| On August 7, 2013, Troye Sivan made it public knowledge he was in fact gay. However, it was 3 years earlier that he came out to his parents and his immediate family about his homosexuality. The reveal of his sexuality came after being in the public eye for about 7 years. In that time, Sivan has starred in movies and plays and now, in the past three years, he has taken a full fledged path towards musical superstardom. He is an idol amongst the youth culture today and his coming out has become an impetus for many youngsters not to be afraid to come out. Now, homosexuality shouldn't be an issue to anyone but, in the case of music, homosexuality can alter connotations of certain music pieces depending on the artist. If Sivan never came out, many of his songs would be interpreted as a normal love story between boy and girl. But because of the new revelation of Sivan's homosexuality, it opens up a new chapter of interpretation of his songs. The entire concept of differing connotations of songs due to the artist's sexuality may seem familiar. In fact, it is indeed familiar as it was a way of interpreting the famous frontman of Queen, Freddie Mercury. Mercury is a rock'n'roll icon. He is idolized not only for his four-octave vocal range but he is admired for his flamboyant charisma that attracted millions of fans. However, what was more interesting was his evolution into the short haired, mustached macho man that became the legendary face of Queen. All throughout his career were the inklings and hints of his homosexuality but it was never outright mentioned by Mercury himself as his being gay took on the role of an open secret in the music industry. It is the revelation of Mercury's homosexuality that is the topic of Rishi Malhotra's paper, which looks at the lyrics of Queen's songs in comparison to the flamboyant persona that is Freddie Mercury. I will bring up the same point brought up earlier with Troye Sivan: if homosexuality was never a factor, then interpretations of Queen's songs wouldn't be as straight forward. There wouldn't be another wrinkle in the meaning behind the lyrics. This goes for Troye Sivan's music as well. Heteronormativity is the standard that has been broken in the past by Freddie Mercury and broken now by Troye Sivan. | |
 Freddie Mercury singing at Wembley Stadium | |
| First of all, heteronormativity is defined in Michael Warner's book Social Text as the notion that gender and sexuality are divided into hierarchically organized categories. To put it succinctly, man has its accepted places in society and woman does so too. However, the notion leaves behind the presence of homosexuals, rendering them invisible. With the growing presence of the LGBT community, it is interesting to analyze their breaking of supposed social norms. Because of that presence it forces us as a society to rethink what these norms are and whether or not they are rigid in this changing world In Malhotra's paper covering the role of heteronormativity in Queen's music, he goes over the homosexual undertones that pervaded the song's lyrics. In the tune, Mercury sings "I want to break free/I want to break free from your lies/You're so self-satisfied, I don't need you," and in the accompanying video, he comments on these very same lyrics as he sang them in his 70s androgynous persona. As the 70's iteration of Freddie Mercury, it was the accepted version of the persona that fans came to love. Later, he sings "I've fallen in love/I've fallen in love for the first time/And this time I know it's for real" and in the accompanying music video, Mercury is dressed as the mustached macho man that was his persona at the time. Malhotra states "[had] there been no accompanying music video or visual imagery, heteronormativity would dominate," but with the homosexual visualizations and connotations, it becomes clearer to the viewer and the listener that Freddie Mercury is proud to be gay and is not afraid. This iteration of his persona was a drastic change. It was no longer the lead singer of a huge rock band. It was Freddie Mercury shedding his shell. Sure, he did not fit the mold of what he created, but through the drastic evolution in his style, he came out and showed that this is who he is and no norm was going to fit him. Let's transition to heteronormativity challenged by Troye Sivan's music, lyrics, and videos. One of Troye's first songs was "Make You Love Me" published in 2012. This song talks about an unrequited love, as Sivan sings "Well, I can't make you love me but I'll try/ Until my dying breath, oh you know I'll try/ I can't make you feel it if it's not there."If this is your first time listening to this song, the first notion to come to mind is that "Make You Love Me" is about trying to get your love interest to fall for you. A normal interpretation indeed, but considering that Troye Sivan had already come out as being gay, although in private, the whole interpretation takes a turn. Those lyrics can now be looked at as a call for accepting someone as being gay. Maybe they don't fully understand the concept of homosexuality, but Troye won't give up at trying to make them understand that being gay is acceptable. Fast forward 3 years and Troye Sivan released a full-length, which he confesses to Larry King that a lot of songs on the album are about boys. In "WILD", the lines of Sivan's sexuality are not blurred at all. The song covers the desire of a forbidden love that drives Sivan to love even more and more. He sings "You make my heart shake/Bend and break/But I can't turn away/And it’s driving me wild". Sivan has admitted that this about a puppy love between two boys and the accompanying music video show exactly that: a growing relationship between two youngsters, who seal their love with a kiss. The concept of heteronormativity suggests that romance exists between a man and a woman. However, that notion is challenged by the boldness in the lyrics and the videos of Troye Sivan. In a growing LGBT community that Sivan is proud to be a part of, social norms are meant to be broken with their presence and, much like Freddie Mercury before him, he is helping the cause. | |
 Troye Sivan singing a tune from Blue Neighborhood | |
| In Malhotra's paper, he states that "heteronormativity is a powerful influence in understanding rock and pop culture". It is not just there where we need to understand it. It is also in our current culture. Heteronormativity is being challenged greatly by the growing numbers in the LGBT community that it is foolish to assume that men are meant to fill certain roles and women are meant to fill certain roles as well. Growing up in a religious family, I was taught this way, but seeing how the world has changed around me, it would be foolish not to change with it. There's a growing revolution in the way LGBT are being looked at. Many are still resistant to the idea. Look at North Carolina and the hassle it's getting for its restroom ordeal. Look at Houston, my home city. I was in favor for the HERO (Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance) ordinance, but it was unanimously defeated at the balance. Why? Are people really unwilling to accept change, especially in people's sexuality? How exactly is being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transexual harmful for to other people so much that we can't give them freedom in the private area known as the restroom? In a local sense, it frustrates me so much, but I'm very glad that Troye Sivan and other music stars are so open in their support for the LGBT community. There's have no fear expressing who they are and for me, that is an admirable trait that I can get behind. In Freddy Mercury's time, gays weren't accepted at all. It was different. It didn't fit anything that was already assumed at the time, but that didn't change Mercury. He keeps on doing his thing. The gay young man in Troye Sivan was comfortable enough to accept what he is and despite initial fears, he was accepted amongst his peers and his fans. What does this mean? It's a sign that strict gender roles and assumptions are crumbling. Freddie Mercury took down bricks from the wall of heteronormativity and Troye Sivan is doing the same and while it might take time considering the resistance being put up against the LGBT community, that wall will soon be no more. |
Recommended for you
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Entertainment![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Towson University]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
