Josie Cotton, Johnny, Are You Queer? | Controversial Songs

In the 12th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind “Johnny, Are You Queer?” by Josie Cotton.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 12^th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind “Johnny, Are You Queer?” by Josie Cotton.

“And I saw you today, boy / Walking with them gay 🌈 boys.” Hmm, what is your point, Josie Cotton? Mam, (1) how do you know that the boys are gay, and (2) even if they are, what is wrong with Johnny hanging out with them? It’s giving homophobia, girl… depending on who you ask, of course. “Now you hurt me so / Now I gotta know / Johnny, are you queer?” Queer? Oh, boy! It should come as no surprise why “Johnny, Are You Queer?” is controversial.  The eyebrow-raising pop/ New Wave song appears on Cotton’s 1982 debut album, Convertible Music. Larson Paine and Robert Paine penned this sus classic.  It was first recorded by Go-Go’s [hear the live recording here] but Cotton was the first to release it. To provide even more context as to why Josie asks about Johnny’s sexuality: “When the lights are low / You never hold me close.”

Songs about sexuality lend themselves to controversy. Such songs can be more controversial when there is a lack or perceived lack of nuance.  That is the problem with “Johnny, Are you Queer.” Musically, this is a bop and a half! The driving instrumental ‘kicks ass and takes names.’ Cotton’s vocal performance is playful, and she brings plenty of attitude.  But the lyrics – gurl, they are problematic!  To play devil’s advocate, if Johnny is in a ‘committed’ relationship with Josie (or her character) and is not being open about his sexuality, he is wrong. That is not fair to her. However, the way that she judges him assumes his friends are gay and tries to force a romance that is a non-starter, that is nothing short of a hot mess.  I mean, if he is gay, it is unlikely he will embrace a relationship with you…

It is rare for people to agree on anything.  However, two often opposing groups agreed that “Johnny, Are You Queer?” was not cool.  Those two groups were the gays and the conservatives. Both groups had different reasons for ‘crying foul’ regarding the song. The gays considered Cotton to be homophobic. This is a reasonable assessment for the reasons laid out earlier. Also, queer has more recently been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community. It can still be a divisive word, depending on who says and receives it. For conservatives, who always have a radical view (😏 🫢 🤫), they considered Cotton a proponent of homosexuality. Go figure! Sadly, per RETROPOP, the song was used in conversion therapy. Yikes.  Ultimately, while “Johnny, Are You Queer” is problematic lyrically, it is a song that should be taken with a grain of salt.  I don’t take this song nearly as seriously as some truly controversial songs. It is giving a heaping dose of camp.

Josie Cotton // Convertible Music // Kitten Robot // 1982

Josie Cotton, Johnny, Are You Queer?: Controversial Songs No. 12 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Kitten Robot; Andrea Mosti from Pexels; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]