Sometimes I'll hear a song lyric and think, "Wait, was that queer subtext?" I'll come to SongMeanings, and I'm guaranteed to find two things.
1) Someone else who thought it was queer subtext.
2) Someone who is offended at the way gay people keep thinking every song is about gayness, and why do you people have to keep hijacking every song interpretation to talk about gayness?
This note is directed at group 2. Every time someone says, "I think the singer is talking about how much he loves his girlfriend," unless the lyrics explicitly include pronouns or relevant body parts, they are assuming a straight relationship based on personal experience and personal meaning. Are they hijacking a song interpretation to talk about straightness? No. They're sharing the song as they experience it.
A heterosexual interpretation is so standard it's taken for granted. I rarely see a follow-up comment pointing out "But they could be gay!" even though it's true. Even though I'm painfully conscious of the initial assumption, calling it out every time would get repetitive and irritating.
I see comments about possible queerness when some particular element of the song stands out as a possible message. Maybe you don't see the message. Maybe the writer didn't intend the message. I saw it. Someone else saw it. Do not pretend we do not exist. Do not pretend we are making it up out of nothing.
The point of this site is interpretations and associations. Saying, "That's not the only possible interpretation" or "I don't see it that way" or "I know that's your take on it, but the singer said it meant something else to him" is great. Saying, "It's not about" or "You're reading too much into this" or especially "Why is it always about" is fighting words.
Maybe you don't know why the Navy or a closed door or the word Daddy or having sex in a bathroom or a particular turn of phrase pings my gaydar, or maybe you know but you don't hear the ping. You don't have to. But don't insult me for your lack of knowledge.
People in fanfiction communities sometimes talk about watching a show with their slash goggles on, which means being conscious of what possible chemistry and relationships could exist but aren't being talked about, especially non-straight relationships. It's not just a sexy hobby, but a mental flexibility exercise. Try it a few times. Stop taking heterosexuality for granted, start being aware of how often people assume it. Or don't. But stop calling my experience invalid.
Sometimes I'll hear a song lyric and think, "Wait, was that queer subtext?" I'll come to SongMeanings, and I'm guaranteed to find two things.
1) Someone else who thought it was queer subtext.
2) Someone who is offended at the way gay people keep thinking every song is about gayness, and why do you people have to keep hijacking every song interpretation to talk about gayness?
This note is directed at group 2. Every time someone says, "I think the singer is talking about how much he loves his girlfriend," unless the lyrics explicitly include pronouns or relevant body parts, they are assuming a straight relationship based on personal experience and personal meaning. Are they hijacking a song interpretation to talk about straightness? No. They're sharing the song as they experience it.
A heterosexual interpretation is so standard it's taken for granted. I rarely see a follow-up comment pointing out "But they could be gay!" even though it's true. Even though I'm painfully conscious of the initial assumption, calling it out every time would get repetitive and irritating.
I see comments about possible queerness when some particular element of the song stands out as a possible message. Maybe you don't see the message. Maybe the writer didn't intend the message. I saw it. Someone else saw it. Do not pretend we do not exist. Do not pretend we are making it up out of nothing.
The point of this site is interpretations and associations. Saying, "That's not the only possible interpretation" or "I don't see it that way" or "I know that's your take on it, but the singer said it meant something else to him" is great. Saying, "It's not about" or "You're reading too much into this" or especially "Why is it always about" is fighting words.
Maybe you don't know why the Navy or a closed door or the word Daddy or having sex in a bathroom or a particular turn of phrase pings my gaydar, or maybe you know but you don't hear the ping. You don't have to. But don't insult me for your lack of knowledge.
People in fanfiction communities sometimes talk about watching a show with their slash goggles on, which means being conscious of what possible chemistry and relationships could exist but aren't being talked about, especially non-straight relationships. It's not just a sexy hobby, but a mental flexibility exercise. Try it a few times. Stop taking heterosexuality for granted, start being aware of how often people assume it. Or don't. But stop calling my experience invalid.