This month, we’re exploring queer protest songs.
Rid of Me by PJ Harvey.
Uprising of Love by Melissa Etheridge. Inspired by the Russian governments’s violent abuse toward the LGBTQ community, which was only highlighted by the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
I Know a Place by MUNA, released in 2016. "In June of 2015, we as a band decided that our LGBTQ community deserved a new song for Pride week,” said Muna’s Katie Gavin.
Boot by Tamar-Kali, released in 2002.
Quem soul eu released in 2021 by transgender Brazilian artist Linn de Quebrada and BADSISTA. Relying on the Internet’s translation from Portuguese, the title translates roughly to who am I? The song’s closing lyrics are “pleased to meet you, I’m the new Eve, Daughter of the fetters, work of the darkness, I didn’t eat the fruit of what’s good and what’s bad, I wrenched its leaves and I smoked its grass.”
Abomination from 2022’s Heterosexuality by queer artist Shamir. The entire album is a noise pop, avante garde, shoegaze, art punk journey through queer existence.
Standing in the Way of Control by Gossip from 2005’s album of the same name.
Make America Great Again by Russian protest group Pussy Riot released just before the 2016 election.
You Will Not Die by South African artist Nakhane, who came out as gay at age 19 and in a Christian fundamentalist community.
Queen by Perfume Genius released in 2014 on the album Too Bright is a powerful statement of nonconformity. At it’s 10th Anniversary, Too Bright and Queen continue to be a defiant and avowedly queer anthem.
Glad to be Gay by Tom Robinson Band, originally written for the 1976 London Gay Pride Parade. This recording is from their live performance in 1978. Tom Robinson credits the Sex Pistols with inspiring him to write more confrontational music.
Talking ‘Bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman. This song appeared on Chapman’s 1988 debut album. Revolution was a song Chapman carried around while she was still in college.
Fuck You by Lily Allen, released in 2008 and included in 2009’s It’s Not Me, It’s You. Allen confirmed the subject of the song during a concert in LA
2005’s Entertain by Sleater-Kinney from the Woods. 1984, truth, and reality is the new fiction.
A quien le importa by 1980s new wave band from Spain, Alaska y Dinarama.
Battle Cry by pansexual gender-fluid artist Angel Haze
Rise (Sam Feldt Remix) by English musician Calum Scott and Sam Feldt released as a single in 2021.
The Joke from 2018’s By the Way, I Forgive You by Brandi Carlile. Carlile wrote the song from the perspective of queer kids ultimately triumphing over adversity, and having the last laugh. The joke won 2 Grammys.
Peaches Fuck or Kill from 2006’s Impeach My Bush.
Turntables by non-binary artist Janelle Monae.
Fuck these Fucking Fascists by The Muslims
I was in a Cult by singer songwriter, teggy geiger
Fuck Your Labels by Carlie Hanson from 2022’s Tough Boy. Hanson says “Just don’t box me because I’m a million things.”
Kill the Bill by Ghanaian transgender musician Angel Maxine, Wanlov Kubolor, and Sister Deborah. Kill the Bill was released in 2021 in protest of Ghana’s anti-LGBT bill, known as the Family Values Bill. In an interview with BBC, Angel Maxine says the bill won’t erase the LGBTQ community. “We exist and we are in Ghana. It’s this Ghana that we will stay.”
This Hell from 2022’s Dirty Hit by pansexual Japanese artist Rina Sawayama. Sawayama says she wrote the song while thinking about recent religiously motivated attacks on LGBTQ rights: "When the world tells us we don't deserve love and protection," she said in a statement, "we have no choice but to give love and protection to each other."
To the Enemies of Political Rock by local heroes Team Dresch from their 1996 album Captain My Captain.
I Was Born This Way by Carl Bean, released in 1975.
- KBOO