Popdorian, Vanilla | Beaming with Pride

In the 51^st edition of Beaming with Pride (2026), we highlight “Vanilla” performed by the queer Dutch dance-pop act Popdorian.

Are you ready to beam with P-R-I-D-E? Beaming with Pride highlights songs by LGBTQ musicians and allies, offering background, analysis, and discussion of the decadent bops served up. All genres are welcome, and both classics and new songs are recognized. So, without further ado, in the 51^st  edition of Beaming with Pride (2026), we highlight “Vanilla” performed by Popdorian.

Ooh-la-la! Speak on it! Queer Dutch dance-pop act Popdorian, composed of Ype Driessen, Botte Jellema, and Kenne Peters, treats us to sheer decadence via “Vanilla”.  Sure, vanilla itself can be ultra plain in so many ways, but in their creative musical hands, it comes through big time.  Actually, anti-vanilla-ness is part of the song’s modus operandi. “Vanilla” was written by Diessen and Jellema.

“Vanilla” slaps from the get-go.  It thrives on its exuberant, ultra-fab synth-driven sound. Beyond the synths and keys, the groove is scintillating. All told, the production is vibrant to the nth degree.  This is the perfect fuel for the vocalists’ fire.  How fiery are they? Well, fiery in a refined, sophisticated way! The vocals are buttery smooth, which fits the song’s character and makes our ears perk up something fierce.  Epic production. Check. Sickening vocals. Also check.  That leaves the songwriting.  You can check that off too.  The melodies are ‘melody-ing’ throughout the verses, chorus, and bridge. The lyrics are catchy and introspective, too (“Didn’t know what I was missing / Must’ve been out of my mind”).  The takeaway? No vanilla, no more!  Unsurprisingly, the chorus is the crowning achievement:

“You’ve ushered in a whole new

Don’t wanna be your vanilla (vanilla)

I want the full score; I’m done with a cappella

Don’t wanna be your vanilla no more.”

In short, Popdorian ‘does the damn thing’ on “Vanilla”.  The vocals, production, and songwriting all receive high marks.  Also, credit the single cover art too.  We love shirtless-ness on Beaming with Pride… and in life… I digress.

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Popdorian » “Vanilla” » Popdorian » 2026

Popdorian, Vanilla: Beaming with Pride No. 51 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Popdorian; Cristyan Bohn, Ketut Subiyanto, Luis Morales Torres, SHVETS production, Uriel Mont from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson, Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay]

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