The Bilerico Project | Daily experiments in LGBTQ

Just because Australian pop rocker Ben Lee is happily married to Ione Skye (of Say Anything fame) doesn't mean he can't write the next great gay dance anthem. On my own blog, I've already extolled Ben Lee's many virtues (he cures cancer, he caresses my shoulder, he remembers who I am), but he continues to affirm his awesomeness.

His terrific new album, The Rebirth of Venus, which is currently streaming for free on his MySpace page, encourages people to get in touch with their feminine side.

Several songs are contenders for dance club staples (you absolutely will not be able to resist "What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)" and "I Love Pop Music"), but "Boy With a Barbie" will likely emerge as a de facto gay anthem for its foot-stomping beat and its beautifully defiant lyrics.

Sure, it's a song primarily about challenging traditional gender roles, but I am co-opting it for me and my people....

You can listen to "Boy With a Barbie" on this web page or on the aforementioned MySpace page.

Here are the lyrics:

Boy With a Barbie

by Ben Lee

I was a boy with a Barbie
When they teased me it was hard
Just a boy with a Barbie from the start
Don't think they meant to break my heart

I was a boy with a Barbie
This is beautiful and true
I had a crush on every girl I saw, they never knew
I've never told a single soul but you

Boys with their Barbies
And girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules

And I don't know where it started
All these roles and make believe
Just a boy with a doll, though now it seems naive
I kept my heart upon my sleeve

I was a boy with a Barbie
And the teachers looked concerned
Although they tried to stop me getting burned
I guess they didn't realize it would hurt

Boys with their barbies
And girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules

Boys being prudes
While the girls make their moves
We don't have to play by their rules

So let him wear that dress
Let her make that mess
Let him take that fall
Let her kick that ball
And thank you to the ones
Who tried to stop my fun
You made me what I am
You made me what I am
You made me a man

Boys with their barbies
And girls with toy armies
We don't have to play by their rules

Boys staying home
While their girls on the run
We don't have to play by their rules
Play by their rules