Hey howdy hey, Unicorns! I hope this article finds you... well, I don’t want to start off that way because we’ve all gotten work emails during this ongoing pandemic with that familiar greeting and I’m pretty sure we’re all sick of it at this point. Instead, I’ll go more of a greeting-card route: May you read this with a happy, healthy, calm and content heart
Look, the world is in a tough spot. The fact is I’m not sure when this article will get published because I often write them weeks (sometimes months!) ahead of their publication dates. But I know enough to know that while you’re reading this, chances are the current events probably aren’t all that rosy.
But that’s also part of why I write these volumes — so you can have a break in a safe space and maybe discover some short-form queer works of art that can take your mind off of things, even if it’s for the length of a radio edit.
So let’s get to our bi+ escapism, shall we? I usually do disclaimers on longer media reviews but since the stuff is right here for easy consumption, I’ll pass on that (with one notable exception.) But if this is your first time around here (welcome!) then you can find out all about the metric at play here.
Ready to fire up a new Spotify playlist? So am I. And away we go!
1) Honorable Mention: Katie Pruitt, “Normal”
Wait, what now? Yes, this is (to our memory) our first honorable mention here at the Mini! Pruitt is a gay country star on the rise, and “Normal’s” searing lyrics talk about her coming to terms with her own queerness. While Pruitt firmly identifies as a lesbian, the lyrics of this reflective ballad — rife with acute observations on disappointments in compulsive heteronormativity, grappling with atheism, and sexual discovery — are themes most, if not all, bi people can deeply relate to.
2) Dove Cameron, “Boyfriend”
#Bi2 Dove Cameron, fresh off her role on Schmigadoon!, has dropped a sultry song that caught on like wildfire on TikTok and is making the rounds on mainstream media as well. While I do love queer singers sing about queer romances, it’s not so fun to hear the lyrics talk about stealing a friend away from her boyfriend as that can perpetuate some stereotypes our community finds hard to shake. That said, I can definitely relate to that bi panic of having an infinitesimal moment to make a move while nobody’s looking. Echoes of the sentiment we saw in “Jenny (I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship)” here, but with more dark academia undertones.
3) Orville Peck — “Dead of Night”
A Canadian cowboy with a Roy Orbison-like falsetto singing about his queer leanings? Yes, please! Peck’s lyrics (and unusually tasseled) appearance on the country scene have found crossover success with his crooner “Dead of Night,” rife with fluid and profound imagery of both escape from the norms as well as sex workers doing their thing at the famed Chicken Ranch. Extra points for putting a bi pun in the lyrics of using “a Johnny’s cash.”
4) Cringe Lizard, “Bi Wife Energy”
I mean, it’s in the damn title, is it not?
While most of the content we cover here is about bi attractions, this one is a celebration of those who affirm all sides of us — the bi husbands, and the delightful, secure vibes they give off. So often we have to remind people here and in other queer spaces that in a “straight-seeming” couple, we didn’t choose a side, but rather a partner. Cringe Lizard takes the time to laud and affirm those partners and spouses we adore — and does it to a surprisingly catchy beat.
5) BriTANick, “Pillow Talk”
Warning: brief, disturbing imagery
Changing gears more than a little bit is this sketch from the dynamic duo that makes comic shorts, Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney.
I know this one’s an odd one for manifold reasons, but in the world of sketch, it’s also nice to see homosexuality or bisexuality be the ultimate butt of the joke. Does that mean that all the behavior on display here is admirable? Of course not. But for a brief, shining moment in late 2000s sketch comedy, some male characters were bi and it was just a nice surprise to see.
Still, please amongst other things, don’t fuck a Bible.
6) Lil Nas X, “Jolene”
While we have covered the OG version of this song before, we haven’t taken on deliberately queer covers of this 1970s classic. After Lil Nas released his highly-anticipated debut album INDUSTRY BABY last year, during his press junket tour he dropped this glorious cover, breathing new life and new interpretations into an already beloved classic. It’s one thing to interpret “Jolene” as queer; it’s another thing entirely to hear a male voice deliberately queering up the dynamic of the love triangle in the piece just by making the singer a man. More subdued in his approach of the material, Nas’ delivery nevertheless is imbued with heartfelt pleading and soothing tones, reminding this with goldfish memories that he started off in country roots not so long ago in his smash hit “Old Town Road.” And it’s absolutely worth every second of a listen.
And there we have it, cats and jammers! Hopefully these entries have provided you with a much-needed distraction. But if not — are you wishing there was something in this iteration or in volumes past? Annoyed that this volume was so country-heavy and wanna sound off on it? Feel free to @ me on Twitter with any suggestions for future volumes.
Until next time: Keep on queering it up out there, fam.
Comments
Facebook Comments