Singer/ Songwriters Burning Down the Closet

In the very early days of pop music, social mores were such that gay singers and songwriters were forced to use veiled lyrics and subliminal messages to express their sexuality. Great talents such as Lorenz Hart and Cole Porter wrote some of the greatest pop standards of all time, but were at best required to make their songs gender neutral or steep them in double meanings.

Take a song such as “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To”, and it’s achingly romantic lyrics: 

You’d be so nice to come home to.
You’d be so nice by the fire.
While the breeze on high sang a lullaby
You’d be all that I could desire.
Under stars chilled by the winter,
Under an August moon burning above,
You’d be so nice, you’d be paradise
To come home to and love.

It became an anthem for World War II soldiers about their girls back home, but how many of them would feel the same if they knew that Cole Porter’s inspiration for the lyrics came from his relationship with choreographer Nelson Barclift? 

Things improved gradually over the ensuing decades, but it’s only in the past ten years that there has truly been a flowering of gay singer/songwriters who are often as far away from gender neutral as you can get. These artists are unapologetically out and wear their hearts – and sexuality – on their sleeves.

What follows is a sampling of just some of the songs from the new breed of out artists who are blazing a trail for a whole new generation, who aren’t afraid to be overtly political or sexual, and most importantly, honest (sometimes brutally so).

Each song will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5 (based on quality, outness, and how groundbreaking it is). 

Levi Kreis - "We’re Okay"

Like all great songwriters, Levi Kreis uses music as a vessel for autobiography, specifically the conflict between his religious upbringing and his sexuality. In his song “We’re Okay”, from his 2006 album The Gospel According to Levi, he sings about trying to help his devout mother come to terms with who he is. 

It was so easy then
We were the best of friends
Those days of innocence
Were beautiful and kind
You held my little hand
Till I became a man
Must have been hard to watch me
Leave your dreams behind.
But beliefs do what they’re made to do
Dividing those of different views
But I believe love is big enough
To cross the great divide.

The song ends with a powerful statement of hope, “maybe we’re okay. ” It’s a plea that’s recognizable to anyone who’s had to deal with coming out, which can be a process filled with fear and anxiety.

Rating: Quality - 4, Outness - 3, Groundbreaking - 4

Final Score: 3.6