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Johnny Are You Queer?

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"Johnny Are You Queer?" (also stylized as "Johnny, Are You Queer?") is a 1980s song credited to the writing team of Bobby and Larson Paine.[4][2] The song was first performed live by the Go-Go's, and eventually recorded by Josie Cotton, who released the song as a single in 1981 and 1982, and as part of her 1982 album Convertible Music.[2][5][6] The song was featured on the Valley Girl and Jackass Number Two soundtracks.

"Johnny Are You Queer?"
Single by Josie Cotton
from the album Convertible Music
B-side"(Let's Do) The Blackout"
Released1981
Studio
GenreNew wave[1][2][3]
Length2:45
LabelBomp!
Songwriter(s)
  • Bobby Paine
  • Larson Paine
Producer(s)
  • Bobby Paine
  • Larson Paine
Josie Cotton singles chronology
"Johnny Are You Queer?"
(1981) 		"He Could Be the One"
(1982)

Credits

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The song's music was based on "Fetch Me One More Beer" by the Los Angeles-based punk rock band Fear, written by the band's guitarist Philo Cramer and John Clancy.[7] Bobby and Larson Paine, who were managing the Go-Go's, reworked the song with new lyrics and gave it to them, but after a falling out forbade them from playing it and gave it to Josie Cotton.[2] In several interviews, Cotton has suggested that the song's title was lifted from lyrics in the Fear song,[8][9] though she has also stated that Fear's version went "You're a fuckin' queer."[2]

When Fear found out a variation of their song had become popular, they met with the Paines to discuss the publishing rights and together decided that the rights would go to the winner of a coin toss, which the Paines won.[10]

Premise

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The song's lyrics are written from the perspective of a young woman who is questioning her relationship with the titular Johnny. He had approached the unnamed woman and asked her on a date, only for him to spend most of his time with his friends and with various men she believes are homosexual. Because of this and Johnny's apparent ambivalence toward her, she questions Johnny's sexuality, asking him if he is ultimately queer.[11]

Music video

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A music video for "Johnny Are You Queer?" was produced in the 1980s. The video shows Cotton and Johnny sitting on a park bench where she makes romantic advances, much to Johnny's discomfort.[12]

Critical reception

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The song was the subject of controversy upon its release.[13] Cotton was accused by multiple conservative groups of promoting homosexuality, and one network claimed that "there was no Josie Cotton and that she was actually a gay man who was trying to convert unsuspecting straight men into a homosexual lifestyle."[14] The Village Voice and The Advocate were both highly critical of "Johnny, Are You Queer?"; The Village Voice criticized the work in an article titled "Josie, Are You a Bitch?"[14]

Years later AllMusic reviewed the song and noted that "In retrospect, the song sounds rather tame, and throughout, the joke is on the petulant girl, not Johnny: 'he's not interested in her that way, so clearly he must not like girls' is (deliberately) a laughably arrogant premise."[15]

Cotton has stated that since the song's release she has been contacted by several people who thanked her for the song because it helped them come to terms with their own homosexuality.[16]

Chart performance

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In 1982, the song reached number 38 on the Billboard Club Play Singles chart[11] and number 8 on the Canadian charts.[17]

Credits and personnel

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Credits and personnel are adapted from the "Johnny Are You Queer?" single liner notes.[18]

  • Josie Cotton – vocals
  • Bobby Paine – writer, bass, guitar, electric sitar, producer
  • Jimmy Ehinger – piano
  • J.B. Frank – synthesizer
  • Richard Adelman – drums
  • Larson Paine – writer, producer
  • Geza X – engineering
  • Ray Blair – engineering
  • Glenn Feit – engineering

Charts

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Peak chart positions of "Johnny Are You Queer?"
Chart (1981–1982) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] 38

Covers and media uses

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The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 1983 film Valley Girl and is performed in the film by Cotton, along with several other songs.[21] A live version by The Go-Go's later was released on their compilation Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's (1994). The rap group Elephant performed a remix for "Johnny, Are You Queer?",[22] while the band Glass Candy remixed the song with the Shangri-Las' "Give Him a Great Big Kiss".[11] "Johnny Are You Queer?" is also heard in the 2006 film Jackass Number Two, featured on the released soundtrack.[23][24]

Screeching Weasel covered the song on their 1994 album How to Make Enemies and Irritate People.[25]

It can also be heard in the Glee season 2 episode, "Blame It on the Alcohol", while New Directions are playing spin the bottle in Rachel Berry's basement.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Josie Cotton | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Josie Cotton: The Story Of '80s New-Wave Hit 'Johnny, Are You Queer?'". Magnet Magazine. September 9, 2006. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Mansour, David (2011). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 509. ISBN 978-0-7407-9307-3.
  4. ^ "Johnny Are You Queer?". The Rake and Herald. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  5. ^ Kozak, Roman (1983). Cotton Picks a Hit With 'Queer' Choice of Tunes. Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  6. ^ GREENBLATT, LEAH. "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Destroy All Movies!!! The Complete Guide to Punks on Film, Zach Carlson ISBN 978-1606993637
  8. ^ Valcourt, Keith (September 29, 2019). "Oh Yeah: Josie Cotton is 'Everything'—Then and Now". Chelsea Community News. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Fleisher-Leach, Mor (January 8, 2012). "Josie Cotton Interview". Spacecase Records. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Garvin, Patrick (October 9, 2017). "'Johnny, Are You Queer?': Cover Songs Uncovered". The Pop Culture Experiment. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Eddy, Chuck. "Katy Perry's Campy, Gay-Baiting Polka-Dot Pop Was First Cooed By '80s New Waver Josie Cotton". Spin. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  12. ^ Rosen, Zack. ""Johnny, Are You Queer?" Josie Cotton Says "Yes.": The New Gay Interview". The New Gay. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  13. ^ Cateforis, Theo (2013). The Rock History Reader. Routledge. pp. 181, 188. ISBN 978-0415892124. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  14. ^ a b FITZHARRIS, DUSTIN (August 22, 2010). "Catching Up With Josie Cotton". Out. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  15. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Johnny, Are You Queer? (review)". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "The Queer Story of Johnny and Josie". Punk Globe. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "RPM Weekly Top 50 Singles". Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  18. ^ Johnny Are You Queer? (United States 12-inch vinyl liner notes). Josie Cotton. Bomp! Records. 1981. bmp 12133.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ "RPM Weekly Top 50 Singles". Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  20. ^ "Josie Cotton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Osborne, Jerry (December 2, 1990). "'Valley Girl' music battle was awesome". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2015. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Elephant". Chicago GoPride. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  23. ^ Jackass Number Two - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved March 6, 2022
  24. ^ a b "Josie Cotton". IMDb. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  25. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "How to Make Enemies and Irritate People - Screeching Weasel | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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