Quote of the Day

You can see the way that the influence of these three unique men [David Bowie, George Michael, and Prince] percolated through popular culture and music, especially but by no means exclusively with LGBTIQ artists.

You see it in Troye Sivan master-of-factly coming out in his teens. Sam Smith making clear that his love songs are about men. Frank Ocean declaring that if hip hop has a problem with his bisexuality, that's nothing to do with him. Empire of the Sun's ludicrously flamboyant performances and videos. Conchita Wurst winning Eurovision.

If there are few figures that shine out as bright as Bowie, Prince and George Michael did, it's at least partially because the background of pop culture is so much more colourful now.

That we lost them in 2016 was a coincidence. That we had them at all was a godsend.

– Andrew P. Street
Excerpted from "Bowie, Prince, George Michael:
We've Lost a Triumvirate of Icons
Who Dared to Do Manhood Differently
The Sydney Morning Herald
December 26, 2016

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• David Bowie: Queer Messiah
• Remembering Prince, "Fabulous Freak, Defiant Outsider, Dark Dandy" – 1958-2016
• Ocean Trip
• Quote of the Day – July 7, 2012
• With "Around," Russell Elliot Tells It Like It Is

Related Off-site Links:
On the Men Who Rattled Pop's Gender Rules – and What It Means to Lose Them Now – National Public Radio News (December 30, 2016).
How George Michael Became Gay Link Between David Bowie and David Beckham – Mark Simpson (Rolling Stone, December 27, 2016).
Why We’ll Miss Carrie Fisher and George Michael, Both Candid Truth-Tellers – Tim Teeman (The Daily Beast, December 27, 2016).