one queer thing: rina sawayama's "this hell"
a queer anthem that flips the script on religious condemnation 🔥🏳️🌈
tl;dr: rina sawayama's "this hell" is a glittery middle finger to homophobia, turning religious condemnation into a celebration of queer joy and resilience. with its britney references, go-go dancers, and unapologetic queerness, it's more than just a bop - it's a radical act of community-building and self-love.
hola mis amores,
ever had a song that made you want to set fire to your sunday best and dance on the ashes? well, today we're diving into a track that's less hymnal and more heretical disco inferno.
it's thursday, and you know what that means: time to celebrate another queer thing that's got me feeling more rebellious than a drag queen at a conservative fundraiser. and trust me, this week's pick? it's spicy (part of the brand now) and twice as likely to make you question everything you thought you knew about heaven and hell.
as usual, i take bell hooks' definition of 'queer' — you know, that beautiful idea about being "at odds with everything around it" and having to "invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live" — and crank it up to eleven. porque why whisper when you can scream-sing your queerness from the rooftops?
so grab your favorite blasphemous accessory and prepare for a religious experience of the decidedly unholy variety. today, we're going straight to hell... and honey, you've never seen damnation look this good.
past queer things: (8) "company" by durand bernarr | (7) "queen" by janelle monae feat. erykah badu | (6) "carmen" by olivia dean | (5) “the village” by wrabel | (4) "alone & unafraid" by eliza | see more…
you can find the one queer thing playlist on spotify here.
this week's one queer thing: "this hell" by rina sawayama
first things first, let's talk about rina herself. a pansexual japanese-british artist who's been breaking barriers and bending genres like they're made of playdoh. she's the embodiment of what bell hooks meant when she talked about queerness as being "at odds with everything around it."
in "this hell," rina takes the age-old trope of queer people being condemned to hell and flips it on its head. she turns damnation into a party invitation, complete with britney references and go-go dancers. it's like she's saying, "if this is hell, sign me up!"
let's break down some of these lyrics, shall we?
Saw a poster on the corner opposite the motel
Turns out, I'm going to hell if I keep on being myself
Don't know what I did, but they seem pretty mad about it
God hates us? Alright then, buckle up, at dawn we're riding
rina's calling out the hypocrisy of religious institutions that claim to love everyone while simultaneously condemning queer folks. it's a sentiment that hits close to home for many of us who've had to navigate the treacherous waters of faith and queerness.
but instead of getting bogged down in anger or despair, rina chooses joy. she chooses celebration. she chooses to create a space where queer people can thrive, even in the face of condemnation.
This Hell is better with you
We're burning up together
Baby, that makes two
'Cause the Devil's wearing Prada
And loves a little drama, ooh-ooh
This Hell is better with you
it's a radical act of love and community-building. rina's saying, "if we're going to hell, let's make it fabulous." it's reminiscent of the ballroom scenes in 1980s new york, where queer and trans people of color created their own families and safe spaces in a world that rejected them.
but what really makes "this hell" a quintessentially queer anthem is how it embodies the spirit of invention and creation that hooks talks about. rina's not just responding to homophobia; she's creating an entirely new narrative.
Got my invitation to eternal damnation
Get in line, pass the wine, bitch
We're going straight to Hell
Got my invitation to eternal damnation
Get in line, pass the wine, bitch
We're going straight to Hell
she's taking the language and imagery of condemnation and repurposing it for queer joy. flames become disco lights. brimstone becomes glitter. the devil becomes... britney spears? (honestly, an upgrade if you ask me.)
when the world tells us we don't belong, we create our own belonging. when they tell us we're going to hell, we throw a party and invite all our friends.
and let's not forget the music itself. that driving beat, the shimmering synths, the power-pop vocals – it's all designed to get you moving, to make you feel alive and powerful. it's music that demands to be played loud.
in a world where queer people are still fighting for basic rights and acceptance, songs like "this hell" are more than just bops. they're lifelines. they're reminders that we're not alone, that our joy is an act of resistance, and that we can create beauty even in the darkest places.
so the next time someone tells you you're going to hell for being who you are, just smile and say, "great, i'll see you there. i hear the parties are fabulous."
what about you, mi gente? what songs make you feel empowered in your queerness? what artists are creating spaces for you to "speak and to thrive and to live"? let's keep this queer playlist going in the comments!
hasta la próxima, mis amores! 💖✊🏽🌈
edgard 🧡
p.s. if you see me on the dance floor dramatically lip-syncing to "this hell," come join me. we're all going to hell anyway, might as well make it a party.
p.p.s. seriously though, support queer artists. stream their music, buy their merch, go to their shows. our voices deserve to be heard, and our stories deserve to be told. let's make some noise, shall we?
I love this song and its intention! <3