Songs About Gender Issues

[glendagladwitch]

I'd like to suggest we have a topic where we post videos or identify songs that seem like they might be about gender issues, or have a special meaning to someone with gender issues that allows then to relate to to it in an unusual way.  I'd like to kick it off with this one.  In particular, I wonder if this song has special meaning for FTMs, especially anyone who has ever misplaced his packer.

[Colleen Ireland]

How about "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"?  I haven't seen it yet, but it was recommended to me by a friend.  It's a musical.  Although... it's about a gay guy who gets hoodwinked into a sex-change operation that gets botched, so how this would be a good movie for a MTF in the beginning stages of transition is beyond me...   

[glendagladwitch]

How about "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"?  I haven't seen it yet, but it was recommended to me by a friend.  It's a musical.  Although... it's about a gay guy who gets hoodwinked into a sex-change operation that gets botched, so how this would be a good movie for a MTF in the beginning stages of transition is beyond me...   

I only heard that one for the first time very recently, and I was like, WTF?  Here's the vid for it.

[ilanthefirst]

How about "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"?  I haven't seen it yet, but it was recommended to me by a friend.  It's a musical.  Although... it's about a gay guy who gets hoodwinked into a sex-change operation that gets botched, so how this would be a good movie for a MTF in the beginning stages of transition is beyond me...   

I'm a big fan of Hedwig and don't think it's supposed to be about Hedwig as an MTF, as she actually sings about being between genders (hence my inconsistent pronoun use here) and goes through a more complicated transition throughout the film:   Hedwig begins as an effeminate gay man who gets (a botched) SRS to escape communist East Germany and then struggles with her identity for the rest of the film.  Is she defined by her male past, her ambiguous parts, her attractions for men, how other people see her?  Meanwhile, her bandmates are all over the gender spectrum and move freely on it:   I want to say more, but don't want to reveal the surprises; you can message me if you want the spoilers.  This film really helped me when it came to sorting out making the best of what I have body-wise in a compromise with my gender.  It's really inspiring when it comes to doing what you have to to make yourself whole.

[Fenrir]

This is one that someone on this forum recommended a while ago, can't remember who it was though... whoever it was, it's beautiful, thanks.


I rather like this one too, because of the refrain: "But you treat me like a woman, when I feel like a man!" Don't think it's actually about anything trans, that's just how I like to relate to it.


And this one by Madonna. It's a shame the ending is cut off this, but it's the only video of the good version of it I could find.

[PixieBoy]

There is this one song by Hole which may have some slight connections with gender issues. The lyrics go something like "My d*ck's the biggest one you ever saw, yeah, suck my candy flesh". The singer is female, so that's why it could be connected to the topic. I haven't listened to Hole in a while, though, but it's from the Pretty On The Inside album.

I'll revise this post later and add the song, if I can find it.

[rejennyrated]

Here is one of the definitives in my opinion.

[Sinnyo]

... how did I miss that song? I heard a few Anthony and the Johnsons tracks back when Radio 2 played them more, but never that particular one - and it's far more beautiful to me. Thank you, Jenny.

Mulan's "Reflection" always brings me to tears (though only the Lea Salonga version):



(Oho, so the video embeds automatically when we just post the video URL - I learned something today!)

[Nathan.]

Manic Street Preachers - Born A Girl

[Sly]

Something about how being trans makes it hard to find a good job.  I guess.

[glendagladwitch]

I thought for sure I'd see Lola by The Kinks, and that Rocky Horror song.  But instead there's all these songs I've never heard of!

[Janet_Girl]

It may not necessarily be about gender issues.  But I think it can.    And of course the guys are really cute.



And Just for Glenda ......

[Alicia Marie]

With the talent and musicians on this site I am surprised that some of the groups haven't started making, performing and distributing their own music. It seems like a rather good way to get others to understand the feelings, emotions and trials of being transgendered. If nothing else they could make it clear.

[Yakshini]

I don't really know French all that well... but if you watch the video, it's pretty obvious that the song talks about something like gender issues.



It's called "Toi T'en Reves" by: Narcys. If anyone is able to translate it, I would certainly appreciate it.

[ilanthefirst]

Ooh, speaking of French songs, this is one of my favorites about gender (with a video of the all-male band playing it in dresses):   Here are the lyrics in English: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/placebo/burgerqueen.html.

Edit: Also, I just remembered a classic that sort of needs the video. . .

[Imadique]

With the talent and musicians on this site I am surprised that some of the groups haven't started making, performing and distributing their own music. It seems like a rather good way to get others to understand the feelings, emotions and trials of being transgendered. If nothing else they could make it clear.

There are acts around that do that. In Sydney where I'm from there's Jade Starr and Mechanical Black and probably more. I will never sing about it though.

[Rayalisse]

K's Choice - Something's Wrong - a bit insensitive to MtF's but hey...

[Nathan.]

It may not necessarily be about gender issues.  But I think it can.    And of course the guys are really cute.

When I was a kid I used to sing man I feel like a man when that song was on

[Colleen Ireland]

There's also "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin.  Okay, not SPECIFICALLY about gender issues, but I've sort of adopted it.  And the first time I was out shopping for female clothes, it came on over the loudspeakers when I was waiting for a fitting room...

[Shana A]

here's a few versions of Masculine Women! Feminine Men!, first recorded in 1926