25 Essential LGBTQ Pride Songs: A Musical History
Is there an LGBTQ sensibility? What was it 50 years ago, before much of today’s language for gender and sexual identities even existed? Or, much more simply: Which songs best evoke the sex, drama, heartache, struggle, liberation, and mindfucks of queer lives then and now? What follows is not a completely comprehensive list, but one that tracks the story from post-Stonewall disco parties to the gender-queer rock, R&B, and pop of today. Here are 25 essential pride songs from the 1970s to today.
The Foundations of Queer Expression
The journey begins with tracks like The Kinks’ ‘Lola’ (1970), which became an improbable mainstream hit and arguably the first song with an LGBTQ theme to reach the top of the charts. As the decade progressed, the disco era provided a sanctuary for queer expression. Carl Bean’s ‘I Was Born This Way’ (1977) stands as one of the earliest out-and-proud anthems, while Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ (1977) translated the strange, scary ecstasy of erotic desire into a groundbreaking sonic language that birthed modern EDM.
The late Seventies and early Eighties continued to push boundaries. Sylvester, the virtuosic singer often called the ‘Queen of Disco,’ approached gender as a fluid, non-binary concept in ‘You Make Me Feel Mighty Real’ (1978). Meanwhile, Bette Midler‘s contemporaries like Queen brought subversive energy to stadiums with ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ (1978), and Diana Ross delivered the ultimate coming-out anthem with ‘I’m Coming Out’ (1980).
Anthems of Liberation and Identity
As the Eighties unfolded, artists began to address the complexities of gay life with more directness. Elton John offered a rare, vulnerable look at growing up gay with ‘Elton’s Song’ (1981), and Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ (1984) captured the desperate need to escape a home that never understood you. By 1990, Madonna was connecting Harlem drag balls to the mainstream with ‘Vogue,’ while George Michael hinted at a radical, transformative honesty in ‘Freedom! ’90.’
Modern Queer Voices
The 21st century saw a shift toward more explicit explorations of queer identity. From the raunchy, braggadocious energy of Peaches’ ‘Fuck the Pain Away’ (2000) to the self-love anthem of Lady Gaga‘s ‘Born This Way’ (2011), the music became a vital tool for self-actualization. Recent years have seen artists like Frank Ocean, Lil Nas X, and Troye Sivan continue to redefine the landscape, proving that the queer experience is as diverse and multifaceted as the music itself.
