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So, why a thread about LGBT songs? Isn’t it a bit silly to differentiate between straight songs and queer songs? Besides, there are many people who don’t like to be put into boxes and be labelled by their sexual orientation or gender identity. For me, the fact that I’m gay is only a small part of my overall identity; yet I can’t help but feel that I’m part of a larger LGBT community, mostly because of sharing a memory with many in that community about having to rise above prejudice and quash feelings of distress when I first realised that I had no control over who I was attracted to.
But before this turns into an essay about the value of a thread like this, I’ll just say that the main reason for doing this was that it was fun to do! This is a fairly frank post about LGBT-related expressions of love, gender and getting it on in songs, and at times the lyrics, comments and videos below are a tad explicit.
A few things to note about the songs that have been included:
- All the songs have a LGBT-related theme, with a few exceptions where the theme of the song is not specifically LGBT-related but is performed by a LGBT artist.
- Songs with a LGBT-related theme that are performed by straight, cisgender people are of course included as well.
- I’ve come across a few cases where a song has been interpreted as having a LGBT theme, but the lyrics and info available about the song are too ambiguous to support that interpretation, and as such those songs ended up not being included.
- What you also won’t find on the list are songs by straight, cisgender performers that have been adopted as gay anthems (like Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” or ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” or many songs by Kylie Minogue) or have a large lesbian following (like Sade’s “By Your Side”). After all, being empowered by a song or feeling closely connected to its sensibilities isn't an exclusively LGBT experience.
- I've found myself slightly desperately looking for LGBT-themed songs by seemingly straight, cisgender artists who have subverted gender norms, like Prince and Annie Lennox, but I couldn't find any. At first I was upset by this, but then I remembered that these artists should be celebrated for being refreshingly nonconformist without anyone trying to make them or their music fit into the queer spectrum.
- I’ve tried to include a wide variety of music genres.
- I’m sure there are songs I don’t know about that deserve to be included. Conversely, if I include every LGBT-themed song I’ve heard the list will be way too long.
- Speaking of way too long: to not make this post even wordier than it inevitably will be, I'll only add comments for up to 7 songs per year, sometimes less. So under some of the years there will be songs listed without any comments about them.
- I've limited the number of songs per artist to a maximum of 3.
- Only songs sung in English are included for now as I’m only starting to do research about LGBT-themed songs sung in other languages. I'm hoping to find the time to do a post about international LGBT-themed songs at a later stage. Recommendations are welcome!
PS: I'm using the initialism LGBT in this post as it is a commonly known term. I could also have gone for a more elaborate and inclusive umbrella term like LGBTQIA2S+. If you're not too familiar with the spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations that exist, please go to this post below - it might help expand your knowledge.
**Edit: Thank you very much for all the recommendations that people made after I had submitted this main post. I've added most of those recommendations that are eligible to the main post now too... except for the ones not sung in English, which I'll add another time, as mentioned above.**
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1928
Ma Rainey | Prove It on Me Blues ( Vaudeville Blues, Jug Band )
It is unclear how Ma Rainey herself defined her sexuality, but the common perception is that the "Mother of the Blues" was bisexual. "Prove It on Me Blues" is a defiant song inspired by an incident in which the police arrested Rainey after she had been caught in a state of undress with female members of her chorus during a wild party she held.
1931
Jean Malin | I'd Rather Be Spanish Than Manish ( Cabaret )
In the late 1920s and early 1930s in America, there was a phenomenon known now as the Pansy Craze, where openly gay cabaret performers experienced a surge in popularity in nightclubs in major cities, especially in New York. This song is a prime example of the phenomenon. A similar craze occurred in the European cities of Berlin, Paris and London. Sadly, mob violence in the US and Hitler's rise to power in Europe (and the increase in homophobia that came with it) led to the death of the Pansy Craze.
1935
Bessie Jackson | B.D. Woman's Blues ( Piano Blues )
Bessie Jackson (a.k.a. Lucille Bogan) was another female blues artist who was open about her attraction to women. The B.D. in the title of this song refers to either "bull dyke" or "bull dagger", both slang terms for lesbians of masculine appearance. The song opens with the line, "Comin' a time, B.D. women ain’t gonna need no men", which seems to reflect Jackson's desire to live in a time and place where lesbian women won’t feel societal pressure to be with a man.
1940
Frankie Jaxon | Be Your Natural Self ( Vaudeville Blues )
This song was recorded shortly after a prominent reverend was repeatedly rumoured to be gay in the American press. Frankie Jaxon gave advice to others in the queer community to watch their step and be careful what they say. Yet he also encouraged them to be their natural selves when they could.
1957
Elvis Presley | Jailhouse Rock ( Rock & Roll )
The gay undertones were definitely there: "Number forty-seven said to number three, 'You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see, I sure would be delighted with your company'". In the music video you can also hear those jailbirds singing "lean on me Daddy-O" a couple of times in the background. Straight folks were dancing to the Jailhouse Rock and likely had no idea.
Johnny Mathis | Chances Are ( Traditional Pop )
The songs by gay singer Johnny Mathis never overtly dealt with LGBT-related subjects, but he is included in this list because of how hugely popular he was in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to romantic songs like "Chances Are".
1962
Love Is a Drag | My Man ( Standard )
An album called Love Is a Drag was released in 1962, on which a male crooner interpreted American standards like "My Man" as male-to-male love songs. This was so controversial at the time that the names of the singer and producer weren't even mentioned on the album cover.
Troy Walker | Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe ( Jazz Pop )
This is another example of a popular song turned into a male-to-male love song, sung here by Troy Walker, who made a name for himself as a nightclub singer in Los Angeles in the 1960s.
1963
Byrd E. Bath | Homer the Happy Little Homo ( Traditional Pop, Doo-Wop )
In the early 1960s a record label called Camp Records released albums and 45s containing songs that exemplified the camp humour of the time, like this one by Byrd E. Bath.
Jackie Shane | Any Other Way ( Southern Soul )
Jackie Shane was a pioneer transgender performer who was prominent in the local music scene of Toronto in the 1960s. "Any Other Way" is the song she is best known for.
1967
The Kinks | David Watts ( Pop Rock, Baroque Pop )
A song about lead singer and songwriter Ray Davies's envy of the head boy at his school. But there is also an undercurrent of infatuation. Although the fellow schoolboy's name wasn't David Watts, Watts was a real person who Davies had met in a different context, and who had a crush on Davies's brother.
Pink Floyd | Arnold Layne ( Psychedelic Rock )
A song about a person named Arnold Layne who stole women's underwear from clotheslines in backyards. It's unclear what Layne's sexual orientation or gender identity was (he might well have been a straight, cisgender man who just liked to cross-dress), but the song was reportedly also written as a nod to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK in 1967, during a time when social attitudes were becoming more liberal, especially among younger generations.
1968
Dusty Springfield | The Colour of Your Eyes ( Blue-Eyed Soul )
Dusty Springfield had several romantic relationships with women. "The Colour of Your Eyes" was written for Springfield by singer-songwriter Norma Tanega while the two of them were a couple.
Laura Nyro | Emmie ( Pop Soul )
Laura Nyro was bisexual. Her song "Emmie" is considered to be one of the first songs in which a woman expressed her love for another woman.
1969
The Velvet Underground | Candy Says ( Art Pop )
There was a distinct queerness about much of The Velvet Underground's music. Within their unique underground soundscape, thematically they addressed the constraints of sexuality and gender identity in some of their songs. The Candy referred to in the title of this song is Candy Darling, who was a transgender icon and key member of Andy Warhol's entourage, as well as a muse of The Velvet Underground. The song addresses Candy Darling's desire to escape her birth sex.
1970
The Kinks | Lola ( Pop Rock )
A song that details a romantic encounter between a young man and a possible trans woman or cross-dresser.
The Rolling Stones | Cocksucker Blues ( Acoustic Blues )
It was written to be the Stones' final single for Decca Records as per their contract, with explicit language chosen specifically to anger Decca executives. Needless to say, it was never released as a single.
Zebedy Colt | The Man I Love ( Standard )
A popular standard usually sung by a woman, but given a gay twist here because of being sung by a man. The song has since frequently been performed by gay male choirs.
1971
Flaming Ember | Stop the World (And Let Me Off) ( Blue-Eyed Soul )
A guy's despair because of losing his woman to another woman.
1972
David Bowie | Lady Stardust ( Piano Rock, Pop Rock )
David Bowie | John, I'm Only Dancing ( Rock, Glam Rock )
In the early to mid 1970s, Bowie was at the heart of a kind of sexual revolution that aimed to transcend traditional notions of gender and sexuality, especially through his gender bending, sexually promiscuous character of Ziggy Stardust. But it was not just about rebellion - Bowie strived for acceptance too, as can be heard in the song "Lady Stardust", which has been interpreted by many as a plea for acceptance of non-traditional expressions of gender. Bowie also drew attention to bisexuality, with "John, I'm Only Dancing" being an example of this. The male protagonist in the song and John appear to be a couple, but he finds himself attracted to a woman he dances with.
Lou Reed | Walk on the Wild Side ( Pop, Glam Rock )
Lou Reed had a hard time as a teenager when he received electroconvulsive therapy, which was intended to cure his bisexuality. Many songs written by Reed touch on sexual ambiguity and unconventional gender identity. This is of course one of his most famous songs, and transgender characters are part of the main themes.
1973
Jobriath | I’m a Man ( Glam Rock )
Jobriath (birth name Bruce Wayne Campbell) was the first openly gay rock musician to be signed to a major record label. Declaring himself “the true fairy of rock and roll”, he was unapologetic about his homosexuality and flamboyance, as can be heard in his song "I'm a Man". Unfortunately, the world wasn't ready for him at the time.
Elton John | All the Girls Love Alice ( Pop Rock )
A song about a popular sixteen-year-old girl from a privileged background who had sex with middle-aged women (possibly as a prostitute) but ended up being found dead in the subway in New York.
Lavender Country | Cryin’ These Cocksucking Tears ( Progressive Country )
Bravely (for 1973) Lavendar Country released the first gay-themed album in country music history. The band's most famous song is "Cryin' These Cocksucking Tears", a waltz with a gay liberation theme that raged against the hypocrisies of some of the straight men at the time.
Michael Cohen | Bitterfeast ( Folk )
An obscure, delicate song about the narrator's past relationships with men and his desire to have a lover he could snuggle up to.
1974
Meg Christian | Ode to a Gym Teacher ( Folk )
As part of a movement / music genre called women's music, songs and albums created specifically for lesbians and feminists started to be distributed in the early 1970s. This humorous song about a schoolgirl's crush on her female gym teacher is one of my favourites from that movement.
Ian Lloyd & Stories | Another Love ( Pop Rock )
"Another Love" depicts a bisexual man telling his girlfriend about his love for another man.
The Sweet | AC/DC ( Pop Rock, Hard Rock )
Another bisexual song, this time about a woman who has girls all over the world, and men every now and then. I never like it when lyrics like "she can't make up her mind" appear in songs about bisexuality. The view that bisexuals can't make up their mind about whether they are gay or straight (or that most bisexuals are too scared to admit that they are just gay or lesbian) is a misconception that is sadly too common, even nowadays. It shouldn't have to be explained that sexuality isn't always as black and white as that. It's a catchy song though!
Funkadelic | Jimmy's Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him ( P-Funk )
Funkadelic pioneered the funk music culture of the 1970s. All the band members were straight, but this is a sympathetic song about a gay friend of the band’s called Jimmy.
1975
Tim Curry | Sweet Transvestite ( Musical Theatre )
This was originally from the 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was made into a film in 1975. It's no secret that there are plenty of queer guys who like musicals. There are loads of LGBT-themed songs from musicals, but I've only included four in this post (the others are from 1983, 2003 and 2007).
Cris Williamson | Hurts Like the Devil ( Country Pop )
As one of the key lesbian singer-songwriters in the women's music movement of the 1970s, Cris Williamson co-founded a record label called Olivia Records. The intention of the label was to increase awareness of lesbian feminist causes and give gay women a voice that reflected their experiences. Olivia Records released Williamson's The Changer and the Changed in 1975, which became one of the best-selling independent releases of all time. "Hurts Like the Devil" is my favourite song from that album.
Patti Smith | Redondo Beach ( Reggae Rock )
Patti Smith used to introduce this song on-stage by announcing, "Redondo Beach is a beach where women love other women." As a result, many have interpreted the lyrics as being the lament of a lesbian whose girlfriend had committed suicide and was found washed up on a Los Angeles beach.
The Miracles | Ain't Nobody Straight in LA ( R&B )
Evidently, even in 1975 it sometimes felt as if everyone in LA was gay or bisexual. But sexual diversity and freedom of expression are things the Miracles seem to embrace rather than complain about in this song.
1976
Queen | Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy ( Pop Rock )
The songs Freddie Mercury wrote for Queen never directly dealt with LGBT themes. Even this song, which can be interpreted as an expression of love from the narrator to his lover boy, is more often interpreted as a dialogue between the narrator and his love interest (regardless of their gender). I'm choosing this song, though, because it just sounds and reads like his "gayest" song to me.
Peter Allen | I Go to Rio ( Pop )
Peter Allen publicly came out as gay a while after ending his marriage with *cough* many-a-gay-man-of-a-certain-age's-favourite-diva Liza Minnelli. Judged by the way he shakes those maracas in the video, it sure looks like it would've been fun going with him to Rio.
Rod Stewart | The Killing of Georgie ( Pop Rock )
The Rubettes | Under One Roof ( Pop Rock )
I'm bunching these two touching songs together because of a common theme: They were two of the first songs to deal with homophobia.
1977
Elton Motello | Jet Boy, Jet Girl ( Punk Rock )
A song about a 15-year-old boy's sexual relationship with an older man, who then rejects him for a girl.
Ultravox | Rockwrok ( New Wave, Post-Punk )
A punk song about wild sex, mostly of the gay kind, apparently.
Black Randy & The Metrosquad | Trouble at the Cup ( Punk Rock )
This band gained notoriety in the late 1970s and early 1980s for their surreal and smutty sense of humour, which included songs about gay prostitution. In this song they advocate fighting the police, describing a fantasy wherein the Hollywood Boulevard male prostitutes rise up and take violent revenge for the frequent police harassment they experience.
Judas Priest | Raw Deal ( Heavy Metal )
A song about the narrator's experience in a gay bar/club. It's also a kind of gay rights heavy metal song ("the true free expression I demand is human rights") … from 1977, long before lead singer Rob Halford came out as gay. Halford also introduced the gay leather-and-studs biker look to metal - bonus points to him for that.
Jacqueline Humbert | Androgyny ( Art Pop, Cabaret )
A song that is about both androgyny ("here's a woman in me, who's achin' to be / a little less she and a lot more of he") and bisexuality ("loving men is so fine, loving women, divine").
Metro | Criminal World ( Art Rock )
Another song with bisexual undertones.
Carl Bean | I Was Born This Way ( Disco, Philly Soul )
Some people who were around in the 1970s still seem to automatically equate gay music with disco. Although the LGBT scene embraced disco, not many disco performers were actually LGBT. However, there were some famous disco songs that were performed by artists who identified as gay or lesbian. This is one of them. And there are more coming up shortly in 1978.
1978
The Village People | Y.M.C.A. ( Disco )
Alicia Bridges | I Love the Nightlife ( Disco )
Sylvester | You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) ( Disco )
A few more true LGBT disco classics!
Buzzcocks | Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) ( Pop Punk, Punk Rock )
Bisexual lead singer and guitarist Pete Shelley revealed to the Outpunk fanzine that this song was about his feelings for a friend called Francis Cookson, who was in another band called the Tiller Boys with Shelley. Shelley fell in love with Cookson while the pair started living together.
Queen | Don't Stop Me Now ( Piano Rock, Progressive Pop )
Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, on the surface it's an empowering song about pursuing pleasure and living life to the full. But guitarist Brian May has said in an interview with Mojo that there was also an element of danger to the song as the band was worried that Mercury's hedonism at the time was becoming detrimental to his health and wellbeing - he was "taking lots of drugs and having sex with lots of men."
Tom Robinson Band | Glad to Be Gay ( Pop Rock )
The first time I saw the title, I thought it would be a 70s disco track. It turned out to be a 70s protest song.
Kate Bush | Kashka From Baghdad ( Art Pop )
A tender song about a romantic relationship between two men that is happening in secret. In the song, Kate Bush sings about how she hopes to find a similarly loving relationship with someone someday.
The Electric Chairs | Man Enough to Be a Woman ( Glam Rock )
The Electric Chairs were a glam punk band known for their campy, foul-mouthed songs. Vocalist Jayne County (then known as Wayne County) went on to become rock's first openly transgender singer. "Man Enough to Be a Woman" seems to have a protagonist at its centre who is fed up with hiding behind the "mask of masculinity" and dares people to be audacious enough to embrace their true gender identity.
1979
David Bowie | Boys Keep Swinging ( Art Rock )
There have been many interpretations of this song, but the interpretation that seems to appear most often is that it's a song about gender identity; specifically, it pokes fun at society's expectations of male masculinity... with a hint of homoeroticism thrown in for good measure.
Skatt Bros. | Walk the Night ( Disco )
Another gay disco track, albeit one with a darker, raunchier groove and S&M-themed lyrics.
Frank Zappa | Bobby Brown ( Pop Rock )
Speaking of S&M, this is a song about a misogynist who has some kind of disturbing sexual encounter with a lesbian and starts to question his sexuality. He then becomes a closeted gay man who describes himself as a "sexual spastic" and gets involved in golden showers and S&M.
Gina X Performance | No G.D.M. (Dedicated to Quentin Crisp) ( New Wave, Electro-Disco )
A song dedicated to Quentin Crisp, a raconteur who became a gay icon due to his flamboyant personality, fashion sense and wit.
1980
Diana Ross | I'm Coming Out ( Disco, Pop )
Songwriter (and co-founding member of Chic) Neil Rodgers got the idea for "I'm Coming Out" after noticing three drag queens dressed as Diana Ross at a New York club. So yes, the song was inspired by that kind of coming out.
Patrick Cowley | Mockingbird Dream ( Spacesynth )
This is the only piece of music on the list without any lyrics. Patrick Cowley was a gay man mostly known for his contribution to Hi-NRG dance music, but he also created pioneering electronic music with a more laid-back vibe that ended up being used in gay porn films in the 1980s. "Mockingbird Dream" was an example of this.
Pete Townshend | Rough Boys ( Pop Rock )
This solo track by the guitarist and songwriter from the Who appears to be about male punks and other guys at the time who behaved like they were all rough and tough, but in an interview with Newsweek, Townshend said that it was also written as a tribute to the gay friends he was surrounded by, and whom he occasionally felt attracted to.
Rough Trade | High School Confidential ( New Wave )
"High School Confidential" is considered to be one of the first explicitly lesbian-themed Top 40 hits in the world. The song's narrator is a student observing a sexy female classmate, whose activities suggest that she may be having sexual relations with adult men, including the high school principal. The narrator reveals her own unrequited lust for her classmate in lyrics like "She makes me cream my jeans when she comes my way".
1981
Soft Cell | Tainted Love ( Synthpop, New Wave )
This is a cover of a 1964 song by soul singer Gloria Jones. Lyrically, the song didn't have a LGBT theme, but Soft Cell's remake were perceived by many to have a queer quality due to the more erotically charged synthpop production and gay vocalist Marc Almond's delivery (although Almond wasn't openly gay at the time). Also, as AIDS began to spread, the song took on a new meaning. Almond said, "It was the first time we'd heard about this then-unnamed disease that was affecting gay men in America. It wasn't an intentional tie-in, but as the record hit the American charts, it took on this other meaning."
Elton John | Elton's Song ( Pop Rock )
Although Elton John sang about a gay character in 1973's "All the Girls Love Alice", this was the first song he sung from the perspective of a gay man. As the title implies, it was a very personal song for him.
Joan Armatrading | The Weakness in Me ( Singer-Songwriter, Pop )
Straight celebrities aren't usually asked to confirm their heterosexuality, yet when there are rumours about a celebrity being gay, lesbian or bisexual, the media hounds them. Despite having been in a long-term relationship with a woman, Joan Armatrading has been persistently reluctant to discuss her personal life (why should she if she doesn't want to?). That hasn't stopped this warm love song from becoming a firm lesbian favourite.
Grace Jones | Pull Up to the Bumper ( Dance-Pop, Synth Funk )
Speaking of questions being asked, many people in the LGBT community have been fascinated with Grace Jones's unique expression of femininity and masculinity, especially in the late 1970s and 1980s. This has led to some people questioning Jones’s sexuality and gender identity. About her sexuality, Jones has stated that labels are limiting because "anything is possible". And about her gender identity, she has referred to herself as being both outside of gender and as having two distinct selves. I've opted for "Pull Up to the Bumper" from Jones's catalogue - a song with lyrics that are often interpreted as a metaphor for anal sex.
Pete Shelley | Homosapien ( New Wave, Synthpop )
And speaking of anal sex, apparently this song was banned by the BBC for explicit lyrics like "homo superior / in my interior".
Boys Town Gang | Cruisin' the Streets ( Disco )
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts | Crimson and Clover ( Power Pop, Hard Rock )
Ferron | Ain't Life a Brook ( Singer-Songwriter )
1982
Culture Club | Do You Really Want to Hurt Me ( Pop, Pop Reggae )
The lyrics were written about Boy George's relationship with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss. They had an affair for about six years.
Joe Jackson | Real Men ( Singer-Songwriter, Art Pop )
Many of Joe Jackson's songs have interesting commentary on sexuality and gender. This one seems to be about the breaking down of traditional roles, and about the damaging effect of making clear distinctions between self and other.
Visage | Anvil (Night Club School) ( New Romantic, Synthpop )
Visage's album The Anvil was named after a gay New York nightclub, and this song sets out to capture the atmosphere of that nightclub. There's definitely a vibe of gay prowling while partying to early 80s synthpop.
The Passage | Xoyo ( Synthpop, New Wave )
A call for sexual liberation over a bouncy dance beat. "For any girl and girl, boy and boy, and boy and girl / forget about who and why and how and where and what you take".
The Psychedelic Furs | Love My Way ( New Wave )
Frontman Richard Butler explained in an interview with Creem that the song was addressed to "people who are fucked up about their sexuality", and that the message was that "they shouldn't worry about it".
Klaus Nomi | Simple Man ( Classical Crossover, New Wave )
Klaus Nomi was a gay countertenor noted for his wide vocal range, unusual costumes, and theatrical live performances. "Simple Man" is an apt example of how he applied elements of classical music into a pop context.
Maxx Mann & Paul Hamman | Leather Man ( New Wave )
MDC | Dead Cops - America's So Straight ( Hardcore Punk )
1983
The Smiths | This Charming Man ( Jangle Pop )
The LGBT content of the Smiths' lyrics is often presented in subtle ways. You'll probably need to read the lyrics to "This Charming Man" a couple of times to realise that the two male protagonists likely had a bit of action on the smooth leather of the passenger seat before talking about going out that evening, and about the disadvantages of getting married.
The Waterboys | A Girl Called Johnny ( Pop Rock )
There are many ways to interpret this song. And it's quite easy for me to get the interpretation that it could be about a girl who wants to be a boy, and who has to leave town to allow for the transition from girl to boy.
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto | Forbidden Colours ( Art Pop )
This song is the vocal version of the theme from the film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, and the title of the song is taken from Japanese writer Yukio Mishima's novel Forbidden Colors. Although the film and novel are not directly related, both works deal with repressing homosexual love for religious reasons.
Original Broadway Cast of La Cage aux Folles | We Are What We Are / I Am What I Am ( Musical Theatre )
La Cage aux Folles is a musical that focuses on a gay couple, one of whom is the manager of a nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and the other one is the main drag act at the nightclub. It may be a cliché to use phrases like "be true to yourself" or "don't let them get you down", but that's exactly the kind of positive sentiment that both "We Are What We Are" and "I Am What I Am" exude.
Bananarama | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye ( Pop )
Another cover version of a song where traditional notions of sexuality are ignored because of a refusal to change the pronouns used in the orginal song.
1984
Frankie Goes to Hollywood | Relax ( Pop )
A song about delaying sexual gratification to increase pleasure ("Relax, don't do it when you want to come"). It was probably not only written about gay sex, but the allusion to gay sex was obvious thanks to the original music video and the ads placed about the song in the British music press, which were accompanied by the phrase "All the nice boys like sea men".
Bronski Beat | Smalltown Boy ( Synthpop )
An upbeat synthpop song with lyrics about LGBT experiences in smalltown 1980s society that are the opposite of upbeat. Themes include family rejection, homophobia, bullying and loneliness.
The Replacements | Androgynous ( Pop Rock )
To me, it seems to be a song about how gender identity shouldn't matter when two people love each other, and about how gender will become more fluid and less binary in future (although some people seem to think it's a satirical song about androgyny).
The Smiths | William, It Was Really Nothing ( Jangle Pop )
This song chronicles a love triangle between two men and a woman.
Ken Laszlo | Hey Hey Guy ( Italo-Disco )
A song depicting a "love for hire" scenario between two men.
Divine | You Think You’re a Man ( Hi-NRG )
Harris Glenn Milstead was a performer mostly known for his appearances in cult films as female drag persona Divine. As Divine, Milstead also had a music career as a singer. On "You Think You're a Man" Divine berates a male lover for ending their romantic relationship.
1985
Book of Love | Boy ( Synthpop )
Book of Love were a band who weren't afraid to write lyrics dealing with sexual orientation and gender roles. Songwriter Ted Ottaviano said in an interview with Village Voice that "Boy" was written about Boy Bar, which was an exclusive gay club in the East Village of New York that often allowed only men to enter. The song describes the frustrations of a girl who has a crush on a boy who is gay.
Hüsker Dü | Green Eyes ( Post-Hardcore )
Considering that one of the three band members was gay and another one bisexual, it's maybe a little bit surprising that there's very little LGBT-related things going on in their lyrics (or maybe it's not that surprising if you keep in mind that LGBT themes were mostly frowned upon in 1985). Their love songs also tended to be ambiguous with gender-neutral pronouns being used. You have to search as deep as songs like "Green Eyes" for a hint at a possible LGBT interpretation.
The Smiths | The Boy With the Thorn in His Side ( Jangle Pop )
Morrissey has said that the thorn in the title refers to the music industry that treated him badly and wanted to get rid of him. But many people have interpreted the song as having a narrator who is gay and who has a strong desire for love, but lives in a society in the 1980s that doesn't believe in the existence of same-sex love. So the thorn in the narrator's side becomes a metaphor for the burden of being gay in an unsympathetic world.
1986
George Michael | A Different Corner ( Ambient Pop )
George Michael wrote this emotional song about heartbreak after a brief but intense relationship he had with a man had come to an end. He later explained in an interview with Gay Times, "It’s amazing how emotional you can get in a short period of time and how long it can last. Someone can really shake you up and it takes you a long time to get yourself back on your feet."
The Blow Monkeys | Digging Your Scene ( Sophisti-Pop, Pop Rock )
Another song where upbeat music is at odds with grim lyrics. This was one of the first songs that dealt with AIDS and the hatred and disgust that was directed at individuals who contracted the illness.
Martin Stephenson | Coleen ( Singer-Songwriter, Folk Pop )
A sweet song about a brother being supportive of his love-struck lesbian sister.
1987
Pet Shop Boys | It's a Sin ( Synthpop )
Vocalist and co-writer Neil Tennant has said that the song expressed his frustrations with his Catholic upbringing. He explained in an interview that "it always seemed to be taught that everything was a sin. Everything you wanted to do was a sin. And so I put that in a song." Because of an element of camp in the production and Tennant's vocal delivery (and because Tennant himself is gay) many people have interpreted the sin in the title as referring to homosexuality and the church's negative view of it.
Labi Siffre | (Something Inside) So Strong ( Pop, Soul )
An empowering song inspired by a TV documentary on apartheid in South Africa, but also influenced by Siffre's experiences as a gay man.
The Communards | For a Friend ( Pop )
This song was written in the memory of Mark Ashton, a gay rights activist and friend of the pop duo, who died of complications related to HIV/AIDS a few months before the song’s release.
1988
Erasure | A Little Respect ( Synthpop )
Reportedly, at live concerts lead singer Andy Bell sometimes referred to the song as having a personal, gay context. The song is sometimes interpreted as a plea for respect and acceptance, but it also has another universal theme about giving everything in a relationship and not getting much in return.
Billy Bragg | Tender Comrade ( Singer-Songwriter )
It goes without saying that it's not only LGBT people who fight for LGBT rights. Straight singer-songwriter Billy Bragg wrote this song about a romantic bond formed between two soldiers after he had participated in a LGBT-related protest in 1988.
1989
Indigo Girls | Closer to Fine ( Folk Pop )
This was the lesbian duo's first hit song, with a things will get better theme that many people who identify as LGBT can relate to. The song was written by band member Emily Sailers, who explained that "it's about being confused but looking for the answers, and in the end knowing that you're going to be fine."
The B-52's | Roam ( Pop Rock, New Wave )
Although B-52's songs don't necessarily deal directly with LGBT themes, four of the band's five original members identified as LGBT, and their kooky aesthetic combined with their surreal lyrics resonated with a queer audience. But the band never tried to hide their queerness. Band member Keith Strickland said in an interview, "We were just trying to be ourselves. Being gay was just a part of it. That’s really how we wanted the world to be." I'm selecting "Roam" from their discography as it's my favourite song of theirs and because of the implied meaning of freely exploring your sexuality. "Roam if you want to!"
1990
Madonna | Vogue ( Dance-Pop )
A song inspired by ball culture, an underground LGBT subculture that was popular in the US. Vogueing was a dance craze associated with ball culture. During the dance, elaborate hand gestures were used and the dancers frequently stopped to pose. It's also interpreted as a song about finding escape from the realities of the AIDS epidemic that burdened the gay community in America in the 1980s, as exemplified by the opening lyrics: "Look around, everywhere you turn is heartache."
Sinéad O'Connor | I Am Stretched on Your Grave ( Trip Hop, Alternative Dance )
"I Am Stretched on Your Grave" is a 17th-century Irish poem that was first released as a song by the band Scullion in 1979. The lyrics describe the narrator overcome with grief "for the girl that I loved as a child." Because O'Connor's cover doesn't change the gender of the narrator's deceased loved one, the song comes across as a tragic lesbian romance.
Pet Shop Boys | Being Boring ( Synthpop, Sophisti-Pop )
This song is a reflection on bygone youth in the face of the AIDS crisis. In an interview with ITV, songwriter and primary vocalist Neil Tennant said, "For me it is a personal song because it's about a friend of mine who died of AIDS, and so it's about our lives when we were teenagers and how we moved to London, and I suppose me becoming successful and him becoming ill."
1991
R.E.M. | Losing My Religion ( Pop Rock, Jangle Pop )
This one is often interpreted as a biographical account of Michael Stipe's struggles as a closeted gay man, particularly from the point of view of trying to make sense of (and questioning) your religion as a homosexual. I couldn't find any quotes by Stipe to support this interpretation. What I did find, though, was quotes by him stating that it's a song about unrequited love and obsession.
Army of Lovers | Crucified ( Europop, Dance-Pop )
It would be scandalous to exclude the biggest hit by this camp Swedish group!
1992
k.d. lang | Constant Craving ( Folk Pop, Singer-Songwriter )
This was lesbian icon k.d. lang's hit during the year she came out. To many people it sounds like a song about craving of a sensual nature, but k.d. lang herself has said that it's about saṃsāra, the repeating cycle of birth, life and death (reincarnation) within Buddhism and other religions.
Sophie B. Hawkins | Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover ( Pop Rock )
Another song about unrequited love, this time written about a woman by a woman.
Janis Ian | Ride Me Like a Wave ( Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Folk )
Although Janis Ian was outed as a lesbian in 1976 by the Village Voice, her sexuality was largely ignored until the release of her album Breaking Silence when Ian herself brought it to the forefront because of her concern with suicide rates among gay and lesbian teenagers. The sensual "Ride Me Like a Wave" is my favourite song from the album.
U2 | One ( Pop Rock )
At its heart, it seems to be a song about how people need to stand together despite their differences. There are various accounts of what the inspiration was behind the song, ranging from the reunification of Germany, to the band putting their differences aside to work together, to a conversation between an AIDS victim and his father. In an interview with Rolling Stone, songwriter and lead vocalist Bono confirmed that the song was partly intended to be a father-and-son story. He said, "I tried to write about someone I knew who was coming out and was afraid to tell his father. It's a religious father and son."
Ben Harper | Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now ( Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter )
Mama has had enough of Papa's bad ways and leaves him for a woman.
Jonathan Richman | I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar ( Pop Rock, Singer-Songwriter )
This song is about the singer enjoying the liberating feeling of dancing freely in a lesbian bar as opposed to the controlled, self-conscious dancing in the straight bar he had visited before.
1993
Suede | Animal Nitrate ( Britpop, Glam Rock )
The title is a play on the drug amyl nitrite, and the repeated mention in the lyrics of being turned on has made many people think that it's a euphoric song about uninhibited, drug-fuelled sex. Drugs and sex are involved, but if you read the lyrics properly there's not much euphoria in the song's portrayal of domestic violence in a gay relationship and the emotional consequences of it.
Pet Shop Boys | Can You Forgive Her? ( Synthpop, Dance-Pop )
A song about a man who is in a relationship with a woman but is (also?) attracted to men. The woman is aware of this and humiliates him, adding to his feelings of unease.
Melissa Etheridge | Come to My Window ( Pop Rock )
This was Melissa Etheridge's first single after coming out as lesbian. The song implicitly alludes to her sexual orientation and evokes a sense of activism with lyrics like "I don't care what they think / I don't care what they say / What do they know about this love anyway?"
Bikini Kill | Rebel Girl ( Riot Grrrl, Punk Rock )
It's a song about a girl's unconditional love for (and slight obsession with) her best friend, who is lesbian. This is only one example of a song with a lesbian bend from riot grrrl, an underground feminist punk rock movement that started in the early 90s.
Living Colour | Bi ( Hard Rock )
Discussing the song in an interview with BOMB Magazine, guitarist and co-writer Vernon Reid said, "It’s looking at the whole idea of being yourself. Sexuality is looked at as so polar: straight or gay. You’re in one camp or you’re in the other camp. There are so many shades of gray in between. When you come to someone who’s bisexual, their desire cuts both ways, they’re not uncomfortable in either situation."
The Lemonheads | Big Gay Heart ( Country Rock )
There are various ways to interpret this song. I can buy into the interpretation that it might be about a relationship between a more feminine gay man and a self-hating, abusive, closeted gay man. To me, it mostly has a kind of pro-acceptance, anti-bullying feel to it. In the text of the CD copies of Come On Feel the Lemonheads, under the title of the song it says "against violence".
1994
Blur | Girls & Boys ( Britpop )
Who knows what's going on in that chorus. I've come across bisexual forums where it’s hailed as a classic about bisexual fun or experimentation on holidays, and I've seen posts in transgender forums where it's praised for its flexible, fluid depiction of gender roles in sex acts. Either way, it can clearly be interpreted as a song about freedom of sexual preference and expression.
Bruce Springsteen | Streets of Philadelphia ( Pop Rock, Singer-Songwriter )
This was of course the main single from the film Philadelphia. While doing research about the song, I came across some impassioned comments regarding the song's emotional resonance from people who had lost loved ones, family and friends to AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s; comments about the discrimination against gay people who had the disease, about confusion and pain, and about watching the people you care for waste away while nobody else seemed to care.
Green Day | Coming Clean ( Pop Punk )
The band's lead vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong, has said that this is about his coming out as bisexual.
Chumbawamba | Homophobia ( Dance-Pop )
Throughout their career, the band Chumbawamba regularly spoke out about inequalities faced by the LGBT community. The music in this song may be cheerful but the lyrics are hard-hitting. According to the album liner notes, "Homophobia" is "the true tale of a young gay man who was kicked to death outside a toilet".
1995
Team Dresch | Fagetarian and Dyke ( Queercore )
Queercore is a genre that has its roots in punk music and alternative rock, but with lyrics that explore themes of oppression, prejudice and same-sex attraction, and with a spirit that refuses to cave in to the moral majority's definitions of what is right and natural. Team Dresch is one of the genre's key bands.
Sta-Prest | Double Your Chances ( Queercore )
Another queercore band. This song is about doubling your chances for a date as a bisexual.
Underworld | Born Slippy .NUXX ( Tech Trance )
Althought the main theme isn't LGBT-specific (it's a frenetic song about alcoholism) there's a lot of androgyny going on in the lyrics.
Jill Sobule | I Kissed a Girl ( Folk Pop )
Same title, but not the same song as the Katy Perry one. Also, unlike the Katy Perry song, it's not merely about experimenting; it's about feeling a romantic connection with the girl she kissed.
Tracy Chapman | The Promise ( Singer-Songwriter, Folk )
Another artist who prefers to separate her personal life from her professional life. As far as I can tell, Chapman has never disclosed her sexual orientation but has dated women and her music is loved by many lesbians. This is a song of hers that I've seen on a number of lesbian-related lists (particularly lists about lesbian love songs).
1996
Meshell Ndegeocello | Leviticus: Faggot ( Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B )
Bisexual artist Meshell Ndegeocello often infuses her songs with social commentary. In this song, she describes a man who is rejected by his devout mother because she doesn't approve of his gay lifestyle.
Belle and Sebastian | She's Losing It ( Indie Pop )
You wouldn't think so when you listen to the sunny melody, but this seems to be about a girl who has been abused and then starts a relationship with another girl, but struggles to hold herself together.
Placebo | Nancy Boy ( Alternative Rock )
On the surface, it appears to be about a thrill-seeking nancy boy (effeminate man). But band member Brian Molko has said that the song is also an observation of certain people's reasons for sleeping with someone of the same sex, especially people who do it because they think it's hip or cool.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | Stagger Lee ( Alternative Rock, Dark Cabaret )
A song about that bad motherfucker Stagger Lee and his bisexual tendencies. The song was inspired by the popular American folk song with the same title.
Weezer | Pink Triangle ( Alternative Rock, Power Pop )
A song about a boy who falls for a girl who is lesbian.
1997
Sleater-Kinney | One More Hour ( Indie Rock )
Female band mates Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker dated when Sleater-Kinney was formed, and this song is about their breakup.
White Town | Your Woman ( Pop, Indietronica )
White Town's sole band member, Jyoti Prakash Mishra, has stated that the lyrics could be read from the perspective of a girl who is in love with a guy who is "a lying, two-timing, fake-arse Marxist". But he added that he also intended the lyrics to be read from the perspective of a gay guy who is in love with a straight guy.
Janet Jackson | Together Again ( Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B )
Janet Jackson | Free Xone ( New Jack Swing )
Two songs from Janet Jackson's album The Velvet Rope. "Together Again" was a dedication to all of the friends and colleagues she lost to AIDS, while "Free Xone" was about freeing yourself from homophobia and being with whomever you want to be without feeling shame.
Of Montreal | Tim I Wish You Were Born a Girl ( Indie Pop )
Blurring the boundary between bromance and romance.
Ocean Colour Scene feat. P.P. Arnold | It's a Beautiful Thing ( Folk Pop )
A song about frontman Simon Fowler's struggle to accept his homosexuality ("Oh it's a beautiful thing / Oh it's a terrible thing").
Cyndi Lauper | Ballad Of Cleo & Joe ( Alternative Dance )
RuPaul | A Little Bit of Love ( Eurodance )
1998
George Michael | Outside ( Dance-Pop )
It was George Michael's first single after being arrested for trying to get it on with an undercover policeman in a public toilet. Hey, some people find lovemaking behind closed doors a bit boring and are more excited by an alfresco sex life.
Rufus Wainwright | In My Arms ( Singer-Songwriter, Folk Pop )
Rufus Wainwright wrote this song when he was hanging out a lot in bars in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. He had a brief relationship with a guy he'd met at the time. Even though the relationship didn't last very long, he clearly felt a deep enough connection to write such an impassioned song about wanting him in his arms.
Tori Amos | Raspberry Swirl ( Art Pop, Dance-Pop )
A song about Tori Amos's experiences of being in love with some of her women friends, and also a kind of defiant response to previous relationships with men.
Ani DiFranco | Two Little Girls ( Indie Folk )
Bisexual singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco wrote this song about the aftermath of a dissolved relationship with a woman. In the song, the ex-girlfriend gets into an unhealthy relationship with another woman and starts doing hard drugs. It culminates in her standing over her ex, who is slumped on the bathroom floor, and she doesn't know how to help her.
Terrorvision | Josephine ( Alternative Rock )
The male protagonist in the song has a friend called Joe, who later becomes a trans woman called Josephine. It takes him a while to get used to it, but then he falls in love with her.
1999
The Magnetic Fields | Underwear ( Indie Pop )
The Magnetic Fields | When My Boy Walks Down the Street ( Indie Pop, Indie Rock )
These are two tracks from the group's album 69 Love Songs. Primary songwriter and vocalist Stephin Merritt is gay, and many of the songs have gay or bisexual undertones. It's not always that easy to tell, though, as the gender roles portrayed in the songs are sometimes neutral or atypical. For example, the song "Papa Was a Rodeo" is often interpreted as a gay-themed song, but the person called Mike that the singer communicates with in the song turns out to be a woman. I've selected a song that is more obviously bisexual-themed ("Underwear") as well as a song that appears gay-themed but where the gender roles are atypical again ("When My Boy Walks Down the Street").
Skunk Anansie | Secretly ( Alternative Rock )
Bisexual lead singer Skin has a vocal style that can alternate between being powerful and subtle, as can be heard on "Secretly", a song in which the narrator is having a secret affair with a closeted bisexual woman.
2000
Melissa Ferrick | Drive ( Pop Rock, Singer-songwriter )
A rather steamy song by this lesbian singer-songwriter.
2001
Garbage | Cherry Lips ( Pop Rock, Electropop )
Garbage | Androgyny ( Pop Rock, Alternative Dance )
Two tracks from the band's album Beautiful Garbage. "Cherry Lips" is a song inspired by JT LeRoy, a literary persona who was transgender and a truck stop prostitute from a young age. About "Androgyny", singer Shirley Manson said, "So proud we were ahead of the curve in encouraging the mainstream acknowledgement of non-binary gender and sexual identities. We also fully support the LGBTQIA community. Always have. Always will."
Le Tigre | Keep On Livin' ( Dance Punk, Indietronica )
Band member Kathleen Hanna started writing this song about her traumatic memories of sexual abuse. Fellow band member JD Samson read the verses that were written up to that point and saw a link between the lyrics and what she felt when she tried to come out as lesbian, and they finished writing the song together.
Rufus Wainwright | Greek Song ( Chamber Pop )
This song is about a guy Rufus Wainwright met in Greece. Under the warm Mediterranean sun, a chemistry developed between the two of them. But the guy had a girlfriend, and when Wainwright leaned in a for a kiss the guy freaked out and responded aggressively.
2002
Junior Senior | Chicks and Dicks ( Alternative Dance )
A pop duo consisting of one gay member and one straight one. It starts off as a song about… well… one of them liking girls and the other one liking boys, but by the end of the song it seems like anything or anyone will do.
t.A.T.u. | All the Things She Said ( Pop/Rock, Electropop )
The duo has been criticised for only acting as lesbians to generate media attention. Nonetheless, the song clearly has a LGBT theme of two women trying to make sense of their romantic feelings for each other.
Bright Eyes | Lover I Don’t Have to Love ( Indie Rock )
This song has been interpreted in various ways. The interpretation that makes most sense to me is that it's about a drug-addicted guy who oscillates between needing love that is meaningful and interactions that are primal and meaningless. And he doesn't seem to care if it's with a girl or a boy.
2003
Rufus Wainwright | 14th Street ( Chamber Pop )
I seem to regularly change my mind about what my favourite song is by gay singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. At the moment it's this one. I have a soft spot for songs that have melancholic lyrics but a happy tune. So despite the lyrics "But why'd you have to break all my heart / Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it" I can't help but feel a sense of joy because of the rousing music.
The Knife | Pass This On ( Electropop )
Vocalist and co-writer Karin Dreijer (a.k.a. Fever Ray) has referred to themself as queer and genderfluid. "Pass This On" paints a picture of desire, but there seems to be something unusual about the situation in which this desire takes place. The hints at bisexuality as well as the music video, which features a drag queen performing the song at a local football club meeting, add to the intrigue the song creates around queer sexuality.
Peaches | I U She ( Electro-Techno )
She doesn't have to make a choice: she likes girls and she likes boys. And come on, let's add some "whips, crops, canes, whatever".
Electric Six | Gay Bar ( Dance Rock )
Totally silly, but fun.
John Tartaglia & Rick Lyon | If You Were Gay ( Musical Theatre )
This is from the musical Avenue Q. In the song, a straight puppet tries to help another puppet (who is a friend of his) to accept that he is gay.
The Decemberists | The Soldiering Life ( Indie Pop, Indie Folk )
A second song (the other one being Billy Bragg's "Tender Comrade" from 1988) that is about a relationship nurtured between two men on the battlefield.
The Hidden Cameras | The Man That I Am with My Man ( Chamber Pop )
Despite the raunchy sex references, this is actually a heart-warming song about a guy feeling totally at ease with his boyfriend.
2004
Scissor Sisters | Take Your Mama ( Pop Rock )
Scissor Sisters | Filthy / Gorgeous ( Electropop )
The band took their name from the lesbian sex act called scissoring. "Take Your Mama" is about frontman Jake Shears' coming out to his mother as gay and trying to explain to her what it's all about, while "Filthy / Gorgeous" is about the gay kink/fetish club scene at the time.
Franz Ferdinand | Michael ( Rock, Post-Punk Revival )
This one is about a guy in a club who is attracted to another guy who is a good dancer.
The Ditty Bops | There's a Girl ( Indie Pop, Folk Pop )
A song about a secret relationship between two women.
Xiu Xiu | I Luv the Valley OH! ( Experimental Rock, Art Pop )
Founding band member Jamie Stewart identifies and bisexual and queer. The band has an experimental sound and the lyrics are often hard-hitting. Their most popular song "I Luv the Valley OH!" vividly refers to Steward's family history of depression, abuse and mental health issues.
2005
Antony and the Johnsons | For Today I Am a Boy ( Chamber Pop )
Antony and the Johnsons | Hope There's Someone ( Chamber Pop )
Band leader Anohni is transgender and uses the pronouns she/her. "For Today I Am a Boy" is about a trans girl still living in a boy's body, looking forward to becoming a beautiful woman one day, and the band's most famous song "Hope There's Someone" poignantly describes a longing to not die alone.
Sufjan Stevens | The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us! ( Chamber Folk )
I've come across various interpretations of this song. Sufjan Stevens has said that the song is based on an experience with a friend at summer camp, where they invented a predatory wasp/bird creature to scare each other. So the interpretation that makes most sense to me is that the majority of the song is about two boys at summer camp who have an innocent yet strongly felt crush on each other, and in the last verse the (then more mature) narrator remembers the terrible sting he felt when his friend ran away.
2006
The Gossip | Standing in the Way of Control ( Dance Rock, Garage Punk )
This song was written by lesbian frontwoman Beth Ditto as a response to the US government's stance on same-sex marriage during George W. Bush's presidency. Fortunately, things have changed since 2006. Same-sex marriage is now legal in the US.
Willie Nelson | Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other ( Country )
A rare LGBT-themed song in the genre of country music. The song was originally released by Ned Sublette in 1981, but I prefer this 2006 version by Willie Nelson.
Mika | Billy Brown ( Pop )
It was all going according to plan for Billy Brown: he had a wife, two kids and a dog. Then he fell in love with another man.
The Shins | Phantom Limb ( Indie Pop )
Songwriter and lead singer James Mercer has described this song as "a hypothetical, fictional account of a young, lesbian couple in high school dealing with the shitty small town they live in."
Grizzly Bear | Plans ( Indie Folk, Chamber Pop )
The band wasn't actually named after the furry North American animal; it was named after the nickname band member Ed Droste had for an ex-boyfriend. Understandably, the band doesn't like to be referred to as a queer band considering that only one of the band members is gay. But some of their songs have a subtle queer bend, like this one about Juan from Argentina.
2007
Bloc Party | I Still Remember ( Pop Rock, Post-Punk Revival )
Ah, the regret of not taking action when you knew there was chemistry between you and someone. Frontman Kele Okereke has told The Observer that this song was inspired by observations he made in high school - observations about unspoken desires between boys who were not necessarily gay. He said in the interview that he could see it "in the way that guys would need to be touching other guys. You could see there was something they couldn't say aloud."
Jens Lekman | A Postcard to Nina ( Indie Pop, Chamber Pop )
We had a supportive brother to a lesbian sister in Martin Stephenson's "Coleen" from 1986. This time round it's Jens Lekman being supportive of his lesbian friend, whose Catholic father wouldn't understand her sexuality.
Original Broadway Cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical | There! Right There! (Gay or European) ( Musical Theatre )
Some over-the-top stereotyping going on here, but it's quite funny.
2008
Black Kids | I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You ( Indie Pop, New Wave )
This song is sung from the perspective of a girl who has a crush on another girl and therefore doesn't want to teach this other girl's boyfriend how to dance with her.
La Roux | Quicksand ( Electropop )
The act's vocalist Elly Jackson identifies as gay but rejects labels. "Quicksand" is a song about romantic yearning. In an interview with the London Paper, Jackson said, "It's about having an intense moment with someone, when maybe you're watching a film or listening to music, and both of you are yearning for the other one, and it's almost painful to sit next to them."
Katy Perry | I Kissed a Girl ( Pop Rock )
Katy Perry has described her sexuality as fluid. "I Kissed a Girl" is about bisexual experimentation.
2009
Jordaan Mason & The Horse Museum | 1990 Was a Long Year and We Are All Out of Hot Water Now ( Indie Folk )
This is the final track from the album Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head, which was written by non-binary artist Jordaan Mason. It's a concept album about the struggling relationship between two people who are both figuring out their gender and sexual identities. By the time this song appears, the relationship has failed. But despite the unhappy ending, the album has been praised for its realistic depiction of gender dysphoria and the effects it can have on a relationship.
The Radio Dept. | David ( Indie Pop, Shoegaze )
In this song, the narrator seems to be in love with a beautiful man named David, but David has been struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality for many years.
2010
John Grant | Caramel ( Singer-Songwriter )
This is one of my favourite gay love songs (especially this live version with just John Grant and his piano).
The Irrepressibles | In This Shirt ( Chamber Pop, Art Pop )
Jamie McDermott, the collective's singer and composer, is often compared with Anohni and Rufus Wainwright, both because of similarities in vocal style and because of unapologetically singing about LGBT themes. "In This Shirt", a song that expresses an inability to get over a relationship that has ended, is a lovely example of McDermott's talents as a singer and songwriter.
Vampire Weekend | Diplomat's Son ( Indie Pop, Dancehall )
In an interview with Out magazine, gay band member and co-writer of this song, Rostam Batmanglij, described it as "a six-minute dancehall song about a gay relationship", and said that he liked the idea of just sitting back and seeing how listeners interpret it.
Sufjan Stevens | Futile Devices ( Folktronica )
The narrator in this song has a strong affection for another guy, but he seems to be unsure if the love he feels is familial, platonic, or romantic.
Owen Pallett | Lewis Takes Off His Shirt ( Indietronica, Chamber Pop )
Owen Pallett has made interesting contributions to music both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other artists. It was difficult to decide which song of his to pick, but in the end I went with the song that most people who have heard of Owen Pallett would probably know.
Jónsi | Sinking Friendships ( Art Pop )
Jónsi is the vocalist and guitarist from the band Sigur Rós. This song is from his solo album Go. He explained to The Independent that the song was about growing up gay in Iceland without knowing many other gay people and falling in love with his straight friends all the time. He added: "That made for lots of... drama, a lot of awkwardness, and so much misunderstanding. I had to apologise a lot."
2011
Azealia Banks | 212 ( Hip House )
Straight-talking Azealia Banks identifies as bisexual. This song was released before she came out. But her bisexuality probably wouldn't have come as a major surprise to anyone who paid attention to lyrics like: "Kick it with ya bitch that come from Parisian / She know where I get mine from, end of season / Now she wanna lick my plum in the evening / And fit that tongue-tongue d-deep in / I guess that cunt gettin eaten."
Lady Gaga | Born This Way ( Dance-Pop )
Lady Gaga | Americano ( Electropop, Latin Pop )
Two songs from Lady Gaga's album Born This Way. The title track is about being born the way you are and is undoubtedly a tribute to Lady Gaga's huge number of LGBT fans. "Americano" is a dance song with Latin influences that portrays a lesbian love story.
Patrick Wolf | Bermondsey Street ( Pop Rock )
In this song, the same simple love story is told twice, first as a story between a guy and a girl, and later as a story between two guys. Patrick Wolf has explained that the intention is "for the straight couple to realize that the gay couple are experiencing the same emotion of love, but that it just happens to be between the same sex."
Atlas Sound | Parallax ( Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Pop )
The words "asexual", "gay" and "queer" have all been used (even by himself) to describe Bradford Cox's sexuality. I get the impression he doesn’t feel comfortable with slapping a label on it. Cox is the lead singer and guitarist of Deerhunter but has also pursued a solo career as Atlas Sound. The song I've chosen is the title track from Atlas Sound's album Parallax, a song that appears to be describing a turbulent relationship with a man.
Deep Dark Robot | No One Wakes Me Up Like You ( Indie Rock )
Lead vocalist and songwriter Linda Perry has written songs for many famous artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Adele and Alicia Keys. But she performs this track herself. It's from the album 8 Songs About a Girl, which is a concept album that tells the story of Perry's relationship with a woman who broke her heart.
Hunx and His Punx | Lovers Lane ( Garage Rock, Girl Group )
Well, it's really more like Hunx and His Punkettes as gay artist Hunx (real name Seth Bogart) is joined here by an all-girl backing band to perform this lusty song about a boy taking another boy to Lovers Lane, his favourite place in town.
2012
Frank Ocean | Forrest Gump ( Neo-Soul )
Frank Ocean | Bad Religion ( Contemporary R&B )
The media certainly made a big deal out of it when Frank Ocean revealed that he had been in relationships with both men and women. It gave the song "Thinkin Bout You" a different dimension, but I'm going with two more obviously LGBT-themed songs from his album Channel Orange: the playful "Forrest Gump" (which served as a metaphor for the feelings he still harboured for the first man he loved) and the emotionally raw "Bad Religion".
The Irrepressibles | Two Men in Love ( Chamber Pop )
The Irrepressibles | Arrow ( Chamber Pop )
Two more gorgeous gay love songs by The Irrepressibles.
Zebra Katz feat. Njena Reddd Foxxx | Ima Read ( Hip House )
The word "read" in the title is about education/educating, but it's also a homage to the 1980s ballroom scene of New York (see Madonna's "Vogue" from 1990). In the ballroom scene context, "read" means to cut someone down to size. Katz has a clear message for the homophobes: "I'm a read that bitch / I'm a school that bitch / I'm a take that bitch to college / I'm a give that bitch some knowledge."
Mykki Blanco | Wavvy ( Hip Hop )
Mykki Blanco is the female alter ego of transgender rapper Michael David Quattlebaum. The word wavvy usually means a state of drunkenness somewhere between tipsy and wasted, but in the music video wavvy is a drug. If you like good hip hop, you won't need alcohol or drugs to get excited by the sharp delivery and equally sharp synths.
Le1f | Wut ( Hip Hop )
As is evident in the enjoyable music video of "Wut", gay rapper Le1f is not afraid to engage in some flamboyant posing, dropping and twerking. Fortunately, the quick-fire flow, the looping horn sample and the bass give the song itself as much personality as the video.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert | Same Love ( Pop Rap )
A pro-LGBT rights song that was unofficially adopted as an anthem by many supporters of same-sex marriage in the US. Straight rapper Macklemore has explained that the song was also inspired by his frustration with hip hop's view of homosexuality.
2013
Kacey Musgraves | Follow Your Arrow ( Country Pop )
In this song, Kacey Musgraves pokes fun at society's double standards and encourages people to do what they want and be true to their sexuality ("Kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls, if that's something you're into").
Arcade Fire | We Exist ( Alternative Dance, Indie Rock )
This song has been described by lead singer Win Butler as being about a gay kid coming out to his straight dad. The video, featuring Andrew Garfield, portrays the song as a person's struggle with gender identity.
Hozier | Take Me to Church ( Chamber Pop )
Hozier wrote this song after a bad breakup with his girlfriend. But he has explained in interviews that the song was also inspired by his frustrations with the Catholic Church, including the way it teaches shame about sexual orientation. He has said that "sex and humanity are incredibly tied. Sexuality — regardless of orientation — is just natural." The music video for the song depicts a gay couple being subjected to a violent homophobic attack.
Goldfrapp | Annabel ( Chamber Pop, Chamber Folk )
This is a song about a man or boy who dreams of being Annabel and who is probably bigender ("why they couldn't let you be both").
Cakes da Killa | Goodie Goodies ( Hip Hop, Hip House )
Cakes da Killa, also known as Rashard Bradshaw, is another refreshingly flamboyant rapper, but with plenty of bounce and swagger. And his lyrics are pretty raunchy. Don't underestimate the power of his goodie goodies.
Willam Belli feat. Detox & Vicky Vox | Boy Is a Bottom ( Musical Parody, Pop )
Speaking of raunchy lyrics, this list wouldn't be complete without a bit of light-hearted vulgarity from a drag act. Although the idea that every gay (or bisexual) man has to be either a "top" or a "bottom" is another misconception (many gay men are a bit of both, and some gay men don't have anal sex at all), the top-bottom thing can be a humorous, frivolous topic, like in this song.
Panic! At The Disco | Girls/Girls/Boys ( Pop Rock, Electropop )
Julia Weldon | All I Gave Her ( Indie Pop, Singer/Songwriter )
Devendra Banhart | Daniel ( Indie Folk, Singer-Songwriter )
Studio Killers | Jenny ( Dance-Pop )
Sara Bareilles | Brave ( Pop )
Mary Lambert | She Keeps Me Warm ( Singer-Songwriter, Pop Rock )
Steve Grand | All-American Boy ( Contemporary Country )
2014
Against Me! | Transgender Dysphoria Blues ( Punk Rock )
Against Me! | True Trans Soul Rebel ( Punk Rock )
Laura Jane Grace is a trans woman who is the founder, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of Against Me! "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" is about Grace's strong discontent with the sex she was born with and her physical appearance as a trans woman. About "Trans Soul Rebel", Grace told Elle, "To me, this song is coming from the darkest of places, questioning whether even God has love for a transsexual soul when the overwhelming majority of societies in the world see trans people as disgusting, sick, or diseased."
Perfume Genius | Queen ( Art Pop )
In this slightly avant-garde gay anthem, Perfume Genius (real name Mike Hadreas) declares himself queen and questions the perception that gay otherness threatens family values (“No family is safe when I sashay”).
St. Vincent | Prince Johnny ( Art Pop )
St. Vincent (real name Annie Clark) has stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that she believes "in gender fluidity and sexual fluidity. I don't really identify as anything. I think you can fall in love with anybody." She told NME that "Prince Johnny" is a "love letter to a tragic character and the New York downtown freak, weirdo, queer scene."
Hercules and Love Affair feat. John Grant | I Try to Talk to You ( House, Electro-Disco )
Hercules and Love Affair was formed by gay musician Andy Butler. Butler collaborated with John Grant on this song. Grant wrote lyrics about becoming HIV positive and how it affected him. He said in an interview with Mojo, "The lyric is an inner dialogue; why couldn't I love myself more? There are many gay men like me who feel ashamed, dirty and unlovable because of it, and I want them to know they have someone on stage that's dealing with this too."
Courtney Barnett | Pickles from the Jar ( Indie Rock, Singer-Songwriter )
This song is about Barnett's relationship with her then-partner Jen Cloher.
Sam Smith | Stay with Me ( Pop Soul )
Sam Smith identifies as non-binary. Smith has said that this song (and most of their album In the Lonely Hour) was inspired by a complex relationship with a straight guy they fell in love with, but who couldn’t love them back the same way.
Toya Delazy | Forbidden Fruit ( Hip House, Contemporary R&B )
Even though South Africa is the only country in Africa where LGBT people have pretty much the same rights as heterosexual people, beyond the country's major cities the view still prevails that homosexuality is “un-African” or “un-Christian”. It is therefore a breath of fresh air to have a popular (lesbian) South African performer like Toya Delazy challenge that view.
Kadie Elder | First Time He Kissed a Boy ( Synthpop, Indie Pop )
Conchita Wurst | Rise Like a Phoenix ( Pop )
2015
Shamir | Call It Off ( Synthpop, Electro-Disco )
Shamir identifies as androgynous and genderqueer, and said in an interview with Out that "I don't identify as gay because I don't identify as male or female". This song is about the relief that is felt after ending relationships or experiences that are bad for us.
Years & Years | King ( Dance-Pop, Synthpop )
Like many other songs by this synthpop trio, "King" is inspired by gay frontman Olly Alexander's past relationships.
Declan McKenna | Paracetamol ( Indie Pop )
This song was inspired by transgender teen Leelah Alcorn, who committed suicide after she had been rejected by her mother and had been compelled to undergo transgender conversion therapy. Declan McKenna felt sickened by the sensational media coverage of the story. In an interview with the Guardian, McKenna explained that he wrote "Paracetamol" from the perspective of an "authoritative figure, talking about somebody they are oppressing, in a sort of disconnected tabloid speak" in an attempt to demonstrate how harmful that kind of media coverage can be.
Villagers | Hot Scary Summer (Indie Folk)
This wistful song describes a same-sex couple on the verge of breaking up.
Cavetown | This Is Home ( Indie Folk )
Singer-songwriter and YouTube star Cavetown (real name Robin Skinner) is transgender and has stated that they are aromantic asexual. "This Is Home" describes their anxiety about not being able to fall in love as well as their experience of gender dysphoria.
The Internet feat. KAYTRANADA | Girl ( Alternative R&B )
The Internet is fronted by lesbian DJ/MC Syd Tha Kyd, and in the song she sings about wanting to be the object of affection of a girl she likes.
Holly Miranda | All I Want Is to Be Your Girl ( Indie Pop, Singer-Songwriter )
Another song with a female protagonist telling a woman that she wants to be her girl.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Multi-Love ( Psychedelic Pop )
Who Is Fancy feat. Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande | Boys Like You ( Pop )
2016
Sia | The Greatest ( Dance-Pop, Electropop )
The song (and music video) is a tribute to the victims of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando in the USA in June 2016. It celebrates the spirit of being defiant and trying to be the best you can be in the face of adversity, which is something the LGBT community have managed to do for many decades.
Blood Orange | Augustine ( Alternative R&B, Synthpop )
Speaking of the Orlando shooting, "Augustine" and the album it comes from (Freetown Sound) was released in the aftermath of that shooting. Blood Orange (also known as Dev Hynes) dedicated the album to the marginalised in society and said that the album is for everyone who’s “not black enough, too black, too queer, not queer the right way”.
Tegan and Sara | Boyfriend ( Electropop, Synthpop )
Tegan and Sara are identical twins who both happen to be lesbian. The song “Boyfriend” was inspired by a former girlfriend of Sara’s. This girlfriend had never been with another woman before and was also seeing a guy from time to time. Sara felt that she was being treated like a boyfriend and wanted to make their relationship official, but realised that her girlfriend wasn’t ready for that.
Japanese Breakfast | Everybody Wants to Love You ( Indie Pop )
Band leader Michelle Zauner has said that she wrote this song for a woman she had a relationship with, but the women had no idea that she wrote it for her.
Jenny Hval | Female Vampire ( Art Pop )
Jenny Hval has described herself as being outside the gender binary. On "Female Vampire" a fictional time-travelling vampire looks for fresh blood on the dancefloor, and expected gender roles are questioned and blurred.
Shura | What’s It Gonna Be? ( Synthpop, Dance-Pop )
Kaytranada | Lite Spots ( Alternative R&B, Funky House )
2017
The xx | I Dare You ( Indietronica, Dream Pop )
Co-leads Madley Croft and Oliver Sim both identify as gay. On "I Dare You" Croft and Sim explore feelings of being infatuated with someone.
Julien Baker | Appointments ( Singer-Songwriter, Slowcore )
This song by lesbian singer and guitarist Julien Baker likely describes the difficulties of being in a relationship while having mental health issues ("Appointments" in the title and lyrics presumably refers to appointments with a doctor or psychiatrist). And it's about holding on to hope under such difficult circumstances ("Maybe it's all gonna turn out all right / Oh, I know that it's not, but I have to believe that it is").
Orville Peck | Dead of Night ( Alt-Country )
Gay country musician Orville Peck told The Boot that this song is about unrequited love. As the narrator in the song sees other boys walk past him, he remembers with both joy and sadness the time he spent with his love interest in the desert and towns of Nevada.
Big Thief | Pretty Things ( Indie Folk )
Quite a few of the songs written by vocalist and guitarist Adrianne Lenker reflect on gender fluidity. In an interview with The Brag, Lenker said, "I feel within myself a constant dialogue between my masculinity, my femininity and the part of me that is neither of those things." The song "Pretty Things" is an apt example of how Lenker challenges preconceived notions of gender.
MUNA | Crying on the Bathroom Floor ( Synthpop )
MUNA is an electronic pop group consisting of three women who all identify as queer. The band has said that they wanted the lyrics to "Crying on the Bathroom Floor" to be about "the concept of traumatic bonding". Traumatic bonding refers to the phenomenon of survivors in abusive relationships forming strong attachments to their abusers.
Halsey feat. Lauren Jauregui | Strangers ( Synthpop, Electropop )
Both Halsey and Lauren Jauregui identify as bisexual, and this song is overtly about a relationship between two women. Halsey has said "I just love that Lauren and I are two women who have a mainstream pop presence doing a love song for the LGBT community, it's unheard of. It's very rare to see it from a female perspective."
Fischerspooner | Have Fun Tonight ( Electropop )
This song is another throwback to the 1980s. One half of the duo, Casey Spooner, has said that he wanted the song (as well as the album it comes from) to be "unabashedly homosexual". It's obviously a song about having a fun evening, but it's probably also about open relationships ("I want to hold you near / Now go have fun without me / You know that I'll be here").
Perfume Genius | Slip Away ( Art Pop )
Leon Else | What I Won't Do ( Synthpop, Electropop )
Hayley Kiyoko | Feelings ( Electropop, Dance-Pop )
Frank Ocean | Chanel ( Alternative R&B )
First Hate | The One ( Synthpop, Dance-Pop )
Sakima | Daddy ( Electropop, Alternative R&B )
Girl in Red | I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend ( Indie Pop )
Marika Hackman | Boyfriend ( Indie Rock )
Sufjan Stevens | Mystery of Love ( Indie Folk )
Alex G | Bobby ( Indie Folk )
Cub Sport | O Lord ( Indie Pop, Gospel )
Chastity Brown | Whisper ( Pop Soul )
Parson James | Only You ( Pop Soul )
Kehlani | Honey ( Contemporary R&B )
Kelela | LMK ( Alternative R&B )
Rubby | Know Me ( Alternative R&B )
Jay Som | Baybee ( Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia )
Partner | Play the Field ( Indie Rock )
La Louma | Tin Roof Now ( Indie Rock )
2018
Janelle Monáe | Make Me Feel ( Synth Funk, Art Pop )
After years of refusing to define her sexuality publicly, in an interview in 2018 Janelle Monáe came out as pansexual (being attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity) … and as "a free-ass motherfucker." It elevated "Make Me Feel" to an even higher status as a powerful song about sexual liberation.
Christine and the Queens feat. Dâm-Funk | Girlfriend ( Synthpop )
Christine and the Queens (real name Héloïse Letissier) identifies as pansexual. But in 2018 it wasn't her sexual orientation but her gender identity that drew attention. In an interview she explained, "I'm a woman but I just decided to deconstruct the narrow definition of what a woman could be. I'm saying that I'm fluid because I do believe that my femininity is made of hints of masculinity."
Car Seat Headrest | Bodys ( Indie Rock )
Originally released in 2011 when Car Seat Headrest consisted solely of Will Toledo, the song was re-recorded and re-released in 2018. It's part of the album Twin Fantasy, which tells the story of a troubled teenage gay romance. The song "Bodys" appears at the point in the story when the narrator seems to be tired of thinking too much and of trying to find meaning in the relationship, and he just wants the two of them to embrace their youth and be intimate.
Ezra Furman | Suck the Blood From My Wound ( Indie Rock )
Ezra Furman is a bisexual transgender woman. In this song, the narrator has a partner who is growing wings and turning into an angel. He is distrusted and stigmatised for being different, and the couple go on the run together.
Sophie | Faceshopping ( Bubblegum Bass, Deconstructed Club, Post-Industrial )
Experimental musician and trans woman Sophie challenged boundaries not only with her music but also when it came to gender identity. These challenges are arguably most noticeable in the song "Faceshopping" (and its video). It bends gender to the point of totally blurring it, and (to my ears and eyes at least) makes a strong point that trying to categorise gender is futile.
Idles | Samaritans ( Post-Punk )
Vocalist and co-writer Joe Talbot has said that this song is about toxic masculinity, which involves cultural pressure for men to behave in a certain way and the mental health issues this creates. The band wanted to encourage a conversation about gender roles by writing this song. Talbot once introduced the song at a live performance at Glastonbury by stating, "This song is about men and women and people who are non-binary, and people who wanna call themselves whatever the fuck they want who were brave enough to express themselves for a better future."
Brandi Carlile | The Joke ( Americana )
Lesbian singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile wrote this song as a comment on the socio-political climate following the 2016 US presidential election. She wanted to highlight that many people (including people in the LGBT community) felt misrepresented. She explained to NPR that the song is "for people that feel under-represented, unloved or illegal."
Rina Sawayama | Cherry ( Synthpop, Contemporary R&B )
King Princess | 1950 ( Alternative R&B, Pop Soul )
CupcakKe | Crayons ( Hip House, Pop Rap )
Troye Sivan | My My My! ( Electropop, Dance-Pop )
Ah-Mer-Ah-Su | Heartbreaker ( Electropop )
Big Freedia | Rent ( Bounce )
Snail Mail | Pristine ( Indie Rock, Indie Pop )
Alex Aris | Can You Feel It ( Pop )
Alextbh | Still Mine ( Contemporary R&B )
Leo Kalyan | The Edge ( Art Pop, Alternative R&B )
Nakhane | Interloper ( Electropop, Gospel )
Shea Diamond | American Pie ( Soul )
Brockhampton | Something About Him ( Alternative R&B )
LP | Girls Go Wild ( Pop Rock )
Mary Gauthier | It's Her Love ( Americana )
MNEK | Tongue ( Electropop )
Matt Fishel | LGBTQIA (A New Generation) ( Pop Rock )
2019
Brittany Howard | Stay High ( Pop Soul )
Lesbian musician Brittany Howard is the lead vocalist of the band Alabama Shakes but also performs as a solo artist. Howard has said that "Stay High" is about "spending time with your loved ones or doing something you love or whatever keeps you positive in life, doing what makes you feel joy."
Clairo | Sofia ( Bedroom Pop )
This song was inspired by Clairo's first experiences of having crushes on older women whom she saw in the media, and in the process discovering her bisexuality. Clairo has named Sofia Vergara and Sofia Coppola as examples.
Tove Lo feat. Alma | Bad as the Boys ( Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B )
"Bad as the Boys" is about Tove Lo's first summer relationship with a girl. In the song, the female narrator has developed a strong crush, but the girl she has fallen for only saw it as a summer fling and later goes back to dating boys. The emotional cruelty of the girl is recounted as being just as bad that of boys she has been with.
Michael Medrano | Fluids ( Dance-Pop, Funktronica )
A retro-tinged song about sexual fluidity. The narrator in the song gets drunk and gets it on with whomever. Michael Medrano explained about the song, "Sometimes you just wanna kiss a hottie on the dance floor and it doesn't matter if they're a boy, girl, or anything in between".
Todrick Hall | Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels ( Dance-Pop, Hip House )
A sassy gay anthem from singer and choreographer Todrick Hall. You better drop, tongue pop, twirl and snap for him!
Taylor Swift | You Need to Calm Down ( Electropop )
In this song Taylor Swift calls out haters and anti-gay protesters. Speaking on Apple Music 1, Swift explained that the song came from her observations of people who devote a great deal of time basking in negativity. It made her feel like telling them, "This seems like it's more about you than what you're going off about. Like, just calm down."
Katie Pruitt | Loving Her ( Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Country )
The Japanese House | Something Has to Change ( Synthpop )
dhruv | Double Take ( Alternative R&B )
Crimson Riot | Lola ( Punk Rock )
2020
Miley Cyrus | Midnight Sky ( Synthpop )
Lyrically, this disco-tinged bop is about independence, self-confidence and personal growth. Miley Cyrus, who identifies as pansexual, revealed in an interview in Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast that she also wanted the song to be an anthem that normalized pansexuality and provided visibility for those living in fear of rejection over being their authentic selves.
Arlo Parks | Green Eyes ( Bedroom Pop )
In this song, bisexual singer and songwriter Arlo Parks reflects on a relationship she had with a woman, and how the relationship didn't last because her ex-lover couldn't be herself due to the homophobia she encountered. Ultimately, it's a song that is hopeful about self-acceptance.
Tyler, the Creator | Best Interest ( Neo-Soul )
Despite making numerous references to having experienced same-sex attraction, Tyler, the Creator (real name Tyler Okonma) is mostly private about his sexuality. People sometimes interpret the love interest in his songs to be male, even though this is implied rather than directly stated in the lyrics. "Best Interest" tells the story of a love triangle in which Tyler expresses his willingness to be “a third-wheeler, a side-better, and a homewrecker” ... until he realizes that he doesn't want to play that part anymore.
The 1975 feat. Phoebe Bridgers | Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America ( Indie Folk )
This song finds vocalist (and LGBT ally) Matty Healy pondering religious faith and love from the perspective of a LGBT person. The narrator in the song describes how he has to hide his sexual identity because of his religious beliefs. The band is joined on this song by bisexual musician Phoebe Bridgers.
Dodie | Rainbow ( Chamber Folk, Singer-Songwriter )
On "Rainbow" Dodie sings about the struggles that individuals who identify as part of the LGBT community face, including herself. Dodie explained in an interview that although she was initially excited to come out as bisexual, as she grew older she began to realize that she grappled with inner biphobia, which led to her writing this song.
Joy Oladokun | Breathe Again ( Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Pop )
Perfume Genius | On the Floor ( Psychedelic Pop, Art Pop )
Troye Sivan | Easy ( Synthpop )
ALMA | LA Money ( Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop )
Adam Lambert | Velvet ( Synth Funk, Pop Rock )
Joesef | The Sun Is Up Forever ( Neo-Soul, Indie Pop )
Raveena | Headaches ( Neo-Soul, Psychedelic Soul )
2021
Lil Nas X | Montero (Call Me by Your Name) ( Pop Rap )
Considering that not so long ago queer male musicians risked losing their careers for as much as wearing a dress, the fact that Lil Nas X was one of the most successful artists in 2021 despite his explicit gay lyrics and promiscuous, homoerotic videos is enough to give you gay whiplash.
Serpentwithfeet | Same Size Shoe ( Alternative R&B )
This track by Serpentwithfeet (real name Josiah Wise) about the contentment he feels after finding a man who fits him in all the right ways radiates warmth.
Adeem the Artist | Reclaim My Name ( Americana, Singer-Songwriter )
In this song, non-binary, pansexual country musician Adeem the Artist (born Adem Bingham) recalls painful memories associated with their identity and expresses a desire to comfort their younger self: "I've been trying to build a machine / That can convert shame into celebration / I'll go back in time and reclaim my name".
Allison Ponthier | Cowboy ( Alt-Country )
"Cowboy" references lesbian singer-songwriter Allison Ponthier's move from the Bible Belt region in the US to New York City, and how she accepted her sexuality when she got there.
Ethel Cain feat. lil aaron | Michelle Pfeiffer ( Dream Pop, Slowcore )
Ethel Cain is a trans woman who (like Allison Ponthier, mentioned just above) grew up as a devout churchgoer in the deep South. Cain has said that she has "always idolized Michelle Pfeiffer and thought she was a picture-perfect bombshell". This idealized perception of the iconic film star has helped Cain to achieve confidence within herself.
Maggie Lindemann | She Knows It ( Pop Punk, Emo-Pop )
Kim Petras | Future Starts Now ( Dance-Pop, Electro-Disco )
Demi Lovato | The Kind of Lover I Am ( Pop )
Let's Eat Grandma | Hall of Mirrors ( Synthpop )
Aurora | Cure for Me ( Electropop )
Rebecca Black | Girlfriend ( Dance-Pop )
Remi Wolf | Sexy Villain ( Contemporary R&B, Indie Pop )
Orion Sun | Concrete ( Alternative R&B )
Tasha | Perfect Wife ( Contemporary R&B, Contemporary Folk )
2022
Lucy Dacus | Kissing Lessons ( Indie Rock )
This song was inspired by a true story of pre-teen Dacus learning how to kiss from her female neighbourhood friends. Dacus explained in an interview with WYEP that she didn’t think of it as a gay thing at the time – she and her friends were just preparing for future relationships with boys – but that she looks back at that experience through a different lens since coming out as queer.
Steve Lacy | Bad Habit ( Neo-Soul )
Lacy identifies as bisexual. Throughout much of “Bad Habit,” he regrets not having made a move on someone. But by the end of the song the two of them get to explore their mutual attraction.
Angel Olsen | All the Good Times ( Americana, Alt-Country )
Olsen has said that she wrote the album Big Time during an emotional period of self-acceptance and change. She had come out to her parents as gay, but tragically both parents passed away shortly thereafter. “All the Good Times” captures that sense of loss, heartbreak and moving on from a past version of yourself.
Kae Tempest feat. Kevin Abstract | More Pressure ( UK Hip Hop, Slam Poetry )
Acceptance is a theme that is also prevalent in non-binary artist Kae Tempest’s album The Line Is a Curve. In an interview with Apple Music, Tempest explained that the song “More Pressure” is about using the pressure you’re under in a galvanising way to create change and cultivate greater acceptance.
Rina Sawayama | This Hell ( Dance-Pop )
Sawayama identifies as both bisexual and pansexual. She has said that she wrote “This Hell” when she was “thinking about the rights being taken away from the LGBTQ community in the name of traditional religious beliefs. When the world tells us we don’t deserve love and protection, we have no choice but to give love and protection to each other. This Hell is better with you.”
black midi | Eat Men Eat ( Avant-Prog )
This song tells the story of two men (likely a couple) who are trying to escape a situation where their stomach acid will be used in the production of a bastardized blood red wine that is sold and loved in the region they find themselves in… Yes, really.
Oliver Sim | Hideous ( Art Pop )
Sim wrote this song about the fear and shame he felt due to being HIV positive. He explained in an interview with Rolling Stone, “I’ve been living with HIV since I was 17 and it’s played with how I’ve felt towards myself, and how I’ve assumed others have felt towards me, from that age and into my adult life.”
Ezra Furman | Come Close ( Indie Pop )
Tove Lo | No One Dies From Love ( Synthpop )
King Princess | I Hate Myself, I Want to Party ( Alt-Pop )
Willow | Hover Like a Goddess ( Pop Punk )
Fletcher | Becky’s So Hot ( Alt-Pop )
Dove Cameron | Boyfriend ( Alt-Pop )
Hayley Kiyoko | For the Girls ( Dance-Pop, Alternative R&B )
Beyoncé | Pure / Honey ( House, Alternative R&B )
Kendrick Lamar | Auntie Diaries ( Hip Hop )
Brockhampton | The Ending ( Soul, Hip Hop )
Omar Apollo | Evergreen ( Neo-Soul )
Adeem the Artist | For Judas ( Alt-Country )
Sunken Screens | There Are Worse Things I Could Do ( Chamber Pop, Jazz Standard )
Orville Peck | C'mon Baby, Cry ( Contemporary Country )
Shygirl | Coochie (A Bedtime Story) ( Alternative R&B )
And here's a Spotify playlist...