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Unpacking the Queer Magic of Olly Alexander’s Polari

Hello hello, Queer Music Club! 👋🏽

While it may have been out for a few weeks now, I’d love to have a kiki about certified queer music icon Olly Alexander’s debut solo album Polari. I’ve been a long time fan of Olly and Years & Years and I’m so excited to follow his journey into this new era. This album is sweaty, synthy, slightly chaotic, and very, very gay—in the best way possible.

So let’s get into this track-by-track breakdown of Polari, shall we?


1. Polari

We’re opening with a glitchy, electric fever dream that sounds like it time-traveled straight from a queer underground club in the late 80s. There’s a lot going on—brash beats, electric guitar riffs—but tbh, it’s a shame all these pieces just don’t add up to more. It feels more like an interlude, a chaotic amuse-bouche to set the vibe.

2. Cupid’s Bow

A synthy, 80s-tinged pop that lyrically takes us on a chase for unrequited love. Yes please. This feels on brand for Olly and I’m here for it.  

3. I Know

This track really builds on the album’s soundscape with chaotic beats, stabbing horns, and some diva vocals from Olly. We’re going full alt-queer-club-kid here, and I need someone to text me the address of whatever underground venue inspired this. Bring your mesh top and emotional baggage.

4. Shadow of Love

The cruising continues. Dark, dreamy, a little dangerous—the vibe is 3am right as you lock eyes with someone across a smoky dance floor. Olly’s vocals are serving sultry realness, and I am eating it up.

5. Make Me a Man

We’ve gone full maximalist on this track with so many competing ideas. It’s giving some Erasure vibes but I’m not sure it totally works. It’s been growing on me with time.

6. Dizzy

Olly’s Eurovision entry makes its appearance, and it honestly feels a little too polished and bland for the rest of the album. 

7. Archangel

This is my favorite of the singles that led to the album’s release. Lyrically, it feels very reminiscent of Years & Years’ early music and really takes me back to the 2010s. Nostalgia’s fun and this is pop perfection. Don’t @ me. 

8. Miss You So Much

And we’re back to the “all of the above” instrumentation of the album’s first half. I really want to love the driving chorus, but there’s just so much going on here.

9. When We Kiss

Another single I’ve really enjoyed. A dance floor tearjerker with whispered vocals and a pounding beat that makes you feel like the main character in your own emotional music video. This is what I come to Olly for. Danceable drama. Catharsis in glitter.

10. Whisper in the Waves

As close as we’re going to get to a ballad in this club. Dark, moody, and so vibey. I was hoping for a few more vocal runs from Olly (give me the drama!) but it’s still an interesting shift in tempo.

11. Beautiful

The sentiment here is sweet—maybe a little too sweet—but sonically we’re still deep in that neon-lit nightclub. I’m not texting my ex over it.

12. Heal You

Here it is, babes: the certified Pride anthem. It’s giving “rainbow flag waving dramatically in the wind” energy. Big vocals. Big message. I can’t wait to stomp through a Pride march with this queer empowerment bop blasting.

13. Language

We close out Polari with another moody, atmospheric track that feels a bit… vague? Lyrically it’s all over the place and aimless but the vibes are alright. A soft landing after a wild ride.


Final Thoughts

Not every track on Polari is perfect but there are definitely some tracks I’m really loving on this album and I appreciate the sound that’s being explored. This is a sweaty, seductive, and unapologetically queer ride.

Have you listened to the album yet? I’m dying to know what your faves are!

👋🏽 #QueerMusicClub! Ready to discuss Olly Alexander’s Polari? I’ve been a long time fan of Olly and Years & Years and I’m so excited for this new era. Let’s get started!

Gays & Confused (@gaysandconfused.bsky.social) 2025-02-20T10:57:00.597Z
In Entertainment/ Queer Music Club

Queer Music Club: “NNVAV” by Zemmoa

Who: Zemmoa – The gender bending princess of Mexico City’s nightlife.

Album: NNVAV

What’s it like: A dark sci-fi symphony of electro pop and dissonant vocals.

Standouts: Ciencia Ficción, Biografía, El Alacrán, Es Para Ti

Lyrics for your Instagram captions:

La vida te cambió por estar conmigo

Hombre de Hojalata

Tu y yo escribimos una historia de amor

Perfecto o no, pero algo duró

Biografía

Debo confezar que me gustas en verdad

Mujeryego

Where you’re most likely to hear it: NPR’s Radio Ambulante, queer Latinx dance parties

Why you should listen to it: Zemmoa creates a rich sci-fi pop world on this album that shouldn’t be missed. As a bonus, she’s created a work out video to accompany it.

Get your sci-fi sweat on.


In Entertainment/ Queer Music Club

Queer Music Club: “Latinoamericana” by Álex Anwandter

Who: Álex Anwandter – A Chilean singer-songwriter and filmmaker

Album: Latinoamericana

What’s it like: A throwback to 90s and 80s era dance club pop infused with plenty of plays on gender and political commentary.

Standouts: Locura, Vanidad, Axis Mundi, Odio a Todo el Mundo

Lyrics for your Instagram captions:

“Quiero pasar el tiempo

Con alguien que me aguante”

Axis Mundi

“No te da vergüenza

En qué te convertiste”

Malinche

“El mundo se va a la mierda

Y no he hecho nada”

Locura

“El mundo se va a la mierda

Y no sabes si te toca a ti”

Locura

“Tienes ritmo en el corazón

Pero te falta lo demás”

Locura

Where you’re most likely to hear it: NPR world music showcases

Why you should listen to it: You’ll come for the dance pop and stay for the political musings and social commentary. While the focus is on current events and popular culture in Latin American countries, there’s plenty of overlap with the state of our own country. There’s also plenty of takedowns of toxic masculinity, vanity, and gender roles.

In Entertainment/ Queer Music Club

Queer Music Club: “Homotopia” by Sam Vance-Law

Who: Sam Vance-Law

Album: Homotopia

What’s it like: A queer dreamscape that mixes indie rock with operatic ballads.

Standouts: Wanted To, Let’s Get Married, I Think We Should Take It Fast

Lyrics for your Instagram captions:

Please do not ask
Why I asked him to dance
I still cannot explain
But I think that it was just
Cause I wanted to

Wanted To

Yeah I saw you in the club
And I knew that I loved you

Let’s Get Married

All the straight boys want him
And all the pretty girls wanna look just like him
Cause he’s fine

Prettyboy

Where you’re most likely to hear it: Your hipster hook-up’s Spotify playlists, a Berlin coffee haus

Why you should listen to it: The album features beautiful vignettes of queer lives that are often ignored by mainstream pop and have yet to be commercialized for mass audiences. Settling into relationships, coming out in middle age, relationships with inappropriate age gaps are all explored to the soundtrack of swooning orchestral arrangements and lo-fi indie rock.

In Entertainment/ Queer Music Club

Queer Music Club: Kim Petras

Kim Petras performing at SXSW

Who: Kim Petras

What’s it like: Sticky sweet bubblegum pop sometimes edgy but always in a youthful haze.

Standouts: Heart to Break, Hills, Hillside Boys

Lyrics for your Instagram captions:

I want all my clothes designer

I want someone else to buy them

I Don’t Want It At All

If you buy me diamonds

And you keep me smiling

Baby, I can be with you

I Don’t Want It At All

Hillside boys you call my name

You make my heart sparkle like champagne

Hillside Boys

All my exes want attention, I ain’t payin’ it

Hills

Where you’re most likely to hear it:  Slumber parties, Forever 21, gay beach parties

Why you should listen to it: Aside from being good fun, Kim is a trans artist who’s ready for mainstream pop listeners. If you’re on the wrong side of 25, you might feel a little old, but a few bops in and you’ll forget all about the age difference.

Here’s Kim Petras covering the Killers’ Human at SXSW 2018: