Soundtrack for a transition
I’m sure someone else has done this, but the idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while. Links go to video or audio where possible, and lyrics for when I couldn’t find anything else.
So, Soundtrack for a Transition track list
- How Lovely To Be A Woman – Bye Bye Birdie (song stars about 35 seconds in, here are the lyrics)
- (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin (lyrics)
- I Don’t Need a Man – The Pussycat Dolls (lyrics)
- When I Was A Boy – Dar Williams (lyrics)
- Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure (lyrics)
- I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair – South Pacific (song starts about 1 minute in, here are the lyrics)
- Rebel Girl – Bikini Kill (note this is a fan-made video; here are the lyrics)
- 32 Flavors – Ani DiFranco (lyrics)
- Bonus track: Boy meets Girl – Free to Be You and Me
That’s my initial list, although I’m enjoying this idea and want to keep playing with it. It’s very free association, and in pretty random order, so not every one of these songs has some Deep Important Meaning to me.
Ultimately, it seems like two track lists or themes could come out of this idea: one with songs that somehow comment on gender (Boys Don’t Cry, Boy meets Girl, etc) and one with songs that are good gender pump-up/empowerment songs (How Lovely To Be A Woman, Rebel Girl, etc).
Of course, my selection bias is pretty slanted toward female/feminine empowerment, which probably isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Likewise, I live in a cave of familiar and safe music, venturing out only when friends tell me what new bands/tracks/albums I simply “must” explore. So please let me know what other songs should be added to this list, and what artists I just must be enjoying!
PS – This page has some interesting songs listed, too, although from a slightly different angle.
Themocracy
Glamour Boy by The Guess Who maybe?
For FTM: I Wanna Be Your Man by Lennon/McCartney
Though I can see that being a tad offensive…
Depending on the situation (if closeted): You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (Lennon/McCartney)
That one was written along similar (for the time) lines for Brian Epstein.
I Want to Break Free by Queen.
My taste in music is pretty old (60′s-70′s) so the few others aren’t very supportive.
Thanks for the suggestions! I need to get a listenin’!
I Want to Break Free by Queen.
The video is also worth checking out: the four band members dress as female soap characters at different stages of life. Although I don’t think they were taking it seriously, the trans* interpretation does stand out quite a lot in that…
I like a lot of queer songs, particularly from katastrophe and The Athens Boys Choir, but also stuff like “I’m Gay” from the musical “Let my People Come”.
But thanks for your list. I particularly like “When I was a boy” although I don’t agree with all parts of it.
I’ll have to check ‘em out. Thanks!
Another Beatle hit: She Said She Said.
Works from the point of view of the unsupportive.
Excellent post Rebecca! Being the music junkie that I am going to put a list together myself. But I’ll give you a few now.
Some of these songs aren’t always about the exact lyrics sometimes just the mood they set.
These seem to fit my general mood right now:
Learn to fly – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
You Don’t Know How It Feels – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Frantic – Metallica
One Headlight – The Wallflowers
Naked Eye – Luscious Jackson
Close to my feminine feelings:
Suddenly I See – KT Tunstall
Beautiful – JoyDrop
I Love Myself Today – Bif Naked
Just a Girl – No Doubt
(32 Flavors is one I’d put here too)
There are some more but with the loss of imeem I had a few lists that I cannot remember, things I had just found.
Now someone asked me about a overall theme song in regards to my transition and it really came down to two.
Right Now – Van Halen (still my favorite song of all time)
But the one that seems to fit for me the best was one I used to listen to all the time. And while not a big fan of the artist I love this song. Having heard it again recently and reading the lyrics this one just hits home on so many levels. Even though it is based on another type of coming out.
Freedom 90 – George Micheal
Ooh. Lots of good suggestions. Thanks, Kelli! I need to make a playlist with all of the new additions from you and other commenters, and come back with a version 2 of the soundtrack.
I’ll say this the weirdest one in that list is Frantic, but read the lyrics if the style isn’t your cup of tea. I popped up in my player about a month ago and since I am just starting the transition process it totally surprised me at how well it fits.
“You Make Me Want To Be A Man” by Utada Hikaru
“Hook Me Up” by The Veronicas (“sometimes I’m a girl stuck inside of me” is the money line).
Thanks, queen emily! I need to go make a playlist to listen to all these new tunes.
Oh! I love the Veronica’s I just didn’t think about any song from them other then Mother Mother and I prefer the original Tracy Bonham version.
If you like The Veronica’s I recommend checking out The Donnas, Souxie and the Banshees, Tracy Bonham, The Ting Tings, The Ravonettes, and Ivy.
Freddie Mercury’s version of “The Great Pretender” always strikes me as a good transitioning song, at least as the process is beginning.
And later, possibly Eddi Reader’s “The Right Place”?
Ooh, nice. Thanks!
Well, there’s always “She’s Not There”
And I like Koko Taylor’s “I’m A Woman.”
UNWELL – Matchbox20
My fav bit of the song. Makes me think of when everyones apposing you thinking your just nuts or crazy or just going through a phase, but if they stick around theyll see the real you a different side of you ect the real you.
“I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell
I know, right now you can’t tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you’ll see
A different side of me
I’m not crazy, I’m just a little impaired
I know, right now you don’t care
But soon enough you’re gonna think of me
And how I used to be”
Ooh! Good suggestion, Maddison. Thanks!
I don’t know that this is what your thinking of but
I’ll make a man out of you” for FtMs (the mulan training montoage song)
Since I saw this post from the new comment…
Rasputina’s ‘The New Zero’; “It is there that no one will stare….”