Genuine and Simple…

I like what I like.

It feels like I need to always be in check of what I am presenting myself as, who I like, what I do with my free time, what my passions and my thoughts dwell on. I also feel pressure from myself to make sure all of those things are well thought out, representative of who I desire to be and reflective of the groups that I surround myself with as well. This may sound weird and maybe unrelatable, but think about the last time you ashamedly shared a “guilty pleasure” with a friend, feeling slightly embarrassed. Why?

These thoughts are all brought forward because of Jay Brannan, a musician that I found through a friend’s blog. Jay Brannan is someone that I would have classified as a “guilty pleasure” in my old train of thought.

He uses some of the most colorful and graphic profanities I have heard in music and he is openly and unapologetically gay, in his messages, his words: “I want to be a housewife.” His words are simple and vulnerable, they connect with the listener, not because they are groundbreaking, but because they are human.

I guess that the “guilty pleasure” part of this comes from the fact that some of these things are socially taboo, but at the same time, I am drawn to them because I admire something about them. This disconnect between social norms and what I feel connected to is the basis for these things we like in secret. It is a little ridiculous.

What I have come to discover over the last year is that I love his wit, his gall and his ability to have fun, depth and a connection with his listeners that seems to come mainly from his sincerity and vulnerability.

The following is one of his most recent videos which displays all of the above listed qualities:

And if you liked that, check out this one too: