k.d. lang, Constant Craving | Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈

Latest March 01, 2025

In the 18th edition of Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 (2025), we highlight the song, “Constant Craving” performed by k.d. lang.

Prepare to beam with P-R-I-D-E 🏳️‍🌈! Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 celebrates, embraces, and spotlights songs by LGBTQ musicians or allies. Here, we provide background and insight into musician(s) and analyze + go gaga over the decadent bops served up. When the music dictates deeper, more transcendent discussion, we ensure the point is fully articulated. All styles of music are welcome while the songs can be classics or brand-spanking new. So, without further ado, in the 18^th edition of Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 (2025), we highlight “Constant Craving” performed by k.d. lang.

“And constant (constant) / Craving (Craving) / Has always (Always) / Been (Been).” Canadian singer/songwriter k.d. lang is a highly regarded musician. Lang is versatile, thriving in country, folk, and pop stylistically. Notably, she came out as a lesbian in 1992 to the LGBTQ magazine The Advocate when she was at the peak of her career. Remember that year! Notably, Lang has only charted two songs on the pop charts in her illustrious career. The most important of those two songs is “Constant Craving” the 10^th track from her 1992, double-platinum, Grammy-nominated album, Ingénue. “Constant Craving” secured Lang her sole top 40 hit, peaking at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Craving” was nominated for three Grammys, winning the award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. Lang and Ben Mink wrote “Constant Craving.” Lang, Mink, and Greg Penny produced it.

“Even though the darkest phase / Be it thick or thin / Always someone marches brave / Here beneath my skin.” The lyricism of “Constant Craving” is phenomenal. Bringing those lyrics to life are the expressive lead vocals of k.d. lang. She draws you in with her authenticity and sincerity. This performance feels honest and fearlessly transparent from the get-go. Adding to the excellence are tuneful melodies. The contour – the shape – is perfect. Beyond fine lead vocals, the background vocals supporting lang are haunting. The harmonies are marvelous to the nth degree. Also marvelous is the clean, tidy production work: rhythmic guitars, drums, keys, and accordion. So, what is this constant craving? Desire, lang shares in an NPR interview celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the song/album:

“It’s an acquiescence. It’s a summation of human desire.”

So, how gay is “Constant Craving”, one of the truly great songs from the 1990s? It feels very much gay. Lang came out the year the song and her beloved Ingénue album were released, and the lyrics capture desire. That desire sounds like same-sex desire. There are no explicit queer references, mind you, something that more contemporary LGBTQ+ anthems/songs contain, but this one feels gay, gay, gay, and we wouldn’t have it any other way, way, way!