This week we’re kicking off Pride month
Standard Daniel here, and over the past couple of months, we’ve had a lot of different themes for tunes-from-the-team playlists. Some were lighthearted, and some were focused on genre. This week’s playlist is celebrating Pride month with some amazing songs from artists from the LGBQT community and songs that encourage self-affirmation and dignity that we all deserve. Everyone deserves love and to feel comfortable in their own skin. If you only listen to a couple of genres of music, you’re going to miss out and a lot of amazing music. If you want to be a better music fan, you need to listen to a lot of different music and hear the beauty in it all.
And the team has put together a real banger of a list.
Stand Out Songs
– Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen: One of the world’s greatest bands, with a frontman that is arguable the greatest singer in rock history. Freddie Mercury has some of the most recognizable, powerful vocals that have echoed across stadiums for the past 50 years. We could have picked so many songs, but this song just makes me so happy. It also has an amazing guitar solo by the one and only Brian May, who is not only a hall-of-fame guitar player, but a literal astrophysicist knight.
–Born This Way – Lady Gaga: An artist who has never held back when it comes to her music, her look, or her message. This song is about empowerment, and has become a disco anthem for the LGBQT community. Bonus fact! This song was written with Jeppe Laursen, formerly of the band Junior Senior. Bonus bonus fact! Lady Gaga gets her name from a Queen song (Radio Ga Ga).
–Make Me Feel – Janelle Monáe: A nod to Prince, this song is almost too funky. The groove is all-consuming. The music video and the song have been praised as a bisexual anthem. From her style to her music, Monáe has obvious references to her inspirations, while still being true to herself and an original artist.
Quick Hits
I’m not even going to talk about it, but there’s songs here from St. Vincent, Prince, Elton John, David Bowie, Vampire Weekend, Green Day, and more. There are some of the most influential artists on this playlist.
You may have heard about some controversy over MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X, but no matter how you feel, the song gets stuck in your head. If you like more chill R&B there’s Pink + White by Frank Ocean. If you want garage rock there’s Let’s Go Surfing by The Drums. And if you want long titles and electro-punk there’s London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines from Panic! At The Disco off their wonderful debut album ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’.
Then there’s True Trans Soul Rebel by Against Me!. Laura Jane Grace (who was born Thomas James Gabel) dropped out of high school in 1997, started writing songs as a solo act named Against Me! that would eventually form into a band. The band would release three records on indie labels, tour the country constantly, and see their popularity increase. As notoriety came, Grace felt alienated from the male-centric punk scene, and was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. She was already making references to gender dysphoria in song lyrics at this time. Grace publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2012, and announced plans to begin transitioning. She was inspired to come out after meeting a transgender fan. Here’s a quote from her about the song and it’s impact:
“There’s not a night we play [True Trans Soul Rebel] and it doesn’t impact me. 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. Asking the question of, ‘Will you ever find acceptance or understanding as a trans person?’ To get up on stage and have so many people connect with the song, shout the lyrics back at me regardless of whether or not they themselves are trans or fully understand the trans experience, just seeing that they can connect with that base human need of love that we all have. The weight of that moment is never lost to me and it’s a moment my younger self would have never expected to experience.”
Laura Jane Grace
Here’s the list…
Music is the common denominator between so many people. Everyone listens to music, and everyone can sing (everyone). Music is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and I love when artists can inspire others and in return be inspired by the listener. Love is love is love is love. Harmony will always be more powerful than melody alone, and many voices will always be louder than one. Keep loving and listening, and be true to yourself. “Tonight I’m going to have myself a real good time… I feel alive.”
