Three weeks in and pride month is in full swing,with manycities across the UShaving already enjoyed their major parades, and a handful of smaller parades taking place in the first few weekends of June. Many of the biggest parades, however, including the two biggest events in New York City and San Francisco, are scheduled for the last week of June, and crowds of people are sure to flock to these parades in both protest and celebration.
Any event, whether it be a protest or a celebration, a sporting event or agraduation, a milestone or a going-away party—you name it, there’s sure to bemusicinvolved.Pride is no different.Music has played an increasingly large role in pride celebrations and parades year after year, with the options for songs to play only continuing to multiply. This year, the options are endless, but these 12 songs in particular are sure to bring any pride playlist to the next level.
12LUNCH by Billie Eilish
The Coming Out Anthem of an Icon
Almost from the moment she rose to fame, people were speculating about Billie Eilish’s sexuality, primarily because of the clothes she wore. In December 2023, Eilish came out, and just a few months later, she released her albumHit Me Hard and Soft, with “LUNCH” as the lead single.Eilish embraced her sexuality completely with this song,explaining in an interview withRolling Stone, “That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real.”
Along with a stellar music video, the lyrics to “LUNCH” are explicit, to say the least, and detail what Eilish has referred to as her first sexual encounter with a woman. The song itself is relatively upbeat, with an electronic dance and synth-driven sound that is perfect for a hot afternoon in June.This song serves as Eilish’s reckoning with her own identity in a way that is sexy and confident,and has already made its mark with her LGBTQ+ fans.
11Cinderella by Remi Wolf
A Dance Hit For the Whole Group
Remi Wolf’s “Cinderella” has become an indie soul rock anthem in the year since she released her second studio album,Big Ideas, last summer. As the album’s lead single, the song was released about four months prior to the rest of the album, andit was Wolf’s first song to break into the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative Chart in the US, peaking at number 48.Though it did not reach the Hot 100 chart, “Cinderella” has graced the speakers of countless gay bars and events in the last year.
The song is catchy yet laid back; the pre-chorus sounds almost like each line is ping-ponging off of the last,“Low tide, moon’s so bright / Moving my hips from left to right.“Wolf’s vocals have a staccato quality, but her voice still flows nicely from one lyric to the next.The catchiest part of the track, however, and definitely the line that makes this a perfect addition to any pride playlist, is the refrain:“Me and the boys in the hotel lobby,“which Wolf sings with a clear exclamation point at the end.
10DENIAL IS A RIVER by Doechii
The Quintessential Rap Addition
It seems likeDoechii has been the name on everyone’s lips since the release of her Grammy Award-winning album,Alligator Bites Never Heal.The last single on the album, “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” became an instant classic, peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Doechii’s highest-charting single at the time of its release. On top of the album’s numerous award nominations, “DENIAL IS A RIVER” was nominated for the BET Viewers Choice and Video of the Year awards.
The song itself takes on a conversational tone between Doechii and her alter ego, as she discusses the problems she is facing in different aspects of her life. While rapping, she discusses her career, her romantic relationships, and her struggles with the party culture of Hollywood.It’s a lighthearted track, discussing serious themes, all while showcasing Doechii’s prowess as a rapper.If there ever was a rap track to include in your pride playlist this year, this is it.
9Take A Chance On Me by ABBA
A Timeless Classic
Truth be told, most of ABBA’s hits would be perfect additions to a pride playlist, given their upbeat pop sound and euphoric vocal harmonies. “Take A Chance On Me” is one of my personal favorites, however, andaside from maybe “Dancing Queen,” this one is definitely their best pride-coded hit.The song has been a massive hit since it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, and quite frankly belongs on repeat throughout the month of June.
The song’s backbone is a sped-up repetition of its title, and it almost sounds like a ticking clock, keeping time as the four vocalists sing"If you change your mind, I’m the first in line / Honey I’m still free, take a chance on me.“The lyrics seem to say, “Hey, I’m here when you’re ready,“which is a common feeling in LGBTQ+ relationships, particularly when one partner isn’t ready to come out of the closet.It’s a heavy topic, no doubt, but the song itself is an upbeat disco hit, so it’s a no-brainer on any pride playlist.
8Pantyhose by TV Girl
An Alternative Indie Pop Necessity
TV Girl is an indie-pop trio who have bubbled just underneath the mainstream threshold, but whose music is ready to (and definitely deserves to) blow up. “Pantyhose” is the first track off of their debut album,French Exit,and with its synthesizer-based introduction and electronic backbone,it’s the kind of song that makes you want to dance amidst strobe lights. Though it is on the slower, more laid-back side as far as tempo goes, the song’s overall sound is one that surely belongs on the speakers at a pride party.
The power of music looms large in this song, with lyrics that are about as dark as they come, but music that would fit in perfectly at a dance party.
Aside from the musical composition, the lyrics to this song are fairly morbid.The song chronicles a man who is fighting in a war, but who keeps his lover’s pantyhose on him as a good luck charm to keep him out of harm’s way. The story ends in tragedy, the last line of the song exclaiming,“Even though she didn’t love him anymore / you’re able to’t kill a lucky charm.“The power of music looms large in this song, with lyrics that are about as dark as they come, but music that would fit in perfectly at a dance party.
7Express Yourself by Madonna
An Original Pride Anthem
Before there was Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” there was Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” a song to which many believed “Born This Way” had come just a little too close. Even if the musical similarities are a bit uncanny, Lady Gaga earned her way with “Born This Way,” and I digress. With a title like “Express Yourself,“there was no way Madonna’s 1989 hitwasn’tgoing to become an LGBTQ+ anthem,and coming from an absolute queen like her, this song has truly become a staple of the community.
“Express Yourself” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs, solidifying the song’s legacy as a timeless dance club hit.Madonna’s high-pitched, soothing, yet electrifying vocals make dancing irresistible with this song.Though the lyrics themselves seem to describe a relationship between her and a man, the sentiment of “Express Yourself” remains the same, and for the LGBTQ+ community, a community that is deeply preoccupied with self-expression, this song laid down some hefty roots.
6Just A Girl by No Doubt
Some Tasteful ’90s Flair
Gwen Stefani, another soulful pop queen, fronted the band No Doubt, whose single, “Just A Girl,” has remained a rebellious anthem in any number of communities for generations since its release in the mid-1990s.Though it wasn’t the band’s highest-charting song, it was one of the most impactful,if not the single most, of their career. It has become akaraoke staplesince its release, and has become an integral part of many radio stations' core song rotations.
Stefani’s vocals on the song’s chorus betray a feeling of irritation, especially given the last line,“Oh, I’ve had it up to here.“At its core, “Just A Girl” is a feminist anthem,and Stefani sings satirically about how women are constantly having to fight the stereotype of being “Just A Girl.” The feminism and gay rights movements are, and pretty much always have been, deeply intertwined. With the song’s ’90s funk undertones, this absolute jam is a fantastic addition to any pride playlist.
5I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross
A Classic You Simply Can’t Omit
No matter what combination of songs you choose for your pride playlist,Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” is simply a requirement.The chorus,“I’m comin' out, I want the world to know / I got to let it show,“has been the soundtrack for countless LGBTQ+ individuals upon coming out of the closet for decades on end. When the song was released in 1980, and subsequently peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, “I’m Coming Out” was a major musical milestone for the LGBTQ+ community.
Once it was written in stone, Ross recorded and released what would become one of the most important songs to the LBTQ+ community of all time.
In fact, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the song, explained in aTikTokthat, “One particular night I went to a club…I happened to notice that there were at least 6 or 7 Diana Ross impersonators.“He took notice of the fact that the LGBTQ+ community, particularly drag queens, adored Ross,and took to writing a powerful anthem specifically for that community. Once it was written in stone, Ross recorded and released what would become one of the most important songs to the LBTQ+ community of all time.
4Man! I Feel Like A Woman! by Shania Twain
Divine Femininity in a Song
Just to reiterate, the feminism and LGBTQ+ rights movements are both deeply intertwined, making Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” a perfect pride anthem just as much as it is a perfect feminist anthem. In fact, in an interview for the November 2004 issue ofThe Advocate, Twain said, “It’s not only girl power, it’s gay power…I think that song really stands for both.“If there was any doubt about this song’s gay anthemic powers, five years after its release, Twain squashed it.
The song’s introduction is about as famous as they come, Twain kicking it off with the line,“Let’s go girls!“and the iconic electric guitar riff that immediately summons any and everyone to their feet.In the chorus, she continues to sing about the idea that being a woman is simplyfun,and she also shows off her vocal talent and range with the simple"Oh, oh, oh, oh.“Every aspect of this song has contributed equally to it being an instant classic, and explains why it belongs on just about any party playlist at all, let alone just pride.
3Let’s Dance by David Bowie
It’s Not a Pride Playlist Without Bowie
One of my favorite non-fiction books on music is titledDavid Bowie Made Me Gay, and for many who grew up alongside him and his music, there couldn’t be a truer statement. As such, the choices for a Bowie song to include on a pride playlist are truly endless, and I would absolutely encourage the inclusion of multiple, but if you had to narrow it down to just one, “Let’s Dance” is it.The song reached the number one spot on both the US and UK charts, and was, surprisingly, Bowie’s only single to do so.
The song just oozes funk, from the organ to the saxophone, the bluesy guitar to the trumpet, there really is no better dance-rock jam to blast for pride.
Funny enough, “Let’s Dance” was produced by Nile Rodgers, who was also the one to write “I’m Coming Out” for Diana Ross. He may not have known it at the time, but Rodgers produced two of the greatest dance hits to grace the LGBTQ+ community.“Let’s Dance” lends itself nicely to Bowie’s theatrical sound, both as a vocalist, and as a performer at large.The song just oozes funk, from the organ to the saxophone, the bluesy guitar to the trumpet, there really is no better dance-rock jam to blast for pride.
