NEWS
NOSTALGIC NEWS 10 YEARS AGO
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid was released Connie Seamer
Janelle Monáe’s debut studio album, The ArchAndroid, was released 10 years ago. Completing the second and third suites of Monáe’s conceptual Metropolis series, it follows the story of the android protagonist, Cindi Mayweather, in her trials of love and war. With its unique blend of soul, pop, R&B, funk, and even cinematic scores, The ArchAndroid immerses listeners in Monáe’s futuristic world, powerfully relaying messages of love and hope. It received critical acclaim, gaining a nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the Grammy Awards, and was voted number one on the Guardian’s list of the top 40 albums of 2010. In the scifi setting of The ArchAndroid, androids represent the marginalized communities of society – especially the LGBTQ+ community. In her music, Monáe highlights the oppression they face, portraying the feelings of those who are made to feel like outcasts. The main story of the album, Cindi Mayweather’s fictional forbidden romance with Sir Greendown (a human), represents those kinds of romances in our society that have been historically forbidden; as Monáe sings in ‘Mushrooms & Roses’, ‘we’re all virgins to the joys of loving without fear’.
5 YEARS AGO
Hayley Kiyoko -‘Girls Like Girls’ was released Vicky Greer
Rising pop icon Hayley Kiyoko’s most well-known song, ‘Girls Like Girls’ was released five years ago, and still remains a must-listen this Pride Month. The video, a love story between two young women directed by Kiyoko herself, quickly went viral and today has well over 100 million views. ‘Girls Like Girls’ didn’t go viral simply because it’s a fantastic piece of pop perfection, nor did it go viral just because lesbian narratives were still a novelty in mainstream pop. No - ‘Girls Like Girls’ went viral because it struck a chord with all of the young people that finally felt represented in pop music, carried by the elementally simple yet revolutionary lyrics “girls like girls like boys do / nothing new”. This was the first time that Hayley Kiyoko opened up about her sexuality in her music, and it still elicits the same emotional response from fans today. It was a turning-point in representation that paved the way for queer musicians to express themselves in the mainstream, and to this day Kiyoko uses her platform to challenge heteronormativity and raise awareness of issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
10 YEARS AGO
Neil Patrick Harris Became First Openly Gay Man to Host the Academy Awards
Callum Nelmes No matter your opinion on the Academy Awards, Neil Patrick Harris becoming the first openly gay host of the Oscars ceremony 10 years ago was a significant moment for the LGBTQ+ community and for Hollywood in general. Harris’s confidence and fearlessness on stage proved clear immediately, and he opened the ceremony with an upbeat musical number that celebrated the magic and power of cinema. The fact that Harris was invited to host the biggest film awards event following his public disclosure as gay in 2006 demonstrates a noticeable strive towards improving gay representation and acceptance in Hollywood. During his time as Oscar host, Harris relayed an inspiring, widespread message for the LGBT+ community to be proud of who they are and never to fear discrimination, making for an important moment in the history of film and television.
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Images courtesy of Bad Boy Records and Warner Music
