First up? An old classic that your grand parents may remember? From 1950, by that dear sweet girl folks grew to love, Paddy McPaige -
Genessee Waltz
I was looking in her closet one evening last summer;
a summer I’ll never forget.
Found a cami and a half slip which were soft and so attractive,
but which left me with one big regret.
Oh I’ll never resemble a star like Jean Hagen;
I’d settle for Vivian Vance
Can’t afford any surgery or even enhancements;
which I’d wear if I just had the chance!
and next up, a sad but catchy tune by that gorgeous Italian-American T-Girl Next Door, Constantly Frances, from 1958 -
Who's Salvatore Now?
Who’s Sally now? Who’s Sally now?
He was a boy but as a girl, gee but wow?
I must confess he looks great in a dress
You might just say he’s much more with much less.
Who’s he today? What’s that you say?
He isn’t a he anymore?
Salvatore, si, has become quite a she;
I guess that her wife’s sorry now!
...and who can forget the British Invasion. Singing their big hit from 1964, the Beat L-Girls -
She Loves Who?
You think you’ve lost your girl
Well I saw her yesterday
It ain’t you she’s thinking of
‘cause she told me what to say
She said she hates you
And you know you make her mad
After transition
She said you’re pathetic and sad oooo
She hates you yeah yeah yeah
She hates you yeah yeah yeah
With a hate like that
You know you shoo-ooo-ould be sad!!!!
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
....hey kids, especially you dear, sweet Canucks, here's a popular tune from 1967, by the Youngbuds -
Get to Be Heather!
Gender is a fluid thing
No matter what they say...
Girls are boys and boys are girls
Each and every day...
It gets real personal
So just don't have a cow!
Come on people now;
Say bye to brother
Everybody take a deep breath and
Say hello to your new sister right now!
(Right now! Right Now!)
* * * * *
...and now for a sad lament from one of the 70's top recording artist, Still-A-Son! It's that great hit from 1972 -
Can't Live (If Livin' Means I'm Not Me!)
Oh I looked into the mirror
and was very disappointed
Since I’d rather be a girl than be a boy
I don’t know how it is that I live without joy
Without joy.
Can’t live…if living is without me
Can’t live like this anymore
Don’t know if I can still continue
Can’t live my life as a boy
...pass out the hankies, kids! And now, from all the way back in 1978, the Piano Girl herself, Billie-Joellen, sings her big hit,
Just the Way I'm Not!
Don’t go changin’ just to appease me
I don’t appreciate your tone
It’s not amusing when you’re so pleasant
I might as well be all alone
I don’t want someone
Who’s patronizing
Politically correct in every way
I just want someone who understands me
And knows that trans ain’t always gay……
I need a someone who will always see
I'm not the you you see outside
Understand there are those
Who can't handle the real me
So I just have to hide inside
I don't want clever words of banter
I don't have time at all for those
And just remember this single answer
Being Tee is more than clothes!
....coming up next, that classic 80's band performing their one-hit-wonder; from 1985, here's Hems for Femmes,
singing -
Everybody Wants to Be a Girl?
Welcome to this life
There's no going back
Just don’t go and weep
We will find you in your true nature
no matter what the nomenclature
Everybody wants to be a girl
...one of my personal favorites from 1981, that great British band, The Poor T's, playing that painfully obvious and totally self - deprecating -
Every Fucking Thing I Do (Is Tragic!)
Well I’ve tried before to tell them
Of the feelings I have about me in my heart
Every time they just turn me off
I lose all hope
As I’ve felt from the start
Every fucking thing I do is tragic
Everything I do just turns to dust
Even though my life is far from magic
Still I know I need someone to trust
Should I have to tell my story
Of a million years since I was born
An unnecessary burden
But it’s only me left feeling all alone
Every fucking thing I do is tragic
Everything I do just turns to dust
Even though my life is far from magic
Still I know I need someone to trust
I resolve to confront them a million times a day
But they're dispassonate no matter what I say
But disappointment has gripped me
Long before I speak a word
Long before my self betrays me
Must I always be unheard
Every fucking thing I do is tragic
Everything I do just turns to dust
Even though my life is far from magic
Still I know I need someone to trust
Every fucking thing I do is tragic
Everything I do just turns to dust
Even though my life is far from magic
Still I know I need someone to trust
on and
on and
on and
on and on and on
Every fucking thing
Every fucking thing
Every fucking thing
Every fucking thing
Every fucking thing I do
Every fucking thing I do
Every fucking thing I do
Every fucking thing I do - thing I do is tragic
eyo eyo eyo eyo eyo eyoeyooooooah
(Terrific bass, yes?)
and finally, one of my favorite groups playing one of my favorite songs, from 2003, it's Opalescence singing -
Bring Me Some Ice (Nurse, Does this Intercom Actually Work?)
How can I see when you’re still standing in front of me
I can’t even hear what the announcer’s saying
I want to hear….just what is going on right now
Please tell me dear what happened today
Turn it off (Don’t go run and hide)
Turn it off (It feels better inside)
Leave it off (Don’t go run away)
Read a book (Distract me now today)
My doctor told me it would hurt
but not as much as this hurts now
It really hurts but worth the pain and how
I never knew just how much pain a dream could be
But it’s still better much better to be me
Turn it off (Where is my nurse now)
Turn it off (my meds have worn off now)
Leave it off (Don’t go run away)
Read a book (Distract me now today)
Stuck in this room without a book without a zine
I don’t know what I’d do without your love…….
Turn it off (Where is my nurse now)
Turn it off (my meds have worn off now)
Leave it off (Don’t go run away)
Read a book (Distract me now today)
Tennessee Waltz
words and music by
Redd Steward and Pee Wee King
performed by
Miss Patti Paige
Who's Sorry Now?
words and music by
Bert Kalmer and Harry Ruby
and Ted Snyder
performed by
Miss Connie Francis
She Loves You!
words and music by
John Lennon and Paul McCartney
and performed by
The Beatles
(Everybody) Get Together
words and music by
Chet Powers
as performed by
The Youngbloods
Can't Live (If Livin' Is Without You
words and music by
Peter Ham and Tom Evans
as performed by
Harry Nillson
Just the Way You Are
words and music and
performed by
Billy Joel
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley,
and Chris Hughes
Performed by
Tears for Fears
Every Little Thing (She Does Is Magic)
words and music by
Sting
Performed by The Police
Bring Me To Life
words and music
and performed by
Evanescence