No family is safe when I sashay
August 9, 2015 12:52 AM Subscribe
Perfume Genius is Seattle-based solo artist Mike Hadreas. In 2014 Slate magazine named his song Queen the gay anthem of the year. Per Hadreas, it addresses gay panic and the power that he feels over how people react to him in public. It is also achingly beautiful. Speaking on gay rights Hadreas has stated "I'm glad things are getting better, but I'm going to push and be pissed off until they're perfect. That will probably never happen, but I feel some weird duty nonetheless. Even though I can get married in Seattle, I could go to another country and get the death penalty just for being myself—I'm not making music just for fiancés in Seattle."
I had just looked him up a couple of days ago, as I discovered one of his songs had shown up in an episode of Mr. Robot and I had not heard note 1 previously that I was aware off...
posted by Samizdata at 2:12 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by Samizdata at 2:12 AM on August 9, 2015
Never heard of before Metafilter. I'm checking Perfume Genius out. (Smelly.)
posted by mississippi at 3:59 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by mississippi at 3:59 AM on August 9, 2015
I love his writing, and I wish I knew what it was about his voice that put me off.
posted by PinkMoose at 4:29 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by PinkMoose at 4:29 AM on August 9, 2015
He got a positive review in I think it was the New Yorker, and I've been enjoying listening to it since.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:24 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by Dip Flash at 5:24 AM on August 9, 2015
Oh wow yes! I got turned on to PG a while back and kept thinking about a MeFi post and you did it way better than I would have so thank you!
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:58 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 6:58 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hood was fraught for me from first listen. Fraught and wonderful. So much dread and anguish sitting right under the surface of that song.
posted by deludingmyself at 7:39 AM on August 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by deludingmyself at 7:39 AM on August 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
I love his writing, and I wish I knew what it was about his voice that put me off.
I could only understand the occasional word.
posted by sutt at 7:59 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I could only understand the occasional word.
posted by sutt at 7:59 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
His song Queen showed up on my Spotify radio a few months back. Loved it, so I saved it.
Had no idea it was a gay anthem until just now. "Oh, so that's what that means..." To me, it's just a great song.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2015
Had no idea it was a gay anthem until just now. "Oh, so that's what that means..." To me, it's just a great song.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2015
Normal Song wrenches hearts in all the right ways.
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:31 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by Doleful Creature at 8:31 AM on August 9, 2015
He's pretty great. I recommend checking out his older stuff if the newer direction turns you off. I really like Learning and Put Your Back N 2 It but couldn't get into the new one.
posted by saul wright at 11:02 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by saul wright at 11:02 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
After the high level of stupid that happened in Seattle yesterday, it's good to see the Seattle thing on the front page be Mike Hadreas. He deserves a lot more hype than he's getting.
posted by dw at 1:26 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dw at 1:26 PM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I saw him play an outdoor set opening for The Glitch Mob and Chromeo a few months ago. Let's just say he wasn't terribly well served by playing in an amphitheater in the bright, bright sun.
posted by asterix at 5:43 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by asterix at 5:43 PM on August 9, 2015
Well thanks a lot for posting the video for Hood, now I'm a giant fucking snotty mess.
posted by en forme de poire at 6:28 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by en forme de poire at 6:28 PM on August 9, 2015
OK, deep cut I know, but that bit at the end made me think that The Authority's Doctor was still around.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:42 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:42 PM on August 9, 2015
Hood is quite sad. Youtube had banned a promo for it as they said it was not "family safe". And then the man in the video with him committed suicide a few years ago. Just sad all around.
posted by Hazelsmrf at 9:42 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by Hazelsmrf at 9:42 PM on August 9, 2015
"All Along" by Perfume Genius was played in the final episode of UnReal, and Samizdata (above) says one of his songs was in an episode of Mr. Robot, so he's turned up on the two buzziest TV shows of Summer 2015.
posted by bcarter3 at 10:15 PM on August 9, 2015
posted by bcarter3 at 10:15 PM on August 9, 2015
« Older California With The Death Penalty | The network is the music Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Fireland at 1:12 AM on August 9, 2015 [2 favorites]