We are mid-way through June now, meaning we are also halfway through Pride Month. Perhaps you've been to some celebrations so far and are still trying to figure out the names of those awesome songs you heard during the parade, at the bar, or wherever you went. Maybe you have an upcoming Pride party to plan and are looking for some fresh tunes that match the theme.
The songs below will fit all of your Pride needs for 2022! Some of them are fresh-out-of-the-oven new...as in they're only a few days or months old. Others have been around for a few years but are just now getting the recognition they deserve. In any case, we hope you enjoy this selection of tracks. They'll be sure to get you in the celebrating mood!
1. "This Hell" - Rina Sawayama
We don't care what anyone else says: this song has been the official Pride anthem of 2022. Rina Sawayama's "This Hell" has been playing everywhere this month, and we know why. It's catchy, has a cool country/rodeo edge in an otherwise sassy pop song, and makes fun of homophobic worldviews in a tasteful way. Not to mention it's sooooo dancy. This tongue-in-cheek tune has been a great addition to the pansexual Sawayama's catalogue, and we can't wait to hear the rest of the tracks on her upcoming sophomore album, Hold the Girl.
2. "You Make Me Feel" - Solardo & Comanavago
A club-ready banger all about the bliss of love – in all its forms. While this doesn't address LGBTQ+ issues or themes specifically, you can hear within this song's musical undertones that it was totally made for a kiki. With sky-high vocals and a sound that's somewhere between 90s NYC underground dance hall vibes and retro 70s disco, "You Make Me Feel" will definitely have you feeling something. Personally, it makes us feel "mighty real."
3. "Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)" - MUNA
We already mentioned MUNA in our 10 LGBTQ+ Artists You Should Know in 2022 list. We feel their sapphic tune "Silk Chiffon" is best to blast out loud for Pride. It's so sugary, sunny, and well...pretty. In the track, lead vocalist Katie Gavin and Phoebe Bridgers speak on the pure beauty and bliss of queer love, comparing the softness of their lover’s aura to the texture of silk chiffon. Also, the music video for this song is wonderfully amusing. If you've seen the film But I'm a Cheerleader, you'll get a kick out of it.
4. "Don't Give Up" - Maggie Szabo
"Don't Give Up" is an inspirational pop ballad about not giving up on your own identity. If you like tunes similar to Kelly Clarkson's, Jordin Sparks', Leona Lewis', or Katy Perry's, you'll probably feel compelled to add this to your Pride playlist. Despite the music video being made in 2017, we feel it's worth mentioning due to the fact that video proceeds are still being donated to the Ali Forney Center, which supports homelessness and LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, the song features members of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles.
5. "Wish You Were Gay" - Claud
Just like MUNA, Claud is a part of Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory Records. We love their 2019 song "Wish You Were Gay." While Billie Eilish's "wish you were gay" is meant for the straights, this "Wish You Were Gay" actually hits hard if you're a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This ballad is very melancholy and may even make you cry, but it never feels too cheesy or sentimental in its delivery. A good song to play at the end of a party, if you just need to wallow in your emotions. We even love the live version of "Wish You Were Gay," in which Claud takes the key down a notch.
6. "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" - Lil Nas X
Yes - we forgot to add this banger to last year's list of Pride songs. Probably because we didn't think "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" would have the lasting legacy it's had. Still, this song is new enough to include on this year's list. You definitely heard this bop sometime last year, but we think June 2022 is an excellent time to bring it back. The Andre Aciman reference in the song title, the sultry music production and lyrics, the iconic queer music video..."MONTERO" proved to be a defining moment in LGBTQ+ music history. It's a timeless tune worthy of any Pride Month.
7. "for the girls" - Hayley Kiyoko
A song that gives a whole new meaning to the term "hot girl summer." Hayley Kiyoko's new pop anthem "for the girls" is perfect for this month. It'll break any tension in the room "like a Kit Kat" and features a bouncy, fun beat that will bring pride to any bisexual woman. We particularly love the music video, which hilariously parodies The Bachelorette. It's all because Hayley Kiyoko is actually in a relationship with former Bachelorette contestant Becca Tilley, who appears at the end of the video!
8. "girls girls girls" - Fletcher
Fletcher is another artist we mentioned on our 10 LGBTQ+ Artists You Should Know in 2022 list, and seriously – we can't get enough of this tune. Similar to "for the girls," "girls girls girls" is made for girls who like girls. It geniusly samples Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" in the chorus, but makes the lyrics more lesbian-friendly. ("I kissed a girl and I liked it / Sipped hеr like an Old Fashioned / I kissed a girl and she liked it / It's better than I imagined"). Besides the rewrite, we love how bubbly, dreamy, and soft this song feels. The beat drop in the chorus hits hard!
9. "Gay 4 Me (feat. Lauren Sanderson)" - G Flip
Unapologetically raunchy, "Gay 4 Me" is equal parts slow and sexy, as well as loud and rockin'. G Flip and Lauren Sanderson's voices mesh so well together as they tell the stories of their lovers who are "only gay" for them. The vocal and drum work on this thing is pretty incredible, and if you're looking for a sound like Imagine Dragons but less overdone, "Gay 4 Me" is the way to go. Oh, and that TikTok robot voice at the end gives us a good chuckle.
10. "Love Me More" - Sam Smith
Sam Smith always brings out heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics for their songs, but we can't help but feel like "Love Me More" features their most vulnerable words. It's Smith’s first release of 2022 and their comeback to music following their third studio album, Love Goes, in 2020. Ultimately, "Love Me More" is all about the power of self-love despite the curveballs life throws at us. It's pretty relatable, especially with the hints of humor and self-mockery. "Love Me More" could lean into a more melancholic territory, but we appreciate how upbeat this track comes off. If you need a self-esteem boost this Pride Month, replay this Sam Smith jam!
READ NEXT: 20 More Songs to Add to Your Pride Playlist, The 20 Greatest LGBTQ+ Artists in Music History
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Article Image: A woman – wearing sunglasses and a rainbow shirt – stands in front of a white wall with rainbow stripes on it. (Isi Parente via Unsplash.)
