These are songs through which artists of very different types and backgrounds have continued to advocate for freedom and the right to be oneself. Because it is necessary to continue advocating for the freedom and respect we all deserve, but it is also important to enjoy and celebrate our love for music.
At LOS40, we couldn’t help but highlight not only the great songs of the year but also those that speak of the necessary sexual freedom, hoping they become references not only for the community but also for the rest of society that still has much to learn and fight for.
Undoubtedly, music has been supporting pride and making the collective visible for years. Thanks to music for always being ahead of society. And this 2023 has been no exception. These are, in our opinion, some of the best LGBTQ songs of 2023.
Demi Lovato – Swine
The story of ‘Swine’ was beautifully told by Demi Lovato herself through her social media: «It’s been a year since the Supreme Court decision to dismantle the constitutional right to a safe abortion, and although the road ahead will be difficult, we must remain united in our fight for reproductive justice. I created ‘Swine’ to amplify the voices of those advocating for choice and bodily autonomy. I want this song to empower not only people born in this country but everyone who advocates for equality, to embrace their agency and fight for a world where everyone’s right to make decisions about their own body is honored.»
Starting from that point where the singer fought for and advocated the right of thousands of women to decide about their own bodies on such an important topic as abortion rights, there is no doubt that the interpretations of ‘Swine’ can be applied to many other areas of society where a few decide about the bodies of others.
The lyrics couldn’t be clearer on this matter in its opening verses:
God forbid, I wanna suck whatever the fuck I wanna
God forbid, I wanna fuck whoever the fuck I want
And if he cums, I guess I gotta be a mother
Fuck what I think, I don’t know a thing, the government knows my body
No, it’s okay, it’s better this way, I’m only a carbon copy
Even if I’m dying, they’ll still try to stop me
Do we even hear ourselves?
My life, my voice
My rights, my choice (oh)
It’s mine
Or I’m just swine
My blood, my loins
My lungs, my noise (oh)
It’s mine
Or I’m just swine
Picture your faith, imagine your God and even your Holy Bible
Is suddenly banned, do you understand? Now, doesn’t that sound entitled?
It’s your book, but it’s my survival
We gotta grow ‘em, we gotta raise ‘em, we gotta feed, and bathe ‘em
And if you won’t, they call you a witch to burn at the stake in Salem
Thought by now they’d change, but we’re still waiting
Give these motherfuckers hell
My life, my voice
My rights, my choice (oh)
It’s mine
Or I’m just swine
My blood, my loins
My lungs, my noise (oh)
It’s mine
Or I’m just swine
Under-compensated, too domesticated (the fuck?)
Underestimated, overregulated (the fuck?)
Under-celebrated, hate-dominated (the fuck?)
We’re infuriated, got us activated (get up)
Ever-dedicated, newly motivated (get up)
And if you’re awake, then I’m so glad you made it
Ah-ah-ah-ah
My life, my voice
My rights, my choice (oh)
It’s mine (it’s mine)
Or I’m just swine (or I’m just swine)
My blood, my loins (oh, no)
My lungs, my noise (oh)
It’s mine
Or I’m just swine
Kim Petras – Problematique
In 2022, Kim Petras already starred in one of the genre’s great anthems alongside Sam Smith: ‘Unholy.’ And in 2023, she repeats the experience, placing herself at the top of the best LGBTQ songs of the year. We thought we would never be able to enjoy the ‘Problematique’ album that was leaked in its day, and her company prevented her from releasing, but a year later, it finally saw the light.
And the album, with just a dozen songs, contains gems like the one that gives it its name: ‘Problematique.’ A synth-pop masterpiece where the synthesizers lift us to the dance floor, and the message couldn’t be more assertive.
If we had to summarize it in a sentence, it would be: «It’s alright, what you like,» but the complete lyrics are a marvel. Take a look at the lyric video and enjoy.
Dove Cameron – Sand
Dove Cameron has become one of the leading actresses of the new generations. Raised under the wing of the Disney Factory, like many other stars, she emerged claiming her own identity and personality, distancing herself from the constraints of her early characters. And that’s where she has grown not only as an actress but also as a performer.
This 2023 has given us ‘Sand,’ a song that, as she explained herself, «is about the experience of that seemingly perfect relationship ending so suddenly and unexpectedly, the feeling of shock and the disintegration of the future they built together overnight, realizing that no matter how much I gave of myself, I still had very little of him in the end, and the feeling of not being able to recover even the smallest pieces of myself that I had given away.» Self-acceptance without the need for approval from others?
Thank you, Dove, for joining LGBTQ advocacy in the lyrics of ‘Sand’!
What’s worse
Being wanted but not loved
Or loved but not wanted?
What’s worse
Hearing what you wanna hear
Or hearing what’s honest?
Our love’s misaligned
‘Cause you’re on my mind every night
I ignore the signs
And I donAnd I don’t know why
‘Cause, baby, I
I saw the end when we began
You couldn’t love the way I can
I tried to bargain with the stars
For more than half your heart
But you have more pieces of me than the desert has sand
And I have less pieces of you than I can hold in my hand
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What hurts
Is the one thing that you wanna do
Is the one thing that you shouldn’t do
What hurts
Is knowing what’s good for you
Just doesn’t look good to you
Our love’s misaligned
‘Cause you’re on my mind every night
I stretch out the time
And now I know why
‘Cause, baby, I
I saw the end when we began
You couldn’t love the way I can
I tried to bargain with the stars
For more than half your heart
But you have more pieces of me than the desert has sand
And I have less pieces of you than I can hold in my hand
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
What’s worse
Being wanted but not loved
Or loved but not wanted?
What’s worse
Hearing what you wanna hear
Or hearing what’s honest?
I saw the end when we began
You couldn’t love the way I can
Tried to bargain with the stars
For more than half your heart
But you have more pieces of me than the desert has sand
And I have less pieces of you
Oh, I have less pieces of you than I can hold in my hand
Troye Sivan – Rush
A few months ago, when we told you that Troye Sivan was going to release a new song as a preview of his upcoming musical project, we mentioned that it was a mix of pop and dance, perfect for the summer, given the theme of its music video. However, its lyrics and the symbolism of the song have propelled it beyond the summer months, making it an all-encompassing anthem for the LGBTQ community. Because ‘Rush’ is just the beginning of a season full of dance, sensuality, and exploration.
Making sexual diversity visible, not hiding it or being ashamed of it, was very clear in the music video despite criticism of a lack of body diversity. There is always room for improvement, although not in the lyrics.
Addicted to your touch
Big communication, tell me what you want
Translate your vibration, let your body talk to me
Baby love, if you wanna show me what
You’ve been scheming up, if you wanna (like, oh)
Trust the simulation, don’t you let it break
Every stimulation, promise I can take
What you wanna give? Boy, you better show me what
You’ve been scheming up
You got my heartbeat racing
My body blazing
I feel the rush
Addicted to your touch
Oh, I feel the rush
(It’s so good, it’s so good)
I feel the rush
Addicted to your touch
Oh, I feel the rush
(It’s so good, it’s so good)
So good when we slow gravity, so good
(It’s so good, it’s so good)
Breathe one, two, three, take all of me, so good
(It’s so good, it’s so good)
Pass your boy the heatwave, recreate the sun
Take me to the feeling, boy, you know the one
Kiss it when you’re done, man, this shit is so much fun
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