Activist Music FTW

Seattle-based, American rapper Macklemore released the single "Same Love" earlier this year as part of the push for marriage equality in Washington state. This song is freaking fantastic and sends an important message. Let's break down the lyrics of the first verse, shall we?

"When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight"

The point here are that being artistic is a feminine trait, so artistic guys are automatically gay. Same goes for being neat, clean and organized. Macklemore's uncle is gay and inspired the single.

"I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like, 'Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K'
Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she"

This is one of the only points I don't like - what about bisexual men? I understand the sentiment, but food for thought: when are we promoting the cause by delivering our message in soundbites and when are we harmfully glossing over the diversity of our movement? Perhaps an especially important question right now because we need to accept that not everyone can know everything and sometimes people misspeak - including allies - and we can't point fingers when we have no allies and no backup one minute, but dismiss our allies for not being able to understand our experiences the next.
 
"A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like
'Yeah, I'm good a little league'
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics"

Exposing more stereotypes: sports are for straight men (and lesbians). Only!

"The right-wing conservatives think its a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition
Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears what we don't know
And God loves all His children is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written
3,500 hundred years ago
I don't know"

This. This! I love this song (really? yeah.) and this is a big reason why.  "America the brave" indeed.

And then there's the hook (sung by Mary Lambert).

"And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm [x4]"

Beautiful. Ready to listen to it? Here you go, enjoy.

Lyrics from Rap Genius.com with some very good explanations and additions (hover/click on sections of the song!).