The Netflix series, 'Sex Education' is a hit because, despite all the irreverent and rude humor, it dares to take sex seriously. This is a refreshing alternative to the tired innuendos, outdated sexism and crude allusions that are too often a staple of popular entertainment. The fact there's more than enough to shock the prigs and puritans of this world adds to its appeal.
Sure, there are some over the top and heavily contrived scenes but at the same time it manages to address topics normally considered taboo. Same sex relationships, masturbation, sexual harassment, oral and anal sex are all openly discussed without any judgement or prudishness. In short, teenagers who get their education from this series will find it infinitely more reliable, wholesome and fun than wanking to Pornhub videos.
Although primarily aimed at a young adult audience, the show has a wide-ranging appeal. The presence of Gillian Anderson as the sex therapist mother of the male protagonist is an obvious draw for older viewers.
Ezra Furman is an inspired choice to do for the series what Simon & Garfunkel did for the 1967 movie 'The Graduate'. Androgynous and gender fluid, Furman identifies as trans or bisexual and called his 2019 '12 Nudes' album "a spiritually queer record".
S/he knows all about coming to terms with awkward choices relating to sexual identity and says “I decided I’d use the Sex Education project as a place to put my tenderness, my sadness and longings. The soft teenage feelings that every adult knows continue long after high school ends.”
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This soundtrack album gathers the original songs that Furman composed for the first and second series and includes tracks featured on the show that were released on previous Furman albums such as 'Perpetual Motion People' and 'Transangelic Exodus'.
These include cover versions of LCD Soundsystem’s I Can Change, Melanie’s The Good Book and The Clovers’ 1956 doo-wop standard Devil Or Angel.
The 19-track set is full of frisky punk-pop tunes that openly defy conventional attitudes and blinkered thinking. For instance, "I wanna be unfiltered free" is a striking line on Amateur and Every Feeling unambiguously declares "fuck the sadness, fuck the shame".
The songs, like the series, do not shy away from the embarrassment, vulnerability and uncertainty that are integral to sexual development yet explicitly celebrate the sexual activities as the most pleasurable way of affirming our freedom and individuality.
Ezra Furman's website
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