Benjamin, GAY | Beaming with Pride

In the ninth edition of Beaming with Pride (2025), we highlight the song, “GAY” performed by Finnish pop musician Benjamin. 

Prepare to beam with P-R-I-D-E ️‍! Beaming with Pride celebrates, embraces, and spotlights songs by LGBTQ musicians or allies.  Here, we provide background and insight into musician(s) and analyze + go gaga over the decadent bops served up.  When the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is fully articulated.  All styles of music are welcome while the songs can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the ninth edition of Beaming with Pride ️‍ (2025), we highlight “GAY” performed by Benjamin.

“Bye-bye kivikauden vanhat säännöt rakkauden / Make love great again.” Agreed, Benjamin (Benjamin Peltonen)… at least, the lyrics I can comprehend.  Fully translated in English, the first verse of the Finnish pop song, “GAY”, plays out something like this: “Bye-bye to the old rules of love from the Stone Age / Make love great again.” “GAY” finds Benjamin embracing love, haters, and homophobes be damned. “Welcome to this new scary world / If someone’s love makes you mad, too bad,” he sings (in Finnish), continuing, “I won’t stay in a prison for no reason anymore / In the closet, waiting for an entrance to Narnia.” Word.  Backed by superb, sleek, dance-pop/euro-pop production, set in a minor key, Benjamin has ample fuel for his fire.  Peltonen, Atso Soivio, Iivari Suosalo, Joonas Kristian Keronen, and Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa penned “GAY” in all its glory.

Benjamin serves up bright, easygoing, and hella smooth vocals. He possesses a beautiful instrument.  The melodies shine throughout, even when the verses feature their share of repeated notes and simpler intervals.  The theme and lyrics ‘take the cake.’ Notably, Benjamin references a controversial, conservative Christian Democratic Finnish politician, Päivi Räsänen. Räsänen is anti-LGBTQ and has been tried for hate speech against homosexuals. Benjamin, of course, is G-A-Y, and unafraid to say and embrace it. During the section to beat, the tuneful chorus, he asserts:

“And the eyes of Päivi are already hazy

They say the world is a pitfall of dangers

This sick world took your child

I am saying my last word, and that is gay!”

One of the most ear-catching moments of “GAY” is the rare key modulation at the end.  It adds to the character, intensity, and sheer power of the song.  Benjamin Peltonen puts his foot into this irresistible, meaningful bop.  I’ll leave you with this: “Kun avaat kaapin ovet, niin mä lupaan sulle sen, / Ettet enää koskaan ulkopuoliseksi jää (When you open the doors of the closet, I’ll promise you, / You won’t feel like an outsider anymore).” Word!

Benjamin // “GAY” // Warner Music Finland // 2022

Benjamin, GAY: Beaming with Pride No. 9 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Warner Music Finland; Elias Souza, Mario Spencer, Mizuno K from Pexels;  All_CC0_Public_domain, CatsWithGlasses, David, ernestflowerss, Kelly, M. Harris, Marek Studzinski, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]