Music and Gender : Kings and Queens

 

  From my very extensive experience in early 2000s movies where it seemed everyone wanted to be the star of the show and the shy girl could always sing, I sure did notice the gender differences. I never turned a blind eye to the one middle aged man that would always oversee the curtain with a snack in his hand, the shy woman who waited on the director’s hand and foot, nor the pretty boy that got to play the drum kit. Yes, there was the occasional gender switch in roles but it was rare, especially in the, oh-so overrated, High School Musical. I do know that movies are not exactly true, it’s what is perceived that an audience (better known as society) wants to see. I will say I do not remember telling the director of Alvin and the Chipmunks that there had to be a larger man to take care of the curtain for the show, I digress. These were just my initial thoughts to the question of what gender roles in music are which leads me to societal views of gender in music.

    Gender roles have controlled the way the world turns for years, millions and millions of years. As humans we must express ourselves, music serving as an outlet of that expression. Little did anyone know that gender would also have a control over expression as individualized as music. Can males and females not express in similar timbres or melodies?

     Farrokh Bulsara, you should know this iconic name. Freddie Mercury with QUEEN, does it ring more of a bell now? Mercury is a great example of going against the gender norms that isn’t a woman killing it on a drum set, both are awesome, just in their own ways. Freddie Mercury was the lead singer in well renowned British rock band, QUEEN. As a flashy and grappling performer, he would guide the crowd in song wearing clothes that went against normalized straight-man attire. The pants were skintight, there was loads of leather (the tight kind), tank tops, and of course armbands paired with shades. There were songs that were eye opening for some, empowering to many, and angering to others. While there was much appreciation for their talents, many places in the United States banned the band and their music. Why would “We Are the Champions”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy”, “Somebody to Love” or even the famous “Bohemian Rhapsody” be in question compared to (an also amazing band) Fleetwood Mac and their song “Dreams” or (once again another great band) ABBA and their song “Dancing Queen”? Is it because the lead singers were beautiful females hitting the notes and American conservatives couldn’t handle a beautiful man with a huge smile hitting the same notes in the same pants? Listening to the three iconic bands, they all have their own timbres and melodies different and alike. Listening for a difference as I jam in my room to my favorite playlist, I can’t seem to find one other than energy. QUEEN’s energy was unmatched, I think it is extremely unfair that gender norms took away expression for so many.

            Below you can listen for yourself for differences between QUEEN, Fleetwood Mac, and ABBA, if you can, please let me know in the comments. While I am sure there are some technical difference that my non-music major mind can’t quite pick out, I focus on the feeling and mood of music.

                                                     Somebody to Love by QUEEN

Bohemian Rhapsody By QUEEN 

Dreams By Fleetwood Mac

Dancing Queen By ABBA

    I love all of these bands, their stories, and music but why did QUEEN not receive the same positive attention, quick answer, gender norms of conservative haters. I think that a girl can play percussion, a man can sing high notes, and anyone can dance. 

REFERENCES

https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/7/14002/Freddie-Mercury-And-The-Evolution-Of-Sexuality--

https://blog.ttisi.com/bohemian-rhapsody-the-contrasting-personalities-of-queen#:~:text=Authenticity%2C%20emotion%20and%20energy%20is,side%20of%20style%20and%20class.