The Agenda: Euphoria Mix Tape can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day and happy Pride!
I’m DJ Ponyboy and before we do anything I want you to know that you are welcome here. You are welcome to just relax and be yourself with no expectations.
Thank you for being your awesome self. And thank you for spending your valuable time with me; I am humbled and honoured. I hope I can give back to you more than I receive.
Welcome to the Agenda: Euphoria Pride Theme Mix Tape. We have a jam-packed show for you today, so let’s jump right in!
In 1986, Tom Scholz asked the musical question, “What does it take to be a man?”
Listen closely for his musical answers – they might surprise you!
Here is Boston on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
“To Be A Man” by Boston.
Two lines that stick out to me are, “We can be blind, but a man tries to see. It takes tenderness for a man to be what he can be,” and, “A man is something that’s real. It’s not what you are, it’s what you can feel. It can’t be too late to look through the hate and see – I know that’s what a man can be.”
If you need a definition of “euphoria”, how about the feeling you get hearing those soaring guitar riffs?! #chills
I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all who contributed songs for today’s mix tape. I sincerely apologize at being unable to fit them all in. Trust and know they are saved for future use. Mwahahahaha. 😋
Quickly, because we have so many tunes to get to, what does “Agenda: Euphoria” mean?
Healthline.com defines gender euphoria as, “when someone’s perceived gender aligns with their sense of self and causes them to be happy and feel at ease.”
While not everybody is perceived as the gender they identify as, music is magic, and I believe music can bring about gender euphoria from the inside – no external validation needed.
Sometimes just the way an artist speaks the truth or the power of their guitar chords can make our souls soar and make us feel seen.
Our primary agenda today is euphoria – let’s feel good about ourselves! It ain’t no sin and it ain’t no crime to enjoy being present in the physical selves we are stuck with, especially when they cause us so much trouble most of the time.
Before we begin, what songs make you feel euphoric about your gender identity? Share them on our FB page; I’d love to hear them!
I’m DJ Ponyboy and this is Shania Twain feeling her gender with 1999’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” Shania Twain. 1999.
That song makes me euphoric and I don’t identify as a woman even a little bit!
Luckily for the world, there aren’t only two genders – and even within the traditional genders, there is so much diversity! Thank goodness! Binary is boring. I enjoy colour and variety!
Klaus Nomi was a unique individual indeed. A classically-trained countertenor from Bavaria, Germany, he was part of a burgeoning art music scene that included artists like David Bowie, striving to turn the existing notion of gender on its head.
Tragically, Nomi was one of the earliest public figures to be a casualty of the AIDS epidemic, succumbing to his illness in 1983, just before beginning to gain the fame he was destined for.
This Pride we remember the legacy of Klaus Sperber, known professionally as Klaus Nomi.
Here is his 1981 cover of a song originally recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963 – proudly declaring, “You Don’t Own Me”.
Up next, a song first recorded by The Replacements in 1984, but has been covered by the Crash Test Dummies and Joan Jett, among others.
I have collected those covers, as well as additional Klaus Nomi tracks, and much, much more, on a bonus playlist for your listening pleasure; I will share with you later how you can gain access to that playlist and more.
Listen closely for one of the band members singing, “Jefferson’s Cock” (at a little under three minutes in).
On a very few occasions, The Replacements would perform wearing drag under the moniker Jefferson’s Cock.
I’m DJ Ponyboy, and this is The Replacements with “Androgynous”.
After that, Todrick Hall expands on the theme, asking, “Why not both?” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
That was Todrick Hall with his 2021 tune “Both”.
Up next, the incomparable Chaka Kahn reminds us that women are women and need to stick together – no TERF love here! Y’all means all, honey!
Listen to Chaka Kahn in 1978 declaring, “I’m Every Woman”.
Up next, it’s David Bowie, reminding us (while subtly highlighting the inequities of our existing patriarchy) that even within the traditional binary there are so many different ways to express your gender.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and this is David Bowie with 1979’s “Boys Keep Swinging”.
What method(s) of expressing your gender give you the most euphoria? Sound off on the Mix Tape Journey Facebook page; I’d love to hear!
All this talk of boys and girls. What about everyone else? Well, non-binary, often shortened to the letters N.B. and pronounced “enby” refers to genders outside the binary man/woman. Our next two songs celebrate enbies from two angles – I’m enby and awesome, and you’re enby and awesome!
Up first, Atlas and JHFLy with 2018’s “They/Them” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
“They/Them” followed by Wheriko with 2022’s “Enby”.
Up next a brand-new song from the American punk rock band Destroy Boys. Brand-new as in just a few days old.
If you like new music, make sure to come back the first Sunday of every month for my monthly New Music Mix Tape, where I round up the best new music from the previous month. The June New Music Mix Tape (dropping July 7th) is already shaping up to have some great new queer music, like this song.
Here is Destroy Boys with their new single “Boyfeel”.
Confidence is one of the sexiest things you can put on in the morning.
Even those who wish to judge can’t help but respect those who live their true colours confidently and unapologetically.
Do you think anyone gives guff to Todrick Hall? And if they do, do you think he cares? What about RealXman (who we will hear from in a minute)? Those two are so confident it comes right through the speakers and slaps you in the face!
Shania Twain’s confidence just explodes out of the speakers when she sings “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”
You are amazing! You are you and there is no one else out there being your bad-ass self!
So channel your inner Todrick Hall (or Demi Lovato), strike a power pose, and strut out into the world, asking, “What’s wrong with being confident?!”
I’m DJ Ponyboy and this is Demi Lovato with 2015’s “Confident” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
Demi Lovato with “Confident”.
Next, RealXman with 2023’s “Macho”.
That track utilizing interpolation to weave in references to the classic Village People queer anthem “Macho Man”.
I explore interpolation in more detail in last month’s May 2024 Connections Mix Tape; go give it a listen after you finish this tape. 😊
Ultimately, the “Queer Agenda (TM)” is really pretty simple. We just want to be safe, healthy, and left alone. Ultimately it boils down to respect for your fellow human beings.
Speaking of respect, our next song is an anthem to setting boundaries and standing up for one’s self.
Here is the unrivaled Queen of Soul, the one and only Aretha Franklin with her independence anthem, recorded on Valentines Day, February 14th, 1967 – “Respect” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope you were able to access a little bit of euphoria. 😊
I’m DJ Ponyboy wishing you a happy Pride and asking you to stay gold.