In continuance of my crusade to prove that just because we’re gay we don’t have to listen to disco (particularly atrocious cases of drunken boogie fever being the exception here) I have put together my pickings of quality, hot and relatively recent music featuring gay men and gay themes.  I would have put Rufus Wainwright on this list, but I’ve already talked about him plenty in the past.  So here are some newbies!

Bloc Party - I Still Remember

While he’s shy and not a fan of the media prying into his sex life, what is known is that gorgeous Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke wrote this song about a schoolboy who has a crush on another schoolboy and regrets not doing anything about it. 

Lyrics selection:

You should have asked me for it
How could I say no?
And our love could have soared
Over playgrounds and rooftops
Now every park bench screams your name
I kept your tie
I’d have gone wherever you wanted 

Okereke says about the song - ”I know from my own experiences a lot of heterosexual boys had feelings or experiences when they were younger.  And that’s not really ever spoken about, that unspoken desire.”

Sigur Ros - Saeglopur

The ethereal falsetto of gay Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi Birgisson makes me completely melt into dreamland.  When I listen to Sigur Ros I wish I could hop a plane to Iceland, to live in a glacial cavern, drinking Brennivin with Bjork and Jonsi all day long.  Saeglopur is one of my favourite songs and the video is beautiful.

Apparently the translation of the lyrics is this:

Alive
Has returned home
A lost seafarer
Alive
Has returned home
A diver comes

Placebo - The Bitter End

Although their drummer Steve Hewitt has left the band, Placebo’s core line-up was two gay guys and one bisexual guy, which is a rarity for any band from any era.  Led by the modern prince of androgyny Brian Molko (who is the bi one), their music   Placebo are working on a new album - and have apparently been looking for fans to appear in a music video.

The Bitter End seems to be about stalking someone who has dumped you:

Every step we take that’s synchronized
Every broken bone
Reminds me of the second time
That I followed you home

Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There’s Someone

Antony Hegarty was apparently mistaken for a “black woman” by Bjork when she first heard his voice.  It’s hardly surprising considering he has moments in his vocals where he sounds hauntingly like Billie Holiday.  In other trivia - the openly gay musician apparently claims to have been celibate for six years.  No wonder he sounds so morose.

Interesting lyrics:

There’s a man on the horizon
Wish that I’d go to bed
If I fall to his feet tonight
Will allow rest my head

Grizzly Bear - Knife

This experimental-indie-folk band are from New York and are getting plenty of good karma on the alternative scene.  Their gay and extremely tall frontman Ed Droste says while they have a couple of “bear” fans, he doesn’t think Grizzly Bear have had any extra attention from that part of the gay community due to their name.  I feel a fanclub coming on . . . “We’re Queer for Grizzly Bear” anyone?  This song Knife is about stringing someone along and cheating on them.

Here are some lyrics:

I want you to know
when i look in your eyes
with every blow
comes another lie

Chris Garneau - Relief

Let’s get mellow here . . . apart from being completely gorgeous, Boston native Chris Garneau also has an incredibly sweet voice. 

This song Relief is so gentle, but also very dark, as these lyrics show:

I didn’t go to see the city
I went to see it around you
We can laugh in hell together
The devil will find you too

I’ve only scratched the surface here really - if you’re keen for more check out Deerhunter, Patrick Wolf, Jacob Diefenbach and even Final Fantasy.