JoJo Siwa was criticized for her statement that she had created the new genre of "gay pop." Archive image.
Music journalist Tina Mehrafzoon attributes this wave to a more open climate, especially on social media.
– Artists are daring to showcase their full selves, she says.
American former reality star Jojo Siwa, 21, faced intense backlash this spring when she claimed to have invented a new music genre: “gay pop.” Social media erupted in criticism, with many pointing out she wasn’t the first to sing about same-sex love. Siwa later clarified that she wanted to broaden the genre.
However, Sapphic pop has recently surged on the global charts. Billie Eilish’s explicit track “Lunch” is a major summer hit, and Chappell Roan’s “Good luck, babe!” explores a relationship where one partner denies their lesbian feelings.
The xx member Romy has launched a successful solo career, including the brilliant song “She’s on my mind.” In a Dagens Nyheter interview, she expressed a desire to normalize and visibly represent queer relationships in pop music.
The international music scene boasts artists like Girl In Red, St Vincent, Muna, and Fletcher, among others. In Sweden, Ellen Krauss and Kerstin Ljungström are prominent voices for same-sex relationships.
"She dances on my tongue, taste like she might be the one", sings Billie Eilish on her hit, "Lunch". Arkivbild.
While LGBTQ+ rights are improving in some parts of the world, they’re being restricted in others. Tina Mehrafzoon offers two perspectives on the lesbian music boom: it could be a reaction to setbacks in politically ultra conservative or extremist religious nations or a reflection of increasing cultural liberation and self-expression within pop music.
Culture journalist Saga Cavallin agrees that the new media landscape enables more niche expressions that might have been overlooked by traditional radio.
– It used to be harder to share lyrics about homosexuality, especially in the US, she says.
Indie pop artist King Princess recalls the stark contrast in social media reactions since releasing “Pussy is good” in 2018. In a Guardian interview, she noted:
– You don't get hate messages for talking about being gay any more because people realize how iconic licking pussy is.