Sexual Fluidity in Songs and Lyrics: Gender Bending in Music

While television and movies have only recently been open with the exchange of gender roles and various gender issues. But surprisingly, music has been more open to these issues. In fact, the music industry has been a venue for a number of innovations considering this area. Note, for instance, the popularity of glam rock during the 70s, or how the songs during this time has been more open to a number of sexual issues. Because of this, a number of songs have lyrics that address these sexual and gender issues.

A recent example of this is Beyonce’s ‘If I Were A Boy.” Here, Beyonce sings what she would do if she was a boy. “If I were a boy / I think I could understand / How it feels to love a girl / I swear I’d be a better man,” the lyrics go. Other songs have lyrics that are more direct and tackle more serious and mature issues. Nonetheless, the idea of the lyrics of the songs is the same—it wouldn’t hurt to be more open regarding these issues. Although they may be against your personal beliefs, it wouldn’t hurt to at least listen to the lyrics of these songs.

A song with lyrics similar to Beyonce’s is Bonnie Tyler’s "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)." This 80s song has lyrics that mirror the same sentiments of “If I Were A Boy.” Here, the lyrics say it would be easier to understand what it feels to be a hunter instead of prey (pertaining to the perceived roles of a man and a woman in dating and relationships. The lyrics also suggest that this lack of understanding becomes a wall that holds back their love. “If you were a woman and I was a man / Would it be so hard to understand / That a heart's a heart and we do what we can,” the lyrics claim.

Blur’s “Girls & Boys” also acknowledges the blurring of sexual roles and sexual labels. The lyrics of this song go: “Girls who are boys / Who like boys to be girls / Who do boys like they’re girls / Who do girls like they’re boys /Always should be someone you really love.” However, the lyrics of this song can serve also a satire on the party scene of London.

Apparently, bands and artists from Europe are more provocative when it comes to their song lyrics since a number of bands and artists from Europe tackle such sensitive topics, as well other topics considered as taboo in some countries. For instance, The Kinks, a band during the 1960s, released a song named “Lola.” As the lyrics would reveal, the song is about the relationship of a man and transsexual. Despite the sensitive topic of the song, “Lola” is perhaps one of the biggest hits of The Kinks, making it one of their more popular shout-out numbers during their concerts. Goes to show a band can rock out while dishing out thought-provoking lyrics.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com