Throughout this past month, I've been sharing music from out artists that I not only really like, but feel have some message for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.
Whether it's a message of acceptance, self-love or personal pride, I posted these as a musical tribute to the month and our community.
You can also find them by searching The Randy Report for 'Pride Music.'
Thanks for an amazing Pride Month everyone!
As we close out Pride Month 2019, here's this year's playlist:
In August 2017, out musician Wrabel released his powerful music video for "The Village" as a sign of solidarity with the transgender community in the aftermath of Donald Trump's 'out of nowhere' decision to ban trans military service members.
Beginning with this quote, "In nature, a flock will attack any bird that is more colorful than the others because being different is seen as a threat," the video follows a young transgender man's journey into self-acceptance.
Wrabel sent this message to the LGBTQ community via social media over the weekend:
“To anyone that feels like an outsider, the problem isn't you, it’s the village. I don't know how else to raise my voice than in a song. And so, I wrote a song for you. #transrightsarehumanrights #thevillage"
The mournful tune focuses on issues of isolation that arise with the exploration of one’s sexuality and identity.
The lyrics urge the listener to remember there is nothing wrong with them. The issue is with those who treat them differently.
Watch below.
At the time of the video's release, Wrabel tweeted:
TRANS PEOPLE ARE JUST THAT . PEOPLE . HUMAN BEINGS . please i beg you do not let his hatred sink into your heads and hearts .
A “must-have” when it comes to Pride Month music, the Pet Shop Boys cover of “Go West."
Of course, it's on my pool playlist all summer long. But, especially during Pride Month.
The track is a 3-time gay-gay-gay play.
Originally recorded by The Village People (do I even have to elaborate here?), the song was covered by the Pet Shop Boys in 1993 and nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Music Video.”
Plus, the tune was featured in the Broadway musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
See? Gay 1, 2, 3. What’s not to love?
On top of the muscular melody, the lyrics offer a positive message totally born for Pride:
(Go West) Life is peaceful there (Go West) In the open air (Go West) Baby you and me (Go West) This is our destiny (Go West) Sun in wintertime (Go West) We will do just fine (Go West) Where the skies are blue (Go West) This is what we’re gonna do
Having come out with his earlier release, "Can't Fight It," the follow-up single from Rayvon Owen, "Volume," revealed the artist in full-on authentic mode.
Owen says the process of writing "Volume" was healing for him as it became an anthem of self-encouragement and reminded him "to stay true to who I was."
"Like most everyone, I have experienced many highs and lows this past year.
"While I feel I have come a long way, I still sometimes fall short and don't always believe in myself in the way I should. Coming out and accepting myself for who I am was one of the most liberating and life-changing experiences for me. While my confidence has grown, I am still human and am still learning to love the person I am — flaws and all — more and more every day."
Growing up in the conservative South, the top-four American Idol finalist found it difficult to do just that when the time came to come out.
"I was so afraid, being from the South and being black and coming from a more conservative area and growing up in an environment that is not very conducive to being gay or even questioning your sexuality," says Owen.
Nevertheless, the outpouring of support from his fans was overwhelming - “I would get a message from someone who would say this helped me come out to my parents, or saved me from taking my life. And it’s just like- ok, this is worth it.”
In addition to making beautiful music, Owen also spends time working with LGBT organisations like The Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign and POINT Foundation.
With his silky smooth, effortless vocals paired with a penchant for raw emotion, he's definitely someone to keep your eye (and ear) on. I'm sent new music every day and "Volume" is one of the first in a long time I hit repeat several times on first listen.
Check out "Volume" below, and you can find more of Rayvon's music on SoundCloud.
Since 2017, Jamie Hannah has been working with Benny D, an award winning producer who has worked with artists including Stormzy and Kylie Minogue, to produce his debut E.P which will be released this year.
Brought into the project by Benny D, Boy George has been consistently impressed with Jamie Hannah’s voice, even going as far as saying that he’s never heard a voice like his.
The first single, "Sound of My Youth," showcases his unforgettably smooth tone as the lyrics share the story of a past relationship that you just can't seem to forget about, and the memories that continue to haunt you.
Jamie Hannah’s pure and emotive voice perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia and melancholy of the song while the lyrics document the singer's feelings of ‘drowning’ and loss in a truly emotional way.
Hannah's classical training at the Royal College of Music is self-evident on the track demonstrating real complexity and sophistication.
The track begins simply with a collection of dreamy, laidback synths before it’s quickly kicked up a notch by the addition of a weighty and pulsating drum beat and Hannah’s commanding vocals.
The track recently hit Top 5 on Music Week's Commercial Pop chart.
Randy Report favorite Eli Lieb is happy in love, and he's sharing the receipts in his new music video, "I Want It All."
The bouncy, buoyant summer bop is a paean to his year-old relationship with boyfriend, James Tyler Malone.
You got me in love Like a kid in a candy store running round I want it all And it's never it's never it's never it's never enough I want it all want it all And I waited I waited I waited I waited for your love And it's never it's never it's never it's never enough I want it all want it all
The music video utilizes video Lieb shot while he joined Malone on a cruise ship where the bf worked as a dancer. Rather than do the long-distance thing, Lieb packed up and joined Malone for months on the ship traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico.
Lieb told Billboard that he wanted the song to be a upbeat tribute to the “very unconventional” beginning of his relationship, as well as a positive snapshot of queer love.
“During Pride Month, I wanted to put something out that showed a real-life relationship blossoming, rather than just a scripted one,” he says. “I'm hoping the viewers will really be able to get a sense of that excitement and celebration of finding newfound love, in a real and palpable way."
Back in March, Lieb wished Malone a happy birthday writing, in part, "I waited so many years for you and now that we finally found each other, I am so grateful we never have to go without."
Billboard recording artist, Broadway veteran and People Magazine's first-ever openly gay“Hottest Bachelor,” Matt Zarley has received critical acclaim as an out LGBTQ artist for years.
It's worth noting Zarley was never closeted as an artist. Long before it was considered 'brave' decided to come out, Zarley proudly took center stage - no mask, no hiding.
In a recent Instagram post in honor of Pride Month, he wrote: "When I released my very first recording in 2002, I was out. I have always been out. I was out when some called it brave and a risk to be. I was just me."
With his uplifting music video, “Change Begins With Me”, Zarley scored the 2012 OUTmusic Single of the Year.
Oh, he also picked up Album of the Year that year.
Pride Month includes all of our diverse communities, so I love sharing this music video.
Back in 2013, over 200 “bears” joined together to make guitar-toting Tom Goss’s super-fun music video for "Bears."
Complete with lots of robust, hirsute men playing with Super Soakers, careening down a slip and slide, and dancing in a club (usually in slow motion), the video celebrates all the furry goodness.
Prominent figures in the “bear” and LGBTQ community star in the film including model and Bear World Magazine’s “Bear of the Month,” Miles Windsor (a.k.a. Lumberjack Bear), Charger Stone (DC Bear Crue), and well-known drag queen, B’Naka.
Aside from his personal tastes (his husband since 2010 is a self-professed Bear), Tom wanted to showcase the diversity of the gay community in a high caliber production.
“We are overrun with images of perfect men, in perfect clothes and perfect bodies, and as a result, many people doubt their self-image,” says Goss. “This video showcases what it means to be beautiful and sexy, regardless of size,” he continues.
Even before it's formal release, the buzz both online and through the production had already resulted in Goss receiving dozens of emails from men thanking him for boosting their self-image.
In November of 2016, hunky country singer Ty Herndon released his album House on Fire marking his first album release since coming out as a gay man in 2014.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Herndon said, "This album was a new education for me for my future, investing in my life as a songwriter and a producer and getting outside of my comfort zone. And lord knows I got outside of my comfort zone when I came out, but I came outside of my comfort zone to move into a life of pure authenticity. That was most important to me."
The "What Mattered Most" singer's first music video from the new album was the musical romp, "That Kind of Night."
Tony and Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter releases his new gospel-tinged single “Love Yourself” right on time for Pride Month.
“I’m thrilled to be spreading the message of self-love to my community whose humanity and worth have been up for legislation for way too long," says Porter about the release. "On this 50th anniversary of Stonewall I’m proud to unite with my LGBTQ brothers & sisters to remind the world that we’re here and we ain’t goin’ nowhere. Love always wins!”
During World Pride programming this year, Porter will serve as co-host of ABC’s telecast of the Pride March in New York City, and will serve as one of the Grand Marshals alongside his POSE co-stars.
In addition, Porter will serve as Master of Ceremonies for CFDA and Susanne Bartsch’s Love Ball III, taking place on June 25th at Gotham Hall in New York City.
This is what we need on this fab Friday. Hit play and bounce.
"'Love Is Love' has become a mantra in the LGBTQ community that stands up for the right to love and be loved, fully. This love song, and this album, represent that freedom for me," Pearson told The Advocate.
"I wanted the music video to be a tribute to all LGBTQ sacred spaces. Gay bars and queer spaces have been a refuge for me over this last year, and it is where I have been able rebuild my life after losing so much when I came out. I’m overjoyed to be able to make a video about a gay love song that takes pride in these spaces that mean so much for our community."
Speaking to Billboard, Pearson described the track as "an anthem celebrating the freedom to love each other, without fear, because all you need is love."
With a solid pop hook, top shelf production and Pearson's soaring vocals "Love Is Love" is a worthy solo debut effort.
Back in 2014, out recording artist Sam Smith debuted his new cover of the Whitney Houston hit "How Will I Know" while visiting the SiriusXM Studios yesterday.
I love when folks slow a song down and we discover a whole new side to the writer's work.
As we celebrate our strength and resilience of not just surviving but thriving as a community during Pride Month, it’s also important to remember even the strongest among us might need a word of support.
“Just know that you can call me, and I’ll always be there.”
With over 1 billion-plus streams, she has been praised by folks at Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, Paper Mag and Marie Claire, and clocked appearances on CONAN, Good Morning America and more.
Known for her recent single “Halfway There,” the “Official Anthem of the 2019 Women’s March,” the Philadelphia artist intentionally worked with an all-female team to produce the new track.
(photo credit: Adam Contiello)
The song sounds the alarm in support of mental health, an important topic close to the talented artist, who says “our mental health is not a burden.”
“I think it’s important that we do not underestimate the power of a phone call,” shares ROZES regarding the inspiration of the song. “The courage to reach out can change a life, and maybe it’s your own. It’s honest about mental health and offering hopeful hand to those in the thick of it.”
Sensitive, passionate, and candidly emotional, “Call Me” falls right in the sweet spot for the multi-platinum artist.
An artist worthy of your attention. If you like Alicia Keyes or Adele, hit the play button below.
Sometimes, it just takes a while for some of us to embrace our authentic selves.
Country singer Ty Herndon, who had his first #1 hit in 1995 with the single “What Mattered Most”, has re-visited the song saying this new take - with male pronouns - is “the way I wish I could have sang it for you then.”
Watching the video is a deeply visceral experience as Herndon's emotions are clearly front and center.
When you understand the journey we all go on to get to 'here,' the sense of freedom Herndon must have felt while recording the new version must have been palpable in the studio.
Today's Pride Music comes from Australian artist Starley, whose deeply personal single "Love is Love" was released in June 2018.
"Love is Love" was the follow-up to Starley's global smash hit "Call on Me" which went 4x Platinum in Australia, #1 in Sweden and the Top 10 in more than 30 countries.
Along the way, all that fan love added up to more than 1 billion streams globally.
Using an earthy mix of rhythms and a sound that feels authentic and personal, the singer from 'down under' finds the center of her music. And in doing so, connects with the singer.
Even the approach to artwork for her music is has to have a true connection.
“The cover for ‘Love is Love’ is not to be about me," said Starley. "Although, this song is my personal story, it’s a song for everyone, so I felt like a heart was the perfect way to go."
"I feel like there should be a flag that represents love in all forms - interracial, interfaith, gay, straight, bisexual, trans, and so on," she adds.
"Until that exists, I’ve chosen to use the colours of the bisexual flag because they relate to my personal journey,” says the Aussie singer regarding the inspiration behind her single artwork.
And while I have your attention, check out Starley's debut single, "Call On Me" below.
When Tony Award winner & Pose star Billy Porter released his take on the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, "Edelweiss," he shared in the social media post:
The Edelweiss flower blooms in the cold and snow and reminds us that we can and must flourish in the darkest of times.
