The Androgynous 80s
The concept of androgyny is as old as time and describes individuals in possession of male and female characteristics. According to Greek philosophy as demonstrated in Plato’s Symposium, Aristophanes’ myth of the missing half reveals that mankind was originally spherical with two bodies attached back-to -back and cartwheeled around. There were three sexes, namely: the male-male who descended from the sun, the female-female from the earth, and the male-female who descended from the moon with the last being a representation of androgynous people. The attempt of these beings to invade the dwelling place of the gods led to their dismantlement by Zeus, who turned the male pair into homosexuals, the female pair into lesbians and the androgynous pair into heterosexual couples.
In popular music culture, the first to embody this phenomenon would probably be Little Richard who was known to wear makeup and wigs. The trend was replicated by Elvis Presley whose swaggering sexuality was framed by an effeminate look, setting the trend for rockers like David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger. This was but a trickle until the 1980s which recorded the unleashing of multiple androgynic characters onto the music scene and for a young consumer of music videos as a form of recreation in that decade, the androgynous artists were pretty indigestible and scary. The rationale would be the fundamentalist religious viewpoint which categorized unfathomable phenomenons lacking biblical clarifications and reference points as satanic and condemnable.
Grace Jones was overwhelmingly eccentric in her androgynic persona which sent shock waves in the fashion world where she began as a model and would later gravitate to music and acting. Boy George’s full face of make-up left the audience in a sea of confusion which was often abated when he showcased his distinctively high-pitched, warm and soulful voice. Having indicated androgynic tendencies in “Human Nature”, Michael Jackson’s androgynic identity fossilized in the album Bad characterized by a typical gender fluidity and makeup usage not previously seen. Prince had an alter ego called Camille, who was to be formally introduced to the world in an unreleased 1986 album. The scheduled songs for the album like “If I Was Your GIrlfriend”, “Shockadelica”, “Housequake”, etc. were transferred into subsequent albums. As an established falsetto singer, Prince’s high-heel and make-up wearing paraphernalia completed the equation and the existence of Camille was far from unsurprising.
Androgyny is often referred to as a non-binary, hermaphroditic and unisex identity in contemporary culture. It blends masculine and feminine aesthetics in the persona to challenge societal constructs through the use of makeup, gender fluid attires and high heels. It blurs the lines and restrictions of gender limitations and stereotypes imposed upon the conventional sexes and subverts societal boundaries and expectations of gender roles. Importantly, androgyny blurs the divisiveness between the two sexes to foster a diverse and egalitarian society where all can thrive without prejudice.
Whether framed as a default mode or merely performative, androgyny has become a permanent fixture in modern culture and is embodied by contemporary artists like Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae, Jaden Smith, etc.
As is the custom, this post culminates with a playlist of songs made by androgynous singers.
Annie Lennox. “Why” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ovLUgt9UEI Diva (1992).
Boy George (Culture Club). “Karma Chameleon” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MdOYG4SZjM Colour by Numbers (1983).
David Bowie. “Let’s Dance” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHlwJvPv9C0 Let’s Dance (1983).
Elvis Presley. “Suspicious Minds” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo From Elvis In Memphis (1969).
Grace Jones. “Pull Up To The Bumper” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXL5fuiL2kY Nightclubbing (1981).
Jimi Hendrix. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7UMubmfbH0 Electric Ladyland (1968).
Little Richard. “Tutti Frutti” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnIIvWnpaBU Here’s Little Richard (1957).
Madonna. “Holiday” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQ8boTf0wo Madonna (1983).
Michael Jackson. “Human Nature” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElN_4vUvTPs Thriller (1982).
Prince. “Little Red Corvette” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DAkJSp61w 1999 (1982).
Terence Trent D’arby. “Sign Your Name” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X-xI3uFhZc Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D’Arby (1987).
