Why hidden, sad and hurt?
LGBT people often show up in music videos, sometimes quite obviously, sometimes so blurred as to be disguised.
This year they had a more symbolic presence in the midst of the burgeoning pop-diva culture, including hints at lesbianism.
American superstar Lady Gaga is the leader of the pack when it comes to championing the gay cause. She gave us the theme song “Born This Way”, encouraging us to be proud of our difference because that’s what God intended.
Katy Perry, with “Firework”, and Pink, with “Raise Your Glass”, demonstrated their support for teenage fans struggling with their sexuality amid society’s torments.
Kesha’s fun song “We R Who We R” had nothing to do with gay pride, but I found in the video’s scenes of an all-girl party an understanding of lesbians. I’m not quite sure what the director wanted to say to viewers, but that’s what their intimacy suggested to me.
Neither did Kesha’s song have anything to say about self-esteem, like those other tunes, but the video’s positive attitude impressed me just as much.
In only the last month there have been two Thai pop videos that almost make up for our usual lack of gay visuals.
Koh Mr Saxman’s video for “Secret Love” features a clearly gay couple. One of the men has to marry a woman, but they continue their relationship secretly. Then a twentysomething woman who’s paired with a teenage male always walks arm in arm with her female classmate, and the classmate seems annoyed when the boy toy gives her flowers.
“Nathi”, the latest single by Wan “AF2” Thanakrit, is about a man who maintains a lifelong secret yearning for his male pal and sheds tears of regret when his friend dies.
Earlier we had Palmy’s “Cry Cry Cry”, which is about sad love stories and includes a transgender in the closing sequence to represent the “third sex”.
All three of these Thai songs are sad, and of course LGBT people have as much sorrow in their lives as anyone else, but I find it a bit of a clich
