The Free Talk Live BBS

Free Talk Live => The Polling Pit => Topic started by: Alex Libman 15 on August 28, 2009, 07:30:54 AM

Title: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on August 28, 2009, 07:30:54 AM
[youtube=425,350]eB3VTX0pxoE[/youtube]

:roll:
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on August 28, 2009, 07:23:55 PM
I think it's about apathy.  Don't think it's gay.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: blackie on August 28, 2009, 09:49:10 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stipe

Quote
In 1994, Stipe officially came forward about his sexuality describing himself as "an equal opportunity lech"[11] and said he doesn't define himself as gay, straight, or bisexual, but that he was attracted to and had relationships with both men and women. In 1995 Stipe was on the cover of Out Magazine. Stipe described himself as a "queer artist" in Time Magazine in 2001 and revealed that he had been in a relationship with "an amazing man" for three years at that point.[10] Stipe was also featured on the cover of BUTT Magazine in 2003.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on August 28, 2009, 09:51:00 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stipe

Quote
In 1994, Stipe officially came forward about his sexuality describing himself as "an equal opportunity lech"[11] and said he doesn't define himself as gay, straight, or bisexual, but that he was attracted to and had relationships with both men and women. In 1995 Stipe was on the cover of Out Magazine. Stipe described himself as a "queer artist" in Time Magazine in 2001 and revealed that he had been in a relationship with "an amazing man" for three years at that point.[10] Stipe was also featured on the cover of BUTT Magazine in 2003.
:shock: Hahaha.  I guess my gaydar is off.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Rillion on August 28, 2009, 10:29:10 PM
Sheesh, I've known Michael Stipe was gay (or at least bi) since I was 14.  Didn't make me love REM any less. 
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on August 28, 2009, 10:50:12 PM
It's not an exact science.  Straight people can express gay ideas and emotions in their art (as will be speculated in Round 2), and vice versa.  I'm just surprised people can listen to REM, particularly Losing My Religion, and not think it's gay.  Whenever someone brings it up on SongMeanings.net (http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/34611/) everyone's like "no way".  The lyrics:


                           
Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream


The second and fifth lines clearly demonstrate that it's not a relationship with God.  Masculine love toward a woman is supposed to be assertive and overt, but this song is as vulnerable and self-doubting as it gets.  A man doesn't usually struggle to "keep up" with a female romantic interest, finds himself "in the corner", nor gets "brought to his knees".  Heterosexual love can be guilty and vulnerable too, but not to that degree, and the video makes it clear there are no females involved.  What I'm sensing in this song is a shy and/or repressed gay man trying to work up the courage to approach another man he thinks is gay in a conservative society, and he's having doubts.  There's an unmistakable sense of either unrequited love or love that is "wrong" and needs to be kept secret.  There are frequent subtle expressions of the need to drop "hints" and "set up" a mutual understanding in expressing this love without "saying too much".

Not that there's anything wrong with that.  In fact, I think understanding it on that level makes the song much more powerful, whether you're gay or straight.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 28, 2009, 10:51:58 PM
I don't care who he fucks, they get fifteen minutes before I'm bored.  
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Rillion on August 28, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
Masculine love toward a woman is supposed to be assertive and overt, but this song is as vulnerable and self-doubting as it gets.  A man doesn't usually struggle to "keep up" with a female romantic interest, finds himself "in the corner", nor gets "brought to his knees".  Heterosexual love can be guilty and vulnerable too, but not to that degree

You've already shown how little you understand of heterosexual relationships-- of any sexual relationships, for that matter.  No need to press the issue. 
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on August 28, 2009, 11:47:19 PM
Yes, not everyone can be an asexual übermensch like me.  :lol:

But, back on topic - what's your interpretation exactly?  You think that song is about a woman?
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: TimeLady Victorious on August 29, 2009, 11:23:14 AM
rem's faggotry is legendary

...

oh, you were talking about sexuality
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 03, 2009, 10:52:21 PM
And yet the poll is so close...  :roll:
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on September 04, 2009, 02:48:31 AM
REM isnt gay. They're pretty cool.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 04, 2009, 06:31:54 AM
It says gay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality), not ghey (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ghey).
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: davann on September 04, 2009, 11:07:17 AM
Don't care if the the group members are gay or not.  "Its the End of the World" is a great song either way. I like their music. It would be rare that a group member's sexuality plays any part in my taste of music. Joan Jett being the a rare example. Her bi-ness just makes her and her music even better.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: hellbilly on September 04, 2009, 05:36:57 PM
Don't care if the the group members are gay or not.  "Its the End of the World" is a great song either way. I like their music. It would be rare that a group member's sexuality plays any part in my taste of music. Joan Jett being the a rare example. Her bi-ness just makes her and her music even better.

Didja know Alton Brown of the Food channel directed that video?
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Ecolitan on September 14, 2009, 01:44:13 AM
Quote from: Wikipedia
Brown received a degree in drama from the University of Georgia. He began his career in cinematography and film production, and was the director of photography on the music video for R.E.M.'s "The One I Love." He has also worked as a steadicam operator on the Spike Lee film School Daze.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 14, 2009, 03:36:53 AM
Hmm, this has to be my second favorite fag-guilt video.  Here's the first:

[youtube=425,350]y7I5UaB7mx4[/youtube]

Can anyone recommend any others?
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 14, 2009, 06:53:02 PM
[youtube=425,350]Yu_moia-oVI[/youtube].
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: akaPoorRichard on September 14, 2009, 08:28:51 PM
Anything after Green sucks. Before that, awesome! Come one man, they were on the IRS label.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: blackie on September 14, 2009, 08:42:27 PM
Anything after Green sucks.
Pretty much. I think I went to a couple shows on the Green tour. I stopped buying their stuff after Green.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 14, 2009, 08:56:56 PM
rickroll fail

Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: davann on September 15, 2009, 04:03:32 PM
Don't care if the the group members are gay or not.  "Its the End of the World" is a great song either way. I like their music. It would be rare that a group member's sexuality plays any part in my taste of music. Joan Jett being the a rare example. Her bi-ness just makes her and her music even better.

Didja know Alton Brown of the Food channel directed that video?

I did not know that. Does he have the same style for the Food Channel?
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: hellbilly on September 16, 2009, 02:35:09 AM
Nah.. different style. He's the talent on the Food channel.

In keeping inline with potentially gay bands who have names like T.H.I.S. ..I request the next poll to query the sexual orientation of K.M.F.D.M. .
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: anarchir on September 16, 2009, 02:42:58 AM
rickroll fail
This you?
(http://bayimg.com/image/badodaaco.jpg)
aka this
(http://bayimg.com/thumb/badoeaaco.jpg)
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 16, 2009, 03:21:30 AM
I have no mirrors in my house, so I have no way of telling for certain.  :lol:
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Libertarianssuck on September 16, 2009, 03:24:01 AM
You don't need a mirror libman you already have ur pic up


(http://bbs.freetalklive.com/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=4242;type=avatar)
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 16, 2009, 04:36:08 AM
rickroll fail



No it didn't.

You fuckin watched it.

 
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Alex Libman 15 on September 16, 2009, 05:44:09 AM
No I didn't.  The title appears in the top-left corner. 
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 16, 2009, 03:28:10 PM
The title appears in the top-left corner. 

Really!??
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: davann on September 22, 2009, 10:51:37 PM
Nah.. different style. He's the talent on the Food channel.

In keeping inline with potentially gay bands who have names like T.H.I.S. ..I request the next poll to query the sexual orientation of K.M.F.D.M. .

Yeah, what about I.N.X.S.? I always wondered about the lead singer who committed suicide. Women creamed their pants just looking at a picture of him but he still found something to be sad about. My hunch was it was a repressed gay thing.
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: blackie on September 22, 2009, 11:18:47 PM
Yeah, what about I.N.X.S.? I always wondered about the lead singer who committed suicide. Women creamed their pants just looking at a picture of him but he still found something to be sad about. My hunch was it was a repressed gay thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hutchence
Quote
The coroner of New South Wales determined that Hutchence's death was the result of suicide, but analysis of the witness statements in the coroner's report, the lack of a suicide note and other anecdotal evidence, such as the fact that Hutchence was found nude, has led some—including Hutchence's brother and other close relatives—to suggest that the death may have resulted from autoerotic asphyxiation[3].
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: Rillion on September 23, 2009, 12:30:50 AM
Yeah, what about I.N.X.S.? I always wondered about the lead singer who committed suicide. Women creamed their pants just looking at a picture of him but he still found something to be sad about. My hunch was it was a repressed gay thing.

By that logic, Marilyn Monroe must've been a lesbian.  
Title: Re: GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.
Post by: davann on September 23, 2009, 05:45:01 PM
Yeah, what about I.N.X.S.? I always wondered about the lead singer who committed suicide. Women creamed their pants just looking at a picture of him but he still found something to be sad about. My hunch was it was a repressed gay thing.

By that logic, Marilyn Monroe must've been a lesbian.  

Who is to say she wasn't?

This was only a hunch and had little to do with logic.