Lately I have been listening to the album “The Blessed Unrest” by Sara Bareilles.
From “I Choose You” being the song my wife and I chose to walk down the aisle to (before my egg cracked) to that same beautiful woman playing “Brave” for me - giving me strength to come out as trans to family. This album has become a staple in my transition and it’s easy to see my self throughout it’s lyrics and melodies.
“Hercules” is also a good song about pleading for inner strength - which for me, means becoming my authentic self as Olivia. Here is a verse from that song that resonates with me:
I’ve lost a grip on where I started from I wish I’d thought ahead and left a few crumbs I’m on the hunt for who I’ve not yet become But I’d settle for little equilibrium There is a war inside my heart gone silent Both sides dissatisfied and somewhat violent The issue I have now begun to see I am the only lonely casualty
For me probably Elton John’s Greatest Hits album and Taylor Swift’s 1984 album. Elton John b/c I was finally able to accept my sexuality and indulged in gay/queer media. (I was really putting on the straight guy act real hard) Taylor Swift b/c it was the first time I really allowed myself to enjoy pop music from a female artist. As I progressed in my transition I discovered Pansy Division, Two Nice Girls, Against Me! (Kind of a grammar question, if a sentence I write ends with a name with a punctuation mark do I add the period? Is it Against Me! Or Against Me!.(?) Genuinely asking if a grammar nerd can help me I would appreciate it.)
Can’t help on the grammar as that has always been my biggest weakness, but I can totally relate to putting on the straight guy act.
I wouldn’t even allow myself to listen to anything I perceived as a little too feminine. A very real “this better not awaken anything in me” type of feeling 😅