It actually was Johnny McGovern's idea, admits Adam Joseph ( Pictured: photo courtesy of Joseph. )
The two openly gay New York City-based musicians were joking one day that Joseph should write a song about converting straight boys and call it 'Faggoty Attention.'
'I thought [ his idea ] was funny, but didn't really think twice about it because all of the music I had done up to that point had more of a serious tone; I had never really used comedy in my music,' Joseph said. 'But that [ song ] title and the idea stuck in my head.'
Eventually, while on vacation driving with his family, Joseph wrote it—in about 15 minutes.
And so was born Faggoty Attention, an eight track maxi single featuring the original version of Joseph's hilarious, upbeat gay anthem plus new remixes and mash-ups, released by Jah Records, the gay and lesbian lifestyle and culture imprint.
'I never really expected that song to do anything. In fact, I thought the song and the title were kind of silly at first. But I'm really happy with the success; it's great. But totally unexpected,' said Joseph, who fell into luck in New York with the song when a friend who was filming a movie told Joseph that the movie needed a song that would be playing in a gay bar. Thus Joseph produced Faggoty Attention.
The song eventually was played by local DJs; he performed it around the New York City club scene, and it ultimately landed on LOGO.
And he wasn't worried that using the word faggoty was offensive, 'because in my circle of friends in New York, we use that term all of the time, and it's definitely not [ said ] to offend people.
'I think this is one of the first songs where the word faggoty is looked at in a positive light, not as a slur. I just think that people who aren't used to it may say that it's a little too out there for them. But there also are a lot of people who get it; they get the comedic, playfulness of the song. Maybe some people aren't ready for the song, sure.
'I think it's great to shock people; that's what an artist is all about.'
The video was done with a limited budget, Joseph admitted. It was filmed by a friend of his, and the straight actor/model in the video was found through another friend. And, yes, he is, in fact, straight.
'I love the video,' Joseph said. 'I wanted the video to be like a story, because it's a story song.
'I wanted a straight guy [ for that role ] who could act like he might possibly be into converting, and I think he did a good job.'
Joseph said he might consider more 'funny, crazy dance songs' in the future.
His second album, to be released in 2009, will have a more serious tone, Joseph said.
'I have a great job … I get to perform, produce and write. I'm always doing music, every day,' said Joseph, who acknowledges that he is 'very single right now and still looking for the right guy.'
So who's your dream man?
'I like all kinds of people,' he said, laughing.
Joseph is now part of New York's East Village 20-something crowd, where the gay banter is unabashedly and unapologetically dirty.
'Right when I graduated from school, I recorded my [ first ] record and poured all of the money I had into it. But then I realized that I didn't have the money I needed for all of the other things associated with releasing a record, such as advertising, etc.,' he said. 'It took a while to get the ball rolling, but after I got a few music videos [ airing ] on LOGO and started doing a lot more shows around New York and around the country, the response has been really good.
'I think [ being openly gay ] is important for kids and others who are aspiring to do the same thing [ I am doing ] ,' he said. 'I think it's importance to have that presence, to be known out there because, in the past, it's been few and far between, those who are openly gay and comfortable in themselves and are happy being who they are and not trying to conform to anything else. We want to show that those people can be successful and can have fans, be respected as musicians … even if they are gay.
'I think it really impacts the younger generation.'
Joseph came out to his mom at 14.
'It's good to just be who you are, be comfortable with whom you are; no one should have to put up a front,' he said.
