The Parenting Playlist: 10 Songs From Popular LGBTQIA+ Identifying Parents
In honor of Pride Month, this top 10 list has 10 musicians in our cultural zeitgeist who are LGBTQIA+ Identifying. As this is our first list, I decided to start with a list of musical parents. Because it’s Pride, the songs here are very personal for the respected artists. Rather than their most known or popular songs, they are the songs that are closely tied to each of their experiences.
Elton John - “John’s Song”
This is a very personal song for Elton John, as the title suggests. He told the Rolling Stone "It was the first gay song that I actually recorded as a homosexual song," even though he was not yet publicly out when the song was written and released in 1981.
2. Brandi Carlile - “Carried Me With You”
Yes, the song she wrote and performed for Disney/Pixar’s “Onward.” It’s a really powerful song about family, love, and acceptance. There is no better poet than Brandi Carlile and “Carried Me With You” really carries a depth unlike any other. When writing this song, she was inspired by her own family.
3. David Bowie - “Rebel Rebel”
As the title suggests, this song was a rebellion song. It’s very much questioning gender identity and what’s considered feminine or masculine. When it came out in the 70’s, that was not something people were willing to talk about. He was one of the pioneers of what gender is and this song really emphasizes that fight.
4. Melissa Ethridge - “Come To My Window”
This song came from her Yes I Am album which was her first release after she came out. Yes I Am is a reference to her admission and most of the songs on the album are inspired by her relationship with Julie Cypher. When “Come to My Window” was released, she was deep in the relationship. It’s a romantic song using the window trope to be with her lover.
5. Ricky Martin - “The Best Thing About Me Is You”
“The Best Thing About Me Is You” is the first song on Ricky’s album Música + Alma + Sexo, the first album he released after he came out. It’s the first time listeners got of Ricky being open and honest. It’s vulnerable and drips with positivity. He embraces himself and others. The Spanish version is almost more beautiful than the English one.
6. Halsey “So Good”
Halsey’s “So Good” is her brand new single about a relationship that could be. It’s about the one that got away. But while it doesn’t work out between them, they both still have happy endings in the end.
7. Chely Wright - “Like Me”
This song is was released before Chely Wright came out as a lesbian, but if you listen, it contains lyrics that make you think she’s trying to come out. She’s alluding to her sexuality in “Like Me” as she sings “And who's gonna end up holdin' your hand-/A beautiful woman or a tall, handsome man?/There's no doubt they'll love you, but it's yet to be seen:/Will anyone ever know you like me?”
8. Rufus Wainwright - “Gay Messiah”
The infamous and talented singer/songwriter’s song “Gay Messiah” originally appeared on his EP, Waiting For Want, in 2004. In classic Rufus Wainwright fashion, he expresses his sexuality using religious and gay iconography in the lyrics. He also seems to reject his “Gay Icon” label that he was given.
9. Pete Townshend - “Rough Boys”
“Rough Boys'“ is Pete Townshend’s debut solo single. He admits that it was a coming out song for him, telling Timothy White in a 1989 interview that “Rough Boys” is “an acknowledgment of the fact that I'd had a gay life, and that I understood what gay sex was about.”
10. Laura Jane Grace with Against Me! - “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”
As part of the band Against Me! Laura Jane Grace released “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” under the album of the same name, which also includes “True Trans Soul Rebel” and “Dead Friend.” It’s a personal song/album for Laura Jane Grace, who has been open about her own body dysphoria growing up. The album was released on the heels of her transition and coming out story. This song and album is a cathartic release of pent up energy and emotions. I recommend listening to the full album.