takeitdoen

um I'm not taking a jab at you (I actually like you). I'm just pointing out that if you presume the majority of lana's fans are gay men and young women, you're begging the question. And yes, some of the comments are full of generalisations as you can see. I think the question you're asking has become clearer after the edit. Personally, I'm attracted to her unique sound and used to be interested in her mysterious personality. I couldn't care less about the change in the themes her songs address over the years - I like her unreleased + btd songs  as much as I like songs from her latest album.

I mean this question could be asked of almost every female singer. She writes from a classically feminine perspective. Gays were particularly lured in during BTD because of the glamour and camp. And on top of that was the tragic and submissive angle. "Diva worship" has been a social and academic topic of discussion for years. I think Lana stood out when she debuted because it was around the time of female pop singers churning out empowering anthems, and she was the inverse of that. The gays love a strong woman but also identify with the passive and demure. And not passive and submissive in a "lol lana fans are bottoms" way. I mean it in a way of identifying with otherness. 
 
There are definitely other reasons for why she has a large gay following, but I think this specific facet stands out. 

That her fanbase has disproportionate amounts of women and LGBT fans is something that isn't really a new or radical idea though - obvs people will come at this from different perspectives but it's interesting to consider the overlaps of shared experiences of a lot of her fanbase and why that makes them relate to her

I'm not a gay man, I'm a bisexual trans woman but I relate to a lot of the stories Lana tells through her music. Drugs, shitty or not so shitty boyfriends, and using men for money basically encapsulates much of who I am or what I have been like. I can't speak for anyone else though. When I first got into Lana, there was a trans woman I knew who vehemently objected to Lana's music and storytelling and especially loathed This Is What Makes Us Girls.

wow i didnt know cuz i havent been on LB for long but this is so nice to know   

Our honeymooooouuuuuuuuun

We're all just..... subversive     

Your impact @@naachoboy

Why are all of my faves bottoms? And Taylor a virgin?

I think that the whole idea of her being "un-PC" in her early days (as a certain member loves to talk about) needs to be talked about cautiously and carefully and with a lot more nuance than often given to it, but I think it plays a role in why she attracted the demographic she did in the BTD and Paradise days that has been sustained with leaks from her Lizzy era since. There's that quote from a critic about her (earlier) stuff being desperate, shirt-tugging, "don't leave me" that the critic hated, and I definitely think it's there.
 
She presented love as an undying devotion with elements of desperation, doom, death etc. that really didn't fit into the zeitgeist at the time because of shifting discourses. The whole femme fatale themes of film noir and to some extent, the 80s (so a lot of the films and ideas she grew up with) weren't popular at the time. I think a big part of why so much of her *active* fanbase is LGBT people and women (and of course the overlap) is because she was a contemporary female artist singing about that destructive and obsessive love while no one else really was, and making it look (and sound) glamorous and sexy. For LGBT and/or girl teens and young adults, there were relatively little artists willing to explore that side of love that you feel so strongly, because (for good reasons) a lot of discourse about love and attraction has been critical. That's probably why there's a lot (a LOT) of overlap between Lana fans and people who want to uncritically enjoy things like Lolita (particularly the Lolita "aesthetic") and CMBYN. Lana gave people spaces for people to be desperate and completely devoted with BTD and Paradise, and then followed up with UV as one of the best break-up albums. Most of the diehard BTD and UV stans don't really like HM as much, as far as I've seen, and I think part of this is because HM is a lot less dramatic in its lyrics and themes and is where change started to happen.
 
I'd add some more about the reclamation of things like religion (e.g. Tropico) and power (e.g. the national anthem video) but eh.
 
 
 
Might be misunderstanding but her detachment from the fanbase is kind of unprecedented in the stan age. The whole "Lana hates us and that's okay" thing definitely contains a grain of truth. I think she has a very understandable disdain for a lot of her fanbase, because a lot of her fanbase have very little respect for her and so she's kind of broken away and doesn't share much of her life now. She doesn't hate her fanbase imo - she clearly likes Win Edwards, who despite all the jokes is in some ways the ideal fan from her pov; clearly adores her but respects her boundaries. A lot of people here see going to every show as weird and obsessive but she's had much worse and much more dangerous than that, which is probably why she doesn't really interact with her fans much unless she's got something to sell. This inactiveness inevitably gets caught up in the "Lana hates us" narrative though. 
 
I'd also say that her change in dress and habits put people off. She's not an Ariana or Taylor Swift in that her success drives her to want to do more and better. Her success made her wealthy and she grew out of the more dramatic narratives, maybe got some therapy and didn't need or want to peddle that type of thing anymore. She's a wealthy white woman living in California who goes to church with her friends, wants a couple of kids, dresses comfortably, (probably) wants a husband and, going by what Sean was, doesn't want that husband to be an artistic type, but more on the boring suburban dad side. AKA she's living a very normal and basic heteronormative life, just with a bunch of money. That added to the fact she never really comfortably embraced her LGBT fanbase is what is turning some people off imo, and with stan twitter culture this switch can be read into ad nauseam.

I just really liked the style of music. And I happen to be bi. So i mean... nothing more than that. Her original 60s + hip hop style was cool and weird and different. And then ultraviolence only made me like her more. and then the rest... well, i’m stuck on her music so...

This thread title whew the war flashbacks lol
 
It's a cute idea, hope it works out for you guys x

I am hoping the LB team can help me with working out something that I've wondered for a while. As with many prolific artists, Lana del Rey's music is so good that anyone can be a fan. However, we know there are two stereotypes that get the majority - typically regarded as hardcore fans of younger women and gay men.
 
My question is specifically about queer people - why do they gravitate so strongly to Lana's music? Are they drawn into Lana del Rey's persona? Is there a connection with the tragical lyrics? Is Born to Die persona a gay champion compared to NFR?
 
Why is Lana del Rey considering the mecca of queer iconography? The idea that any gay that loves Lana is a tragic bottom with daddy issues is strange as in recent times I've started to see Lana be described unironically as a gay icon. In 2017, Billboard Magazine published an article called "5 Reasons Lana del Rey is a Muse to Gay Fans", and Tulane Hullabaloo wrote an article last year that described her as an "unexpected gay icon". The second article is less scholarly but it touches on the fact that queer people find an affinity with her sad content that relates to them feeling misunderstood or unconnected - but surely not every fan feels like that??
 
Considering her contemporaries (Madonna, Cher, L. Gaga and maybe even Florence Welch) have been substantially more supportive and vocal of their queer fanbase, why is Lana regarded with the same status? 
 
I'm really interested in hearing anyone's reply - especially from queer folx I want to hear why you love Lana, and non-queer people about what you perceive in the situation. 
 
EDIT: 
TL;DR + an update to this post for clarity
What attracts queer fans to Lana del Rey?I'm asking either: 1) as a gay person, why do you like Lana? 2) as a gay person, why what do you think draws queer people to Lana 3) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what aspects do you think draw queer people to Lana? 4) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what makes you a fan of Lana? What factors contribute to the stereotypes of a Lana del Rey fan? I'm asking what aspects of Lana's career, image, songs contribute to the stereotype - I am personally very interested in the 'sad gay' stereotype. See below for examples:

I understand this too - and the reverse also; just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of Marina, L. Gaga, Kesha etc (I like songs from each but overall don't consider myself a fan).
 
This is a forum. I am not generalising, I'm asking why people personally experience this. 
 
Great, yes you're totally right. I suppose I should rephrase some of the things I first posted - I suppose I am asking two questions:
Why do fans (gay or otherwise) personally enjoy Lana del Rey? Why is the stereotype of a Lana del Rey fan a gay male? See below for examples:  
 
 

These are really great answers, thanks everyone.
 
So important, I haven't even considered that!! Rising to popularity on and in a platform which familiarised a section of her fanbase with her alternative sound. That might be the starting and big factor. 
 
 
I wonder, if NFR was her debut album, would queer people have found it to be so relatable and iconic? There is still great material on the album but I think you're spot on with a sense of theatricality and camp that is in the first album. It's still a mystery to me why queer people are so drawn to Broadway and theatre but I suspect it's similar themes. 
 
Do you think it's because all gay men are attracted or identity to that femininity, or is that why you were personally drawn to her? 
 
 
Iconic. Very true, especially with her persecution in and around her 'persona'.

I am hoping the LB team can help me with working out something that I've wondered for a while. As with many prolific artists, Lana del Rey's music is so good that anyone can be a fan. However, we know there are two stereotypes that get the majority - typically regarded as hardcore fans of younger women and gay men.
 
My question is specifically about queer people - why do they gravitate so strongly to Lana's music? Are they drawn into Lana del Rey's persona? Is there a connection with the tragical lyrics? Is Born to Die persona a gay champion compared to NFR?
 
Why is Lana del Rey considering the mecca of queer iconography? The idea that any gay that loves Lana is a tragic bottom with daddy issues is strange as in recent times I've started to see Lana be described unironically as a gay icon. In 2017, Billboard Magazine published an article called "5 Reasons Lana del Rey is a Muse to Gay Fans", and Tulane Hullabaloo wrote an article last year that described her as an "unexpected gay icon". The second article is less scholarly but it touches on the fact that queer people find an affinity with her sad content that relates to them feeling misunderstood or unconnected - but surely not every fan feels like that??
 
Considering her contemporaries (Madonna, Cher, L. Gaga and maybe even Florence Welch) have been substantially more supportive and vocal of their queer fanbase, why is Lana regarded with the same status? 
 
I'm really interested in hearing anyone's reply - especially from queer folx I want to hear why you love Lana, and non-queer people about what you perceive in the situation. 
 
EDIT: 
TL;DR + an update to this post for clarity
What attracts queer fans to Lana del Rey?I'm asking either: 1) as a gay person, why do you like Lana? 2) as a gay person, why what do you think draws queer people to Lana 3) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what aspects do you think draw queer people to Lana? 4) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what makes you a fan of Lana? What factors contribute to the stereotypes of a Lana del Rey fan? I'm asking what aspects of Lana's career, image, songs contribute to the stereotype - I am personally very interested in the 'sad gay' stereotype. See below for examples:

I understand this too - and the reverse also; just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of Marina, L. Gaga, Kesha etc (I like songs from each but overall don't consider myself a fan).
 
This is a forum. I am not generalising, I'm asking why people personally experience this. 
 
Great, yes you're totally right. I suppose I should rephrase some of the things I first posted - I suppose I am asking two questions:
Why do fans (gay or otherwise) personally enjoy Lana del Rey? Why is the stereotype of a Lana del Rey fan a gay male? See below for examples:  
 
 

I am hoping the LB team can help me with working out something that I've wondered for a while. As with many prolific artists, Lana del Rey's music is so good that anyone can be a fan. However, we know there are two stereotypes that get the majority - typically regarded as hardcore fans of younger women and gay men.
 
My question is specifically about queer people - why do they gravitate so strongly to Lana's music? Are they drawn into Lana del Rey's persona? Is there a connection with the tragical lyrics? Is Born to Die persona a gay champion compared to NFR?
 
Why is Lana del Rey considering the mecca of queer iconography? The idea that any gay that loves Lana is a tragic bottom with daddy issues is strange as in recent times I've started to see Lana be described unironically as a gay icon. In 2017, Billboard Magazine published an article called "5 Reasons Lana del Rey is a Muse to Gay Fans", and Tulane Hullabaloo wrote an article last year that described her as an "unexpected gay icon". The second article is less scholarly but it touches on the fact that queer people find an affinity with her sad content that relates to them feeling misunderstood or unconnected - but surely not every fan feels like that??
 
Considering her contemporaries (Madonna, Cher, L. Gaga and maybe even Florence Welch) have been substantially more supportive and vocal of their queer fanbase, why is Lana regarded with the same status? 
 
I'm really interested in hearing anyone's reply - especially from queer folx I want to hear why you love Lana, and non-queer people about what you perceive in the situation. 
 
EDIT: 
TL;DR + an update to this post for clarity
What attracts queer fans to Lana del Rey?I'm asking either: 1) as a gay person, why do you like Lana? 2) as a gay person, why what do you think draws queer people to Lana 3) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what aspects do you think draw queer people to Lana? 4) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what makes you a fan of Lana? What factors contribute to the stereotypes of a Lana del Rey fan? I'm asking what aspects of Lana's career, image, songs contribute to the stereotype - I am personally very interested in the 'sad gay' stereotype. See below for examples:

I understand this too - and the reverse also; just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of Marina, L. Gaga, Kesha etc (I like songs from each but overall don't consider myself a fan).
 
This is a forum. I am not generalising, I'm asking why people personally experience this. 
 
Great, yes you're totally right. I suppose I should rephrase some of the things I first posted - I suppose I am asking two questions:
Why do fans (gay or otherwise) personally enjoy Lana del Rey? Why is the stereotype of a Lana del Rey fan a gay male? See below for examples:  
 
 

@mods @@admin can you move this to the fan made audio section to prevent heart attacks.

I am hoping the LB team can help me with working out something that I've wondered for a while. As with many prolific artists, Lana del Rey's music is so good that anyone can be a fan. However, we know there are two stereotypes that get the majority - typically regarded as hardcore fans of younger women and gay men.
 
My question is specifically about queer people - why do they gravitate so strongly to Lana's music? Are they drawn into Lana del Rey's persona? Is there a connection with the tragical lyrics? Is Born to Die persona a gay champion compared to NFR?
 
Why is Lana del Rey considering the mecca of queer iconography? The idea that any gay that loves Lana is a tragic bottom with daddy issues is strange as in recent times I've started to see Lana be described unironically as a gay icon. In 2017, Billboard Magazine published an article called "5 Reasons Lana del Rey is a Muse to Gay Fans", and Tulane Hullabaloo wrote an article last year that described her as an "unexpected gay icon". The second article is less scholarly but it touches on the fact that queer people find an affinity with her sad content that relates to them feeling misunderstood or unconnected - but surely not every fan feels like that??
 
Considering her contemporaries (Madonna, Cher, L. Gaga and maybe even Florence Welch) have been substantially more supportive and vocal of their queer fanbase, why is Lana regarded with the same status? 
 
I'm really interested in hearing anyone's reply - especially from queer folx I want to hear why you love Lana, and non-queer people about what you perceive in the situation. 
 
EDIT: 
TL;DR + an update to this post for clarity
What attracts queer fans to Lana del Rey?I'm asking either: 1) as a gay person, why do you like Lana? 2) as a gay person, why what do you think draws queer people to Lana 3) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what aspects do you think draw queer people to Lana? 4) as a person not identifying as a gay man, what makes you a fan of Lana? What factors contribute to the stereotypes of a Lana del Rey fan? I'm asking what aspects of Lana's career, image, songs contribute to the stereotype - I am personally very interested in the 'sad gay' stereotype. See below for examples:

I understand this too - and the reverse also; just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of Marina, L. Gaga, Kesha etc (I like songs from each but overall don't consider myself a fan).
 
This is a forum. I am not generalising, I'm asking why people personally experience this. 
 
Great, yes you're totally right. I suppose I should rephrase some of the things I first posted - I suppose I am asking two questions:
Why do fans (gay or otherwise) personally enjoy Lana del Rey? Why is the stereotype of a Lana del Rey fan a gay male? See below for examples:  
 
 

I understand this too - and the reverse also; just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm instantly a fan of Marina, L. Gaga, Kesha etc (I like songs from each but overall don't consider myself a fan).
 
This is a forum. I am not generalising, I'm asking why people personally experience this. 
 
Great, yes you're totally right. I suppose I should rephrase some of the things I first posted - I suppose I am asking two questions:
Why do fans (gay or otherwise) personally enjoy Lana del Rey? Why is the stereotype of a Lana del Rey fan a gay male? See below for examples:  
 
 

These are really great answers, thanks everyone.
 
So important, I haven't even considered that!! Rising to popularity on and in a platform which familiarised a section of her fanbase with her alternative sound. That might be the starting and big factor. 
 
 
I wonder, if NFR was her debut album, would queer people have found it to be so relatable and iconic? There is still great material on the album but I think you're spot on with a sense of theatricality and camp that is in the first album. It's still a mystery to me why queer people are so drawn to Broadway and theatre but I suspect it's similar themes. 
 
Do you think it's because all gay men are attracted or identity to that femininity, or is that why you were personally drawn to her? 
 
 
Iconic. Very true, especially with her persecution in and around her 'persona'.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7873862/5-reasons-lana-del-rey-is-a-muse-to-gay-fans
 
Personally, I think she connects with people that are very sensitive, feeling everything a bit too much, and people that have struggled in their lives. And all LGBTQ+ people have struggled at some point, which makes me think it's the reason why some queer fans are attracted to her. 
 
Her lyrics are very honest: I guess this is what many love about her, independently of their sexuality.