![Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old, Vol. 3 [📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Aditya Ali, Brian Kyed, Cory Woodward, DIEGO SANCHEZ, Isi Parente, Kyle, Kyle Bushnell, Mary Y., matthew reyes, Nora Hutton, Pexels, Rene Bernal, RODNAE Productions, Ronny Sison, Unsplash]](https://themusicalhype.com/wp-content/plugins/accelerated-mobile-pages/images/SD-default-image.png)
![Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old, Vol. 3 [📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Aditya Ali, Brian Kyed, Cory Woodward, DIEGO SANCHEZ, Isi Parente, Kyle, Kyle Bushnell, Mary Y., matthew reyes, Nora Hutton, Pexels, Rene Bernal, RODNAE Productions, Ronny Sison, Unsplash]](https://i0.wp.com/themusicalhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/incredible-lgbtq-songs-young-old-vol-3-1.jpg?resize=425%2C425&ssl=1)
Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old features, Vol. 3 features music courtesy of Ben Platt, Jake Wesley Rogers, Orville Peck, Scissor Sisters & Shamir.
![Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old, Vol. 3 [📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Aditya Ali, Brian Kyed, Cory Woodward, DIEGO SANCHEZ, Isi Parente, Kyle, Kyle Bushnell, Mary Y., matthew reyes, Nora Hutton, Pexels, Rene Bernal, RODNAE Productions, Ronny Sison, Unsplash]](https://themusicalhype.com/wp-content/plugins/accelerated-mobile-pages/images/SD-default-image.png)
![Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old, Vol. 3 [📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Aditya Ali, Brian Kyed, Cory Woodward, DIEGO SANCHEZ, Isi Parente, Kyle, Kyle Bushnell, Mary Y., matthew reyes, Nora Hutton, Pexels, Rene Bernal, RODNAE Productions, Ronny Sison, Unsplash]](https://i0.wp.com/themusicalhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/incredible-lgbtq-songs-young-old-vol-3-1.jpg?resize=425%2C425&ssl=1)
First and foremost, if you didn’t know, or couldn’t tell, The Musical Hype is, and always will be, a welcoming, open, and supportive place to the LGBTQIA community. Each and every year, there are superb additions to the LGBTQ+ catalog from musicians who identify as members of the community, as well as those serving as allies. 🎧 Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old, Vol. 3 – originally part of 35 Intriguing LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old before some unfortunate content loss on the website 🤬 – seeks to avoid song repeats from past published LGBTQ-themed playlists. Rather than release one big list, Incredible LGBTQ Songs, Young & Old arrives in volumes (Check out 🎧 Vol. 1 and 🎧 Vol. 2 if you missed it).
1. Osvaldo Supino, “Gold”
🎵 “Gold” • 🏷 Osvaldo Supino • 📅 2022
It’s not all happiness from Osvaldo, at least early on. “Feel the collapse of the world, got it falling down / On me, on me,” he sings in the first verse. Similarly, in the second, Supino is ‘on the struggle bus,’ asserting, “It’s overwhelming to convince myself that I’m / Worthy, worthy.” Low self-esteem and feeling like you’re less than others is a horrible yet relatable feeling. Despite the hell that he’s experiencing, Osvaldo knows that he’s got to turn it around – he’s the best candidate! Despite the bad and blue days, he asserts, with strength, “Yeah, I know I got me, myself, and I / Always find the light / Every time it makes me stronger / I’m made of gold.” The chorus is the biggest and brightest section of this uplifting dance-pop gem, particularly when Supino shows off his flawless upper register. “Gold” truly is golden by my estimations!
Appears in 🔻:
2. Olivia Rodrigo, “hope ur ok”
💿 SOUR • 🏷 Geffen • 📅 2021
“And somehow, we fell out of touch
Hope he took his bad deal and made a royal flush
Don’t know if I’ll see you again someday
But if you’re out there, I hope that you’re okay.”
“Hope ur ok” references the plight of some LGBTQ+ 🏳️🌈 individuals. It also references dysfunctional family units, and honestly, some truly insightful, realistic happenings. This is the perfect closer to a truly well-rounded debut album. “Hope ur ok” gives chills – those goosebumps.
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3. Myylo, “Pink Boy Heart”
🎵 “Pink Boy Heart” • 🏷 Myylo • 📅 2022
Myylo links up with 🎼 ✍ Christian Fiore (songwriting), with positive results – an understatement! The theme isn’t far-fetched from past music, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. I mean, wouldn’t there be something wrong if Myylo weren’t writing great songs about desiring boys (“Wrap me up in your arms / I want to be where you are”)? He does a nice job of balancing the tongue-in-cheek and legitimate desire/love goals here (“Just kiss my cheeks / With that sick technique / Then you’ll tuck me in /With my rug burn knees”). Instrumentally, there’s welcome contrast compared to previous singles, which is a win by all means. The mark of a good musician is one who evolves, and I hear the evolution in “Pink Boy Heart.” Also, can’t fail to mention that fun music video! Woo! All told, “Pink Boy Heart” is well-sung, well-written, well-produced, and entertaining, all in a tight, two-and-a-half-minute package.
Appears in 🔻:
4. Asbjørn, “STB x Boyfriend”
💿 Boyology • 🏷 Embassy of Music • 🗓 2022
In the context of Boyology, “STB x Boyfriend” keeps things going strong. Asbjørn references the ‘perfect’ state of California, or at least, the illusion of perfect. Despite the perfection of the places he describes, Terkelsen is struggling with finding and retaining love: “You might as well know how it will end before we start.” He asks his potential, short-term suitor, “Do you wanna be / My soon-to-be ex-boyfriend? / All the power vested in me / I give it to you, no defense.” Despite the fact things are soon to end, “STB x Boyfriend” is a surefire fun pop joint.
5. The Smiths, “Hand in Glove”
💿 The Smiths • 🏷 Warner UK • 🗓 1984
Throughout this quick-paced song, Morrissey serves up beautiful lead vocals; I love his tone and energy. Maybe more compelling, however, are the lyrics. In the chorus, he paints a picture of a love that is strange to people, hence, adding fuel to the fire of that there is indeed a queer element to this song which Morrissey describes as a depiction of loneliness: “And if the people stare / Then the people stare / Oh, I really don’t know / And I really don’t care / Kiss my shades…” In the second verse, Morrissey asserts this love is something that others don’t have. A line that stands out that he repeats during the verse is, “Yes, we may be hidden by ‘rags’ / But we’ve something they’ll never have.” The ‘rags’ part references old, torn-up clothes, obviously, but the “something they’ll never have” is open-ended. Is this a close friendship, a bromance, or potentially a same-sex romance? The third verse is where the queerness seems to go through the roof. Morrisey asserts, “I’ll fight to the last breath / If they dare touch a hair on your head / I’ll fight to the last breath / For the good life is out there somewhere.” A life where same-sex relationships aren’t frowned upon and viewed negatively? Seems like a legitimate interpretation to me. Of course, it could be ‘friendship,’ which Morrissey and Johnny Marr clearly shared. Perhaps the saddest part is when the singer states, “Yes, I know my luck too well / And I’ll probably never see you again.” Hmm, the question is why? The answer? Subject to your interpretation, sigh.
Appears in 🔻:
6. Jake Wesley Rogers, “Pluto”
💿 Pluto • 🏷 Facet / Warner • 📅 2021
“I Think of my mom / She loves me no matter what / And that really fucks me up.” So true. Jake raises the stakes and goes ‘all in’ on the centerpiece – the memorably written chorus:
“Hate on me, hate on me, hate on me, hate on me
You might as well hate the sun
For shining just a little too much
Hate on me, hate on me, hate on me, hate on me
Maybe at the end of the day
You and me are both the same
We just wanna be loved, loved
We just wanna be love.”
That hits something fierce, elevated further by a higher dynamic level and Rogers’ ad-libs and nuances. Also raising the bar is the songwriting, a collaboration between Rogers, 🎼✍ Francis Anthony White, and 🎼✍ 🎛 Michael Seamus Crossey, who also produces. Crossey puts in serious work behind the boards, yielding ample ear candy. That ear candy includes keys, subtle, tasteful synths, and soaring strings enhancing the feels.
Appears in 🔻:
- Best Songs of 2021: Honorable Mentions
- Awesome Songs: November 2021
- Jake Wesley Rogers, “Pluto”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 8
- Pluto: 5ive Songs No. 1 (2022)
7. Kevin Abstract, “Seventeen”
💿 American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story • 🏷 QUESTION EVERYTHING, INC. / EMPIRE • 📅 2016
The sound of this two-and-three-quarter minute selection is distinct. With its guitar and piano accompaniment, and distinct sound, “Seventeen” has a pop/rock/alt R&B vibe. It was produced by Abstract, 🎛 Romil Hemnani, 🎛 Jeff Kleinman, and 🎛 Michael Uzowuru. More captivating than the sound is the content – the theme and lyrics. Abstract sings about a boyfriend, capturing the adversity of a relationship for various reasons, which is deep.
“He was everything I dreamed of
Used to ride around in his two-seater
Being friends didn’t make it much easier
…His girl too had to pretend like I ain’t mind that bitch
Just so I could see his face.”
Despite some darker moments, Abstract never fails to deliver beautiful, nuanced vocals. Another lyric that stands out occurs in the second verse is, “Ay, dog, got some problems we could run away from / Search for a tree that you could hang on, stay down.” Oh my… so much to unpack there from the 🎙 BROCKHAMPTON standout.
Appears in 🔻:
8. Ben Platt, “Dark Times”
💿 Reverie • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2021
“Now, you’re sitting on a secret no one knows,” Platt sings from a 13-year-old perspective, continuing, “You see him after school / He barely looks at you / ‘Cause you’re both afraid that people might suppose.” On the second verse, Platt is 18, while the third and final verse he’s his current age of 27 (“We’re 27 now / Don’t have it figured out / But at least, no one can say, we haven’t grown”). The production matches the emotional songwriting, using piano and lush strings. “Dark Times” isn’t like most of Reverie but is arguably its best track and tickles my fancy big time!
Appears in 🔻:
9. Matt Fishel, “Twinks”
💿 M/F • 🏷 Young Lust • 🗓 2018
Matt Fishel embraces queerness in his music, adding an ample amount of entertainment. While an aging twink is a serious identity issue within the gay community, listening to “Twinks” the song, how seriously do you take the plight of a nameless twink? “Is it all over? / Now his twenties are coming to an end,” Fishel sings on the first verse, concluding, “When he’s no longer a twink, will they dance on his grave?” As the song progresses, this twink becomes older, but doesn’t know what part of the gay community he is. In the second verse, Fishel asserts, “All his friends are enjoying other scenes / Bears, cubs, wolves, otters, and queens / While the clubs he frequented are full of twenty-somethings and teens / Makes him feel like some tragic has-been.” If you’re unfamiliar with all those terms, well, buy Davis’ book! You don’t need to know them specifically though. All you need to understand is this man doesn’t know who he is and quite possibly, never knew where he fit. Fishel is critical of him for being aloof of how he acted as a twink: “Clinging to youth like a narcissist / He’s isolated himself from his peers.”
Appears in 🔻:
10. Hamid J, “Boulangerie”
🎵 “Boulangerie” • 🗓 2021
Beyond the verses, there are chorus sections that amplify the naughtiness. In the pre-chorus, Hamid encourages him to “Take that first step and stumble upon me.” Ooh-la-la! In the indirect chorus, he sings, “I know what you want, you know I got it boy / The way you staring at my derrière / I promise all it takes, one bite you know for sure…” Damn! Basically, the big takeaway is, Hamid is ready for ‘some’, and by some, I mean the universal three-letter-word regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual preference! Ah, the boulangerie in the hands of the handsome, talented Hamid J is something else, and I’m totally here for it!
Appears in 🔻:
11. Joesef, “It’s Been a Little Heavy Lately”
🎵 “It’s Been a Little Heavy Lately” • 🏷 Bold Cut / AWAL • 🗓 2022
Essentially, the situation is a difficult one for all parties involved. Joesef, clearly, wants exclusivity between him and his boyfriend. “All I got is you on my mind / I’m coming up easy,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “Don’t care if she sees me / I need you tonight.” Woo! Similarly, in the second verse, he’s not too keen on the girlfriend, and again, the situation itself: “Where’d you go? / Can you feel the drip in the lies?” Joesef’s biggest statement comes during the bridge, where he encourages his boyfriend to embrace their relationship and cut off his relationship with the girl. There’s clearly something missing:
“Wonder why you’re acting surprised
‘Cause when you kiss her, you know something’s missing
You know that it feels different with me
I guess it must be hard for a guy to look her in the eye
When it’s me who’s giving you what you need.”
Worth noting, Joesef sings exceptionally well, spoiling us with his ripe falsetto. The production isn’t too shabby either, with its robust bass line, keys, and groove.
Appears in 🔻:
12. JORDY, “If He’s in Your Bed”
💿 Mind Games • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 🗓 2021
“I said that in June I’d find love by December / Shit’s still not together, damn…” JORDY has lots to sort through on “If He’s in Your Bed.” To be frank, he knows “these boys ain’t shit.” Regardless, he’s been in the position where having sex is just a thing to DO despite the fact “I know you’re not as good as my ex.” Furthermore, he’s kissed boys that aren’t ‘take home to mom’ material, not to mention that it’s nothing more than a physical happening. Give him credit though – he’s becoming self-aware – illustrated masterfully on the chorus:
“Stop makin’ messes just to hide your messes
You know it’s true
Don’t send that message ‘cause you’re bored
With nothin’ bettеr to do
Don’t cancel all your plans
Just for some shitty head
‘Causе you’ll be just as lonely later
If he’s in your bed.”
JORDY arrives at the correct realizations on “If He’s in Your Bed.” The fun isn’t so fun in the big picture. ‘Fun’ can’t atone for an ex, ultimately, nor does it make headway to achieve a legit, substantial love. That love, that the pop star aspires to, transcends that “shitty head” he sings about on the chorus. Shout out the vocals, songwriting (JORDY, 🎼✍ Riley Biederer, and 🎼✍ 🎛 Jonny Shorr), and production (Shorr).
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13. Shamir, “Gay Agenda”
💿 Heterosexuality • 🏷 AntiFragile Music • 🗓 2022
Well, you can bet conservatives won’t feel this one – WHO CARES, right? Shamir encourages those “stuck in the box” to free themselves – come out and experience freedom. So often, those who aren’t heterosexual find themselves trying to play a role as opposed to being themselves, afraid to be honest and come out. Furthermore, those who are heterosexual judge those who don’t feel and love the same way; they need to open their minds. Over the course of two verses, the nonbinary musician supports being true to self. Does he really promote a “gay agenda?” Perhaps some will feel that way, but the lyrics aren’t explicitly gay, though speak to close-minded folks’ perceptions:
“Pray as much as you can, there’s no hope for me
I will see you in hell, I will be bringing the heat.”
“Gay Agenda” is a marvelous way to commence Heterosexuality.
Appears in 🔻:
14. Orville Peck, “Hope to Die”
💿 Pony • 🏷 Sub Pop • 📅 2019
There are other hints of the complicated nature of this union, which seems to parallel gay relationships, particularly depending on where they occur. “Take me back to the world I know/ You were crying / They don’t cry where we go.” The part of that lyric that stands out most is “They don’t cry where we go” which could reference toxic masculinity and the idea that men don’t cry and aren’t allowed to exhibit emotions or show vulnerability. Also, it might reference the idea that some gay men are viewed as effeminate, not manly enough, and not respected. Crying cowboys? They don’t exist, right? Secrecy and, say, ‘being discreet’ is key to “Hope to Die,” evidenced by the titular lyric, “Cross my heart, now I hope to die.”
Appears in 🔻:
- Orville Peck, Hope to Die: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 16 (2022)
- Hope: 5ive Songs No. 14 (2022)
- 15 Songs Filled with Hope (2023)
15. Scissor Sisters, “Let’s Have a Kiki”
Magic Hour • 🏷 Polydor • 🗓 2012
Providing annotations to Genius regarding the song, frontman 🎙 Jake Shears does a fine job giving insight. This includes his experiences with gay clubs and those clubs being shut down by police for no good reason. 🎙 Ana Matronic mentions this lyrically during the spoken word intro (or verse… whatever it is): “So, then I get to the club looking like a drowned, harassed rat and I’m greeted, not by Miss Rose at the door, but our friend, Johnny Five-Oh.” Of course, following Ana’s intro, we step right into the actual kiki, via the chorus: “Let’s have a kiki, I wanna have a kiki / Lock the doors tight / Let’s have a kiki, motherfucker.”
While a “kiki” sounds sexual, it’s a misconception! Sure, Shears speaks of the translations of the word in other languages referencing private parts, but within the context of a song, it’s “a party for calming all your nerves / We’re spilling tea and dishing just desserts one may deserve.” The killer reference that is Urban Dictionary confirms this: “A party including good music and good friends, held for the express purpose of calming nerves, reducing anxiety and stress and generally fighting ennui. May involve locked doors, tea, and salacious gossip.” Safe to say, Scissor Sisters make a kiki sound like a blast. If you have never experienced the jubilant listening experience that is “Let’s Have a Kiki,” gurlll, u betta get on dat! This is the Sisters at their very best, and certainly most queer!
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