Out Loud
An Openly Queer Song From (Almost) Every Decade of the 20th Century
As I delved deeper into the lifelong journey of unearthing queer history, music emerged as perhaps the most surprising revelation. While I was familiar with many early mass media and pop culture references that included queer themes—whether mostly overt in novels or implied in movies and television—I had assumed that music, one of the most accessible mediums, must have been mostly coded in its queer references.
I was wrong. It wasn't just the subtle lyrics of Little Richard, cloaked as they were in flamboyant sounds, or the speculation around Elton John. There were openly queer artists singing openly queer songs throughout the history of popular music. I found myself captivated by every lyric and beat, as well as by the stories of the performers themselves.
So, I wanted to share the beginnings of my musical journey with you. Over time, I've curated numerous queer music playlists—by decade, tone, theme, mood, and more. Though my exploration doesn't extend to classical music, an area I haven't deeply studied, I recognize that some classical compositions were perceived as queer — both as related to identity and to the sheer audial experience— even in their time. This includes works by openly queer composers like Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, and Copland. However, my list begins with the advent of modern popular music, mass recording, and the rise of records for mass consumption in the 1920s.
Today, I offer a playlist of queer music spanning several decades—not tied to any specific theme, but designed to guide you as you start or continue your journey into queer music history. For a more comprehensive exploration, I recommend Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache by Martin Aston and the Queer Music Heritage website by JD Doyle, which archives a rich tapestry of our musical past.
Here’s your queer listening playlist, featuring a popular & remarkably queer song from each decade:
1920s:
George Hannah – “Freakish Man Blues”
Openly gay George Hannah sings about being judged for who he is and went on to sing many queer songs that followed. Here he sings about being less alone and finding just how many other freakish folks are common now. Solidarity in community!
1930s:
Bruz Fletcher – “Keep an Eye on His Business”
Openly gay Bruz Fletcher, like Cole Porter and other queer jazz-era crooners, often sang through female protagonists in his songs. But beneath the surface, he was sharing his own voice and direct experiences about how best to keep a man.
1940s:
Gladys Bentley – “Boogie’n My Boogie”
Openly queer and a powerful figure in business and music, Gladys Bentley altered the lyrics to reference coming home to her "pretty mama" after the war—perhaps a nod to her wife that she married (more than half a century before the law would recognize it).
1950s:
Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Madame Marie Knight – “Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air”
While not lyrically queer, this song is remarkable because Sister Rosetta Tharpe—often credited as the godmother of rock 'n' roll—recorded it with her partner, Marie Knight. While recorded in the late 1940s (I am cheating a little as most Tharpe recordings are from the 1950s), the joy in singing this with her partner is on display. This gospel-infused, proto-rock blues track predates the modern LGBTQ liberation movement by two decades.
1960s:
Jackie Shane – “High Heel Sneakers”
Jackie Shane, a transgender soul singer active in Nashville and Toronto, embodied resilience and defiance. This track, about getting ready to face the world with your red dress, high heels, wig and boxing gloves, reflects a bold fighting spirit years before the Stonewall rebellion.
1970s:
Jobriath – “I’m A Man”
An openly gay glam rock pioneer, Jobriath stood out among his contemporaries, who were often more carefully packaged as glam for marketability, sometimes straight and sometimes closeted. In this track, he declares his identity with defiant pride, himself now “Clara Bow” showing love for another man as he lives his life just like he had been living it. His story is extraordinary and sadly he joins the millions who were wiped out from the homophobia of AIDS.
1980s:
Patrick Cowley – “Menergy”
Patrick Cowley, a revolutionary figure in the Hi-NRG genre, forever changed disco and dance music. He produced some of the greatest widely known (Sylvester) and lesser known (Paul Parker and many more) 1980s dance artists. "Menergy" is an infectious, celebratory anthem about queer joy and pride in the club scene, with the boys at the club laughing it up, shooting off menergy. It’s a vibe.
1990s:
Ani DiFranco – “In Or Out”
Ani DiFranco has consistently challenged and defied gender and sexual labels. This 1992 track, released well before "nonbinary" became part of mainstream vocabulary, showcases her refusal to be confined by binary labels for either gender or sexuality, as she explores being addressed as Mister, and tries on different aspects of herself, resisting boxes for any identity.
I could continue with honorable mentions, but this list is just one entry into the vast pantheon of queer music. If, like me, you love discovering stories—especially queer stories—then delve into the lives of these singers. Be prepared to feel inspired by the paths they not only tread but often blazed. And more playlists will come in the future (let me know what you want to hear)!
