Hello all, and welcome once again to another month of What I'm Listening To! Summer is upon us now that June is here, and that also means it is Pride Month! LGBTQ+ artists have given the world so much musically throughout the years, and this month we will highlight just some of them.
"Somebody to Love" - Queen (Queen's Greatest Hits)
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Queen. Their songs are iconic, and a lot of that credit falls onto Freddie Mercury, who was the lead singer of Queen. Freddie was a once in a lifetime voice, a voice that was cut too short. "Somebody to Love" is a beautiful song about wanting to find that special person in your life. Love is Love. And Love will always triumph over Hate.
"Faith" - George Michael (Faith)
George Michael first came onto the scene as a member of the music group Wham! in the early 1980's. In 1986, the band split, and George went on to have a successful solo career. There are multiple reasons why I love this song. First, the guitar strums. The strums themselves make this song an instant classic in my opinion. Secondly, the message, that you 'gotta have faith' that things are going to be ok. As George put it: "It represents the way I feel at the moment. It's kind of another word for my hope and optimism."
"Old Town Road" - Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus (2020 Grammy Nominees)
I remember when the original of this song first came out. It was a country solo song by fresh on the block artist Lil Nas X, that climbed to the top of the country charts. However, the CMAs did not acknowledge it as a country song, and Billy Ray Cyrus jumped to defend him. Not only that, but the remix to the original is so, so good that it was a Grammy nominee, and a national hit that launched Lil Nas X into the stratosphere. A champion for the LGBTQ+ community, Lil Nas X has rightfully earned his place. This song rocks!
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - Sir Elton John (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road)
How in the world could I not put Sir Elton John on this list? The man has done it all, sung it all, and is top 3 my favorite artists of all time (don't ask me the other 2...that would require a lot of debate). Elton had a rollercoaster life, with both highs and lows in dealing with his sexuality, but the thing I love was that he was able to become his true self as time went on. This is most definitely one of my favorite songs of his. If you have never heard of this song (!), please enjoy this great album.
"Make Me Feel" - Janelle Monáe (Dirty Computer)
Janelle Monáe is both an accomplished singer and actor. Anything she touches turns to solid gold. With multiple hit albums, it can be hard for me to put down just one song. However, this is one of the first songs I heard of hers on the radio, and I think it's a nice, elegant, pop song. Their vocals are so silky, and I am extremely excited for their new album "The Age of Pleasure" coming out this month.
This is just a small collection of LGTBQ+ artists who have made the musical world, and the world in general, a better place to live. May their voices be not only heard, but raised this month.
