What comes to your mind when you hear the term pride anthems? Images of Lady Gaga or perhaps Madonna on-stage performing their admired hits? While the musical offerings from these legends and leading artists have inspired the queer community for decades, it’s only now that the music scene has witnessed a wave of change. With the positive acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community gaining momentum, queer artists across the globe have now come out with their renditions of pride anthems. These songs, apart from being great additions to your playlist, remind you that love is love. Ahead, we’ve rounded up seven pride anthems by LGBTQIA+ artists which deserve a spot on your everyday playlist.
1. My My My! by Troye Sivan
With electro-pop beats as a background score, this song will remind you to acknowledge love in all its forms and chase it regardless. Sivan wrote this hit for their then-boyfriend Jacob Bixenman, an American model. Filled with liberation, love and freedom, Sivan’s relationship with Jacob inspired the optimistic attitude towards love, which is expressed in the song.
2. Make Me Feel by Janelle Monáe
With finger snaps and furious funk guitar riffage playing throughout the song, Make Me Feel is packed with electric energy. With a slew of colourful outfit changes and dance moves, the song delivers a confident statement: ‘It’s like I’m powerful with a little bit of tender. An emotional, sexual bender.’
3. Really Don’t Care by Demi Lovato
When Lovato performed this single on the streets of West Hollywood (Los Angeles) for a pride parade in 2014, the breakup song immediately turned into a musical pride sensation. Known as one of the most empowering tunes, Really Don’t Care mirrors a carefree, go-getter attitude.
4. Superpower by Adam Labert
Lambert came out when the music industry didn’t offer any recognition to the LGBTQIA+ community. With this song, they have identified the ‘superpower’ they need to be seen and heard. With lyrics like “you try to put me in a box, make me something I’m not,” the song will encourage you to own your identity and get back up when the world pushes you down.
5. How Do You Sleep? by Sam Smith
Unleashing their power and confidence in sky-high black heels, Sam Smith highlights the vulnerable side of love and healing fearlessly after it. Joining forces with a dynamic group of male dancers in the striking music video, the panache with which Smith embraces their identity is unparalleled.
6. Lights Up by Harry Styles
Released on October 11 in 2019, also observed as National Coming Out Day in several countries across the globe, Lights Up took no time to be dubbed as a ‘bisexual anthem.’ With lyrics like “know who you are” and “do you know who you are?”, Styles broke all barriers and ignited conversations.
7. What I Need by Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani
The iconic, young queer icons, Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani teamed up in 2018 for this moody pop song which will make you groove, literally. The song is about two prospective lovers who have an open communication while firmly demanding clarity on a complicated situation.
Photographs: Instagram
