Track of the Day: “For Today I am a Boy” – Antony and the Johnsons

From the album “I am a Bird Now” (2005)

The first time anyone listens to Antony and the Johnsons, it’s a jarring experience.

First, there’s that wavering, high-pitched singing that draws comparisons to Nina Simone. Then, there’s the fact that the torch-burning voice is coming from a six-foot-four-inch man.

Then, there are the lyrics: “One day I’ll grow up / and be a beautiful woman,” sings Antony over his expressive piano playing, “but for today / I am a boy.”

The way Antony embraces his androgynous image and plays with gender roles makes him interesting, but his classic take on songwriting and intimate performances are what make him endearing.