the unstoppable rise of lesbian pop

From Chappell Roan to Ma Rainey to Sappho herself - let's look at the lesbian artists and queer crooners behind this long overdue pop renaissance. Go to buyraycon.com/... for 15% off your order, plus free shipping! Brought to you by Raycon.
Sapphic Playlist (including all the songs and artists mentioned in this video!) / patreon-sapphic-111804968
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Additional research and scriptwriting by Isabel Moncloa Daly and Nicky Watkinson nickyjwatkinso...
Check out the sapphic artists interviewed in this video:
Dodie: www.dodie.co/
Nella: / itsnellamusic
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Kelsey (Norma Night): www.tiktok.com...
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[@HeyRowanEllis]

Go to buyraycon.com/rowan for 15% off your order, plus free shipping! Brought to you by Raycon

[@aislynnmari]

Thank god JoJo invented gay pop this year phew we almost didn't get all this other great music

[@NonBinary_Star]

😂😭

[@Hesitant-Skeleton]

I don’t wanna give JoJo too much credit but I do think some of the surge of gay pop artists this year were to retaliate and be like “sorry not sorry Jojo but we’ve got this 💅”

[@coolsenjoyer]

Jojo was so generous for allowing Chappell to release Good Luck Babe the same day she released Karma 😇

[@lucynewman2684]

I clicked on this video just so I could find this comment 😂😂thank you

[@baguettegott3409]

Tbh I feel sorry for her when I see the entire queer community clowning on her like that. She never meant that gay people didn't make gay music before (and still are now), she just tried to coin a name for it... I looked into that recent music video that everybody was making fun of, and on top of it just being a very normal generic pop music video (I don't see why it gets the mockery it does), the comments were depressing. Filtering by new gives you an endless barrage of "Disgusting, deg*nerate, you're such a bad influence on the kids, gay agenda". But then filtering by top comments gives you endless snarky "Oh yeah, us gay people? We don't want her. We don't claim her. She's embarassing and we don't want to associate with her." Poor girl.

[@ThemperorZir]

As a Midwest queer, I can't put into words how powerful Midwest Princess is. It takes the sweet and sour existence of loving where you're from but wishing it loved you back.

[@CreativeArtandEnergy]

You said it. I am another one of us from the Midwest.

[@stephanieok5365]

Wishing it loved you back is such an apt observation

[@marogmartz]

This is exactly how it feels. I'm from the Mexican equivalent of the US Midwest and I love my hometown, the people, my family. But I don't think they love me back

[@mattymcfabb]

Damn gonna quote you on that. From Texas

[@janelle_beans]

Exactly. The Bible Belt is brutal. 😓

[@cynd.9029]

When I first listened to Pink Pony Club it was the line “I heard that there’s a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day” that told me it was about a gay club and was specifically referencing drag

[@simont390]

I mean let's be real, what straight club would ever be called the Pink Pony Club 😂

[@maidden]

@@simont390 The Pink Pony Club in Memphis does... It's a strip club...

[@claraboe2755]

But ido think chappell once said herself that in the song she imagines being a stripper. But definitely in a gay club

[@harpy5629]

yeah i thought it was about a drag club and immediately tried to google if it was real, for a road trip

[@notnotneutral15]

It's a strip/drag and queer club extravaganza (in my delulu)

[@shaunaisazombie]

Sapphic metalheads watching the rise of sapphic pop like 🥲 wish that were me. Edit: I appreciate everyone replying with suggestions. HOWEVER, it's reductive to say *I* should make it myself if I cannot find any. Speaking as a queer writer, creating queer media isn't the same as being able to connect with queer media. You create media to express your experiences, but you consume it to *validate* your experiences. I desire the validation that comes from listening queer metal; I do not have the desire nor the passion to express myself through queer metal.

[@sava-smth]

We'll get there eventually 🤞

[@angelb33ts]

Ikr

[@CaraRowen]

Royal & the Serpents babes, your welcome.

[@BardianAngel]

If there is sapphic metal out there i need to hear it.

[@transrightsdinosaur]

One of these days we'll get there!

[@bluueeberries]

The first queer song I heard was "She keeps me warm." by Mary Lambert. I remember asking my mom about it and she confirmed that it was about a lesbian relationship

[@sarahwatts7152]

That was the first song I heard about lesbian romance (rather than lesbian sex); I bought the album because of it

[@jennifervasquez]

I have a vivid memory of hearing i kissed a girl for the first time as a kid while walking into a bath and body works at a mall lol so im pretty sure that was my first queer song n im pretty sure that was also my introduction to sapphicness

[@pjgoldstein6562]

My little sister (almost 10 years younger) recently found Mary Lambert. I found it to be funny that she had the exact same reaction to her that I did at basically the same age.

[@LilDinoGuy]

I know that song from the sample used in “Same Love” by Macklemore. Interestingly, I first heard the song when I was still religious and homophobic. I didn’t “agree” with the song, but I had a strong respect for it nonetheless, as it put queerness in terms that I could (and was willing to) understand for the first time. Then, come to find out years later, I am very much a sapphic woman.

[@junjiscomb7909]

u have a cool mom

[@AlyysCamera]

Some sapphic artist of color!: Kehlani, Young Miko, The Internet (Syd), Rina Sawayama, Kali Uchis, and I know you mentioned her, but Victoria Monet is incredible and deserves a shout out

[@LinusDawson-f9v]

And Amaarae!!! Fountain Baby was the album of the year last year, everyone should check it out, she's incredibly underrated

[@hwa1312]

Also, Doechii and Megan Thee Stallion 💖

[@barbara_g.]

janelle monáe!!

[@TyroneBackyardiagains]

Young Miko mentioned omg

[@PankoBreading]

MADRE LA ULTIMA VEZ QUE REVISE YOUNG MIKO NO ERA UNA "Artist of color"

[@AnitaTapio]

It's just funny listening to you recite all these raunchy lyrics with an academic voice

[@dianehoekstra6880]

She's talked about being ace, maybe that makes it easier. Probably just her brand/style. I doubt she talks to her friends and family like she talks in her videos.

[@yasminechoerryscherry3701]

It wasss

[@anirlarchivist]

me, who has adhd and is carrying a massive load of laundry in my arms listening to Rowan say the words, “if you’re like me and have adhd […] doing laundry” was the the most called out I’ve felt in a long time

[@lemonbread378]

no fr i'm sitting in bed being 'just about to do the dishes' for several hours now i wish you many spoons o7

[@turtlepenguinXkizuna]

@@lemonbread378did you get the dishes done? hope you managed some x

[@iuvare_]

SO TRUE. i was seasoning my wok

[@celeri6497]

she said that as i was loading my dishwasher after cooking a huge meal 😅 i've just started adhd meds recently lol

[@ChristopherDarling31337]

Was cleaning my kitchen... 😅 Getting called out nicely at least!! Lol ❤

[@catonutt]

I think I'm spoiled being brazilian that most famous women in music here are sapphic, especially after the 80s. Here are my recommendations: Cássia Eller, Maria Bethânia, Gal Costa, Maria Gadu, Marina Lima, Ana Carolina, Mart'nalia, Luedji Luna and sooooo many more

[@Roseforever84]

Brasil tem as melhores musicas do mundo todo! Não sou brasileira, mas amo, AMO Brasil! Daniela Mercury, Bia Ferreira, Ana Carolina, Ana Cañas e muito mais. Quero muito viajar pro Rio

[@giacomoboffi9394]

… e.g., Adriana Calcanhotto

[@katherinstaci]

Recomienda algunas canciones por favor 🙏🏻

[@insertnamehere-sage]

Zélia Duncan e Angela RoRo tem é mt bom!! Edit: Eu esqueci da Simone tbm! são mts mdskkkkkk

[@insertnamehere-sage]

​@@katherinstaci do you want just popular song of theirs or romantic /saphic ones?

[@wumadlo]

she by dodie came out when i was 12 and that massively impacted my bisexual awakening

[@theiaxo]

you are so real for this, same

[@Wonderlandish]

I still have it on the emo heartbreak list for when I have breakups or fall for straight girls

[@TheFlamingNinja294]

i still cry to it this day. genuinely so glad she helped me figured out who i am

[@coolsenjoyer]

I had my gay awakening the same age but it was t.A.T.u's All The Things She Said 😭

[@ragerteenager968]

girl same😭😭

[@josefin2929]

The ~segue~ from Red Wine Supernova to Hildegard af Bingen DESTROYED me I did not see it coming and I should have😭😂

[@caytlinseely8755]

Tila Tequila and Katy Perry were the reasons I couldn’t take myself seriously as a bisexual woman… but they were also catalysts for me discovering my sexuality. The 2000s were something.

[@vanesasteves6922]

Megan coming out subtlety in her music (at least in a couple of albums) had me screaming and cheering. As a queer fan myself, I hope she makes a song specificly of wlw

[@BlackXSunlight]

Her interview with Caresha had me 🫣 ☺

[@junjiscomb7909]

isn't mts bi?

[@imetwurld-ey9sx]

She's black she can flirt with women

[@natmorse-noland9133]

​@junjiscomb7909 yes, bi women fall under the wlw/Sapphic umbrella

[@SylviaH.]

Mitski is such a bi icon who has pushed such good alt/indie/rock/pop music (Puberty 2 is the best Album but every single song is fucking incredible)

[@katielouise210]

as a 2016 hayley kiyoko girlie i feel like im living the dream now with all this queer pop!!!! 100% recommend allison ponthier, joy oladakun and beth mccarthy for some lesser known (ish??) lesbian and bi artists

[@ivys4529]

I love Allison 🫶🏾

[@katielouise210]

@@ivys4529 honestly such a gem isn't she!

[@transrightsdinosaur]

I've been following Joy for a while!! She's so good. ❤

[@katielouise210]

@@transrightsdinosaur isn’t she just!!!

[@queenmeatballs9441]

i’ve been the biggest fan of joy for YEARS now, i never hear her brought up in conversations about smaller sapphic artists!

[@ArtichokeHunter]

I wonder how much marketing folks are giving different guidance to Black and White sapphic artists on how openly queer to be. It seems like there are a bunch more Black sapphic artists out there making hits (Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Sza, Kehlani, Tinashe, Doja Cat, Ice Spice, I'm sure I'm missing some...) where their queerness is less emphasized in branding (maybe this isn't true of Kehlani), while White sapphic artists are kissing each other onstage and branding themselves around queerness. I wonder if there are assumptions that their audiences may be less accepting or that they need to appeal to men more? Of course, lots of Black and multiracial sapphic artists deserve more mainstream love, from Syd/The Internet to Be Steadwell to Allison Russell to Naomi McPherson from MUNA to many I haven't encountered yet! and the ones who are releasing mainstream hits deserve more love too!

[@tananario23]

You are accusing Black people in general, of bigotry. Thanks! My Black ass doesn’t have enough to deal with, without white people still not getting the message and spilling that corny bs every fucking chance you get. Y’all are tiresome.

[@ArtichokeHunter]

To me the way people like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B approach their sexuality and public image feels a bit more like how Lady Gaga and Kesha did in the 2010s, or even Madonna. (Maybe Halsey falls in here, white-passing and coming out in the 2010s but biracial and following a similar branding approach.) Plenty of straight people out there listen to these artists and may have no idea that they're queer, while it would be difficult today to listen to Chappell Roan for long without picking up on the queerness (either from lyrics or media coverage).

[@aielianna]

I think we just need to shift the conversation from Black artists who are vaguely queer and put the attention on Black artists who make it clear that they are queer. As a black queer woman, it is almost insulting that people put so much attention on those artists who don’t appeal to their queer audience because it almost implies that the queer artists who do appeal to a queer audience aren’t good enough. Why put so much attention on Megan saying she likes women every now and then when we have openly queer artists like Kehlani, Janelle Monae, and Syd? Women like Megan and Cardi just don’t feel like queerness is apart of their public image 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@imetwurld-ey9sx]

​@@aieliannabecause they are gay baiters and not queer

[@imetwurld-ey9sx]

Non of this blk women u mentioned are really queer 😂

[@ArtichokeHunter]

defining pop is interesting because like... the indigo girls and tracy chapman definitely aren't usually regarded as pop, and i don't think boygenius is either, but they're definitely part of the larger evolution of music. i think it's interesting these days how people focus so much on lesbian pop and little attention is given to the folk genre, which in the 90s and 00s had a subgenre regularly just called "lesbian music" (i wish there was more love for the stuff i grew up on, like girlyman and chris pureka. girlyman uses humor! and if you want the raunchier stuff of that era, try melissa ferrick or ani difranco)

[@derivesrurale]

the concept of middle of the road music / soft adult contemporary have a place in this discussion...

[@Amaling]

On this note, shoutout K.D. Lang

[@magno-5]

yes the lesbian folk (folk rock?) from that era is so incredible and i wish i could find more people my age (gen z) who listen to it. i don't know chris pureka, i might go check them out.

[@samsprague3158]

Think of music like a river, and pop is the “mainstream” of the widest section of the river. Many subgenres flow into it and contribute to it, but pop music itself is what happens when all those influences get muddled together and smoothed out into the mainstream.

[@troopersjp]

I teach a university course called Queer Pop...and trust 80s/90s lesbian singer-songwriter/commercial folk is there. When I teach Pop Music Classes, "Pop" doesn't mean Pop vs. Rock or Country. It means Popular Music vs. Classical or Folk (old folk definition, not the commercial folk definition). So that Queer Pop Class has the Blues of Ma Rainey, the Tin Pan Alley popular music of Cole Porter, the cabaret music of Marlene Dietrich...country, blues, indie, folk, rock, queercore, punk, new wave, rap, etc, etc. Pop is like Transgender or Queer. Sometimes it refers to a specific identity...sometimes it refers to an umbrella that holds lots of different other identities within it.

[@allergictoalliteration6033]

0:01 Intro: 4 Pillars of Sapphic Music 4:53 Sex and Relationships (Red Wine Supernova) 18:14 Jealousy and Longing (Good Luck Babe!) 29:31 adbreak lol 31:10 A Response to Homophobia (Pink Pony Club) 42:16 Self-Discovery (Naked in Manhatten) 52:27 Other Legacies 1:00:15 How Can We See This Summer Going? (Conclusion)

[@transrightsdinosaur]

Thank you!

[@annefloorlanting5147]

Does the video also mention Girl in Red? I would include her in this list..

[@maripuppquin6483]

ive been seeking out music made by queer women for the last few years so i hope to find new artists or songs i missed from artists i already listen to

[@arc4705]

I left a huge list in my comment 🫡

[@SkyfullofStardust]

Wanna share some of your faves? :D

[@HeyRowanEllis]

pls use the comments section of this video as a recommendation space for your fave sapphic artists/songs!

[@aislynnmari]

Kiki Rockwell from Aotearoa, specifically her song and MV "Cup Runneth Over". But I recommend all her music

[@maripuppquin6483]

highly recommend eirarinmaya for pitched-up hozier songs, which i only mention bc hozier was mentioned briefly in the vid

[@omolisa3783]

I love Chloe Moriondo's "what if it doesn't end well". Also, Pomme's "on brûlera" is beautiful and the lyrics are sapphic :)

[@arielamejeiras8677]

@LAU (Laura Fares) does synthpop, synthwave. A genre dominated by men and she's amazing.

[@vee6163]

Recently I've been obsessed with *Orion Sun's "Sweet"* . She's a Black American r&b/soul queer singer. Her music is honestly so soft and soothing :))

[@jw844]

Janelle Monae is phenomenal

[@cedaremberr]

I was so confused when people were talking about her coming out around when she released "Pink." Like what about her/her music before then made you think she was straight??

[@Anzy.99]

So phenomenal (like the song... anyways)

[@MsAnubisia]

​@@cedaremberrEspecially since "Make Me Feel" dropped before that and was PRETTY explicit about their bisexual experiences. They've been out as queer and nonbinary and polyamorous for a hot minute lmao.

[@natmorse-noland9133]

"All The Things She Said" came out literally the year I first figured out I was bisexual. I would listen to that song over and over again while I pined in my room for my best friend.

[@KoruDesuKa]

Come thruuu, fellow 2000s t.A.T.u.queer. Not Gonna Get Us and All the Things She Said were formative for me at 11/12. Pity the eventual misogynistic homophobia Julia Volkova ended up spewing in the 2010s after supporting them through 3 mostly mid albums.

[@letranger4461]

My first gay/queer anthem was Janelle Monae’s Make Me Feel. Dirty Computer and Tyler the Creator’s Flower Boy was on loop the summer before I started university. My music rotation already has a lot of the artists mentioned. Some of my other favorite sapphic artists recently would be Doechii (Hip Hop/R&B/pop), Syd (R&B/neo-soul), Remi Wolf (Funk/pop/soul). I’m more familiar with Syd’s work as part of The Internet, but I like a lot of her solo stuff too. Specific songs (not all of them are pop) Nissan Altima - Doechii Persuasive - Doechii Crazy - Doechii Catfish - Doechii Special Affair - The Internet Girl - The Internet ft. KAYTRANADA Gabbie - The Internet ft. Janelle Monae Come Over - The Internet Right Track- Syd ft Smino Smile More- Syd Photo I.D. - Remi Wolf Quiet on Set - Remi Wolf Cinderella - Remi Wolf Toro - Remi Wolf

[@hamptonwhite3825]

I feel people overlook Melissa Etheridge. She came out as a lesbian and 1993. Her discography is full of bangers, and she ha still touring

[@jennifers5560]

She is one of the first ones I think of!

[@hamptonwhite3825]

@@jennifers5560 I saw her this year in concert. She was with Jewel. We were sitting next to this older butch lesbian couple. Think short bleach, blonde hair dressed in more masculine attire it was healing seeing them. You don’t really get to see older queer individuals out the wild. Despite her being an active touring artist and still releasing music, I wonder if the reason why she is not spoken about is because she is older than any of the people that normally get listed like Janelle Monáe and Demi Lovato and Chapel and Billie Eilish.

[@seattlegrrlie]

As a bi woman, I really enjoy the fact that being with a women is more likely to accept me as I am vs being with a man who wants me to be a woman. While I've found men in my life that accepted me as I am, far too many of them expected me to "be a woman" and I'm just not

[@lexa2310]

You have put into words something that I have struggled to define for so long. How the hell....but also thank you.

[@sophia3568]

Ive never been in a relationship but Im so gratetull to my mom who always accepeted and never forced me to wear something that makes me unconfortable or anything

[@pheonixrises11]

It’s only at home that I feel fully comfortable being a woman because I’m not expected to “be a woman” as you said. It doesn’t feel like I have to act a certain way or that my partner assumes I will act a certain way based off my gender rather than who I am, and that’s very freeing.

[@hellaradusername]

Found Chappell Roan through Spotify right before she blew up because she autoplayed after Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotions Side B. Makes sense

[@subear14]

I also found her while listening exclusively listening to Sir Chloe and the autoplay following their songs for a week straight...

[@legaultrants]

I just made a playlist called 'A Sapphic's Guide to Villainy' and I was looking for more music to add to it, but am SO happy I found some historical background for it. lol

[@vee6163]

Is it public? I'd love to listen to it if you don't mind :)

[@yhd_skeetsy]

ditto!

[@Owlbear26]

And for me too!

[@tinywitchfingers]

just leaving here some of my favorite sapphic songs

[@BardianAngel]

Time to make a playlist...

[@stvltiloqvent]

Kissing Lessons is a good shout! I also love: Time I Love To Waste - MAY-A Frustrated - Lauren Sanderson Girl - The Internet Blue Sky - Dreamer Isioma She Plays Bass - beabadoobee Girl Crush - Boys Noize & Rico Nasty Explosion - Zolita Guess featuring Billie Eilish - Charli Xcx & Billie Eilish and of course Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan

[@Reed5016]

Zolita is my favorite sapphic pop music. Hands-down.

[@Kim-iz5fx]

That video is super interesting as usual, but hearing Rowan recite the lyrics of queer songs like they are ancient poetry brings me so much joy

[@700.Eden.]

U asked and I shall deliver. My list of sapphic songs and artists: Drain Me! - Towa Bird Show me you want me - The regrettes Coming up short - bloxx Flatline - Orla Gartland Change - Pale Waves Crush me up - Girli she likes a boy - nxdia Shotgun - Soccer Mommy Without me - Ezra Williams glass child - Kayla grace Swing of things - MAY-A Want what you got - the beaches Suburban Blues - the aces Still not me - Gatlin Kill your pain - Boyish and king princess Heather - Malak One more weekend - Maude latour California Screaming - Liz Lawrence Sucker- Connie Campsie Momentary sweetheart - Deb Never Triptych - Samia I don't really care for you - CMAT Trouble - the big moon Different - Maggie lindemann Mayhem - cassyette I did this all for you - xana Talk - beabadoobee Hot and clumsy - Quiet houses You have got to be kidding me - fanclubwallet kissing lessons - Lucy dacus mannerism - cat ryan sims - corook Tried very hard not to repeat any artists to keep the list from being wayyyyy too long haha. A playlist of everyone's recommendations is a MUST!!

[@rosalial3869]

I’m so glad you included Samia, Deb Never, and Nxdia! These are some of my faves! I suggest you listen to Lava La Rue. She makes alternative, pop, and rap music.

[@NatManzano]

As a nonbinary pangender person who has suffered bierasure and other forms of quiet discrimination, I feel refreshed by the use of the word sapphic and the acknowledgement of queer identities in this video's title and content. I truly appreciate it being inclusive and it was a good video too. Thank you truly.

[@talbrun]

Let’s not forget willow (smith) coping mechanism is such a good album more pop punky and very sapphic

[@burnt-croissants]

Honey by Kehlani is part of my formative experience from when I was a teen.

[@ArtichokeHunter]

tbh even as a queer woman i did initially think pink pony club was about a stripper because in my time at gay clubs, there have not been professional dancers who are women performing. it felt like the mom's reaction made more sense for her being a professional dancer than just someone going clubbing. and the professional dancers in gay clubs i'd encountered had been men

[@priiifrg]

It's not about "just someone going clubbing", Chappell has said what inspired her was watching the gogo dancers in the club. It's not strippers, but still "pearl-clutching worthy".

[@ArtichokeHunter]

@@priiifrg right, i know that now, i'm just saying that you don't have to be straight initially to hear the song without any other info and not know that. i haven't personally been to gay clubs that have female gogo dancers, so this wasn't something i immediately thought of. but the gay clubs i've been to have been in places like ohio, dc, and florida, not california.

[@LadyThunder910]

I'm glad a fellow queer also misinterpreted pink pony club too! Maybe it was because I've had it playing in the background of tasks, but I thought it was an empowering song about being a stripper and taking pride in that, even if your mother is shaming you for it.

[@laurawe9055]

I recently looked up „sapphic“ on Spotify and found a playlist with so many songs I had never heard of, I was shook. Back in „my days“ - and I‘m only 24 - every sapphic knew every sapphic song like „All The Things She Said“, „I Kissed A Girl“ (tho debatable if it can be labeled as sapphic) and „Girls Like Girls“ because there weren‘t many. I am so happy for all the baby sapphics that sapphic pop is booming right now! And I get to enjoy it too :) It has also shifted from „I think I‘m gay and it‘s a forbidden thing“-lyrics to UNHINGED „I‘m gay and I‘ll tell you about it“ songs and I‘m so happy that‘s the case! I‘m young but these newer songs feel so healing to me, because when I was in high school, the sapphic songs only reflected what I was feeling - scared and ashamed. The new unhinged gay pop era is doing things to my self-esteem 😁

[@assastral1248]

hayley kiyoko nation where you at? wait, there's dodie here too dodie and fizz nation where you at????

[@ashbaker4068]

FIZZ is SO underrated!!!

[@auxistentialism]

Listened to the FIZZ album for the first time literally last week on a whim. It usually takes me a few listens to get into an album but this was insta-love. Can't believe how little buzz I've heard about them, especially with dodie and Orla Gartland having some name recognition.

[@whatcanidooo]

MY FAV BAND FIZZ

[@lauraniun3092]

FIZZ and Dodie have such a grip on my playlists

[@jennifervasquez]

She by dodie literally got me thru my first experience (knowingly) having feelings for a straight girl as a teen. I dont think it was even available on streaming at the time so i would go to the old version on her yt channel n right before it got to the outro i would restart the video n watch it like that over n over again.

[@Lemanic89]

EDM has many lesbians. The gal that saved me through the pandemic/quarantine is Luz1e. She makes the kind of atmospheric Detroit style electro and techno that became so profilic in the Outsider scene. Her track “Radical Optimism” got me through the first vaccine jabs.

[@UndeadGirlCyber]

Thanks for the recommendation, I just checked it out and I like it! The build up especially is trippy (but great)

[@Lemanic89]

@@UndeadGirlCyber Sorta, but I would describe it as “reassuringly brutal”. Especially when those glitchy breakbeats come in. And the Silent Hill style pad that goes in and out has that liminal Aphex Twin / Boards of Canada quality that just gets you through it.

[@kohhna]

There is also the mighty and beautiful Sherelle, a black queer Footwork and Jungle DJ who is doing gangbusters career wise and has a regular slot at the weekends with the national radio broadcaster. Their music itself isn't particularly queer as such but their personality and everything they put into themselves as a public persona is very much flying the flag for the UKs LGBTQ+ community within a scene and genre that has historically been mostly devoid of if not openly hostile to it.

[@pau9733]

I love Rina Sawayama. She needs more flowers the song cherry changed me

[@pat9353]

Hozier 15% higher pitch got to be one of my favourite sapphic singers.

[@Olive-765]

I love how queer art can be so meaningful for people with other queer identities. The line "I can't change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to" and the conversation it led to was a huge part of coming out as queer to my mother that year.

[@palomavega6494]

I'm from México so the first lesbian song I heard was in Spanish, called "Mujer contra Mujer" by a Spanish band called Mecano from the 80's, it's a story in third person about the judgement against a lesbian couple. I was born in the 80's so it was always there. There’s also an 80's song by a Mexican singer called Ana Gabriel "Simplemente Amigos" that is a veiled story about a closeted couple. However, nothing really open as American English pop has dared. I'm so glad I can understand it, it's freeing.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

Finding out Ana Gabriel is bi made so much sense. Quien Como Tu is just pure sapphic longing vibes. I’ve been drawn to her music since I was a teen and still unaware of my queerness.

[@jennifers5560]

For those of you that don’t know, Rowan and Jazza John host “Queer Movie Podcast” and it is excellent. I listen for the movie reviews, but mostly to hear their witty banter. 🌈

[@edamamame4U]

How in the world did I now know about this!? I will certainly have to check it out now.

[@jennifers5560]

@@edamamame4U it is so good!

[@ArcaneOverride]

Scene Queen is my favorite musician. She is bisexual and her music is very queer. It's a blend of metal, pop-punk, and pretty much one or more different genres each song. Her music ranges from joyful empowering queer anthems to unbridled rage against misogyny and homophobia, and everything in between.

[@kieransky]

Yeah I love her music!

[@Jacobell97]

I think my favorite sapphic artists are snail mail, laura jane grace from against me, and billie eilish. I'm a straight transgender man, so i grew up as a queer women. I kissed a girl was DEFINITELY my first sapphic song. Obviously it's not the same as a regular queer artist, but I remember being so drawn to it, growing up in a christian household, and having a crush on one of my best friends. But the first queer artists I really got into were Tegan and Sara. The Con is an incredibly important album to me because of it. It's hard because in some ways I hold onto a sapphic identity internally, but I also don't feel like I'm allowed to. It's difficult when coming to terms with liking women was such a huge part of my upbringing. EDIT: Also when I first came out, Girls like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko came out and I was OBSESSED. I didn't listen to much of her other stuff though.

[@paolap6802]

Not sure if it she will be mentioned, but peach prc is also one of my faves

[@Jacobell97]

I saw her in London at a gay club and the vibes were incredible. So much energy in that room and she was great.

[@bellatrixau3809]

This is the comment I was looking for 💖✨

[@mkcatrona]

Six Pence None the Richer released "There She Goes" when I was four, and I always remember loving the melody when it was played in the supermarket. Long before sheltered little me even knew that same sex romantic relationships were possible, I always thought it was about the female singer pining after a girl she was in love with. As an adult, I discovered that SPNtR was a Christian band and that song was supposedly about the addictiveness of heroine? No way. "There She Goes" will always be about pining after a woman that the singer can't have.

[@shwing1428]

Never heard of this band, There She Goes is a song originally by The La's which is fronted by a man so I was confused why you thought it was sapphic lol. But yes the original song is almost certainly about heroin.

[@mkcatrona]

@@shwing1428 Yep. I didn't know it was a cover until I looked into Six Pence None the Richer as an adult. Their version was all over the radio when I was a kid (in the US, late 90s, early 00s). I remember hearing a version with a male singer once in a while (which was probably The La's), but I still thought it was a love song. I just thought that the male version was a man pining after a woman and the female version was a woman pining after another woman.

[@coolsenjoyer]

Kiss Me always had a queer vibe to me. Like "You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress" and "Bring, bring, (bring, bring) bring your flowered hat" just don't sound like something a woman would say to a straight man

[@YiKEZ_AJ]

I saw dodie and read Sapphic pop, fastest click. She by dodie gave me comfort and helped while going through my teenage years. I think queer music of all kinds/genres are so important. P.S I love your content and shared this with a friend. We think you did a lovely job, as always! ❤

[@mobius9588]

I'm sorry but just casually reading the lyrics to red wine supernova with the accent has me cackling 😂 (peace and love)

[@nellamusicc]

It's been a pleasure speaking to you, thanks for having me! Long live sapphic music

[@ironboobs]

I've added your song to my playlist thanks to this video! Continue, c'est vraiment excellent! Hâte de voir jusqu'où tu vas aller

[@stillyourgoth5841]

if interested in Riot Grrrl, Lesbian or Bisexual artists I recommend are Heavens to Betsy, Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinny, Bikini Kill, and more recently, The Regrettes. I also recommend Gone Home for this. Finally, Polyphonic has a video on the movement though it speaks of it overall less about Queer people specifically.

[@orangemom95]

As an older gay woman I am surprised that so few ppl know older queer sapphic music. Indigo Girls, Mary Lambert, Melissa Etheridge, Tegan and Sara and Melissa Ferrick role off the tongue as only the tip of the queer sapphic performers.

[@julesmango9642]

The need for explicable queer media is ever-growing. As a mix person that is white-passing, it can be incredibly hard and difficult to see queerness in all its beauty, especially when you associate it with whiteness. Seeing the rise of queerness and especially sapphic and lesbian being predominately white and still representing the ideals, of what makes a femme; being white, thinness, and desirable to the larger audience is uniquely difficult. So here are some sapphic/queer singers: Rico Nasty, Doechii, RaiNao, Young Miko, Villano Antillano, Rina Sawayama.

[@666kittycat666]

I listened to Skunk Anasie and later Skin her solo projects since I was a child through my mother. She was one of those artists that was just way ahead of her time and yet perfectly in her time.

[@sp.2778]

YAY, SKIN MENTION WOOO!!!! I love Skin so freaking much, her voice is beautiful and Skunk Anasie is a legendary band in their own right.

[@666kittycat666]

@@sp.2778 honestly I’m so sad that they’re never mentioned in these types of videos. I guess it’s cause Skin isn’t active that much anymore as an artist but her being a black lesbian woman in a time of Linking Park and Limp Bizkit, writing pretty hard hitting song like Hedonism, Faithfulness, Brazen, Charlie Big Potato, Secretly… was actually kind of ground breaking. Also her reach is just insane, such a powerful yet gentle voice.

[@simont390]

My first knowing exposure to sapphic music was probably Marika Hackman's I'm Not Your Man (2017) whose opening song Boyfriend starts with the delightful couplet "I've got your boyfriend on my mind... I think he knows you stayed with me last night" and then later "I held his girl in my hands, she likes them cos they're softer than a man's (I like to moisturise)" 😂

[@crystalclearstar889]

I saw Dodie and I click

[@AmandolinJay]

Saaaame

[@ditzypascal6028]

Saved to watch later. If they haven’t been mentioned already “this hell” by Rina sawayama & pink by Anna akana

[@terrahyde217]

I need a playlist of all the songs mentioned in this video ... I have been looking for a good sapphic playlist

[@sambullard114]

Thank you so much for bringing up artists like Hayley, her music was my entry into the sapphic music world and helped me embrace my identity. Please go check out her work if you haven't yet!

[@arukard13]

Omg, Chavela Vargas mentioned! As a mexican queer women, that's was lovely. ❤

[@sqscarlett]

In the realm of Sapphic POC artists, I highly recommend giving the song, "She likes a boy" by Nxdia a listen. Its about a school-aged lesbian who is scared to tell her best friend ahe has feelings for her because she always talked about her crush on a boy. Nxdia is Egyptian and even switches between English and Arabic in their songs but the feelings in their music are still universal.

[@abbacadaver]

I found my Girl in Red set list from 2019 the other day. It’s wild how much has happened in even the past five years.

[@Orchid.in.toyland]

Elektra's I don't do boys was my first lesbian anthem, I still like it and I'm extremely happy that we are getting more catchy, explicit saphic pop songs. Halsey's Badlands were also a very important part of the beginning of this new wave, but thanks to bi erasure a lot of people don't count her in. (BTW: throughout the whole video I was repeating to myself "I hope there is a Playlist" and was so happy when I heard that there will be).

[@Penny-p2e]

Yeah I was kinda surprised that Halsey wasn’t in the comments anywhere since bad at love was one of the first queer songs I ever heard

[@rosalial3869]

Some of my fav songs ✨Deb Never - Someone Else ✨Lava La Rue - Angel , TLSL Rina Sawayama - Cherry Beebadobee - Last Day on Earth Janelle Monae - Pynk Japanese Breakfast - Posing in Bondage ✨Michelle - Oontz ✨ Arlo Parks - Eugene Ashnikko - Slumber Party ✨Maz Lovella - Evangeline Towa Bird - Drain Me Javiera Mena - Espada The Japanese House - Something Has to Change The Aces - I’ve loved you for so long Beaches - Blame Brett ✨Boyfriend - Marika Hackman ✨needs more fans

[@PChuu22]

Not me putting shirts on hangers as you mention ADHD and putting tasks together to make awful tasks easier. 😅

[@PhotonBeast]

Apropos of nothing, the set dressing and (I think?) improved camera quality is great. Always glad to see an essayist I like have more resources to use in various ways, aesthetics include.

[@tmercy1257]

Oh my god! I was not expecting Hildegard to get brought up, but as a music student I’m all here for it! I admittedly don’t know too much about her (I focus more on 15th century music), but I always love hearing more about her.

[@manganess5126]

Genuinely surprised not to see Hayley Kiyoko anywhere in the comments

[@jomuller6683]

I really can't recommend the Indigo Girls enough, I hope that tons of people who liked Closer to Fine in the Barbie movie decided to check out these queer icons! I also need to urge everyone to listen to Brandi Carlile, gay folk rock/Americana queen

[@jomuller6683]

no really please listen to the indigo girls, I don't want to feel like the only person under 25 in a sea full of 50 yo lesbians (no offense to 50 yo lesbians, y'all are great, I just felt awkward 😅)

[@jennifers5560]

@@jomuller6683as a 53 year old lesbian, I can say that we love seeing younger people liking The Indigo Girls!

[@tarabound]

When we were watching the Barbie movie I was over the moon with that

[@beauregarden]

4:24 you stopped me in my tracks halfway through doing my laundry lmao the callout 😂

[@666tiger7]

I haven't watched the video yet, but I really hope you've at least mentioned BABY QUEEN! If not, she is worth checking out and very much fits into the Sapphic Pop nieche.

[@tackytella7567]

4:35 me reaching into my clothes dryer as this plays 🤨

[@teganj9512]

I literally found Chappell Roan from Stardew Valley themed TikToks and I couldn't be more grateful

[@grielauryn]

SAMMEEEE haley is my baby

[@viktoria666aleinik]

Ahhh i couldn't help but start crying while watching the intro. Ive always loved pop music and had repressed sapphic feelings. Coming out some time ago and stumbling upon Chapell Roans music and her self-expression makes me feel like everything is possible in life

[@lii8406]

one of my fave sapphic artists who makes gorgeous music is Francesca Wexler! her song Cherry Fields Forever is one of my favourites of the year

[@jayciecarter2928]

This was perfect to watch while I make my outfit for Chappell Roan gig!!! (I'm recreating Jo from Muna's "Dyke" shirt, though a lot more DIY lol because my skills are 0) Great video!! ALSO how did I not know you have a queer D&D video!??? Will check out immediately

[@heathercarlsondesigntv]

Rough Trade's "High School Confidential" was the first queer song I remember hearing. Banger! Highly recommend their entire discography.

[@lovelove-55s]

I love Janelle Monáe !!! Her latest album hit for me, it was my summer album

[@gaysingaming]

The speaking out of Chappels lyrics is a chefs kiss

[@BryonyClaire]

Rowan this was such a great discussion, i really appreciate how many people you interviewed for this too. Thanks for making the playlist!

[@5600block]

That would be so tough, navigating what you like and don't in the public eye such as Roan Chappelle did. Fabulous video btw❤

[@mailyak442]

IVE BEEN SAYING this is ABSOLUTELY the year of the sapphic, ty for making a video on it!! 🙌🏼✨

[@Captain_Maeve]

damn it, i paused and googled many of the artists and songs mentioned and you mention at the end that you made the playlist???

[@paodopale6452]

Beth McCarthy is a lesser known bi woman ! I really love her songs ! 😊

[@polarfoxgirl]

Can we talk about how good Rowan's hair color look with this retro jacket?! Also, I want to shout out Rina Sawayama as an amazing (and non-white) sapphic artist!

[@orfeassiozos1575]

omg it's like you KNEW I had just cosied up for dinner and was looking for something to watch

[@Stormfighter077]

I'm impressed that someone outside Russia knows about tatu and the kissing controversy. I thought it was some kind of Russian-millennial-lesbian only thing.

[@OliviaWood14]

I lived in Switzerland at the time and I had their CD, so must have seen them on MTV or something. Not sure I was quite old enough to actually understand the video though but loved it either way 😅

[@ArtichokeHunter]

TaTu was a big deal at the time in the US, but most people only know 1 or 2 songs

[@MilliPidi]

@@ArtichokeHunterYes, I remember the 1 or 2 songs being really popular for use on anime music videos :3

[@insertnamehere-sage]

im from Brazil and i remember it as one of my first gay songs lol

[@heat420_7]

I've listened to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess about a BAZILLION times, lol. Great video! ❤

[@danifranck2442]

caralho rowan ellis you did it again, you really are amazing and your videos are honestly the best. thanks for the amazing work that you do

[@alewiina]

Ahhh I got the YT notification a while but I didn’t realize this was live!! Nooo 😭

[@ryanwest1164]

Yessss!!!! Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is my album of the year!!!

[@PerriwinklePadfoot]

Haven’t seen the video yet but I’ve come to say that this thumbnail is incredible 👏👏👏

[@Tuvabaluba]

Haven't seen L Devine or Katie Pruitt mentioned yet so I figured I'd recommend them

[@ArtichokeHunter]

i was obsessed with hildegard von bingen in like middle school but had no idea she was queer

[@blackshard641]

4:24 I did not ask to be called out like this while I am listening at work

[@pjgoldstein6562]

4:33 don't worry Rowan, I listen to this music when I'm cleaning the kitchen or doing laundry. You are for tasks like accounting and writing postcards to swingstates.

[@kirjava8632]

“Maybe because Lucy and yak had a massive sale this year” yessss 😂😂

[@claudiajade624]

I do feel like a lot of the conversation/coverage arund Chappel Roam either downplays or downright leaves out the lesbian lens of it 🙃

[@edifrcovski2282]

4:24 calling us out lmao (undiagnosed ADHD here). Excited to listen to this in the background while I annotate newt images for my master's degree