By Dear Straight People,
From club bangers to power ballads, there are countless tracks throughout history that would qualify as an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.
Not everybody is going to agree with this list. But here is our pick of the top 10 greatest LGBT anthems of all time!
BEST LGBT ANTHEMS OF ALL TIME
10. ‘F**k you’ by Lily Allen
This gem by Lily Allen might not be your typical big-voiced disco classic.
But its cutting lyrics make this song an absolute guilty pleasure and it’s not hard to imagine queer people all over the world singing this song with gusto from the comfort of their bedroom.
So you say
It’s not okay to be gay
Well I think you’re just evil
You’re just some racist who
Can’t tie my laces
Your point of view is medieval
9. ‘Same Love’ by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Who would have ever thought that a hip hop artist would pen a pro-LGBT song. This critically acclaimed Grammy nominated single championed same-sex marriage and up till now, is often featured in gay pride events!
8. ‘All the lovers’ by Kylie Minogue
Any list of gay anthems would probably lose all its credibility if it didn’t feature Kylie, one of the biggest gay icons of today.
The music video for this 2010 electropop track pays tribute to the 1969 Stonewall riots; an important historic event in the American gay rights movement. Featuring doves, balloons, white horses and a massive mob of half naked couples making out with one another, Kylie’s message of love rings loud and clear. Watching this love-filled video should be enough to fill anyone up with positive vibes!
7. ‘Let it go’ by Idina Menzei
This Oscar winning track has unintentionally become a coming-out anthem for millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world. Lyrics like ‘Be the good girl you always have to be / Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know’ unintentionally became incredibly relatable to closeted LGBTQ+ individuals all over the world.
6. ‘Brave’ by Sara Bareilles
Inspired by a close gay friend who was struggling to come out, Sara Bareilles penned this Grammy nominated song as a way of encouraging anyone struggling to come out.
Unsurprisingly, ‘Brave’ has since grown to become a popular coming-out anthem for the LGBT community.
5. ‘I am coming out’ by Diana Ross
The title of this classic Diana Ross track says it all. Although Diana Ross’s ‘coming out’ referred to her departure from Motown Records, this song has become an unofficial gay pride anthem. When you hear the chorus, it is not hard to see why.
4. ‘Born this way’ by Lady Gaga
Making it to number 4 on the list is none other than Mother Monster’s global smash hit, the empowering ‘Born this way’. This anthem blatantly targeted at the LGBT community advocates a strong message of self-acceptance and equality and is played at pretty much every gay pride event.
3. ‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aguilera
Composed and produced by gay songwriter Linda Perry, Christina Aguilera’s signature smash hit has become a prominent gay anthem due to its strong message of self-acceptance.
The popularity of this song within the LGBTQ+ community could be attributed to the fact that the music video itself prominently features several individuals from the LGBT community during a more conservative time. In fact, the song was awarded a GLAAD Media Award for its positive depiction of the LGBT community!
In light of the phenomenal impact this song has had on the LGBT community, I can’t think of a better song to award the number 3 spot to!
2. ‘Vogue’ by Madonna
One of the greatest gay icons of all time, Madonna was an outspoken gay rights activist long before it became the trend in Hollywood.
Released in 1990, this upbeat track has become one of the greatest dance floor anthems ever and up till now, is still regularly played at gay clubs all over the world. The ability of this iconic hit to get gay men to start striking ridiculous poses on the dance floor is a testament to its power over the gay community and reason enough to warrant it the number 2 spot on this list!
1. ‘Over the rainbow’ by Judy Garland
My pick for the greatest LGBT anthem of all time is none other than this classic tune from the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
This Academy Award-winning ballad has unintentionally become an anthem for the LGBT community due to it’s strong theme of escapism. Widely regarded as one of the greatest LGBT anthems of all time, it should not come as a surprise that ‘Over the rainbow’ takes the number 1 spot on this list. Plus, the fact that the rainbow is used as a symbol for the LGBT community pretty much makes this song a shoo-in for the number 1 spot.
You might also like to read:
Top 10 Female Gay Icons Of All Time
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