The New Gay interviews Stephin Merritt, Pt. 2

In this first part of a three part series (made from one 25 minute conversation). The New Gay was lucky enough to pick the brain of Stephin Merritt. The principle member and songwriter of The Magnetic Fields, Merritt has been responsible for some of the most haunting and eclectic love songs of the last fifty years. His 1999 magnum opus, 69 Love Songs, is the most well known of his albums but is far from the only impressive collection of his career. A consumate genre-ist, Merritt has taken successful forays through synthrock, country, and even reverb-soaked rock over the course of his albums. The openly gay Merritt was in DC touring behind his most recent work, "Realism," a collection of folk-inspired tunes.

Of course, as Merritt's predilection for writing queer and un-gendered songs is only surpassed by their ever-adoring fan base I didn't want to spend our whole time together talking about just music. The above video, the second of a three part series, will give you an idea of what it is like to spend a little time talking with someone too humble to admit that their genius reputation precedes them. As for his opinions on modern music and coming out, well, on some of those you might just agree to disagree.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Stephin
• Merrit
• pt

[fileundergrain]

I just wish that Merritt would one day get the interviewer he deserves.

[FidelioRoo]

Why are the interviewers who talk to Merritt always the happiest bastards possible? it makes it SO AWKWARD.

But props to Merritt for calling the interviewer out on how dumb it is to like someone more just because of their sexuality.

[MizzLizziBlaize]

I really like Stephin Merritt as an artist. He seems to be reasonably intellegent, and that seems fine. And yeah, the interviewer seems to be "brand new" but I think Stephin Merritt's grouchy-on-the-inside attitude is not someone that should be used as a measure of how brilliant he is.. or how cool. He's a snob. Snobs are lame.

[Neurozumim]

I love Stephin but I don't agree that it doesn't make a difference that he wrote gay-themes songs at a time where there wasn't really much. This is not something that straight people would understand, the impact for a young gay person to be able to hear something that he could identify with because suddenly the gender molds in song lyrics had shifted. Not everybody evolved in an environment where they were able to let themselves be who they were, and Stephin might have been unawaringly a model.

[thebeff]

@spacemanspiff9393 i do.

[spacemanspiff9393]

@thebeff

you do realize stephin himself is gay right?

[BethGoth15]

@latinteddybear In my experience, Stephin Merritt is quite a nice man. Well, he was to me. Maybe I'm just one of those few people he's been nice to in his entire life XD

[ArthurEricBlair]

@ArthurEricBlair In the 3rd part of this vid he goes on to say that..so i feel sort of dumb..hah

[ArthurEricBlair]

I've always found that the Magnetic Fields' love songs were kinda sexually ambiguous. That even though there are homosexuals in the band, it doesn't mean the represent a sort of "gay agenda." Love is blind, and I think that if Merritt intended to represent homosexuality, he would be saying that he does in this interview.

[mrmrscosanostra]

@latinteddybear .cranky will get you through life unscathed/barriers work/tits on a stick.