Popular Music and Sexuality

Sexuality must be considered when analysing any music. It is the driving force behind much music. Sexuality connects the fans with the artist, whether they are of the same sex or not or the same sexuality or not. Music is for many people a way of releasing their feelings, and a way to maybe understand their feelings – this may also help others. Music is a massive part of teenagers lives and by them listening to artists who are trying to communicate messages of sexuality it not only builds on their understanding, but may actually affect their own feelings. Popular music becomes a way for people to communicate their sexuality.

Human sexuality has 5 main elements:

    Cognitive/intellectual

    Emotional – the need to give, receive love

    Physical – the need for skin contact

-   Moral

-   Social – sexuality gives us identity and makes us feel wanted

Popular music both rhythmic and verbal content allows people to explore their sexuality whether they are with a partner or behind a computer screen. A lot of pop music lyrics are about receiving and giving love – the emotional side of sexuality.  Pop music also includes dance which is commonly used for sexual acts.

Popular music also allows non-straight artists are able to toy with sexuality and express how they are feeling either by writing songs or just singing about their sexuality. For example Elton John, Boy George, Lady Gaga. Popular music is an important part of teenagers lives and they are exposed to many music videos which show sexual attraction. Music provides a way of teenagers to learn about love, pain and identity.

In our promo we may decide to communicate a message to our target audience. We must consider sexuality when we are filming our video. It may not be the main focus (as there may not be a love attraction) or it may be the one thing that we want to draw on. Nowadays so much sexuality in music videos is being shown. I feel that if we are targeting to a teenage audience then we might want to show something different to what they are used to seeing, I’m not sure how we could do this yet, but thinking about ideas and reading this article has made me get quite excited now!