Androgyny vs LAD CULTURE IN THE 1990'S
The androgynous subculture of the 1990's was definitely seen as a homage to the glam-rock aesthetic of the 1970's; to David Bowie in particular- The ultimate androgynous icon who inspired the young Brett Anderson, Brian Molko, Jarvis Cocker and god only knows who else.
Bowie presented his gender in such an unconventional, flamboyant way in an attempt to challenge what the mainstream public associated with men. Giving his audience avenues for exploring internal labyrinths of existence and desire.
Ziggy Stardust was THE glam rock pioneer.
Bowie leaned wholeheartedly into the contradictions that he embodied in his gender and sexuality: He pushed boundaries and the idea that being different wasn’t all that bad. He wasn’t quietly androgynous, nor was he genderless; just smack, bang in the middle of being butch and feminine.
Britpop pioneers Suede, followed in their hero's footsteps and caused quite the stir. They came about at a time when acid house, baggy and shoe gaze dominated the scene and most importantly, during the rise of the 'new lad’. - And there in the middle of it all was the 90's Bowie.
Many were shocked, even intrigued by Andersons ambiguous image and lyrics. He tended to adopt a number of different persona’s within his song writing - and would often write from a woman’s perspective most famously from the perspective of a 50's housewife on "Still Life". After years of butch, manly rock music here was a man using male pronouns in a song about sex.
The lads were threatened but Suede were quietly sparking an interest amongst the misfits. The bands debut single “the Drowners” was the first example of such ambiguity in Anderson's lyrics. He told the dark tales that had previously been exiled to the backstreets of suburban Britain.
“we kiss in his room to a popular tune”
“slow down, slow down, you’re taking me over”
and most famously “Animal Nitrate” which told tales experimenting poppers, abusive homosexual relationships and "taking it time after time".
"His words started to get quite twisted sexually; kind of ambiguous,"
- Justine Frischmann
WE KISS IN HIS ROOM TO A POPULAR TUNE.