“I’m Coming Out” was meant to be a gay liberation song but the song’s writer and producer Nile Rodgers didn’t tell Diana Ross that. Which led to a whole thing. It’s a crazy story. The origin of the song is fascinating but more interesting is how disco in general was part of the gay rights movement. We chart the rise of disco and look at the way it dovetailed with the struggle for LGBTQ rights and how being gay is so different for Sylvester than for Tyler the Creator. 



Guests:

Wesley Morris, Critic, New York Times

Craig Seymour, Music Critic and Activist 

Nile Rodgers, Record Producer and Chic Founder

Bill Coleman, Artist Manager 

DJ Jellybean Benitez, Deejay

Nelson George, Filmmaker and Author 



Credits:

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out 
Writer: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Label: Motown Records
Publisher: Chic Music, Inc



Chic - Le Freak
Writer: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Label: Atlantic Records
Publisher: Chic Music & Cotillion Records





Sylvester - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
Writer: Sylvester & James Wirrick
Label: Fantasy
Publisher: Bee Keeper Music, Tipsyl Music



Barry White - You’re The First, My Last, My Everything
Writer: Peter Sterling Radcliffe, Tony Sepe & Barry White
Label:  20th Century Fox Records
Publisher: SaVette Music Co.



Diana Ross - Love Hangover
Writer: Pam Sawyer & Marilyn McLeod
Label: Motown Records
Publisher: Jobete Music Co. INC



A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
Writer: Perry Kibble & Janice Marie Johnson
Label: Capitol Records
Publisher: On Time Music, INC



Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby
Writer: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte
Label: Casablanca, Oasis
Publisher: Saturday Music and Cafe Americana



Grace Jones - Pull up to the Bumper
Writer: Sly Dunbar, Alex Sadkin, Chris Blackwell, Sly & Robbie & Grace Jones
Label: Island
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Ltd



Candi Stanton - Young Hearts Run Free
Writer: Dave Crawford
Label: Warner Bros.
Publisher: Ghati Music Inc



Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
Writer: Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren
Label: Polydor Records
Publisher: Perren-Vibes Music Co. 



Tyler the Creator - I Ain’t Got Time
Writer: Tyler, The Creator
Label: Columbia Records
Publisher:  Columbia Records & Sony Music Entertainment



Tyler, The Creator Used To Be Accused of Homophobia, Now Raps About “Kissing White Boys”, Genius

Tyler The Creator And Funk Flex Have an Honest Conversation Plus, Hot 97

“I’m Coming Out” was meant to be a gay liberation song but the song’s writer and producer Nile Rodgers didn’t tell Diana Ross that. Which led to a whole thing. It’s a crazy story. The origin of the song is fascinating but more interesting is how disco in general was part of the gay rights movement. We chart the rise of disco and look at the way it dovetailed with the struggle for LGBTQ rights and how being gay is so different for Sylvester than for Tyler the Creator. 
 
Guests:
Wesley Morris, Critic, New York Times
Craig Seymour, Music Critic and Activist 
Nile Rodgers, Record Producer and Chic Founder
Bill Coleman, Artist Manager 
DJ Jellybean Benitez, Deejay
Nelson George, Filmmaker and Author 
 
Credits:
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Bernard Edwards &amp; Nile Rodgers</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Motown Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Chic Music, Inc</li>
</ul>
 
Chic - Le Freak
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Bernard Edwards &amp; Nile Rodgers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Atlantic Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Chic Music &amp; Cotillion Records</li>
</ul>
 
Sylvester - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Sylvester &amp; James Wirrick</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Fantasy</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Bee Keeper Music, Tipsyl Music</li>
</ul>
 
Barry White - You’re The First, My Last, My Everything
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Peter Sterling Radcliffe, Tony Sepe &amp; Barry White</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label:  20th Century Fox Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: SaVette Music Co.</li>
</ul>
 
Diana Ross - Love Hangover
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Pam Sawyer &amp; Marilyn McLeod</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Motown Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Jobete Music Co. INC</li>
</ul>
 
A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Perry Kibble &amp; Janice Marie Johnson</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Capitol Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: On Time Music, INC</li>
</ul>
 
Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder &amp; Pete Bellotte</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Casablanca, Oasis</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Saturday Music and Cafe Americana</li>
</ul>
 
Grace Jones - Pull up to the Bumper
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Sly Dunbar, Alex Sadkin, Chris Blackwell, Sly &amp; Robbie &amp; Grace Jones</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Island</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Ltd</li>
</ul>
 
Candi Stanton - Young Hearts Run Free
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Dave Crawford</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Warner Bros.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Ghati Music Inc</li>
</ul>
 
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Dino Fekaris &amp; Freddie Perren</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Polydor Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher: Perren-Vibes Music Co. </li>
</ul>
 
Tyler the Creator - I Ain’t Got Time
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Writer: Tyler, The Creator</li>
<li aria-level="1">Label: Columbia Records</li>
<li aria-level="1">Publisher:  Columbia Records &amp; Sony Music Entertainment</li>
</ul>
 
Tyler, The Creator Used To Be Accused of Homophobia, Now Raps About “Kissing White Boys”, Genius
Tyler The Creator And Funk Flex Have an Honest Conversation Plus, Hot 97

Black music by the decades.  Each season will deconstruct the most popular Black music of the decade, including what was happening in Black America at each moment in time.  Each episode of this audio docuseries focuses on a single song that defined a decade and changed the world. This music series explores cultural, political, and creative change one decade at a time. The first season will explore the Black music of the 80s and the sociopolitical roots of that music. Each episode looks at a single song from the era and what was happening socially at the moment that led to that song. We tell the story of each decade through music. Our host and lead writer Touré, interviews experts, cultural commentators, academics, and political thinkers, who will leave you feeling like you learned more about the music of the period. 

Black music by the decades.  Each season will deconstruct the most popular Black music of the decade, including what was happening in Black America at each moment in time.  Each episode of this audio docuseries focuses on a single song that defined a decade and changed the world. This music series explores cultural, political, and creative change one decade at a time. The first season will explore the Black music of the 80s and the sociopolitical roots of that music. Each episode looks at a single song from the era and what was happening socially at the moment that led to that song. We tell the story of each decade through music. Our host and lead writer Touré, interviews experts, cultural commentators, academics, and political thinkers, who will leave you feeling like you learned more about the music of the period.

Being Black- The '80s

NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast

Black music by the decades.  Each season will deconstruct the most popular Black music of the decade, including what was happening in Black America at each moment in time.   Each episode of this audio docuseries focuses on a single song that defined a decade and changed the world. This music series explores cultural, political, and creative change one decade at a time. The first season will explore the Black music of the 80s and the sociopolitical roots of that music. Each episode looks at a single song from the era and what was happening socially at the moment that led to that song.   Our host and lead writer, Touré, interviews experts, cultural commentators, academics, and political thinkers, who will leave you feeling like you learned more about the music of the period. 

NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast
Black music by the decades.  Each season will deconstruct the most popular Black music of the decade, including what was happening in Black America at each moment in time.   Each episode of this audio docuseries focuses on a single song that defined a decade and changed the world. This music series explores cultural, political, and creative change one decade at a time. The first season will explore the Black music of the 80s and the sociopolitical roots of that music. Each episode looks at a single song from the era and what was happening socially at the moment that led to that song.   Our host and lead writer, Touré, interviews experts, cultural commentators, academics, and political thinkers, who will leave you feeling like you learned more about the music of the period.

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