Often when we listen to music it helps us to reflect on our lives even if the lyrics were not written to address our issue. There is not a lot of directly transgender songs in the mainstream music industry, but there is much there that might provoke thoughts in songs that are not about trans people. For example:
Candle in the Wind by Elton John
Remove from your mind the original subject of the song (Marilyn Monroe) and its later application to Diana Princess of Wales. The chorus is about as good an anthem as I can think of for International Transgender Remembrance Day, as we think of all those trans lives cut out before their time and prime. Each and every one deserves to be remembered as a legend:
And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you, but I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did
Music Elton John; Lyrics Bernie Taupin © 1973 Dick James Music Limited
The following is the song list, which I will gradually give expositions of, as I have done for Candle in the Wind.
Church of the Poison Mind Culture Club
Cinderella Man Rush
A Day Without Me U2
A Shark in Jet’s Clothing Blondie
Always on My Mind Pet Shop Boys
Barbie Girl Aqua
Beautiful Ones Suede
Been Down So Long The Doors
Being Boring Pet Shop Boys
Bittersweet Symphony The Verve
Black Eyed Boy Texas
Boy Strange Pet Shop Boys
Can’t Get It Out of My Head Electric Light Orchestra
Circumstances Rush
Coming Out Tonight [Phil Collins]
Confusion [Electric Light Orchestra]
Cygnus X-1 Book II [Rush]
Dead From The Waist Down [Catatonia]
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me [Culture Club]
Don’t Bring Me Down [Electric Light Orchestra]
Don’t Look Back in Anger [Oasis]
Don’t Worry Be Happy [Bobby McFerrin]
Dream Myself Alive [a-Ha]
Everybody Hurts [R.E.M.]
Go West [Pet Shop Boys]
Go your own way [Fleetwood Mac]
Happiness Is An Option [Pet Shop Boys]
Here Comes The Feeling Asia
Hideaway Erasure
Hold On Tight Electric Light Orchestra
I Think I’m Going Bald Rush
I’m Not Scared Pet Shop Boys
In Denial Pet Shop Boys
In The End Rush
It’s a Sin Pet Shop Boys
Just A Little Girl Amy Studt
Karma Chameleon Culture Club
Life Is So Easy Now Son of Dave
Lost Boys and Golden Girls Jim Steinman
Lumberjack Song Monty Python
Making Memories Rush
Mr. Blue Sky Electric Light Orchestra
Not a Girl Not Yet a Woman [Britney Spears]
On the Run Electric Light Orchestra
One Step Closer Asia
Out Of Control U2
Shopping Pet Shop Boys
Sorry, I’m a Lady Baccara
Stereotypes Blur
Stories For Boys U2
Temptation Heaven 17
The Crying Game Culture Club
The Enemy Within Rush
The Getaway Chris De Burgh
The Trees Rush
These Dreams Heart
They Don’t Know Tracey Ullman
Time (Clock Of The Heart) Culture Club
U Sexy Thing Clock
Victims Culture Club
Was It Worth It? Pet Shop Boys
Who Do You Think You Are Spice Girls
You’re Not Alone Olive
You’ve Got A Lot To Answer For Catatonia
Your Woman White Town
