Holiday was another early queer jazz artist, best known for songs such as:loneliness” and “Let’s meet.”
But “Autumn in New York” rightfully earned its place on this fall list thanks to its title. As the lyrics suggest, this song makes you feel like you’re walking through Central Park in October when the leaves are changing colors.
“Lovers Celebrating the Darkness / On a Bench in Central Park / Welcome Autumn in New York” Holiday sing.
Although it was barely mentioned in the 2021 biopic “America vs. Billie Holiday” Holiday has spoken openly about her bisexuality. Autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues”.
“Autumn in New York” isn’t a song specifically about women, but Holiday may have taken one of her female lovers out for one such fall stroll. lived She spent most of her life in New York. It’s the perfect song to take your partner on a romantic walk this fall.
3. “You Don’t Own Me” by Leslie Gore (1963)
Although many people know this song and the song from her 1963 hit album, “If I want to cry, I’ll cry.” like “It’s my party.” and “Misty” It is not widely known that Leslie Gore was a lesbian.
Mr. Gore didn’t come out publicly until the early 2000s, well past the peak of his career. she said She knew she was a lesbian since college, where she met her lifelong partner, Lois Sasson.
Gore releases ‘You Don’t Own Me’ when she was only 17 years old. Although the song is about heterosexual relationships, its lyrics prove to be an anthem against patriarchy.
“And don’t tell me what to do/Don’t tell me what to say/And when I go out with you/Don’t make me stand out” Gore sing.
The song is great all year round, but Gore’s haunting chorus is a bold statement of her individuality, and it’s perfect for October’s season of self-expression, which means striking Halloween costumes and social norms. It feels like a season of deviation from.
4. “You’re Dead” by Norma Tanega (1966)
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Tanega is known for his quirky songs such as: “Walking a cat named dog,” sings “You’re Dead” with its eerie lyrics and stands out as a staple of the spooky season.
“You never get a second chance / Plan every move in advance / Stay dead, stay dead, stay dead / Stay dead and get out of this world,” she said. sing.
It has established itself as a standard Halloween song. used as a theme In the vampire comedy film and then television series “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Although Tanega has kept her love life largely private, she has written songs about and for queer singer Dusty Springfield, who she dated in the 1960s. extra magazine.
5. “I Just Want to Be with You” by Dusty Springfield (1963)
Springfield achieved great success with songs such as; “Son of a preacher,‘ shot her to stardom in the 1960s. she was ahead of her time In 1970, he announced that he was bisexual..
“I know I’m just as capable of being swayed by girls as I am swayed by boys,” Springfield said In a 1970 interview with the Evening Standard, he said: “More and more people feel that way, and I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.”
“I Only Want to Be With You” has cute and uplifting lyrics that are perfect for a date soundtrack and is perfect for the fall mood. It evokes images of cotton candy and holding hands on a Ferris wheel.
“I don’t care where you go or what you do/I want to spend every moment of the day with you” Springfield sing.
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While the songs these artists left behind contributed and created today’s queer genre, their music was only part of their legacy.
All of these artists were passionate activists. Rainey and Holiday used their songs to amplify Black voices. Tanega defended immigrants.. All five were feminists and LGBTQ+ advocates.
This fall, we encourage you to take in the music and work of these singers who helped “establish” the queer artist landscape today.
@dthlifestyle |lifestyle@dailytarheel.com