20 Notable LGBT Songs Released In The Last Five Years | Playlist

11. Sam Smith, “Lay Me Down”

[In the Lonely Hour, 2014]

Sam Smith issued an entire album that dabbled in the plight called love, specifically unrequited love.  Numerous songs from In the Lonely Hour tackle Smith being brokenhearted.  Smith, who is openly gay, often implies his sexuality throughout the album.  Understanding that he is singing from the perspective of a gay man helps the listener to fill in the blanks and provides the significance of the song in the LGBTQ community.

On “Lay Me Down,” Smith is particularly devastated.  His love is gone, and he misses every little thing about him. The passion with which he sings is authentic:

“Told me not to cry when you were gone / but the feeling’s overwhelming, it much too strong.”

Smith goes on to further tug at the heartstrings on the chorus, relatable to anybody who’s experienced heartbreak, regardless of sexuality:

“Can I lay by your side, next to you, you? / And make sure you’re alright / I’ll take care of you / I don’t want to be here if I can’t be with you tonight.”

The music video particularly amplifies the significance of “Lay Me Down” from the LGBT perspective.  Initially posed as a funeral, “Lay Me Down” ends in a same-sex marriage at a London church.  The Church of England is notably divided about homosexuality.  The funeral scene within the video seems to be symbolic, and subject to interpretation.

Perhaps Smith is laying his past to rest and embracing the present.  Perhaps it’s a bigger picture about the death of the “old guard” in regards to sexuality and embracement of the new – the ability to marry freely.  Regardless, Smith makes a statement which serves as a catalyst for conversation, debate, and discussion.

12. Marsha Ambrosius, “Far Away”

[Late Nights & Early Mornings, 2011]

Lyrically, “Far Away” tackles suicide.  In the context of the song, there aren’t any direct references to homosexuality. What the listener understands from the song is that Ambrosius is heartbroken after her friend – presumably boyfriend or potential boyfriend – commits suicide.  As sad as the situation is itself, the song finds Ambrosius depicting her emotions in the aftermath.

“Tear stains on my pillow / tryin’ to forget ya / don’t know what I’m gonna do / four days and countin’, I’ve been layin’ here / starin’ myself in the mirror all alone in my room.”

The accompanying music video takes the song a step further, incorporating homosexuality and homophobia.  The homophobic component, hence, drives the male to commit suicide.

“If I had known Sunday morning, that you would be gone / I would’ve never come home / I wouldn’t have answered my phone to hear the voice had a tone / I knew that something was wrong / the cop’s the one who had told me that you were alone inside / an empty room / identified you as my baby / oh my baby, so far away.”

What further amplifies the significance of the video is the use of black characters.  Homophobia is more pronounced in the black community, so Ambrosius took a bigger risk with “Far Away” given its story line and social implications.  A Think Progress article (from February 2016) by Zack Ford suggests black homophobia is a myth, based on a Public Religion Research Institute survey.

13. Hozier, “Take Me to Church”

[Hozier, 2014]

“Take Me to Church” was a no. 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, the song was nominated for the Grammy for song of the year.  Listening to “Take Me to Church” somewhat emptily, it’s easy to see why it was a massive hit.  Who doesn’t enjoy a song that references sex?  Considering the depth of its subject matter when examining it analytically, it’s more unbelievable it’s achieved the commercial accolades it has.

In a NY Mag interview, Hozier stated “‘Take Me To Church’ is essentially about sex…and it’s about humanity.”  Hozier goes on to discuss sexual orientation:

“an organization like the church…would undermine humanity by successfully teaching shame about sexual orientation.”

The lyrics of the song confirm Hozier’s feelings about sex and the church:

“My church offers no absolutes / she tells me ‘worship in the bedroom’ / the only heaven I’ll be sent too / is when I’m alone with you.”

Furthermore, in the interview, he tackles the influence of the church in Ireland, and homophobia in Russia.

“It references the very organized attacks against LGBT youths that are carried out with impunity, without action from law enforcement.”

Key lyrics of the song confirms the LGBT component of “Take Me to Church”:

“We were born sick, you heard them say it” and “I was born sick, but I love it.”

Throughout its course, “Take Me to Church” purposely amplifies blasphemous references in order to make a statement.  Ultimately, that statement is that all humans, regardless of sexuality, should be able to love and be with who they’d like.

14. Frank Ocean, “Thinkin Bout You”

[Channel Orange, 2012]

Frank Ocean took a risk coming out as bisexual during the run of 2012 debut LP, Channel Orange.  In reiteration, the black community is a work in progress in regards to being LGBT friendly.  Ocean didn’t suffer in the least commercially, and Channel Orange was nominated for the prestigious Grammy for album of the year.  One of the reasons for the success of the LP was single “Thinkin Bout You,” which was nominated for Record of the Year.

“Thinkin Bout You” straddles a line.  Without knowledge of Ocean’s sexuality, the naïve listener won’t necessarily pick up any LGBT references.  Explicitly, there’s just one, and it’s relatively subtle:

“My eyes don’t shed tears, but boy, they pour when… I’m thinkin’ ‘bout you…do you think about me still?”

With subtlety being the M.O., put yourself in Ocean’s shoes – or attempt to do so – and the sentiment Ocean is conveying is revealed. “Thinkin Bout You” is about being in love for the first time and for Frank Ocean, that experience occurred with a guy.

“Yes of course I remember, how could I forget how you feel? / you know you were my first time, a new feel / it will never get old, not in my soul, not in my spirit, keep it alive…”

15. Halsey, “New Americana”

[Badlands, 2015]

Halsey represents the “new guard” without question. Fittingly, the alt-pop singer/songwriter sings about the “New Americana.”  Unsurprisingly, the new Americana doesn’t look like your dad or mom’s America:

“We are the new Americana / high on legal marijuana / raised on Biggie and Nirvana / we are the new Americana.”

Halsey goes beyond marijuana and gangsta rap.  She tackles same-sex marriage.  She does so brilliantly, breaking stereotypes:

“Young James Dean, some say he looks just like his father / but he could never lover somebody’s daughter / football team loved more than just the game / so he vowed to be his husband at the altar.”

A good looking dude on the football team who is also gay and eventually marries a guy?  All part of “the new Americana” in Halsey’s eyes.