"A trans anthem, right now, is for a trans person to create"

June 15, 2021 9:49 PM

On the following pages, we've compiled 37 songs that fit that description, written by trans artists. But it's important to note: We wouldn't exactly call them "trans anthems." After all, there's not a universal "trans" experience shared by all trans folks, and there are so many identities across the gender galaxy. All of the trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, two-spirit, and gender-nonconforming musicians listed here write about so much more than gender and adversity within their bodies of work. - The Advocate in 2014 archive link

The original Advocate article is here, but a lot of the youtube embeds didn't load for me at that link, and they did in the archive version.

posted by hippybear (21 comments total)

The article is old; some of the links have been withdrawn. I'd like to hear other entries to add to this list, if they are on offer.
posted by hippybear at 9:50 PM on June 15, 2021

Left at London is great. I mean if you hate Revolution Lover you're a certified grouchyface.
posted by juv3nal at 11:12 PM on June 15, 2021

Black Dresses' work is anthemic in its own way, I'd say. Challenging for some ears, but also a very keen example of 'the sound of an emotional cry too powerful for the throat that releases it; the sound of things going out of control, of a medium pushing to its limits and breaking apart', to borrow that Brian Eno quote.

Wasteisolation, described as "a raw, abrasive, and deliriously catchy album about surviving as trans women in an antagonistic world.", and Forever in your Heart, in particular
posted by CrystalDave at 11:23 PM on June 15, 2021 [1 favorite]

Surely “tranthems”
posted by thedaniel at 11:24 PM on June 15, 2021 [2 favorites]

I'd toss in how to dress as human (no official upload) by Laura Les. It hits..... far too close to home.
posted by zekesonxx at 12:29 AM on June 16, 2021 [1 favorite]

Listening to the Laura Les song immediately reminded me of nvr pass by she/her/hers
posted by tealNoise at 12:51 AM on June 16, 2021

The one for "FUCKMYLIFE666" seemed like it was loading, but then I got an error message; here's a good link, and here's the band performing it on Letterman's show, which makes me wonder how often Dave and other talk show hosts have had a band performing a song whose name couldn't be said on broadcast TV.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:42 AM on June 16, 2021 [1 favorite]

If you’re into ska punk, you ought to check out Ordinary Life by We Are the Union. It’s essentially a coming out album and it’s fantastic.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:50 AM on June 16, 2021

Wow, the article mentioned Tucson's own Namoli Brennet. I've seen her live in a couple of times, she's an incredibly talented musician. I've loved her song Stars for years. Getting to see her perform it in a little cafe on Fourth Ave. was a peak concert-going experience for me.

And if you haven't heard the new album from Claud, they're amazing. Humongously hooky pop. Check out Soft Spot, Guard Down, and That's Mr. Bitch To You.
posted by MrVisible at 7:26 AM on June 16, 2021 [1 favorite]

SOPHIE — OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES
posted by arcolz at 7:34 AM on June 16, 2021 [3 favorites]

Not going to post my own work here, but this is a subject I got really interested in when I wrote my first music theater song and ended up (unintentionally) with what was basically a trans anthem. It was a lot of fun to write!
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 8:08 AM on June 16, 2021 [2 favorites]

On the classical side, composer Yshani Perinpanayagam recently tweeted a goodly number of trans singers and composers under the hashtag #QueerChords.

I was glad to see CN Lester featured in the Advocate article; I've heard them a few times and they're fantastic.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland is worth a listen; I find his voice very soothing (he trained classically too). Ever New is minimalist and lovely. He's still making music in his 80s, and released a career-retrospective album last September.

Big yes to SOPHIE, arcolz - video for It's okay to cry.
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:11 AM on June 16, 2021 [2 favorites]

Thanks for all the recommendations, can't believe I've never heard of Claud! Here are some of my favorites from trans musicians:

The Doubleclicks:
I'm Winning
Wrong About Gender

The Spook School:
Binary
I'll Be Honest

Mal Blum:
See Me
I Don't Want To
Things Still Left To Say

Against Me!
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
True Trans Soul Rebel (Live)

John-Allison Weiss
John-Allison Weiss plays a three-song set in the woods for Fest 2020
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 9:19 AM on June 16, 2021 [3 favorites]

Superknova
posted by i used to be someone else at 10:13 AM on June 16, 2021 [6 favorites]

Ezra Furman albums are like wall to wall anthem.

• Body was made
• I wanna be your girlfriend

posted by jomato at 10:27 AM on June 16, 2021

SOPHIE — OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES

Heartbreaking to think that SOPHIE's second single hadn't even been released when the Advocate list was made. :-(

Two songs I return to again and again are Crissy Bell's "Citoyenne" and Rusty Sunsets' "Lyon County, Nevada (Micronational Anthem)." The latter makes me want to learn to play the guitar just so I could play it. Another, punkier, favorite is Nomadic War Machine's "The Fields Lay Fallow" — which comes with its own gothy video, too (one which I was super lucky to first see on a film festival big screen.)
posted by a Rrose by any other name at 12:02 PM on June 16, 2021

"how to dress as human" hurts the heart.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:34 PM on June 16, 2021 [1 favorite]

I'm surprised that Anohni isn't on this list.

I'd think the songs that would fit best would be her band's You are My Sister as well as her incredible solo cover of I Will Survive.
posted by lewedswiver at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2021

I think the closest thing for an anthem for my transition was either KMFDM's "Trust" or Oingo Boingo's "No One Lives Forever". Both have a similar message: You are going to die. And there is no guarantee of anything afterwards. So do what you can to enjoy this brief span of time you have.

Nothing specifically about gender in either song. But they spoke to me as I was deciding to make that big, weird, difficult journey, some fifteen or so years ago. I'm pretty glad I did.
posted by egypturnash at 10:08 PM on June 16, 2021 [2 favorites]

Me, my music is the trans anthems

Veloway
Dame Kraft
posted by noiseanoise at 10:23 AM on June 17, 2021 [1 favorite]

Pretty Boy by Catherine Charles
posted by azalea_chant at 1:06 PM on June 17, 2021