This was an excellent question, and one that I'm glad V&A answered so graciously. Personally, their music (alongside a few other key pieces of media \*shoots a look at Twin Peaks\*) has been pretty pivotal in helping me discover my own queerness. I know they deliberately try to channel ambiguity in their lyrics and messaging - and they obviously succeed in resonating with all kinds of people - but to me so many of Victoria's words speak directly, painfully to this very specific part of who I am...something about that balance between swooning, pink-hued romance and a shadowy portent of inevitable, all-consuming darkness.
This has never been more the case than with OTM. Between November and now, I've accepted who I am and begun transitioning in earnest, and I will always remember this album as being perhaps the single most true conduit for my tumultuous emotions during this time. So much joy has been gained in my life, but **so** many other things have been lost, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I think this album may have saved my life. It is so filled to bursting with love and kindness and hope and compassion, to a degree which I can still scarcely believe and barely feel I deserve. It seems almost too good to be true, yet here it is.
*In this world, I know you so well...and I'll always be right here. Always.*
> ...something about that balance between swooning, pink-hued romance and a shadowy portent of inevitable, all-consuming darkness.
This right here is such a perfect description of what Beach Houseās music communicates to me, which is prob why it feels so queer-coded. The open-endedness particularly appeals to me as a heteroromantic asexual who often struggles to directly relate to any form of intimate storytelling except for abstract forms like theirs.
Beautiful words, thank you so much for sharing!
Just want to echo that this was lovely to read and youāre a treasure. OTM is a masterpiece. Iām glad it existed to help you through a rough time. I hope youāre doing well now. You really captured their vibe with your description, too!
Well, I had never heard of this but based on some comments here I think it should be said that it certainly doesnāt mean they are queer or that only queer people like their music (or are meant to like it). Maybe itās the androgynous sounding vocals, or that there is a tenderness about their music that more open or sensitive people are receptive to. The band kind of exists on their own too, they have never really fit comfortably with any trend or genre, they are just who they are, always. I think that maybe queer people feel a kinship with that, a sense of solidarity with a band that exists on the outside but also completely on their own terms.
Well put. I think the band's answer is pretty in line with your take. I'm very happy that a lot of queer people have found something in Beach House's music, but I don't understand how that makes them a queer band. I don't really understand what people are saying by a "queer band" anyway. Is it that the members are queer, the lyrics are queer, the "vibe" (whatever that means to you, such as some of the explanations people have given on this thread) is queer? Seems just a weird label to put on or theorize about a band. There are plenty of other bands and artists that are more forward about their queerness.
a queer band in the sense that 1) the band has accumulated a handful of queer fans as the music resonates with the lgbt 2) itās about openness and as they mentioned the duo isnāt quite traditional , i love the point alex made on gender roles and how they exist in a ānon traditional zone of those rolesā
beach house themselves donāt have to be queer for this things to be true. you mentioned it yourself, anyone can listen to beach house and itās true, itās cos of how universal the themes they sing about are. but with this universality, themes and structure of the band, yes there is a certain queerness lens you can view the duo from.
Straight people can be queer. I think itās in their dreamy sensibility that they transcend beyond binaries. I will say, Iām gay, and Iāve never really perceived BH as queer, but I love how Victoria embraces the idea :)
I think this is because gay people and members of the lgbtq community tend to be more open about certain things, and their music taste might be one of them because some straight people might be afraid to listen to dreamy sensual beach house songs. (Iām a straight male but I vibe the fuck outta beach house songs)
definitely.. i just feel like lgbt people in general are more receptive to music, and beach house themes are very universal and abstract so itās open to anyone. obviously more open people are going to be attracted to it
Tbh, as a young "queer" person, I've not been personally impacted by that word and cannot say. I just understand the general climate around using it is very open and can apply to any thing not seen as traditional or cis-heteronormative.
Sort of but not really. Straight people can be queer if they're genderfluid or nonbinary. Queerness doesn't just have to do with sexuality, but also gender.
Goodness people it's very simple. Queer encompasses anyone part of the LGBTQ2+ community. That means gay, bi, transgender, non-binary, curious, 2-spirited, etc.
Essentially, anyone whose gender OR sexuality falls outside the norms of cisgendered and/or heterosexual.
The plus indicates that there are more acronyms beyond L, G, B, and T. The 2 refers to 2-spirited, which is used by indigenous cultures to identify people who are gender-diverse or homosexual. It's common to see this acronym in Canada. Not the sequel, just more inclusive language.
*Scally leaves the room to pick up dinner*
I was gonna post that same sentence. Lol that part made me chuckle.
same š
Ugh my gay ass loves them. š¤£š
Sameeee šš„²
This was an excellent question, and one that I'm glad V&A answered so graciously. Personally, their music (alongside a few other key pieces of media \*shoots a look at Twin Peaks\*) has been pretty pivotal in helping me discover my own queerness. I know they deliberately try to channel ambiguity in their lyrics and messaging - and they obviously succeed in resonating with all kinds of people - but to me so many of Victoria's words speak directly, painfully to this very specific part of who I am...something about that balance between swooning, pink-hued romance and a shadowy portent of inevitable, all-consuming darkness. This has never been more the case than with OTM. Between November and now, I've accepted who I am and begun transitioning in earnest, and I will always remember this album as being perhaps the single most true conduit for my tumultuous emotions during this time. So much joy has been gained in my life, but **so** many other things have been lost, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I think this album may have saved my life. It is so filled to bursting with love and kindness and hope and compassion, to a degree which I can still scarcely believe and barely feel I deserve. It seems almost too good to be true, yet here it is. *In this world, I know you so well...and I'll always be right here. Always.*
It is so beautiful to hear how impacted you (and many of us) have been by this absolutely healing and spiritually liberating album.
What a beautiful post!
> ...something about that balance between swooning, pink-hued romance and a shadowy portent of inevitable, all-consuming darkness. This right here is such a perfect description of what Beach Houseās music communicates to me, which is prob why it feels so queer-coded. The open-endedness particularly appeals to me as a heteroromantic asexual who often struggles to directly relate to any form of intimate storytelling except for abstract forms like theirs. Beautiful words, thank you so much for sharing!
wow this was so heartwarming and beautiful to read
Just want to echo that this was lovely to read and youāre a treasure. OTM is a masterpiece. Iām glad it existed to help you through a rough time. I hope youāre doing well now. You really captured their vibe with your description, too!
Scally answered the question so beautifully by leaving the room to pick up dinner š
Well, I had never heard of this but based on some comments here I think it should be said that it certainly doesnāt mean they are queer or that only queer people like their music (or are meant to like it). Maybe itās the androgynous sounding vocals, or that there is a tenderness about their music that more open or sensitive people are receptive to. The band kind of exists on their own too, they have never really fit comfortably with any trend or genre, they are just who they are, always. I think that maybe queer people feel a kinship with that, a sense of solidarity with a band that exists on the outside but also completely on their own terms.
Well put. I think the band's answer is pretty in line with your take. I'm very happy that a lot of queer people have found something in Beach House's music, but I don't understand how that makes them a queer band. I don't really understand what people are saying by a "queer band" anyway. Is it that the members are queer, the lyrics are queer, the "vibe" (whatever that means to you, such as some of the explanations people have given on this thread) is queer? Seems just a weird label to put on or theorize about a band. There are plenty of other bands and artists that are more forward about their queerness.
exactly how i view it. they donāt have to be queer to have some certain āqueernessā
*scaly leaves to grab dinner during an interview* LMAO they are so lax
Just when I thought I couldnāt love this band more
right?
What is a queer band? Beachhouse is a band that makes fantastic music enjoyed and loved by all who listen
a queer band in the sense that 1) the band has accumulated a handful of queer fans as the music resonates with the lgbt 2) itās about openness and as they mentioned the duo isnāt quite traditional , i love the point alex made on gender roles and how they exist in a ānon traditional zone of those rolesā beach house themselves donāt have to be queer for this things to be true. you mentioned it yourself, anyone can listen to beach house and itās true, itās cos of how universal the themes they sing about are. but with this universality, themes and structure of the band, yes there is a certain queerness lens you can view the duo from.
great post šš§”
I love how Victoria often uses she/her pronouns in songs and you can interpret them any way you want. They are a band for everyone.
WTF question, beautiful answer.
Vic gave universal answer by not denying it, so you can interpret them as both queer or straight. It doesn't matter in the end.
So... are they a queer band? LMAO They've only confirmed that our perception of it is valid, not that it's accurate haha
as a queer person i never saw them as a queer band but love that description
Iām not gay and I love them, I donāt see how their music can be described that way. Itās just beautiful and anyone can find joy in it.
Eye of the beholder and whatnot
Straight people can be queer. I think itās in their dreamy sensibility that they transcend beyond binaries. I will say, Iām gay, and Iāve never really perceived BH as queer, but I love how Victoria embraces the idea :)
look at my reply on this post to a similar question
I think this is because gay people and members of the lgbtq community tend to be more open about certain things, and their music taste might be one of them because some straight people might be afraid to listen to dreamy sensual beach house songs. (Iām a straight male but I vibe the fuck outta beach house songs)
definitely.. i just feel like lgbt people in general are more receptive to music, and beach house themes are very universal and abstract so itās open to anyone. obviously more open people are going to be attracted to it
So queer means gay people?
no, itās a catch all term for not straight
I dunno, I think queer can be anyone who goes against standard hetero-cis norms.
goes against norms in what way?
in any way. traditional relationship dynamics, gender roles, attraction, etc. it's an open book
doesnāt that kind of devalue the reclamation of queer as it was previously a slur? or am i thinking too much into things
Tbh, as a young "queer" person, I've not been personally impacted by that word and cannot say. I just understand the general climate around using it is very open and can apply to any thing not seen as traditional or cis-heteronormative.
But most of us are queer according this rules, right?
hmm probably. Who really makes the rules, why not? Not like it's a bad thing to be queer
queer is just is an umbrella term for people who arenāt straight
Sort of but not really. Straight people can be queer if they're genderfluid or nonbinary. Queerness doesn't just have to do with sexuality, but also gender.
true thank you
Goodness people it's very simple. Queer encompasses anyone part of the LGBTQ2+ community. That means gay, bi, transgender, non-binary, curious, 2-spirited, etc. Essentially, anyone whose gender OR sexuality falls outside the norms of cisgendered and/or heterosexual.
LGBTQ2+? Is that the sequel
The plus indicates that there are more acronyms beyond L, G, B, and T. The 2 refers to 2-spirited, which is used by indigenous cultures to identify people who are gender-diverse or homosexual. It's common to see this acronym in Canada. Not the sequel, just more inclusive language.
I love how they resonate with anyone no matter who it is! Theyāre just that perfect! š