In an interview in the 70's, Bowie explainedthis song. A cruiser is British slang for a homosexual. To "pull" means you're meeting somebody to have sex with them. Sister Flo is a transvestite prostitute. Bowie's on the eleventh floor of his apartment building watching the cruiser try to pull Sister Flo. Sister Flo looks swishy in her frock coat and hat. Bowie's upset with what he sees, his weekend's at an all time low. Why didn't he say to Sister Flo "I could do better than that!" (be a better transvestite). This song was centered around transvestites and homosexuality, as most of his late 60's-early 70's stuff was, such as Rebel Rebel and Suffragette City. Look around for that interview where he explains this if you can, it's an interesting watch.
The era was full of imagery of this type Lou Reed, Iggy, T Rex, even the Kinks had a lot of subject matter about transvestitism, prostitution, and other things glamorizing low-life drug culture. The glam thing was a celebration of the seamy underbelly of western society - with some makeup and nail polish to try to give it a white wash.
The era was full of imagery of this type Lou Reed, Iggy, T Rex, even the Kinks had a lot of subject matter about transvestitism, prostitution, and other things glamorizing low-life drug culture. The glam thing was a celebration of the seamy underbelly of western society - with some makeup and nail polish to try to give it a white wash.
There are certainly some other songs from this era that go to the same places about homosexuality and drag. But this one's pretty interesting and different from some of the best known ones.
There are certainly some other songs from this era that go to the same places about homosexuality and drag. But this one's pretty interesting and different from some of the best known ones.
"Lola" is actually about exoticizing and objectifying a crossdresser and trades in negative stereotypes -- she's trying to trick him, she's really a man, etc. It's kind of gross.
"Lola" is actually about exoticizing and objectifying a crossdresser and trades in negative stereotypes -- she's trying to trick him, she's really a man, etc. It's kind of gross.
"Walk on the Wild Side" is still exoticizing . I mean, what does "take a walk on the wild side" mean, if not something exotic and fetishizing? But it's actually interested in the stories of the women somewhat. He at least sees them as people, and isn't actually writing in a way that counts on people being revolted. That goes a long way to take it past "Lola", "Dude Looks Like a Lady", etc.
Bowie's better-known "Rebel Rebel" is about actually being in love with a crossdresser or trans woman. She isn't merely someone to have sex with or an interesting person, she's someone worth dating.
But "Queen Bitch" is actually about wanting to be the crossdresser. It's not from her point of view, but it's from the point of view of someone closeted who wants to come out, and that's an important difference.
In an interview in the 70's, Bowie explainedthis song. A cruiser is British slang for a homosexual. To "pull" means you're meeting somebody to have sex with them. Sister Flo is a transvestite prostitute. Bowie's on the eleventh floor of his apartment building watching the cruiser try to pull Sister Flo. Sister Flo looks swishy in her frock coat and hat. Bowie's upset with what he sees, his weekend's at an all time low. Why didn't he say to Sister Flo "I could do better than that!" (be a better transvestite). This song was centered around transvestites and homosexuality, as most of his late 60's-early 70's stuff was, such as Rebel Rebel and Suffragette City. Look around for that interview where he explains this if you can, it's an interesting watch.
The era was full of imagery of this type Lou Reed, Iggy, T Rex, even the Kinks had a lot of subject matter about transvestitism, prostitution, and other things glamorizing low-life drug culture. The glam thing was a celebration of the seamy underbelly of western society - with some makeup and nail polish to try to give it a white wash.
The era was full of imagery of this type Lou Reed, Iggy, T Rex, even the Kinks had a lot of subject matter about transvestitism, prostitution, and other things glamorizing low-life drug culture. The glam thing was a celebration of the seamy underbelly of western society - with some makeup and nail polish to try to give it a white wash.
@arfarf,
@arfarf,
There are certainly some other songs from this era that go to the same places about homosexuality and drag. But this one's pretty interesting and different from some of the best known ones.
There are certainly some other songs from this era that go to the same places about homosexuality and drag. But this one's pretty interesting and different from some of the best known ones.
"Lola" is actually about exoticizing and objectifying a crossdresser and trades in negative stereotypes -- she's trying to trick him, she's really a man, etc. It's kind of gross.
"Lola" is actually about exoticizing and objectifying a crossdresser and trades in negative stereotypes -- she's trying to trick him, she's really a man, etc. It's kind of gross.
"Walk on the Wild Side" is still exoticizing . I mean, what does "take a walk on the wild side" mean, if not something exotic and fetishizing? But it's actually interested in the stories of the women somewhat. He at least sees them as people, and isn't actually writing in a way that counts on people being revolted. That goes a long way to take it past "Lola", "Dude Looks Like a Lady", etc.
Bowie's better-known "Rebel Rebel" is about actually being in love with a crossdresser or trans woman. She isn't merely someone to have sex with or an interesting person, she's someone worth dating.
But "Queen Bitch" is actually about wanting to be the crossdresser. It's not from her point of view, but it's from the point of view of someone closeted who wants to come out, and that's an important difference.