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2009 Year in Review: Music

In 2008, the art and accomplishments of queer women in music were sometimes overshadowed by headline-grabbing spectacles of fauxmosexuality. But in 2009, gay and bisexual musicians garnered greater mainstream and monetary success, as well as critical praise.

Despite our relative lack of visibility in genres such as hip-hop and country, our presence and influence in pop and rock has increased steadily, and it’s been as a result of the quality of our music and not the shock value of our sexual orientation.

Coming Out

Folk rock musician Brandi Carlile‘s fans have been aware of her lesbian status since she began playing in her home city of Seattle in 2000, but it wasn’t until 2009 that she publicly stated that she was, in fact, gay. She told The L.A. Times that her sexuality has “has neither helped nor hindered her,” though a significant portion of her fanbase has come from regular tours with the Indigo Girls. Carlile’s 2009 album, Give Up the Ghost, is her second on major label Columbia Records, and debuted at #26 on the Billboard 200.

Singer-songwriter Holly Miranda came out about her relationship with a woman this year shortly after the release of her debut EP, Sleep on Fire. Critics raved over her voice, with The New York Times calling her style “smoky and laserlike, picking out heavy, desperate gasps and lingering on them.” She also had a fan in Kanye West, who linked to her on his blog. She told AfterEllen.com, “I have no problem being out, but I don’t think it has anything to do with my music. I like who I like. I don’t want people to not listen to my music because of that and I don’t want people to listen to my music because of that.”

Holly recorded her debut album with famed indie producer Dave Sitek, and signed with XL Recordings for the album to be released in 2010.

Credit in the Straight World

You couldn’t connect to the Internet without reading about Lady Gaga this year. Gaga’s debut album, The Fame, was released in 2008, but singles “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Paparazzi” and “Love Game” made her a pop star and garnered comparisons to Madonna. Her shock-and-awe live performances made her unforgettable. After initially referring to herself as bisexual at the end of 2008, Gaga has been asked repeatedly about her sexuality. In her video for “Love Game,” she passionately kisses a woman dressed as a cop, and in the lyrics to “Poker Face,” the lovers who can’t penetrate her facade are alternately referred to as both “he” and “she.”

She has taken an unwavering stance on LGBTQ equality, but has been somewhat demure when talking about her own sexual orientation. When Barbara Walters recently asked her if she’d ever had a relationship with a woman, Gaga said she had not. But when Walters asked about her sexual experiences, Gaga disclosed that she’d indeed had sex with a woman.

Whether you enjoy her brand of arty-electro pop or think it’s Madonna-lite, Lady Gaga’s advocacy on behalf of the queer community has had a decidedly positive effect (particularly if some fans think that they don’t personally know any queer people).

Having a high-profile Grammy nominee talk openly about her bisexuality and her personal views on equality could exert a great deal of pressure on her to positively represent our community, but, so far, she’s doing just fine.

R&B performer Fergie has always been open about her past relationships with women, but she elaborated further this year after flirting with women in the Black Eyed Peas’ music video for the hit single “I Gotta Feeling.”

Fergie told The Advocate: “The funny thing is that I was very open and honest about that from the very beginning, and everyone was acting like it was some new trend. Go back four or five years, people, and you’ll see the same answer.”

Although less high-profile in the mainstream press than Lady Gaga or Fergie, Tegan and Sara have been very out for the last few years. This was particularly true in the press for their 2009 album Sainthood. In it, Sara talked openly about how her songwriting was influenced by the dissolution of her long-term relationship with a girlfriend, and Tegan expressed being inspired by a new relationship of her own.

Sainthood sold 22,665 copies in the first week, debuting at #21 on the Billboard 200 and at #1 in Canada. Another band with two openly lesbian members that has reached mainstream and major label success (and, therefore, visibility) is the Gossip. Music for Men reached only #164 in the U.S., but was an international hit reaching #5 in France, #3 in Belgium and winning high rankings on the charts in Europe and Australia.

The Gossip, like Tegan and Sara, are press darlings, although singer Beth Ditto is regularly singled out as the focus of the paparazzi. Her statements about her size, queerness and fashion have gained her notoriety and extensive coverage in glossy magazines. All the while, she’s remained a hero to the LGBTQ community that embraced her and the band in their early days, when the trio toured and recorded on smaller labels like Kill Rock Stars. Two new bands with out frontwomen include Telepathe and The XX. Both the electronic-dance duo and the (now) three-piece UK band released critically hailed LPs in 2009. Alongside new albums from Mirah, Tara Jane O’Neil, The Sounds, Girl in a Coma, and metal band OTEP, these debuts had a strong presence in the pop and rock categories for people of all of sexualities.

Strong Ties to the Queer Community

The Cliks have been a favorite in the queer community since their 2007 Tommy Boy Records album, Snakehouse. Having undergone several line-up changes in the last several years, the trio, consisting of FTM Lucas Silveria and lesbians Morgan Doctor and Jen Benton, recorded Dirty King for 2009.

Many fans thought they’d seen the final Cliks lineup, but Lucas released a statement revealing that his bandmates had departed and he would continue on without them. Lucas has since recruited two new members: Lesbian bassist Tobi Parks and Dresden Doll drummer Brian Vigilione.

The always prolific Meshell Ndegeocello‘s Devil’s Halo was a true stepping-stone in her career. The album, which featured some of the musician’s best work to date, combined rock and soul to create an accessible masterpiece. Erin McKeown‘s Hundreds of Lions reached #1 on Amazon.com on the Bestseller MP3 Album chart, marking her first album with Righteous Babe Records a righteous success.

Sharon Isbin‘s Journey to the New World was nominated for a Grammy in Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra). The album CD remained on the Billboard charts for 36 consecutive weeks.

Rachael Cantu had two tracks featured on the ABC medical drama Private Practice and her new album, Far and Wide, was released in November.

Other notable releases from 2009 came from Sarah Bettens, Sandra Bernhard, Jen Foster, and Indigo Girls.

Looking Ahead

In 2010, we have several new albums from established queer musicians to which we can look forward. Kaki King and Sia both have nearly completed albums that will likely be released in the new year, and Bitch’s second solo LP will come out at the end of March. JD Samson’s new band, MEN will be releasing recorded work, as will Uh Huh Her. As queer musicians in pop and rock continue to gain visibility and respect, there is hope that talented out and proud musicians in other genres, particularly those in which we are noticeably absent, will do the same.

Next page: AfterEllen.com’s Top 10 Albums from Lesbian/Bisexual Women in 2009

Which albums from lesbian/bisexual women made your Top 10 in 2009?

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