# Songs that make transgender reference.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470 "2015-02-12T13:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/1 "2015-02-12T13:01:31Z")
The song itself doesn’t have to be about transgenders\* (Although it can be), it only has to make mention of one. Lola- Kinks Dude walks like a lady- Aerosmith Funky cold Medina- Tone Loc \*I hope I’m using that term right. Either Transgender or Transvestite. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/2 "2015-02-12T13:09:34Z")
_Take a Walk on the Wild Side_ ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/3 "2015-02-12T13:12:33Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Dude walks like a lady- Aerosmith The song is _Dude (Looks Like a Lady)_ ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/4 "2015-02-12T13:14:20Z")
I suppose “Sweet Transvestite” from _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_ qualifies… And the Kinks’ “sequel” to Lola, _Destroyer_ counts too. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/5 "2015-02-12T13:18:46Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The song is _Dude (Looks Like a Lady)_ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/6 "2015-02-12T13:34:17Z")
“Jojo was a man who thought he was a woman…” – Get Back, by those Beatles fellows ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/7 "2015-02-12T13:34:24Z")
Either rock fans were much more open-minded than I gave them credit for, or they really didn’t listen to the lyrics in _Dude (Looks Like a Lady)._ The band members were more concerned about offending the gay community than stirring up a backlash from homophobic listeners. Great song. I’ll nominate _Crush With Eyeliner_ by R.E.M… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/8 "2015-02-12T13:37:07Z")
“[Angry Inch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTpk9x4V53Q)”, Hedwig And The Angry Inch ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/9 "2015-02-12T14:49:51Z")
“Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face/and in the evening she’s a singer in the band.” Inadvertent – McCartney got Desmond and Molly mixed up – but they liked it and left it in. The musical **La Cage au Folles** has plenty of them, including “[We Are What We Are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4l0NR71G5A),” “La Cage au Folles” and “[I Am What I Am](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_t_bBnXuCw&index=11&list=RDZ4l0NR71G5A).” I’m sure **Kinky Boots** also has them. ---
**Author:** ![Lemmytheseal2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lemmytheseal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemmytheseal2)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/10 "2015-02-12T15:16:07Z")
“Something’s Wrong” by K’s Choice is inadvertently transphobic. “When you’re mistaking planes for Venus, something’s wrong. When your girlfriend’s got a penis, something’s wrong.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/11 "2015-02-12T15:22:28Z")
Most of these—or all of them— have nothing to do with the actual lives of the vast majority of trans people and are creations of cisgender songwriters looking to exploit some cheap sensationalism at the expense of trans people. Not a valid impression of real trans persons among the lot of them. There’s only one song on this theme I could recommend: **“[I’m Not a Fucking Drag Queen](http://youtu.be/zHH5EWJhLHE)”** ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/12 "2015-02-12T15:31:32Z")
Vito Russo’s book **The Celluloid Closet** quotes a Bessie Smith song with the lyrics… “There are just two things I can’t understand / A mannish-actin’ woman / And a skippin’, limpin’ woman-actin’ man.” Don’t know the name of the song however. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/13 "2015-02-12T15:35:34Z")
Charles Aznavour’s _What Makes A Man_, a song about a drag queen lounge singer. Aznavour has said he prefers Liza Minnelli’s cover of the song. (Not a joke, he said that.) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/14 "2015-02-12T15:38:32Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Most of these—or all of them— have nothing to do with the actual lives of the vast majority of trans people and are creations of cisgender songwriters looking to exploit some cheap sensationalism at the expense of trans people. Not a valid impression of real trans persons among the lot of them. > > There’s only one song on this theme I could recommend: **“[I’m Not a Fucking Drag Queen](http://youtu.be/zHH5EWJhLHE)”** [QUOTE=Shakes] The song itself doesn’t have to be about transgenders\* (Although it can be), it only has to make mention of one. [/QUOTE] The OP isn’t asking for songs about the actual lives of anyone. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/15 "2015-02-12T16:22:34Z")
I assume “[Lord Anthony](http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858512015/)” by Belle & Sebastian is about the life of a young man who either grew up to be a transvestite, drag queen, or was transgender. _Tony, you’re a bit of a mess Melted Toblerone under your dress And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye Blue mascara running over your eye_ Squirrel Nut Zippers’ “[Danny Diamond](http://lyrics.wikia.com/Squirrel_Nut_Zippers:Danny_Diamond)” is definitely about a drag queen. Usually when they preformed it live, the lyrics would be “she” all the way through until the last line, “He was a star.” ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/16 "2015-02-12T16:33:34Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Most of these—or all of them— have nothing to do with the actual lives of the vast majority of trans people and are creations of cisgender songwriters looking to exploit some cheap sensationalism at the expense of trans people. Not a valid impression of real trans persons among the lot of them. If the thread title had been, “Songs that offer a valid and accurate representation of the transgender experience, from the trans point of view,” you’d have a point. I think that the place of transgender people within our society, and the struggles they face in a world where many people sensationalize their lives, are important issues. But can we just name some goddamn songs here for a few minutes? Anyhoo… My contribution is **“Candy Says” by the Velvet Underground**. It’s a song about a [real person](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Darling). To be honest, while the song wasn’t written by a trans person, i really don’t think the [lyrics](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/velvetunderground/candysays.html) are “cheap sensationalism at the expense of trans people.” Apparently, Candy Darling was also one of inspirations behind “Walk on the Wild Side.” ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/17 "2015-02-12T16:51:46Z")
Rebel Rebel by David Bowie (“not sure if you’re a boy or a girl” sort of qualifies for this thread.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/18 "2015-02-12T17:07:54Z")
The Dukes of Stratosphear (aka XTC): [Have You Seen Jackie?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lisun0lCD8w) (“[Jackie couldn’t decide if he was a girl Or if she was a boy](http://chalkhills.org/reelbyreal/s_HaveYouSeenJackie.html)”) > [@Shakes](#): > > \*I hope I’m using that term right. Either Transgender or Transvestite. A transvestite (literally, a cross-dresser) is a man who (at least occasionally) dresses as a woman (or maybe vice-versa, though the word isn’t used that way as commonly). Beyond that, the word implies nothing about the person’s sexuality, gender identity, etc. If you’re including songs about transvestites, there’s The Kinks’ “Out of the Wardrobe” (lyrics [here](http://www.kindakinks.net/discography/showsong.php?song=299); songs [here on You Tube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwVw6x7lzGY)). (As the YouTube comments indicate, some may find this song offensive; though I’m personally undecided whether they _should_, given a proper reading with the proper ironic distance. Still, IMHO it’s not one of their better songs.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/19 "2015-02-12T17:12:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > “Jojo was a man who thought he was a woman…” – Get Back, by those Beatles fellows “Jojo was a man who thought he was a _loner_…” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470/20 "2015-02-12T17:13:24Z")
[Somebody Told Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUXycqAcJA) - The Killers _Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend Who looked like a girlfriend That I had in February of last year It’s not confidential, I’ve got potential_ [Laid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_qZ5B-yioU) - James _Dressed me up in womens’ clothes Messed around with gender roles Line my eyes and call me pretty_ (…and the video further spells things out…) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-transgender-reference/712470.md?page=2)