I Know a Place — MUNA

Artist: MUNA

Title: I Know a Place

Year: 2016

Composer: MUNA

Genre: Indie Pop, Dark Pop

This selection expands on the experience of individuals who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. The video portrays the violence from opposers to LGBTQ+ rights, as military-like enforcers of a two-gender, heterosexual society. In the end, one of these masked figures was actually a closeted member of the LGBTQ+ community looking for guidance—they found it with MUNA.

The song also expands on Stevie Wonder's message of treating violence and hatred with love (And it's hard to love / with a heart that's hurting / But if you want to go out dancing / I know a place). MUNA extends their hand to those who feel that they have to hide their true selves. They also know that to be able to connect with people, they cannot respond to their hurting with more violence. Rather, their approach is to meet at a dance club, a place of no judgment where they can enjoy music and dancing together.

This song was originally written prior to the Orlando Nightclub shooting in 2016. However, it became an "anthem for the safety of the LGBT community" as it focused on the rich history of turning bars and ballrooms into safe spaces. For example, with Drag shows and nonjudgmental cosplays.

The song's simplistic melody with a repeating beat adds to the creation of a safe space. Not only is the song predictable, but also it is danceable and can be played in a club. There is not really a musical element in this song that is surprising or distracting, making it safe to listen to.

Connection to Playlist

In relation to God, this song evokes the notion of safety that is often found in places of spirituality. Ironically, opposers' arguments that religion teaches a heterosexual lifestyle is lost in place of an accepting community.

Resources

Genius, I Know a Place - Lyrics, https://genius.com/Muna-i-know-a-place-lyrics.

MUNA, I Know a Place, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t5gGm3NWU4.

Raisa Bruner, Hear Girl Band MUNA's Uplifting New Song for the LGBT Community, https://time.com/4588327/muna-lgbtq-song-premiere-i-know-a-place/.