The sexuality of artists, like their religion, is none of our business.
But this question interests us when they approach it in their works or share it in the public space, for emotional or militant reasons.
And this is what is happening in France at the moment with a new scene of young singers who directly address their sexual preferences in songs that hit the mark: Angèle with "Your queen", Hoshi with "Amour Censure", Pomme with " We will burn ”and“ Grandiose ”, Suzane with“ Anouchka ”or Aloïse Sauvage in“ Jimy ”and“ Omowi ”.
The Instagram post of the summer?
On August 10, Angèle, the favorite singer of the French and biggest saleswoman of records in 2019, posted a photo of her wearing a t-shirt which read (in English) on the back "Portrait of a woman who loves women ”, accompanied by a comment:“ At least it's clear.
Well, no, not clear.
Married.
His coming out was loved by 523,000 subscribers and picked up in all the celebrity press.
Angela had already addressed the subject in her song "You look at me": "I was playing with the king / The queen took my heart", she sang.
View this post on Instagram
"Portrait of Women who love Women" At least, it's clear ... well not clear, Marie 🦋😘
A post shared by Angèle (@angele_vl) on Aug 10, 2020 at 6:27 am PDT
"It's strong that Angela shows that she does not make a problem of her sexuality because she is popular with kids and a hyperimportant responsibility, comments Romain Burrel, editorial director of LGBT magazine (bisexual and transgender gay lesbians ) "Stubborn".
“That the perfect fiancée of France also loves girls, that will change a lot of things, estimates Silly Boy Blue, queer singer of 24 years whose first album will be released in early 2021. Neither masculine nor hypersexualized, Angèle breaks the codes and offers the true image of what a lesbian woman is.
"
"Tired of labels"
Angèle is not the only one to move the lines.
Suzane also posted a snapshot on Instagram with her partner this summer.
“I decided to display this photo […] because against homophobia there is love.
So flaunt it, flaunt it, ”she wrote, adding a rainbow flag of the LGBT community.
That day, we understood that “Anouchka”, a love song for a girl on her first album, was autobiographical.
The most explicit and militant is Hoshi, 23 years old.
With "Amour censure" and her lesbian kiss during the Victoires de la Musique, she decided to "take part in the battle against homophobia".
A "cry from the heart" in reaction to the demonstrations against marriage for all and the increase in homophobic attacks.
“At the beginning, I didn't want to put my private life in my music for fear of having a label,” she explained to us in March.
And then, I got tired of making my lyrics masculine when I was completely lying to people.
It was a relief.
Now I don't need to hide anymore.
"
“This band of girls attacking French pop, what happiness, rejoices Romain Burrel.
Finally we watch queer singers!
Christine & The Queens uninhibited the new generation of singers.
She was proof that one can start a successful career by refusing a gender identity.
This speaks to a young audience who are fed up with sex labels.
"
"Coming out is always a struggle"
“There is a group effect,” abounds Léa Lootgieter, co-author with singer Pauline Paris of the book “Les Dessous lesbiens de la chanson” and LGBT activist.
We feel a solidarity between these artists, like Angèle who invites Pomme and Safia Nolin on stage.
"" Teenager, I did not have a lesbian model to build me and I missed it, adds Pauline Paris, who has released four albums, including one on texts by the lesbian poet Renée Vivien.
If I had had a Christine or an Angèle as a teenager, I would surely have assumed it faster, including in my writing.
"" Me, it is Eddy De Pretto who really helped me to assume, testifies Illustre, young rapper from Auvergne.
He paved the way by exploding the male-female binary model in his songs.
"
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“For ten years, we have observed a real liberation of speech, analyzes Sébastien Chauvin, co-author of“ The Sociology of Homosexuality ”.
Until the 2000s, artists like Elton John publicly announced their homosexuality and then no longer spoke of it.
In the 2000s, there was an “I Kissed a Girl” fad after Katy Perry's song.
It was spicy: we used the image of the lesbian for marketing.
The difference today is that they are real coming out.
These young singers do it to be honest with themselves.
The #MeToo movement has played a major role in accelerating these coming outs.
"
Hoshi (on the left) kissing one of his dancers during the last Victoires de la Musique, February 14. / LP / Arnaud Dumontier
“These singers are making things happen by breaking a taboo, enthuses Nicolas Noguier, the president of the Refuge, an association which has been collecting young homosexuals since 2003 in family breakdown.
We need artists who are positive models, there aren't enough of them in France.
Young people follow them, talk about them.
It is a real support.
"
It is no coincidence that on September 10 the first compilation dedicated to songs on homosexuality was released, “Comme Ils dire”, a double CD sold by Marianne Mélodie for the benefit of the Refuge. It is no coincidence that many singers did not wish to testify. Some feel it is not a topic and do not want to be labeled. Others fear that they will be taxed or threatened to use their homosexuality as a marketing argument. Silly Boy Blue admits, “I wrote a song about coming out and, frankly, I'm afraid it will come out. You never know how people will react. Coming out is not a fad, it's always a struggle. "
