Synopsis
Landmarks of queer representation in popular culture or unknown gems that slid under the radar. Music Oueer looks at the subversive sonas that celebrated queer life
Episodes
Season 11
Bronski Beat - Smalltown boyA song written like a film script: the story of the daily life of a young gay man who has to leave his town to escape ostracism and violence.3m2
Charles Trenet - The Extraordinary GardenLegendary French singer Charles Trenet’s song uses poetic imagery to depict the Jardin des Tuileries, a gay cruising area in Paris.3m3
Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a PhoenixIn 2014 Conchita Wurst became the first bearded drag queen to win the Eurovision Song Contest with an affirming anthem of queer identity.3m4
Eddy de Pretto - KidFrench singer Eddy de Pretto talks about homophobia and unrealistic expectations of masculinity in a very personal song.3m5
Girl in Red - I Wanna Be Your GirlfriendStraight to the point, Girl In Red sings of her same-sex desire and her love for another woman. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend went viral and became an anthem for a generation of lesbians.3m6
Gloria Gaynor - I will surviveThe classic breakup song by Gloria Gayner is a feminist song that was adopted by the gay community as a anthem against adversity.3m7
Indochine - Le 3eme Sexe1985. In an atmosphere of rising homophobia and moral panic around AIDS, French rock group sing about non-binary identities.3m8
Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous Les AmoureuxThe first queer song to win Eurovision was a crooner’s calling out of discrimination against homosexuals.3m9
Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz is a song of hope and a symbol of a better world for the queer community.3m10
Juliette Greco - Les PingouinsIn an era when female homosexuality was invisible, Juliette Gréco sings about lesbians with animal metaphors and mischievous humour.3m11
Klaus Nomi - The Cold SongWith his countertenor voice and synthesisers, Klaus Nomi created an alien persona that blurred the lines between genres and challenged conventions.3m12
Lil Nas X Montero - Call Me By Your NameHow can you be black, gay and believe in God in America in 2021? Lil Nas X has the answer.3m13
Little Richard -Tutti FruttiWhat if one of the most famous songs from early rock and roll was about gay desire? Consummate entertainer Little Richard was a queer presence in the early fifties.3m14
Ma Rainey - Prove It On MeMa Rainey sang candidly and confidently about her relationships with women in the 1920s. As a black and bisexual woman, she turned the blues into a space of queer freedom.3m15
Pomme - GrandioseOne of the first songs in French to deal with a young lesbian’s desire to have children. It was written in the wake of the major anti-gay rights protests in France in 2013.3m16
Sexy sushi - Sex AppealSexy Sushi celebrate lesbian desire with racy lyrics as part of a queer scene that’s all about humour and fun.3m17
Sylvester - You Make Me FeelIn 1978 a high-energy disco track burns up the dancefloors of San Francisco in a frenzy of fulfilment, power and authenticity.3m18E18Troye Sivan - One of Your GirlsTroye Sivan plays with drag, desire and gender roles in his pop songs which are steeped in queer tradition.3m19
Village People - YMCAWhat’s the link between Christianity and queer club culture? In 1978 the answer was Village People’s YMCA.3m20
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - RelaxIn the 1980s, one song celebrating gay sexual climax became a worldwide hit.3m
Bronski Beat - Smalltown boyA song written like a film script: the story of the daily life of a young gay man who has to leave his town to escape ostracism and violence.3m2Charles Trenet - The Extraordinary GardenLegendary French singer Charles Trenet’s song uses poetic imagery to depict the Jardin des Tuileries, a gay cruising area in Paris.3m3Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a PhoenixIn 2014 Conchita Wurst became the first bearded drag queen to win the Eurovision Song Contest with an affirming anthem of queer identity.3m4Eddy de Pretto - KidFrench singer Eddy de Pretto talks about homophobia and unrealistic expectations of masculinity in a very personal song.3m5Girl in Red - I Wanna Be Your GirlfriendStraight to the point, Girl In Red sings of her same-sex desire and her love for another woman. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend went viral and became an anthem for a generation of lesbians.3m6Gloria Gaynor - I will surviveThe classic breakup song by Gloria Gayner is a feminist song that was adopted by the gay community as a anthem against adversity.3m7Indochine - Le 3eme Sexe1985. In an atmosphere of rising homophobia and moral panic around AIDS, French rock group sing about non-binary identities.3m8Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous Les AmoureuxThe first queer song to win Eurovision was a crooner’s calling out of discrimination against homosexuals.3m9Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz is a song of hope and a symbol of a better world for the queer community.3m10Juliette Greco - Les PingouinsIn an era when female homosexuality was invisible, Juliette Gréco sings about lesbians with animal metaphors and mischievous humour.3m11Klaus Nomi - The Cold SongWith his countertenor voice and synthesisers, Klaus Nomi created an alien persona that blurred the lines between genres and challenged conventions.3m12Lil Nas X Montero - Call Me By Your NameHow can you be black, gay and believe in God in America in 2021? Lil Nas X has the answer.3m13Little Richard -Tutti FruttiWhat if one of the most famous songs from early rock and roll was about gay desire? Consummate entertainer Little Richard was a queer presence in the early fifties.3m14Ma Rainey - Prove It On MeMa Rainey sang candidly and confidently about her relationships with women in the 1920s. As a black and bisexual woman, she turned the blues into a space of queer freedom.3m15Pomme - GrandioseOne of the first songs in French to deal with a young lesbian’s desire to have children. It was written in the wake of the major anti-gay rights protests in France in 2013.3m16Sexy sushi - Sex AppealSexy Sushi celebrate lesbian desire with racy lyrics as part of a queer scene that’s all about humour and fun.3m17Sylvester - You Make Me FeelIn 1978 a high-energy disco track burns up the dancefloors of San Francisco in a frenzy of fulfilment, power and authenticity.3m18E18Troye Sivan - One of Your GirlsTroye Sivan plays with drag, desire and gender roles in his pop songs which are steeped in queer tradition.3m19Village People - YMCAWhat’s the link between Christianity and queer club culture? In 1978 the answer was Village People’s YMCA.3m20Frankie Goes to Hollywood - RelaxIn the 1980s, one song celebrating gay sexual climax became a worldwide hit.3mCast
