Today’s feature has been prompted by a world that is wrong, but in the words of Pete Shelley, I hope that we will be strong enough to move toward a better place. I was recently drawn to this quote while scrolling through social media.
Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome.”
Arthur Chan
These words struck me. As my head has been swirling in the aftermath of yet another mass shooting in the United States. They served to help me gather my thoughts. The significance of this song ties things together in a somewhat symbolic way. Read on to understand.
Pete Shelley died of a heart attack on this day in 2018. Shelley created the catchy synthpop hit ‘Homosapien’ back in 1981. The song became a hit in Canada. ‘Homosapien’ had an edge that made it impossible to ignore. Beyond the superficial attraction, a much deeper dive reveals a song of unparalleled significance. This is where the value of retrospective analysis is demonstrated, because clearly, as a 15-year-old I was unable to recognize the true depth of the message.
Shortly after its release, ‘Homosapien’ was banned by the BBC for its “explicit reference to gay sex”.
Interesting!
Songs written for their obvious heteronormative message likely number into the millions and there is rarely any pushback, but I digress.
Consider this. It was only one year before the release of ‘Homosapien’ that the United Kingdom “decriminalized homosexual acts between ‘two men over 21 years of age’ “in private”.
So, what the BBC was saying is, the inferences in ‘Homosapien’ were just too fresh for their liking. The prevailing thought showed a definite split throughout the ‘80s in the U.K. Noted homophobe, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher issued this declaration in 1987.
Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay”.
Margaret Thatcher
Conversely, later that year Diana, Princess of Wales; visited the first UK specialist HIV ward and made it clear that she was not wearing protective gloves or a mask when she greeted patients. Meanwhile, it seemed clear that Maggie the (not so) Great seemed to subscribe to the sentiment that homosexuality was a personal choice; an alleged decision that the people of Great Britain considered with about the same degree of forethought as whether to have toast and marmalade or a bowl of corn pops for breakfast.
The Iron Lady managed to double down on these misguided theatrics just one year later when she enacted an amendment to Section 28 of the Local Government Act. As AIDS was beginning to ravage society at large, Atilla the Hen, with empathy for none and malice toward all stated that a local authority;
shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.”
Margaret Thatcher
In stark contrast, Princess Margaret opened the UK’s first residential support centre for people living either HIV positive or with AIDS in London, at London Lighthouse.
All of this is shared in order to present the cultural climate as it pertains to anything involving LGBTQIA+ rights during this period. During interviews, Pete Shelley, who was open about his bisexuality as far back as his days with the Buzzcocks in the latter half of the ‘70s spoke of the burgeoning punk and new wave scene in England. He feels that the music a generation of Brits grew up on had created an ambivalence toward sexuality. Music fans within that genre migrated to the clubs and simply enjoyed the music and each other’s company. The scene was both organic and authentic.
It was a decadence we all thrived in, and that was allowed in gay clubs. So, there was a big association really.”
Pete Shelley
By the time 1981 rolled around Shelley had guided the Buzzcocks through three albums and a handful of popular singles in the U.K. punk/new wave scene. Unfortunately, the pitfalls of the record industry took hold and following a dispute with Virgin Records over the promotion of a Buzzcocks greatest hits record, the band came to a grinding halt.
Shelley was undaunted by this chain of events. He gravitated to the emerging new wave sound and adapted his first single as a solo act to the synth pop style, with the assistance of producer Martin Rushent, a drum machine and a plethora of synthesizer programming. He loved the fresh and innovative quality of the result.
The BBC ban actually served as a catalyst for its eventual popularity. As always, when one puts a warning label on a product, the buying public are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Seizing the opportunity, Pete Shelley continued to speak openly about his bisexuality, taking a page from the David Bowie playbook.
If it hadn’t of been for David Bowie, there would be no punk really, as it turned out, a lot of people who were straight and bi, or curious or gay were quite unphased by people having a sexuality other than the missionary position.”
Pete Shelley
Within the context of the song the word ‘Homosapien’ offers a very thin veneer for ‘homosexual’. In interviews, Pete Shelley is very candid about using non-gender specific pronouns which enabled his audience to relate. As the technopop introduction plays, the screen depicts the definition of Homosapien and mankind.
Homosapien – homo n. Man H-sapiens – modern man regarded as a species…”
Mankind – n. mankind, womankind, humankind, humanly, human nature, creaturehood, flesh, mortality, generations of man, peoples of the earth, the world, the living, ourselves, human race, human species…”
Pete Shelley
In the song ‘Homosapien’, Pete Shelley is not trying to classify anyone, he is simply portraying us all as one.
Despite the fact Shelley denies any specific intent when answering to the fact ‘Homosapien’ became a gay anthem, it is difficult not to conceive that his wordplay was anything but a call for gay rights and a more tolerant society. It is a celebration of freedom and expression in what he hoped would become a more progressive global village.
Before I move on, Ted Tocks Covers wants to pass on a recommendation to a fellow blog writer named Craig and his site:
https://videoclosetblog.wordpress.com/
The context of ‘Homosapien’ becomes even more apparent in the video, which presents Shelley as an omniscient entity presiding over the universe, complete with a telescope to bring things more into focus. Note the phallic symbol here as he addresses the listener directly in the line “me and you sir.” Note this astute passage from ‘Videoclosetblog’.
Shelley’s opening lyrics, however, sung directly at the camera, immediately undercut this “official” heteronormative interpretative possibility: “I’m a shy boy, you’re a coy boy…”. These are very gendered lyrics despite what he said in the interview, implying cat and mouse, pursuit, common themes in heterosexual romance songs. There is no ambiguity that this “romance” is “boy-boy,” followed by the song’s signature line “…and you know we’re homosapien too.” His vocal delivery stresses the syllables “ho-mo,” each a quarter note compared to the other words’ shorter, more staccato eighth-notes. The next verse further amplifies the gay charge: “I’m a cruiser, you’re a loser, me and you, sir, homosapien too.” “Cruiser” refers to gay cruising; “loser” could refer to gay men’s low self-esteem, or perhaps society’s negative attitude towards gay people. “Me and you, sir” implies coupling. No wonder the BBC banned it! Yet there it was on MTV.”
Craig – VideoCloset Blog
Take a moment to watch the video and notice the accentuation of certain words and phrases. This is a very carefully crafted presentation that culminates in the two final verses. It becomes a plea to end the oppression and discrimination that sadly, remains prevalent to this day. This becomes the message.
I’m the shy boy
Pete Shelley
You’re the coy boy
And you know we’re
Homosapien too
I’m the cruiser
You’re the loser
Me and you sir
Homosapien too
Homosuperior
In my interior
But from the skin out
I’m homosapien too
And you’re homosapien too
And I’m homosapien like you
And we’re homosapien too
And I think of your eyes in the dark and I see the star
And I look to the light and I might wonder right where you are
All the gods in the sky way up high see the world spinning ’round
But the sun and the moon and the stars are so far from the ground
I’m the shy boy
You’re the coy boy
And you know we’re
Homosapien too
I’m the cruiser
You’re the loser
Me and you, sir
Homosapien too
Homosuperior
In my interior
But from the skin out
I’m homosapien too
And you’re homosapien too
And I’m homosapien like you
And we’re homosapien too
And the worlds built of age are a stage where we act out our lives
And the words in the script seem to fit ‘cept we have some surprise
I just want this to last or my future is past and all gone
And if this is the case then I’ll lose in life’s race from now on
Homosuperior
In my interior
But from the skin out
I’m homosapien too
And you’re homosapien too
And I’m homosapien like you
And we’re homosapien too
And I just hope and pray that the day of our love is at hand
You and I, me and you, we will be one from two, understand?
And the world is so wrong that I hope that we’ll be strong enough
For we are on our own and the only thing known is our love
I don’t wanna classify you like an animal in the zoo
But it seems good to me to know that you’re homosapien too
I’m the shy boy
You’re the coy boy
I don’t wanna classify you like an animal in the zoo
But it seems good to me to know that you’re homosapien too
I don’t wanna classify you like an animal in the zoo
But it seems good to me to know that you’re homosapien too
I don’t wanna classify you like an animal in the zoo
But it seems good to me to know that you’re homosapien too
Pete Shelley’s lyrics set us on the right course. Now, over four decades later we should be in a much better place.
The brilliance of Pete Shelley translates well to the live scene. Check out this performance from 1986.
In 1989, Pete Shelley offered this instrumental piece and called it ‘Homosapien II’. A little musical exploration as the decade was coming to a conclusion.
Once I identified ‘Homosapien’ as the song to feature on this day, I was curious to see what I would discover in the way of cover versions. I was pleasantly surprised.
Enjoy this version of ‘Homosapien’ by Big Dipper from 1992. This Boston area indie rock band released four albums between 1987 and 1990, before breaking up. This was released as part of a compilation called ‘Freedom of Choice: Yesterday’s New Wave Hits’. This is likely the best of the cover versions, but listen on and decide for yourself.
In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Simple Minds were immensely popular, but their success seemed to wane by the time we moved into the 21st century. Here is the band’s 2001 recording that harkened back to one of their influences. The adulation is apparent, but somehow this cover is a little bit lacking.
The Manchester music scene has produced several great acts through the years. Here is The Whip along with Mike Joyce from The Smiths in 2011. Count me in on this version. Their respect for Pete Shelley shines through and as one watches the band interact, you just know they are enjoying every note.
Now, let’s bring it all back around to the theme of today’s post. In this 2010 interview you get a very open Pete Shelley talking about the music scene back in the period he was coming up with the Buzzcocks. He also reflects on how ‘Homosapien’ emerged as both a combination of his musical evolution, and a manifestation of his ability as a lyricist, holding a mirror to society.
This concluding line really struck me.
People are enjoying themselves. Nothing wrong with that.”
Pete Shelley
Why?
Because that is exactly what I thought when I woke up a couple of weeks ago and learned that yet another demented MAGA-American decided to shoot up Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Five innocent people were killed and 17 more were injured. The shooting occurred just minutes before the calendar would turn to honour the Trans-Gender Day of Remembrance in honour of the memory of those who have been killed simply for being transgender. Those in attendance at this popular nightclub represented a diverse crowd out for an evening of fun, enjoying a drag show. Sexual identity of the patrons of Club Q was the furthest thing from everyone’s mind that evening.
With the exception of one sick person.
Since the shooting, defence attorneys for the clearly troubled shooter have conveniently opted to present their client as non-binary. The hypocrisy is astounding. Fortunately, the prosecution is waging an all-out attack, suggesting that any effort to make their gender status an issue would not dissuade them from prosecuting them as physically competent.
The trial is set to continue today (December 6).
The circumstances surrounding this intolerable act are troubling enough, but inevitably there has been some fallout as the background of the shooter’s family came to light.
Their grandfather is a MAGA moron who openly backed the January 6, 2021 insurrection. He is an outgoing member of the California state assembly. Yet another foolish election denier who perpetuates a lie. Stupid is a gross understatement but, this idiocy is cute compared to the shooter’s father. Actually, he could be better classified as a sperm donor. What a piece of work this neanderthal is. Listen to this!
Phew, he’s not gay.”
A Conservative Republican
He goes on to say that he’s a Mormon, and “they don’t do gay”.
Just to set the record straight, as a Mormon he allegedly believes:
- The Earth is 7000 years old
- The Garden of Eden is in Jackson County, Missouri
- Black people have darker skin by ‘God’ because they were lazy in heaven before being born.
- Native North Americans have been cursed by ‘God’ due to the wickedness of their ancestors, but if they become righteous, eventually they will become White (the chosen race).
You get the idea.
Couple this with the fact he is also a Conservative Republican. The list of Nazi-fascist rhetoric anyone who supports these disgraceful human beings subscribes to is virtually endless, and appalling to the nth degree.
Enough said.
Sadly, this is what we are up against. By this time there is no other way to look at people who support this party. Anyone who still falls for the Republican doctrine are guilty by association. I see you in the same light. There is no justification for still supporting this caravan of fools. You can no longer suggest that you have the right to your own opinion. You are wrong, and your continued allegiance is inexcusable.
Blood is on your hands.
I come down firmly on the philosophy that “we will be one from two”.
Understand?
For we are on our own and the only thing known is our love.”
Pete Shelley
WE means Everyone
OUR means ALL of us.
Ted Tocks Covers 