Most Pride playlists are filled with the same songs for good reason: 'It's Raining Men', 'Believe' and 'I'm Coming Out' slap like a soap bitch every single time. But if you'd like to try some different tunes this socially-distanced Pride season, here are 20 very worthy suggestions, helpfully split into daytime bops and nighttime bangers.
Daytime Pride playlist
1. Dusty Springfield – 'Breakfast in Bed'
The most sensual song from her classic album, Dusty in Memphis. Dusty's struggle with her own sexuality was deeply touching and she was also quintessentially camp. Famously, she summoned her hairdresser to her deathbed, saying: "If I'm going out, I'm going out blonde."
2. Tracy Chapman – 'Fast Car'
This song is so devastatingly beautiful even Jonas Blue's tropical cover version makes me feel emotional, though obviously nothing beats the folky original.
3. Grace Jones – 'Pull Up to the Bumper'
Grace is the greatest and she gave an iconic response when she was asked whether this song is about anal sex. "I don't think it's necessarily about that. I think it means whatever you want it to," she told Q. "Because I kind of like the doggy position myself, but that doesn't mean it's going up me a**e."
4. La Roux – 'Tropical Chancer'
A poignant song this Pride season, because in lockdown even meeting a tropical chancer seems out of reach.
5. Labi Siffre – 'It Must Be Love'
I have nothing against Madness's laddy cover version, but the original is more subtle and clearly superior. Siffre also channelled the prejudice he faced growing up as a black gay man into another all-time classic, '(Something Inside) So Strong'.
6. Tegan and Sara – 'U Turn'
Any song from their electro-pop albums Heartthrob and Love You to Death is worthy of a place here, but this one edges it because the Quin sisters wrote it as a tribute to George Michael.
7. Scissor Sisters – 'Take Your Mama'
The only song about bringing your mum to a gay bar – The Yard is probably the best option, if you're in London – that you'll ever need.
8. Lil Nas X – 'Old Town Road'
An incredible record that sounds like nothing else around. Lil Nas X is a true star and Miley's dad can come along for the ride if he wants.
9. Belinda Carlisle – 'Live Your Life Be Free'
The lyrics strike a chord during Pride season, I love Belinda's vibrato (which Madonna made fun of in Truth or Dare), and she gets bonus points for having a gay son.
10. Hercules and Love Affair – 'Blind'
This is one of the best disco songs of the 21st century, and Anohni's mournful vocals are just gorgeous. It's the perfect song for the moment when late afternoon seeps into early evening.
Nighttime Pride playlist
1. Christine and the Queens – 'Tilted'
Word of warning: don't follow Christine's advice unless you want to spend the next morning scrubbing black ink off your face.
2. MUNA – 'I Know A Place'
An absolute banger about the importance of LGBTQ safe spaces. It's especially poignant right now given that most of them are either shut or putting up perspex screens between the tables so they can reopen.
3. Gossip – 'Men in Love'
This song has one of the best choruses ever – "Na, na, na, na... men in love / Na, na, na, na... men in love with each other" – and it's sung by a gay woman. Amazing.
4. Kim Petras – 'Malibu'
The best song of summer 2020 – it even brings a hint of California sunshine to queuing up outside Costcutter.
5. George Michael – 'Fastlove'
Only George could write a disco banger about cruising and take it to Number One. And he gets bonus points for letting us know he drives his big fancy BMW up to Hampstead Heath. What an absolute lad.
6. Sylvester – 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'
One of the greatest disco songs is also one of the greatest queer anthems, which is obviously no coincidence. Don't try to hit Sylvester's high notes because you will not succeed.
7. Whitney Houston – 'Million Dollar Bill' (Freemasons Radio Mix)
Whitney's voice was a bit ragged by this point but Freemasons' poppers o'clock remix performs a sort of auditory illusion: listening to it, you'd swear she was the still the best singer on the planet.
8. Divine – 'You Think You're A Man'
John Waters famously called Divine "the most beautiful woman in the world, almost", so I'm going to call him "the greatest singer in the world, almost". He sells this Hi-NRG banger on pure attitude and even had a Top 20 hit with it – gay rights!
9. Freddie Mercury – 'Living on My Own' (No More Brothers remix)
This house remix of an '80s solo single went to Number One in 1993, two years after Freddie died. Turning a song about feeling lonely into a big spangly club anthem brings to mind a lyric by a wise woman: "I know a place where you can get away – it's called a dance floor, and here's what it's for."
10. Debbie Harry – 'I Want That Man'
It's the coolest person ever singing a song called 'I Want That Man' – what's not to love? And she just celebrated her 75th birthday so many happy returns, Debs!
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