to compromise his flamboyant nature for the sake of his straight son's fiancee's parents meeting the family for the first time.

 

"Over The Rainbow" was written by 2 straight men, to be sung by a straight singer/actress in a film whose story steered clear from any aspect of sexuality whatsoever, set on a lonely Kansas farm in a venue and era where homosexuality would have had no acceptable place. The song has no literal connection to anything having to do with gays or gay pride. I understand the appeal that many gay men of a certain age have had for all things Judy (and other, mainly female, tragic celeb icons), and I understand the "escape/fantasy" theme of the song in terms of the desperate want for a place where one can be accepted for who they are, but I don't think that really qualifies it as a specifically "gay" anthem.

 

Just my $.02...

[Bearofdistinction]

OR We can Go Back to Where the publicity started and Gay Hollywood Filmmakers started the fun SPRING BREAK FORT LAUDERDALE!!! Where the Boys Are!

And they still are there - But now we own an entire town WILTON MANORS --- And the only gay hotel was the Marlin Beach with 2 for 1 Street Boys Mon-Weds Poolside 12-4pm

 

Now there a series of Gay-Owned Beach Resorts! And the Politicians seek out our support

 

 

 

[MikeyGMin]

Just my $.02

I'll make that $0.04. Anthems need to be celebratory or defiant -- not depressing. "Over the Rainbow" is a pretty song, but it makes you want to slit your wrists.

 

"I am What I Am" seems the most meaningful, but have you ever seen what "I Will Survive" does to a dance floor at a club? I think that's the song that men of all ages can relate to.

[+ WilliamM]

Just my $.02...

 

I liked your post, but wish you had mentioned the names of the people who wrote those songs.

[Rudynate]

[manorbrown]

"I'm Coming Out" byDiana Ross....that was exactly what I was doing when this song came out...

[Guest liguy11]

Shania Twain - “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

[Becket]

Lee Greenwood. "Proud to be an American."........... Oh wait, anthem, not anathema

[bostonman]

but have you ever seen what "I Will Survive" does to a dance floor at a club? I think that's the song that men of all ages can relate to.

 

Yes, but it's a dance hit in straight clubs too. Besides, I don't think an anthem should be decided based on its popularity as a danceable song in a gay club, lol. There were many such songs at the time. Also don't forget that the club dance version of "I Am What I Am" was also sung by Gaynor.

 

When "I Will Survive" came out when I was a kid, I really heard it in the context of feminism. Ultimately though, the song is a universal sentiment about bounding back after a breakup - something as relevant to hetero men and women as much as gay men and women.

 

This is a bit of a side note, just as long as we're discussing gay-related music - coming out in the late 70's/early 80's, I was introduced to albums by singers such as Holly Near and Meg Christian, who wrote and/or sang gay-related songs that I still cherish now, even in an era when their names may be quite obscure to the newest generations.

 

For instance, Holly Near's sweet "Imagine My Surprise" always lifts my spirits, even as a gay man (since the song is clearly feminist-based as well as it is about same sex love).

 

[MassageDrew]

 

I was going to post this as well