If the so-called right-side-up world just doesn’t have space for gay love, then he’s living in a world that’s upside down…
And he’s loving it.
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The smash success, now widely considered the greatest World Cup Anthem of all-time, not only elevated the gay icon to worldwide pop-superstardom, but changed the music world forever: Igniting the subsequent Latin explosion in popular music worldwide.
On the day of her coming out, Joy Oladokun - one of music’s most prolific, acclaimed, and exciting young singer-songwriters - penned the beautifully gut-wrenching words to “Jordan,” which describe her liberation from the spiritual abuses that held power over her, and into the redemption of her lover - who rescued her from drowning, and breathed new life, faith, and hope into her weary soul. In “Jordan,” Oladokun is able to so delicately and so brilliantly expose the bitter root of toxic religion, and the harm it inflicts upon Queer persons. The irony drips so vividly from the baptism as drowning metaphor. The weight is so intense from the shackles issued in the name of the “good” Lord. But “Jordan” is not a song about death. It’s a song about life. Fullness. Beauty. Rescue. Embrace. And in a stunningly beautiful redemption and reclamation of faith and hope, Joy petitions God’s blessing upon the love and life that her and her lover have found, and are building together. “Now we're building our own promised land On this new ground we stand God bless the work of our hands And make good on our plans 'Cause now I've found love There's no turning back Oh-oh-oh-oh.” Salvation is love. Salvation is embrace. Like Joy, you may have been looking for hope, looking for love, looking for salvation, and experienced a hijacking of your soul that left you drowning. But there is hope. Pride is about hope. Pride is love. Pride is embrace in the face of exclusion. Pride is a protest against fear, control, and oppression - in all their forms. You are welcome here. You are loved here. The waters are safe. Make sure to check out the rest of Joy’s brilliant catalog on your favorite streaming platform, grab a copy of “Jordan” on her breathtaking 2021 debut album, “in defense of my own happiness,” OR her BRAND NEW album “Proof of Life,” from your local, independent records store, AND make sure you watch this gorgeous #MTVFreshOut performance of “Jordan” below!
On his beautifully sprawling and intimately vulnerable, nine-minute-plus opus, “Like Me (feat. Daisy),” the second track of his 2019 solo debut, Apollo XXI, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and bisexual icon Steve Lacy is reaching out.
Everybody’s got questions. But it’s not the questions Steve is worried about. What he really wants to know is: “How many out there just like me? (How many out there?) How many others not gon' tell their family? How many scared to lose their friends like me? I wonder, I wonder…” Bursting onto the scene as the guitarist and co-producer of The Internet’s critically acclaimed and grammy-nominated album, “Ego Death,” Lacy has since been one of the hottest and in-demand names in the industry, writing songs for and producing alongside the likes of superstars such as J. Cole, Vampire Weekend, and Kendrick Lamar. But on “Like Me,” it was time for Lacy to share his own story - on his own terms. That’s what makes the track so profoundly striking, beautiful and intimate. As he weaves together the three section song, Lacy speaks candidly about and celebrates his bisexuality, but at the same time let’s everyone know it’s actually none of their business. Enough with all the questions. Just let me be me. “I only feel energy, I see no gender When I talk 'bout fish, I wanna catch you, I'm a fisher Now they debate on who I like, they wanna see a list of Girls and boys out here so they can see if I'm official I tell 'em, "Ooh, come down, this ain't your life found If you want to smile, if you're happy for me now I hope you can relate, if you can't right now You might be a little late or you might never get it down" But who like…” With “Like Me,” Lacy has gifted the queer community (as well as all who are allies and learning to stand in solidarity alongside queer friends and family), with a nine-minute, stunningly-vivid look into the chaotic mental swirl and oftentimes traumatizing experience that is coming to terms with one’s own queer sexual identity. Questions. Fears. Loneliness. Isolation. Longing. The desire both to be known, accepted and celebrated… and also be left the hell alone. Steve Lacy says, I see you. I feel you. I’m here. We’re in this together. This is me. They either get it or they don’t. But you do you. Because in the end, it’s none of their business. And most importantly: You’re not alone. Pride is celebration. Pride is bright and beautiful and fun and vibrant. But Pride is also about the struggle. About being seen. Feeling safe. About being real. Honest. Brave. Bold. And more than anything? Pride says: You’re not alone. If you’re out, and proud, and living your best and fullest and truest life, we celebrate you this month! Yas, Queen! But just the same, if you’re questioning, uncertain, feeling scared, alone, isolated, unsure, and you’re still trying to find yourself, your beauty and your identity: we celebrate you too. And we’re here for you, Beautiful. For all of it. We believe in you, and we stand with you this month - and all days, weeks, months and years.
Ziggy Stardust, the glittery, intergalactic rock-star is the messenger. And the message from beyond? Love. Inclusion. Hope. Celebration. In a time of war, great unrest and conflict in the world, Bowie descended onto the rock n’ roll scene as Ziggy, offering humankind in fabulous fashion a vision of hope, and a future in which all are welcome to shine and boogie, just as they are. The Starman from beyond is kind and sensitive, understanding we may not be ready for the full glory - he doesn’t want to blow our minds. But the message is critical - the fate of the world may depend on it: “Let the children lose it, Let the children use it, And all the children boogie.”
It’s an age-old conundrum. The Starman could see it 50 years ago. Ziggy tried to tell us.
Some of us heard, and are still going to battle. Our weapon of choice? 🏳️🌈 Pride. 🏳️🌈 Pride is the message Ziggy brought to us from the Starman. You are beautiful as you are. You are beloved, as you are. And in the new world, the one we strive for, and march for, and dance for, you’ll be able to boogie, baby. Bowie’s “Starman” is as shimmery and vibrant (and needed) today as ever. Ziggy changed rock n’ roll. Ziggy changed the world. And may we all continue to dance with abandon into the glittery and glorious future the “Starman” gave us a glimpse into all those years ago. Happy Pride, all. |
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AuthorJonathan Bristow - Ascent Creator & Director. 
Jonathan is a queer, recovering pastor, dreamer, lover, and amplifier in the middle of the mess. Stepping into a lifelong dream in 2021, he created Ascent Radio to offer music lovers a handcrafted radio platform at the intersection of great music and social change. Jonathan lives and breathes music, and believes fiercely in the power of music to draw us together and inspire us toward a better world!
Alongside his work as the Creator and Director for Ascent, he is a freelance writer, and is author of the blog, Finding Jonathan, where he reflects on his journey of simultaneously losing and finding himself all at once, living through trauma, and learning to love and embrace who he is. As a sayer of the words, Jonathan writes content for socially conscious brands, artists and industry professionals. To connect with him about writing on a project that needs the perfect words, connect with him over on his LinkedIn profile, or email at: [email protected]! Archives
July 2024
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