A history of sexually explicit music
Despite what your Grandma might say, sexually suggestive music has been around for well over 100 years now. Beginning in the 1920s with the Dirty Blues, which was popular pre and post-WWII, explicitly raunchy music has nearly always played on our radios. Before the age of labelling music with the ‘Parental Guidance: Explicit Lyrics’ tag, first used in the 1980s by music labels, songs such as Lucille Bogan’s “Shave ‘Em Dry” and Lil Johnson’s “Press My Button (Ring My Bell)” consistently appeared on the radio’s circulation.
Whilst yes, sexually explicit songs were certainly less frequent 70 years ago, third-wave feminism and the rise of LGBTQ+ rights have paved the way for artists such as Ayesha Erotica (my personal favourite), Salt-N-Pepa, Brooke Candy, and of course Cupcakke, to dominate our Spotify Wrapped each year. However, there is certainly an argument to be made that queer and female-fronted sexually explicit music is demonised and discouraged by the media significantly more than sexually explicit music made by men.
Why do women and the LGBTQ+ community face such backlash for explicit lyrics?
Since 1990, hip-hop music has accounted for 69% (wehey) of explicit content on the Billboard charts, with Drake, Eminem, Kanye West, Future, and The Weekend making up the majority of billboard hits containing explicit language. Whilst these male artists can dominate the charts with their overtly womanising music, which often reduces women to mere objects, female and queer creators are often shunned for singing about similar sexual experiences. Consequently, they end up with smaller yet more dedicated fan bases who stream their music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, which allow greater and easier access to explicit music.
I remember when Sam Smith, an openly gay non-binary musician, and Kim Petras, a trans woman, were facing extreme scrutiny over their song ‘Unholy’ which was branded as ‘vile’ and ‘distasteful’ by the media. Meanwhile, music from straight male artists, which is far more sexually graphic, is rarely mentioned in conversation by the same audiences who are so quick to attack queer and female-fronted pop. Furthermore, queer and female artists who sing about sexual encounters are often underrepresented or entirely dismissed by prestigious award shows – because how has Ayesha Erotica not won a Grammy! Ugh!
The importance of community
There has always been a gender divide when it comes to expressing sexuality. For many straight men, sleeping with multiple women is a badge to be worn with pride, whereas women are looked down upon and deemed as ‘less valuable’ if they have done the same, thanks to preconceptions rooted in the long-standing fetisation of virgins and the infantilisation of women in the contemporary period of entertainment media. Gay men are constantly marginalised for their sexuality, often by straight men. Similarly, bisexual women face an abundance of scrutiny or sexualisation. When it comes to expressing sexuality, everyone is under fire but the straight man. This highlights the importance of queer and female-made explicit music, as it facilitates a safe space for oppressed groups to reclaim their sexuality.
These communities, although under fire by traditional conservative ideologies and once again the straight man, are still positive and healthy spaces for individuals to express and embrace all forms of sexuality. So-called musical ‘gay icons’ such as Troye Sivan or Lady Gaga, who choose to make sexually explicit music, specifically create environments both online and at their shows, where individuals who may otherwise feel watched or judged can safely express their identity. Charli XCX gigs feel much safer than your average rap gig with typically a nearly all-male audience (trust me on this – I have been to both). You can dress as slutty as you want and still feel safe, talk about whatever you want, and be whoever you want to be. Without the male gaze, the girls and the gays are free to be themselves.
Freedom of expression
Sexually liberating music for sexually oppressed individuals, in my eyes, is absolutely freeing, and crucial for aiding healthy conversations about all forms of sexuality. After all, it is completely normal, regardless of your gender or sexual orientation. It is natural to be explorative, curious and sexually active (or not!), and likewise, it is natural to feel safer having these conversations within communities whereby individuals feel safe in expressing their true identity. Trashy, fierce, and feminist pop is just one step closer to normalising marginalised communities and encourages desperately needed conversations about sexual liberation for all.