Celebrating pride is all about breaking boundaries to accept and express yourself freely.
Music has always been important to the gay rights movement as it transcends barriers and puts out voices to be heard. In fact, many LGBTQ artists are slowly making their way to mainstream acceptance.
So what better way to celebrate queer culture than singing your heart out to these amazing anthems? From disco jams to tender ballads, we have everything for everyone in the community!
The Best Karaoke Songs about Pride
“Born This Way” – Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has been outspoken about her support for the LGBTQ community for years.
Released in 2011, “Born This Way” is a certified gay anthem that focuses on self-empowerment and being yourself.
As expected of any Gaga song, this track runs on a high-energy melody filled with loud synths and bass that’ll liven any party.
“Vogue” – Madonna
This 1990 smash hit was inspired by a dance style that was popular in the underground gay club scene.
The track popularized the art of “vogueing” and made it mainstream, turning Madonna into a gay icon.
With a classy and stylish rhythm, it’s a catchy song that encourages us to have all the fun we want.
“I’m Coming Out” – Diana Ross
Before it even went official, this track was already intended as an LGBT anthem.
It was apparently written after Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards saw three drag queens dressed as Ross at a New York club.
The track revolves around themes of self-disclosure and celebration of LGBTQ identities.
“Elton’s Song” – Elton John
Elton’s Song is a slow-paced ode to unrequited love.
Though lyrically genderless, the video depicts a boy crushing on an older boy, whom he cannot be with.
It’s extremely relatable for plenty of gay people who can’t come forward with their true feelings.
“Closer” – Tegan and Sara
Canadian pop sisters Tegan and Sara show us that love is universal in this 2012 track.
Filled with upbeat synths and beats, “Closer” depicts the thrill and intimacy of various relationships, romantic and platonic.
It’s a meaningful and dance-worthy song that you can sing to your partners and friends.
“Freedom! ‘90” – George Michael
As a gay man, George Michael wasn’t just a talented singer, he was also a role model and trendsetter for LGBT individuals around the world.
This worldwide hit was his way of reintroducing himself as a new man in the music scene after departing from his group Wham!
With a catchy melody and transformative lyrics, you’ll surely have tons of fun belting this song out with your friends.
“Take Your Mama” – Scissor Sisters
This 2006 smash hit took the dilemma of coming out and put their own hilarious spin on it.
The song is about a queer man who tries to bond with his mother by showing her the gay nightlife.
Featuring feel-good instrumentals, we can guarantee everyone will have a good laugh from this track.
“Smalltown Boy” – Bronski Beat
It has a catchy, almost dreamlike beat, but it’s actually a pretty heartbreaking song.
“Smalltown Boy” revolves around a boy who had to leave his hometown for being gay.
Released in 1984, it features typical ’80s-style synths and sounds to create this amazing composition with Beat’s emotional falsetto.
“True Trans Soul Rebel” – Against Me!
Published in the 2014, this song is based off the experiences of punk-rock band Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace.
It details her transition, her fears about coming out, and struggles during her darkest times.
The introspective lyrics are relatable to any LGBT individual, and the overall song serves as an inspiration for transwomen.
“Where the Girls Are” – The Gossip
If you’re looking for a spunky lesbian anthem, this song checks out all the boxes.
Featuring a rock-infused rhythm, the track is all about a queer woman who’s madly in love with her girlfriend.
“I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” – girl in red
Norwegian artist Girl In Red is often regarded as a queer icon, especially since her rise to popularity through TikTok.
This 2017 track would be relatable to any queer person, as it depicts themes of unrequited love due to stigmas surrounding homosexuality.
An indie-pop song, it’s pretty easy to sing, and the lyrics aren’t difficult to remember either.
“Youth” – Troye Sivan
While it took years before he came out to the public, Sivan frequently features LGBT relationships in his songs.
“Youth” is, at its core, a love story between two young men who want to experience the joy and bitterness of living life.
The energetic tune and straightforward lyrics give it a carefree vibe that sweeps you off into a sweet fantasy.
“Hold My Hand” – Jess Glyne
Jess Glyne has always been open about her bisexuality and even wrote her first album after a breakup with her girlfriend.
“Hold My Hand” sets a romantic vibe as it describes the dizzy feeling of love and intimacy.
The song is a high-energy fusion of pop and country beats that would make anyone wanna dance.
“Run Away with Me” – Carly Rae Jepsen
Featured in her 2015 album Emotion, this track was Jepsen’s development and growth from her teen-pop days with “Call Me Maybe.”
With high-paced drums, bass, and synths, the song embodies the restless passion of romantic relationships.
It’s a certified Pride party track that celebrates the freedom of being able to love whoever you want.
“Believe” – Cher
No Pride playlist is complete without this worldwide hit by the iconic Goddess of Pop.
“Believe” isn’t just nostalgic, it’s an upbeat and feel-good trip that puts you in the party mood.
An anthem of self-sufficiency, it’s so well-known that everyone can easily sing it along with you.
“It’s Raining Men” – The Weather Girls
It’s no surprise this 1982 hit became a camp classic with its disco-infused beats, pulsing bass, and uptempo melody.
After the song’s release, it was embraced as a gay anthem that even RuPaul himself had made a cover of it with Martha Wash.
“All the Lovers” – Kylie Minogue
“All the Lovers” was apparently written as an homage to Minogue’s gay fanbase.
The core message of the song revolved around how boundless love is, accompanied by Minogue’s breathy and distant vocals.
Driven by high-paced synths and electro-pop productions, this track will definitely get your audience hyped up.
“Tainted Love” – Soft Cell
Rather than your typical love ballad, “Soft Cell” made a gay cover of Gloria Jones’s 1964 single.
Their version focuses on a man who’s desperate to get away from his narcissistic lover.
The song has a sinister vibe, but its slow tempo and rhythmic tune makes it fun to sing.
“Medicine” – Harry Styles
Styles’s 2018 pop track was called a “bisexual anthem” for its lyrics about sexual fluidity and music video that features the color palette of the bisexual flag.
A mix of rock and pop, this song is perfect for the stage with its powerful rhythm and vocal style.
“True Colors” – Cyndi Lauper
“True Colors” is another classic song that has become a gay standard over the years.
The lyrics talk about the beauty of being yourself, a theme that resonates strongly with the LGBT community.
Lauper herself is an ally and co-founded the True Colors Fund, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating homelessness among the LGBT youth.
“Him” – Sam Smith
Smith shares his experiences as a gay man in his standout track from his 2017 album.
The gospel-influenced track tells the story of a boy’s coming out and his resolve in staying true to himself, no matter what others say.
“Him” is one of Smith’s more toned-down songs, making it pretty manageable for karaoke.
“Supermodel (You Better Work)” – RuPaul
Despite being released in 1992, drag icon RuPaul’s dance hit is still an essential listen in the LGBT community.
It’s all about being fabulous and extraordinary as we take on the spotlight on the catwalk. As Mama Ru says, “Sashay, shantay!”
“Feelings” – Hayley Kiyoko
Like her other works, Kiyoko highlights lesbian relationships and dealing with suppresed feelings in her 2017 track.
With a catchy tune and straightforward lyrics, it’s a smooth, melodic song that goes easy on your vocal cords.
