Gay anthem
A gay anthem is a popular song that has become widely popular among, or has become identified with, the gay community, particularly gay men, although some of these songs may also become anthems for the rest of the LGBT community. Multiple top-charting popular songs, such as "I Think I'm in Love with You" by Jessica Simpson, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, "For Once in My Life" by Mel B, "Raise Your Glass" by Pink and "We R Who We R" by Kesha have become a "refuge of unambiguous support for gay rights". Not all songs labelled as "gay anthems" were written with that purpose, but they are included in this subgenre of popular music if they have become particularly popular among the gay community.
The lyrics of gay anthems are often marked by themes of perseverance, inner strength, acceptance, pride, and unity. Ten elements were identified by the editors of the 2002 book Queer, which they claim describe themes common to many gay anthems: "big voiced divas; themes of overcoming hardship in love; "you are not alone;" themes of throwing your cares away ; hard won self-esteem; unashamed sexuality; the search for acceptance; torch songs for the world-weary; the theme of love conquers all; and of making no apologies for who you are."
According to Popular Music, a music journal, the song most commonly identified as a gay anthem is "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. The song is described as "a classic emblem of gay culture in the post-Stonewall and AIDS eras and arguably disco's greatest anthem." UK LGBT rights charity Stonewall named Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" the most empowering song of the 2000s decade for LGBT people, and Elton John predicted it would replace "I Will Survive" as the pre-eminent gay anthem.
Village People's "Y.M.C.A.", The Weather Girls's "It's Raining Men", Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", ABBA's "Dancing Queen" are classic gay anthems.
Madonna's "Vogue", Mariah Carey's "Hero", Ultra Naté's "Free", Janet Jackson's "Together Again", Cher's "Believe", Jessica Simpson's "I Think I'm in Love with You" and "A Public Affair", Kylie Minogue's "Spinning Around" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", Geri Halliwell's "It's Raining Men", Dannii Minogue's "I Begin to Wonder", Melanie C's "Never Be the Same Again" and "Think About It", Tamar Braxton's "Hot Sugar" and "My Man", Lady Gaga's "Born This Way", and Ariana Grande's "Break Free" are considered as gay anthems for the new generation.
Songs from famous soundtracks as "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston from The Bodyguard, "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill from Pearl Harbor, "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes from Coyote Ugly, "Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim and Pink from Moulin Rouge! and "We Can" by LeAnn Rimes from are beloved by the gay community and are considered gay anthems.
The main single of "I Turn to You" by Melanie C, which became a gay anthem, was released as the "Hex Hector Radio Mix", for which Hex Hector won the 2001 Grammy as Remixer of the Year.
Themes
Although every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem has shown a trend among the years. In the book Queer, the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems:- Big-voiced divas
- :Rather than particular songs, this area of gay anthems is more akin to a cult of personality of a large gay male following for some particular diva-style pop music vocalists who are almost always female gay icons. Modern examples include Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Cher, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Tamar Braxton, Geri Halliwell, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey.
- Overcoming hardship in love
- :Usually a narrative of a wronged lover who comes back stronger than before.
- You are not alone
- :Songs about coming together as a community or reassurance to the lonely that there are others like them out there.
- Throw your cares away
- :A carefree narrative about putting your troubles aside and partying.
- Hard-won self-esteem
- :Here, the theme involves fighting through oppression, darkness or fear to gain freedom, beauty or self-esteem.
- Celebrating unashamed sexuality
- :The theme here is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature.
- Search for acceptance
- :Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives.
- Torch song for the world weary
- :A narrative about being used, abused and surviving to tell the tale of lament.
- Love conquers all
- :Tales of not giving up on love despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
- No apologies
- :Here, the theme revolves around defiantly living one's life despite what others may want
- :
List of historically significant gay anthem songs
| Year released | Song title | Artist | Reference/notes | - |
| 1920 | "The Lavender Song " | Lyrics by Kurt Schwabach | - | |
| 1928 | "Prove It On Me" | Ma Rainey | - | |
| 1932 | "Mad About the Boy" | Noel Coward | - | |
| 1937 | "Easy Living" | Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra | - | |
| 1938 | "Lush Life" | Billy Strayhorn | - | |
| 1939 | "Over the Rainbow" | Judy Garland | - | |
| 1954 | "The Man That Got Away" | Judy Garland | - | |
| 1957 | "Somewhere " | From the musical West Side Story | - | |
| 1958 | "My Baby Cares Just For Me" | Nina Simone | - | |
| 1960 | "As Long as He Needs Me" | Shirley Bassey | - | |
| 1962 | "The Man I Love" | Gene Howard | - | |
| 1963 | "Hello Stranger" | Barbara Lewis | - | |
| 1964 | "You Don't Own Me" | Lesley Gore | - | |
| 1966 | "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" | Dusty Springfield | - | |
| 1966 | "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" | Roberta Flack | - | |
| 1968 | "Don't Rain On My Parade" | Barbra Streisand | - | |
| 1970 | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Diana Ross | - | |
| 1970 | "Lola" | The Kinks | - | |
| 1970 | "You Don't Own Me" | Dusty Springfield | - | |
| 1971 | "" | Wendy Carlos | - | |
| 1971 | "It Must Be Love" | Labi Siffre | - | |
| 1972 | "All the Young Dudes" | Mott the Hoople | - | |
| 1972 | "Starman" | David Bowie | - | |
| 1972 | "Walk on the Wild Side" | Lou Reed | - | |
| 1974 | "I Will Always Love You" | Dolly Parton | - | |
| 1974 | "Take Me I’m Yours" | Jobriath | - | |
| 1975 | "Sweet Transvestite" | Tim Curry from the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show | - | |
| 1975 | "I Was Born This Way" | Carl Bean | - | |
| 1975 | "I Was Born This Way" | Valentino | - | |
| 1975 | "Home" | Introduced by Stephanie Mills Popularised by Diana Ross | - | |
| 1975 | "Landslide" | Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac | - | |
| 1976 | "Dancing Queen" | ABBA | - | |
| 1976 | "The Killing of Georgie" | Rod Stewart | - | |
| 1976 | "Turn the Beat Around" | Vicki Sue Robinson | - | |
| 1976 | "Jolene" | Dolly Parton | - | |
| 1976 | "Somebody to Love" | Queen | - | |
| 1977 | "I Feel Love" | Donna Summer | - | |
| 1977 | "Dreams" | Fleetwood Mac | - | |
| 1977 | "Gold Dust Woman" | Fleetwood Mac | - | |
| 1977 | "Best of My Love" | The Emotions | - | |
| 1978 | "Two Doors Down" | Dolly Parton | - | |
| 1978 | Baby I'm Burning" | Dolly Parton | - | |
| 1978 | "I Will Survive" | Gloria Gaynor | - | |
| 1978 | "Glad to Be Gay" | Tom Robinson Band | - | |
| 1978 | "You Make Me Feel " | Sylvester | - | |
| 1978 | "I Love the Nightlife" | Alicia Bridges | - | |
| 1978 | "Macho Man" | Village People | - | |
| 1978 | "Y.M.C.A." | Village People | - | |
| 1978 | "September" | Earth, Wind and Fire | - | |
| 1978 | "Last Dance" | Donna Summer | - | |
| 1978 | "I'm Every Woman" | Chaka Khan | - | |
| 1979 | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! | ABBA | - | |
| 1979 | "Boys Keep Swinging" | David Bowie | - | |
| 1979 | "We Are Family" | Sister Sledge | - | |
| 1979 | "No More Tears " | Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand | - | |
| 1979 | "Go West" | Village People | - | |
| 1979 | "Knock on Wood" | Amii Stewart | - | |
| 1979 | "Don't Stop Me Now | Queen | - | |
| 1979 | "You Know How to Love Me" | Phyllis Hyman | - | |
| 1980 | "I'm Coming Out" | Diana Ross | - | |
| 1980 | "9 to 5" | Dolly Parton | - | |
| 1980 | "Private Idaho" | The B52s | - | |
| 1980 | "Never Knew Love Like This Before" | Stephanie Mills | - | |
| 1981 | "Tainted Love" | Soft Cell | - | |
| 1981 | "Pull Up to the Bumper" | Grace Jones | - | |
| 1982 | "Edge of Seventeen" | Stevie Nicks | - | |
| 1982 | "I've Never Been to Me" | Charlene | - | |
| 1982 | "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" | Culture Club | - | |
| 1982 | "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" | Jennifer Holliday | - | |
| 1982 | "It's Raining Men" | The Weather Girls | - | |
| 1982 | "Love My Way" | The Psychedelic Furs | - | |
| 1983 | "Church of the Poison Mind" | Culture Club | - | |
| 1983 | "This Charming Man" | The Smiths | - | |
| 1983 | "So Many Men, So Little Time" | Miquel Brown | - | |
| 1983 | "Relax" | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | - | |
| 1983 | "I Am What I Am" | From the musical La Cage aux Folles | - | |
| 1983 | "Holiday" | Madonna | - | |
| 1984 | "Smalltown Boy" | Bronski Beat | - | |
| 1984 | "Why?" | Bronski Beat | - | |
| 1984 | "You Spin Me Round " | Dead or Alive | - | |
| 1984 | "I Want to Break Free" | Queen | - | |
| 1985 | "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" | Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin | - | |
| 1985 | "How Will I Know" | Whitney Houston | - | |
| 1985 | "Running Up That Hill" | Kate Bush | - | |
| 1986 | "Don't Leave Me This Way" | The Communards | - | |
| 1986 | "Kiss" | Prince | - | |
| 1986 | "True Colors" | Cyndi Lauper | - | |
| 1987 | "Seven Wonders" | Fleetwood Mac | - | |
| 1987 | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody " | Whitney Houston | - | |
| 1987 | "It's a Sin" | Pet Shop Boys | - | |
| 1988 | "A Little Respect" | Erasure | - | |
| 1988 | "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" | Belinda Carlisle | - | |
| 1988 | "Fast Car" | Tracy Chapman | - | |
| 1989 | "Express Yourself" | Madonna | - | |
| 1989 | "If I Could Turn Back Time" | Cher | - | |
| 1989 | "I Want That Man" | Deborah Harry | - | |
| 1989 | "Closer to Fine" | Indigo Girls | - | |
| 1990 | "Vogue" | Madonna | - | |
| 1990 | "Freedom! '90" | George Michael | - | |
| 1990 | "Show Me Love" | Robin S. | - | |
| 1991 | "Finally" | CeCe Peniston | - | |
| 1991 | "Better The Devil You Know" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 1991 | "Justified and Ancient" | The KFL & Tammy Wynette | - | |
| 1992 | "Constant Craving" | k.d. lang | - | |
| 1992 | "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" | Sophie B. Hawkins | - | |
| 1992 | "Supermodel " | RuPaul | - | |
| 1992 | "Deeper and Deeper" | Madonna | - | |
| 1992 | "I Will Always Love You" | Whitney Houston | - | |
| 1993 | "Come to My Window" | Melissa Etheridge | - | |
| 1993 | "Yes I Am" | Melissa Etheridge | - | |
| 1993 | "This Is It" | Dannii Minogue | - | |
| 1993 | "I'm Every Woman" | Whitney Houston | - | |
| 1993 | "Rebel Girl" | Bikini Kill | - | |
| 1993 | "Hero" | Mariah Carey | - | |
| 1994 | "A Deeper Love" | Aretha Franklin | - | |
| 1995 | "I Kissed a Girl" | Jill Sobule | - | |
| 1995 | "Fastlove" | George Michael | - | |
| 1995 | George Michael | - | - | |
| 1995 | "Waterfalls" | TLC | - | |
| 1995 | "I Am the Beautiful Body" | Salt N Pepa | - | |
| 1996 | "Seasons of Love" | Introduced in the musical Rent | - | |
| 1996 | "Take Me or Leave Me" | Idina Menzel & Fredi Walker | - | |
| 1996 | "Wannabe" | Spice Girls | - | |
| 1996 | "2 Become 1" | Spice Girls | - | |
| 1997 | "Young Hearts Run Free" | Kym Mazelle | - | |
| 1997 | "Free" | Ultra Naté | - | |
| 1997 | "Together Again" | Janet Jackson | - | |
| 1997 | "Butterfly" | Mariah Carey | - | |
| 1997 | "One More Hour" | Sleater-Kinney | - | |
| 1998 | "Believe" | Cher | - | |
| 1998 | "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" | Deborah Cox | - | |
| 1998 | "The Origins of Love" | Introduced in Hedwig and the Angry Inch | - | |
| 1998 | "The Boy Is Mine" | Brandy & Monica | - | |
| 1998 | "Outside" | George Michael | - | |
| 1999 | "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" | Shania Twain | - | |
| 1999 | "Waiting for Tonight" | Jennifer Lopez | - | |
| 1999 | "Strong Enough" | Cher | - | |
| 1999 | "New York City Boy" | Pet Shop Boys | - | |
| 1999 | "Mi Chico Latino" | Geri Halliwell | - | |
| 1999 | "It's Not Right but It's Okay" | Whitney Houston | - | |
| 2000 | "Stronger" | Britney Spears | - | |
| 2000 | "Proud" | Heather Small | - | |
| 2000 | "Bag It Up" | Geri Halliwell | - | |
| 2000 | "I Turn to You" | Melanie C | - | |
| 2000 | "Can't Take That Away " | Mariah Carey | - | |
| 2000 | "Can't Fight the Moonlight" | LeAnn Rimes | - | |
| 2000 | "Spinning Around" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2001 | "Your Disco Needs You" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2001 | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2001 | "It's Raining Men" | Geri Halliwell | - | |
| 2001 | "Murder on the Dancefloor" | Sophie Ellis-Bextor | - | |
| 2001 | "Lady Marmalade" | Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim and Pink | - | |
| 2001 | "There You'll Be" | Faith Hill | - | |
| 2001 | "Who Do You Love Now?" | Dannii Minogue | - | |
| 2002 | "Love at First Sight" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2002 | "Beautiful" | Christina Aguilera | - | |
| 2002 | "No More Drama" | Mary J. Blige | - | |
| 2002 | "Shined on Me" | Praise Cats | - | |
| 2002 | "Dove " | Moony | - | |
| 2002 | "A quien le importa" | Thalia | - | |
| 2003 | "Defying Gravity" | Introduced by Idina Menzel, from the musical Wicked | - | |
| 2003 | "I Begin to Wonder" | Dannii Minogue | - | |
| 2003 | "Me Against the Music" | Britney Spears featuring Madonna | - | |
| 2004 | "Take Your Mama" | Scissor Sisters | - | |
| 2004 | "You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison" | My Chemical Romance | - | |
| 2005 | "Hung Up" | Madonna | - | |
| 2005 | "Ride It" | Geri Halliwell | - | |
| 2006 | "A Public Affair" | Jessica Simpson | - | |
| 2006 | "Nothing in This World" | Paris Hilton | - | |
| 2006 | "Stars Are Blind" | Paris Hilton | - | |
| 2006 | "Best of Both Worlds" | Hannah Montana | - | |
| 2006 | "Buttons | The Pussycat Dolls | - | |
| 2006 | "Listen" | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2006 | "Freakum Dress" | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2007 | "Get Me Bodied" | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2007 | "Gimme More" | Britney Spears | - | |
| 2007 | "The Story" | Brandi Carlile | - | |
| 2009 | "Fuck You" | Lily Allen | - | |
| 2009 | "Bad Romance" | Lady Gaga | - | |
| 2010 | "All The Lovers | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2010 | "Get Outta My Way" | Kylie Minogue | - | |
| 2010 | "Dancing on My Own" | Robyn | - | |
| 2010 | "Firework" | Katy Perry | - | |
| 2010 | "We R Who We R" | Kesha | - | |
| 2010 | "Raise Your Glass" | P!nk | - | |
| 2011 | "Born This Way" | Lady Gaga | - | |
| 2011 | "Run The World " | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2011 | "Love On Top | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2012 | "Thinkin Bout You" | Frank Ocean | - | |
| 2012 | "Let There Be Love" | Christina Aguilera | - | |
| 2012 | "Same Love" | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert | - | |
| 2012 | "Call Me Maybe" | Carly Rae Jepsen | - | |
| 2012 | "Sweater Weather" | The Neighbourhood | - | |
| 2012 | "Let's Have a Kiki" | Scissor Sisters | - | |
| 2012 | "Die Young" | Kesha | - | |
| 2013 | "Land of Lola" | Billy Porter | - | |
| 2013 | "Raise You Up/Just Be" | Billy Porter | - | |
| 2013 | "Follow Your Arrow" | Kacey Musgraves | - | |
| 2013 | "Closer" | Tegan and Sara | - | |
| 2013 | "Woman's World" | Cher | - | |
| 2013 | "Brave" | Sara Bareilles | - | |
| 2013 | "Girls/Girls/Boys" | Panic! at the Disco | - | |
| 2013 | "Let It Go" | Idina Menzel | - | |
| 2013 | "Work Bitch" | Britney Spears | - | |
| 2013 | "***Flawless" | Beyoncé | - | |
| 2014 | "True Trans Soul Rebel" | Against Me | - | |
| 2014 | "Queen" | Perfume Genius | - | |
| 2014 | "Break Free" | Ariana Grande | - | |
| 2014 | "Born An Angel" | Afida Turner | - | |
| 2014 | "Fancy" | Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX | - | |
| 2014 | "Really Don't Care" | Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd | - | |
| 2014 | "Sissy That Walk" | RuPaul | - | |
| 2015 | "Run Away with Me" | Carly Rae Jepsen | - | |
| 2015 | "Cool for the Summer" | Demi Lovato | - | |
| 2015 | "Girls Like Girls" | Hayley Kiyoko | - | |
| 2015 | "King" | Years & Years | - | |
| 2016 | "Secret Love Song" | - | ||
| 2016 | "Work from Home" | Fifth Harmony | - | |
| 2016 | "Into You" | Ariana Grande | - | |
| 2016 | "Sexual" | Neiked | - | |
| 2016 | "Formation" | Beyoncé | ||
| 2016 | "Hold Up" | Beyoncé | ||
| 2016 | "Sorry" | Beyoncé | ||
| 2016 | "All In" | Monsta X | - | |
| 2016 | "One More Day" | Sistar and Georgio Morodor | - | |
| 2016 | "Sweet Dream" | Kim Hee-chul and Min Kyung-hoon | - | |
| 2017 | "Heaven" | Troye Sivan & Betty Who | - | |
| 2017 | "Angels In Chains" | Geri Halliwell | - | |
| 2017 | "Sorry Not Sorry" | Demi Lovato | - | |
| 2017 | "Chanel" | Frank Ocean | - | |
| 2017 | "Nights with You" | MØ | - | |
| 2017 | "Cut to the Feeling" | Carly Rae Jepsen | - | |
| 2017 | "Power" | Little Mix | - | |
| 2017 | "New Rules" | Dua Lipa | - | |
| 2017 | "Boys" | Charli XCX | - | |
| 2017 | "Call Me Mother" | RuPaul | - | |
| 2017 | "This Is Me" | Keala Settle | - | |
| 2017 | "Mystery of Love" | Sufjan Stevens | - | |
| 2017 | "Visions of Gideon" | Sufjan Stevens | - | |
| 2017 | "Heart Attack" | Loona | - | |
| 2017 | "The Joke" | Brandi Carlile | - | |
| 2018 | "Strawberries & Cigarettes | Troye Sivan | - | |
| 2018 | "My My My!" | Troye Sivan | - | |
| 2018 | "Bloom" | Troye Sivan | - | |
| 2018 | "Make Me Feel" | Janelle Monae | - | |
| 2018 | "Pynk" | Janelle Monae | - | |
| 2018 | "Rainbow" | Kacey Musgraves | - | |
| 2018 | "Home" | MJ Rodriguez & Billy Porter | - | |
| 2018 | "I’m Not Afraid" | Holland | - | |
| 2018 | "Colour" | MNEK and Hailee Steinfeld | - | |
| 2018 | "Promises" | Calvin Harris and Sam Smith | - | |
| 2018 | "No Tears Left to Cry" | Ariana Grande | - | |
| 2018 | "Thank U, Next" | Ariana Grande | - | |
| 2019 | "A Little Bit Alexis" | Annie Murphy | - | |
| 2019 | "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels" | Todrick Hall | - | |
| 2019 | ":es:Diosa de la noche|Abranse Perras" | Gloria Trevi | - | |
| 2019 | "Old Town Road" | Lil Nas X | - | |
| 2019 | "C7osure " | Lil Nas X | - | |
| 2019 | "BASIC" | Bilal Hassani | - | |
| 2019 | "On a Roll" | Ashley O | - | |
| 2019 | "You Need to Calm Down" | Taylor Swift | - | |
| 2019 | "Lights Up" | Harry Styles | - | |
| 2019 | "Don't Start Now" | Dua Lipa | - | |
| 2019 | "High Heels" | Melanie C | - | |
| 2019 | "Show Yourself" | Idina Menzel | - | |
| 2020 | "Physical" | Dua Lipa | - | |
| 2020 | "No Judgement" | Niall Horan | - | |
| 2020 | "React" | The Pussycat Dolls | - | |
| 2020 | "Savage" | Megan Thee Stallion & Beyoncé | - | |
| 2020 | "Rain On Me" | Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande | ||
| 2020 | "Someone to You" | BANNERS |