Gender-Neutral Love Songs

grantaire-put-that-bottle-down asked: I'm not sure how to submit audio, but Nerdfighterlike by Lauren Fairweather is gender neutral (as far as I can remember), and also sort of non-sexual in nature (there is one line that's like 'I just wanna touch and hug you/and something else", but for her it is likely that "something else" is, like, a LoTR marathon). So...if you wanna check it out!

¡Muchas gracias!

Rihanna’s new album is cute. I am so very impressed and delighted by her latest effort. Among the irresistible set of outspoken hip hop tracks and future lap-dance songs is a beautiful, delicate dagger that stabs me in the heart every time I hear it. I’m serious. In short, the song is about the pain of wanting so badly for someone you love to stay instead of go.

Every time “Stay” (which features Mykki Ekko) comes on, I need to lay down and think about all the past letdowns in love throughout my entire life. I once listened to this song for an hour, and at another time I staged a tearful goodbye with this song in the background. It’s on that level.

I didn’t even realize that the lyrics are gender-neutral, which I think contributes to the magical power the lyrics, melancholic piano, and vocal delivery have over my body and soul, and allows the song the potential to touch so many people beyond one gender or sexual orientation. Especially the after the third time listening to the song on repeat, try not to lose it all when Rihanna pouts, “Funny you’re the broken one but I’m the only one who needed saving.” Yeah, after that line, I am broken, every time.

*Just noticed that in the first verse, Rihanna says ‘he,’ but I think this is easily replaced with any gender pronoun!

All along it was a fever.
A cold sweat hot-headed believer,
I threw my hands in the air and said show me something
He said, if you dare come a little closer

Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know

Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you
And it takes me all the way
I want you to stay

It’s not much of a life you’re living
It’s not just something you take; it’s given

The reason I hold on
‘Cause I need this hole gone
Funny you’re the broken one but I’m the only one who needed saving
‘Cause when you never see the light it’s hard to know which one of us is caving

http://youtu.be/C-dW7z0QBNg

This song was introduced to me as the one that “all the hipsters love.” That much is apparent upon hearing Swedish duo The Knife’s trancy electronic riffs and Björk-esque vocalizations. (By the way, the song is from 2003—last decade is sooo cool.) The beat also slays. It is not a four-on-the-floor club banger, but that beat still gives much life. It stays infectious.

Better yet, the lyrics are gender-neutral! The song reflects on one night of much emotion and energy. The words do not provide a clear narrative to follow, but rather leave it up to the listener to interpret—all while keeping it accessible to lovers of all genders. One of the most haunting lines suggests a bit of what the writer is talking about: “We had a promise made/We were in love.” Past tense.

One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise made
Four hands and then away
Both under influence
We had divine sense
To know what to say
Mind is a razorblade

To call for hands of above to lean on
Wouldn’t be good enough for me, no

One night of magic rush
The start - a simple touch
One night to push and scream
And then relief
Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love

And you, you knew the hand of a devil
And you kept us awake with wolves teeth
Sharing different heartbeats in one night

Esta canción me la enseñó mi buena amiga. Sorprendentemente, al principio no me enloqueció la canción, pero después de escucharla más veces, ya me quedé adicta. La voz de Carla Morrison es facinante e imprescindible. Es como la serie de cucharadas de azucar que se echaría a un cafecito con leche eternamente dulce. Ah, sí es cierto—¡se me olvidó que quería comentar sobre la letra! La letra sirve como una carta de amor extremamente sincera, honesta, y romántica. La letra, escrita de género neutro, nos da la oportunidad de imaginar (o recordar) un amor tan profundo y abrumador. Un amor que existe casi en otro mundo, sin género, sin distancias, y sin limites.

Quiero compartir mi silla contigo,
Quiero ver salir el sol y desperdirlo,
Quiero caminar y correr a tu ladito,
Quiero buscar y encontrarme a solas contigo

Quiero dormir y soñar, caricias contigo,
Quiero reir y llorar, con tus ojitos,
Quiero compartir mis secretos y mis suspiros,
Quiero aprender a entender al mundo contigo

Pero hay una cosa que te debo decir,
No es nada fácil estar tan lejos de tí!

Porque me haces enloquecer
Tú me enchinas la piel
Cada parte de tu ser
Es alimento a mi bien

Vuelvo a respirar
Y comienzo a temblar
Cada paso que das
Afirmas mi amar

Busco dormirme en tus ojos y en tus sentidos,
Busco derramar mi querer por tus oídos,
Busco rendir mi ser y volar contigo,
Quisiera compartir toda mi vida contigo

http://youtu.be/xdfik2FRhck

Pues orale, esta rola está buenísima. Paulina Rubio verdaderamente nos entrega un encantito. Cuando me di cuenta que la letra de la canción es de género neutro— ¡uff! No lo pude creer. Al escuchar esta cancíon, uno vive las emociones del enamoramiento (¡mas los nervios de querer expresar esas emociones!), y no importa de que género es el objeto de su fijación emocional. Además, el remix “Vein Electro-Hop” provee una receta para se arranque la parranda. Chale, ¡¡cómo me encanta esta canción!! Les aseguro que yo podría estar cantando la letra como si la canción misma fuera mi amante (juar juar juar).

I came across a few songs that are in Spanish and are gender-neutral!!!!!! This is exciting, because it is even rarer for songs to be gender-neutral if they’re in romance languages. If you can’t understand the lyrics, feel free to Google Translate them, but enjoy the songs! Ugh love them so much.

¡¡¡¡¡¡Me encontré unas canciones que son de género neutro!!!!!! Esto es super emocionante porque es raro encontrar canciones que son de género neutro si son en lenguas románicas. Me encantan tanto.

A goal of mine is to limit how much my love for the Queen is apparent on this blog, but I couldn’t resist once I realized this R&B pearl has gender-neutral lyrics! This song from B takes me straight to my feelings any time it is on. It is a good thing it isn’t too popular, because I would be an emotional wreck in public too often. However, I do wish more people knew about the song, because it is truly beautiful.

The heart of its beauty is the crushing feeling that most (if not all) people have felt. It’s the feeling of “missing you insane.” The lyrics+music speak for themselves, but I’d like to highlight a shout out Beyoncé seems to give in acknowledgment of the universality of the song. The song closes as the Queen delivers the heart-wrenching ever-applicable “No matter who you love/It is so simple: a feeling/But it’s everything.” It does not matter what type of relationship you had, or what the participants’ gender identities were; I think everyone can identify the feeling of missing someone.

I thought that things like this get better with time
But I still need you; why is that?
You’re the only image in my mind
So I still see you around

I miss you like everyday
Wanna be with you, but you’re away
I said I miss you, missing you insane
But if I got with you, could it feel the same?

The words don’t ever seem to come out right
But I still mean them; why is that?
It hurts my pride to tell you how I feel
But I still need to; why is that?

It don’t matter who you are
It is so simple: a feeling
But it’s everything
No matter who you love
It is so simple: a feeling
But it’s everything

http://youtu.be/GXGeTHGkQ_U

I immediately tagged the first single from Usher’s latest as a must-add to this blog. Since that moment months ago, this song has been stuck on repeat several times.

“Climax” could trick its way onto a sexy-time playlist, but as soon as you pay attention to any single lyric, you experience a moment something like this: “Oh shit, this is intense.” This song is intense. We get the singer’s side of an ever-painful conversation. What we hear in this song is the feeling looking down the mountain after climbing successfully to the top. (But we all know the climb to the top can’t have been perfect). No matter what relationship you’re in, and no matter what the gender identities of the people involved in it, this song takes you on a ride. Seriously, when I listen, I just let the music swiftly enter me, before leaving me just as quickly and hauntingly.

Going nowhere fast. We’ve reached the climax.
Were together now we’re undone.
Won’t commit so we choose to run away.
Do we separate?
Don’t wanna give in so we both gave up.
Can’t take it back. It’s too late.
We’ve reached the climax.

I’ve fallen somehow, feet off the ground
Love is the cloud that keeps raining down.
Where are you now? When I need you around
I’m on my knees but it seems we’re…

I gave my best, it wasn’t enough
You get upset, we argue too much
We made a mess of what used to be love.
So why do I care at all.

You say it’s better if we love each other separately.
I just need you one more time
I can’t get what we had off my mind,
Where are you now? When I need you around
I’m on my knees but it seems we’re…

http://youtu.be/xIW4kZfvhY0

I have been DYING to find a song by my Queen to showcase. And iTunes shuffle resurfaced this song for me just in time, because it also happens to be a song that helps me in my recent search for nighttime slow jamz.

King B shows us a little bit of what she and Jay were working with leading up to the birth of Mini Highness Blue Ivy Carter. What’s great is that anyone can take this song and apply it to their love/sex life without worrying about gendered lyrics getting in the way. Apply away, darlings.

You’ve got me speechless

Where you been, baby?
Waited for you all day
Waited for you to use the key
That opens my place
My heart starts trembling
As I hear your footsteps pace
Lock opens, doorknob turns
There appeared your face

Going outta my head; I think I’m losing all my mind
Drive me crazy burning candles, making love all night
Feels so strange, it feels so crazy to be in your world
In your arms lost for words
You’ve got me!

Laying so closely
I feel your skin rubbing and touching me
Only sweat between us
Feeling you kissing and pleasing me
I rub your back, I kiss your neck
I know that you love when we touch like that
I can feel you need me
Feels so good to me

Kiss me, Hold me

http://youtu.be/E3xL3dbHyN4

Robin Thicke’s delicious voice drips over this slow jam, and it is ready for consumption in private with or without one or more other people. It’s great.

His “Mission” can be shared by people who are just down to devote themselves to someone—ready to log some hours.

OMG wait: There is even a reference to consent!! Not too shabby, Robin, not too shabby.

It’s been so long,
Good to be home.
Bring down the lights,
Power down the phone.
Or put it on vibrate,
Call you all night and,
Are you ready to go?

Makin’ it my mission,
Takin’ it nice & slow.
I just need your permission,
But you seem all ready,
All ready to go.

It’s good to be back,
Back in your arms.
Here with my baby,
Ridin’ right along.
It’s good to be back,
Ain’t nuthin’ change.
I’m the same body,
You want it?

Whatever you need? I got it.
Just tell me, I got it.
Your energy? I want it.
Youuuu & meeeeee.

When you get that energy,
& your body’s callin’ me,
First if I’m ready cuz I,
I wanna tell you alone.
When you get that energy,
When your body’s callin’ me,
First if I’m ready cuz I,
I wanna pass it along.
& on my bedside, Imma tear it up,
So how can I love you,
How can I love you babe?

http://youtu.be/U0U06QFhGrQ

I will say now that my hunt for bedroom/booty songs led me down a path of slow jams. And a bitch is left hot and bothered. I may not have found a lot of gender-neutral material, but I found a lot of other things…

Anyway, Miguel gives me that lights-off groove I need, and he does it with lyrics that can anyone of any gender can immerse themself in. After listening to the way he gently delivers on this track, I am ready to sign up for classes. I am enrolled and will deal with financial aid later, because “Teach Me” is enough for the moment.

I just want to be wherever you are
I just want to know your there
I just want to see whatever you see
Cause I know you’re not too shy to say it

Cause everywhere I go and everyone I touch
What I already know is not enough
And no one has taught me quite like you
Following my eyes searching for the real knowing that there’s not much else
Tell me that you hear what I’m saying, 
I swear you know the very best way to… 

Teach me, train me, guide me baby
Only you can release the love inside me baby (waited my turn and I’m ready to learn)
In and out love me down playing with my dirty mind

I just want to feel whatever you feel
Feel it at the very same time
I want to know how to make you cry
How to make your body cream
Feel my dirty mind with your favorite erotic dream
Show me what to do

Anywhere we are I’m daring you to demonstrate
The front seat in my car close your eyes and accelerate
If you never seen this side of me take a ride on my rocket babe
Your body is a party and I just want to celebrate

http://youtu.be/V_izJHVeruE

I want to find gender-neutral media to share that is nasty, dirty, sexy, infectious and enjoyable by everyone! The search begins.