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warren c. e. austin
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Likes it here |
Location: Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 247
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... the song lyrics to romantic ballads, and such are seldom gender neutral? I know I have, which is why (when I encounter one, especially if it manages to bring a tear to my eye, or otherwise somehow tugs at the old heart-strings) I usually sub-consciously make a note of it, and will then find myself days, or even weeks later searching for information about it.
This has happened to me twice in the past several months; the first time when I stumbled across an early BoyZone recording of "No Matter What" when surfing the internet looking for information on Stephen Gately, and just today when tuned into a local Country and Western station (which I seldom am) I recognized Darryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend", a tune that had been plaguing me for weeks.
I guess what I really trying to emote here, is just how truly refreshing I find songs of this nature to be, given present day societal values and all. Yes, over the years there have been any number of "Gay" themed songs to make the Hit Parade, songs like the Village People's "YMCA", et al, Boy George's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and many by the likes of Elton John, Queen, Spandau Ballet and Wham! amongst others; but, with little exception, they have been blatantly stereotypical of our communities mind-set of what others see us as.
A good example of this is Supertramp's "Goodbye Stranger". When this was current (the mid-1970's), I couldn't help but wonder, every time I heard it, just what the monied grey-rinse set in old Forest Hills Village in the heart of ever so staid, and not quite laid-back Toronto was thinking as they listened to the song, if in fact they ever troubled themselves to figure out the lyrics, and maybe it's just as well that they probably never did.
My God the subject of Male-prostitution certainly wouldn't go down too well over their tea and crumpets.
Any ways I rambling here, and what I definitely wanted to say is I find it somewhat gratifying when a remarkable song such as the two I list for you all below, actually makes it to the charts and received wide-spread exposure, and is rewarded with significant enough records sales to have justified the gamble the artists may have taken in recording them.
I do know that we need more of them. Many more, and if for no other reasons than the positive re-enforcement they provide for alternative life-styles in an increasingly hostile world.
Lyrics BoyZone's No Matter What found here:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/boyzone/nomatterwhat.html
Lyrics to Darryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend" found here:
http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?sid=%CA%D35%C8%3B5%CF%06
Warren C. E. Austin
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warren c. e. austin
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Likes it here |
Location: Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 247
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... neither of the two songs I have linked in the prior *post* were specifically written, and intended as being either gender neutral, or gay-positive by design.
They just sort of happened that way, makeing both equally remarkable for their being at all.
Steven Gately (from Boyzone) had approached Andrew Lloyd Webber (late 1995 or very early 1996) about writing a song for the group to sing. Webber said he and Jim Steinman had been writing material for a new show that had a song that would be perfect for Boyzone.
Boyzone would later record "No Matter What" for a single and for an "All Star Concept" album of songs from the West End muscial WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. It was subsequently released on Steinman's Ravenous Records label in two different extended mixes, and finally as a featured selection on their own 1998 album Where We Belong.
Darryl Worely's "I Miss My Friend" is is my understanding was written in memory of a woman he knew who had recently died in an automobile accident.
For all of the truth about the whys and the wherefores, both still fulfill a significant purpose in the hearts and minds of many a gender challenged soul.
Warren C. E. Austin
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