The Plot Thickens

Kiss The Boy

In 2018, on the day after my birthday, the film Love, Simon was released. Twelve days later, on March 28, 2018 the song “Kiss the Boy” was uploaded on YouTube and Spotify by Keiynan Lonsdale, one of the film’s stars. I wouldn’t listen to the song until several weeks later, but in the year and a half since its debut, it has become one of my go-to feel good tunes.

The song finds Lonsdale, who identifies as queer in real-life, expressing a hidden desire for a crush. It seems as if the crush like Lonsdale back as well, but neither is brave enough to act on their feelings. Finally, Lonsdale sings “we lose our chance when we don’t try / on second thought I think I might.”

One of the things I like about the song is not only how upbeat, catchy, and unabashedly gay it is, but also that the bridge allows a brief glimpse into the scared and unsure parts of being LGBTQ+. Lonsdale sings that “most of my life I’ve been terrified / spending my days always questioning / am I wrong to love a man?”

This section of the song is what makes it so special to me. Londsale is in no way denying their sexuality, but they’re also including the little voice in the back of their mind telling them that they might be wrong. To be able to do both those very different things inside of four-and-a-half minute song is quite impressive.

There are other LGBTQ+ artists that I listen to, but for whatever reason “Kiss the Boy” always seems to be the song I come back and relate to.

I wouldn’t say that “Kiss the Boy” has helped me through difficult times or breakups or anything of that matter, but maybe one day it will. I’ve never really had a song that has done that for me, but I do have songs that become permanently connected with a person. Certain artists and lyrics have become inseparable from exes and old friends, but not Lonsdale’s melodies. Somehow “Kiss the Boy” has evaded that trap and remains anonymous and universal. It’s the perfect song to be about anyone, anywhere.