Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives
Mercury Studios
Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have made huge...
17 - 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood'
In this festive edition of Queer the Music Jake sits down with the iconic Holly Johnson, the front man of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, to discuss the 1984 UK number one single and enduring Christmas song, ‘The Power of Love’.
The Power of Love came out during a time of social and political turmoil in the UK. Between Thatcherism, the miner strike and an encroaching AIDS epidemic the world was becoming a scary place for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite this, gay bars, clubs and saunas were thriving in the UK and amongst it all Frankie Goes to Hollywood were skyrocketing to success with their debut album ‘Welcome to the Pleasuredome’.
Tune in to hear about how ‘The Power of Love’ was written and how it unwittingly became synonymous with Christmas.
Thank you for listening to this second series of Queer The Music, we'd love to hear from you - let us know which song you'd like us to feature - leave us a review or message us on Instagram @queerthemusicpodcast - see you for series 3 in 2025!
You can watch all the past episodes here
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16 - 'It's a Sin' by Pet Shop Boys
It's the Season Finale of Queer The Music and we have a big one for you! It's none other than Neil Tennant to talk about Pet Shop Boys' 1987 smash hit 'It's A Sin'.
Neil joined Jake on his sofa to talk about making the song, the meaning behind the lyrics & his brilliant music career. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and learn so much about many of Pet Shop Boys songs, their collaborations and creative process.
Thank you to everyone who has listened to this series - we'll be back with Season 3 next year, let us know who you would like us to feature on Queer The Music, but in the meantime keep an eye out for a very special festive bonus.
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15 - 'Take Your Mama' by Scissor Sisters
Have you heard the news?? Scissors Sisters are reforming and going on tour next May so for this special edition of Queer The Music, recorded in front of an audience at The Phoenix Arts club in London, we celebrate one of the songs that started it all, a song that is instantly recognizable from the first chord and one that the LGBTQ+ community have taken to their hearts, it's 2004's 'Take Your Mama'
Longtime friend and associate of Scissor Sisters, Ms. Aimee Phillips turns the tables on Jake Shears and his fellow band mates, Babydaddy and Del Marquis and asks them to spill the tea on this iconic song.
Tickets to the Scissor Sisters 2025 UK & Ireland tour are now on sale! Get yours via https://www.scissorsisters.com/ ✂️
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14 - 'Midnight Radio' with John Cameron Mitchell
This episode celebrates the song 'Midnight Radio', by Stephen Trask, the epic finale song from the ground-breaking film and stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Jake is joined at his home in New Orleans by the creator, director and star of this cult classic, John Cameron Mitchell, to talk about where the ideas for the musical came from, it's reception, the making of the film and its enduring significance.
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13 - 'Free Yourself' by Jessie Ware
Queer The Music not only shines a light on songs by queer artists but also those that have been adopted by the LGBTQ+ community and in this episode we’re celebrating an absolute banger and one that has well and truly been claimed by the queer community - it’s the unbelievably uplifting call to arms ‘Free Yourself’ by Jessie Ware.
Tune in to hear Jake and Jessie chat about how the song came about, her influences, creative process, working with Stuart Price, channelling Erica Jane and how incredibly important her queer fans are to her.
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About Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives
Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have made huge contributions - often at great expense and risk to themselves personally and professionally. This podcast shines a spotlight on those who trailblazed paths towards self expression. Join Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and his guests as he unearths these important stories song by song.
Executive Producer: Alice Williams, Producer: Debbie Kilbride, Research: Mark Wood and Luke Wheatley
Listen to Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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