Not every inspirational queer song has to inspire us to be better people!
Rolling Stone just released its list of the "50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ+ Songs of All Time", and while we definitely like some of the picks (heck, we even love some of them), the list was… questionable. Only around half the songs are from actual queer artists, only around 15 are by artists of color, and all the songs have a similar schmaltziness to them.
Why do “inspirational LGBTQ+ songs” have to just be saccharine, Hallmark music? A lot of these songs could almost be sang in church! Yes, we want to be inspired to be proud to be us, but we also want other inspirations in our lives!
Can’t queer people listen to music that inspires us to be queer degenerates? That inspires us to be queer sexpots? That inspires us to be queer thots?
Here are 10 inspirational LGBTQ+ songs that we think should’ve made Rolling Stone’s list, and what they inspire us to do.
1. "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" by Lil Nas X
While Macklemore’s “Same Love” (on Rolling Stone’s list) inspires us with lyrics like “If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed\And that Holy Water that you soak in is then poisoned,” “Montero” inspires us to give the devil a lap dance and take his place as king of hell.
2. "Pynk" by Janelle Monáe
Where are all the songs on Rolling Stone’s list that inspire queer sex? Janelle Monáe’s “Pynk” is always here to inspire us to be the best lesbians we can be and have as much lesbian sex as we can have!
3. "Bloom" by Troye Sivan
Speaking of songs that inspire us to be our best sexual selves, you can’t have a list of LGBTQ+ songs without including this banger that inspires us to be the best bottoms we can be.
4. "Tamagotchi" by Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo’s “Tamagotchi” is another sexy inspirational song, but this doesn’t just inspire us to be sexy ourselves. As he sings in the song, “Tamagotchi” helps to inspire members of the queer community to finish at the same time. How romantic!
5. "Coconuts" by Kim Petras
Everybody loves the twins, and that includes the entire LGBTQ+ community! Grammy-winner Kim Petras inspires us all to be proud of our bodies in this Pride bop.
6. "Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron
Dove Cameron’s breakout single not only inspires us all to be our sexiest gay selves, but also inspires us to leave our straight partners for gay ones. And what’s more inspirational than that?
7. "Ponyboy" by SOPHIE
It’s especially important during Pride that the LGBTQ+ community has songs that inspire us to get wild and dance for eight hours in a row at a gay club, and this song by legendary producer SOPHIE does just that!
8. "212" by Azealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay
Rolling Stone’s list is supposed to be songs that inspired us on our queer journeys, but has any song helped as many people come out as Azealia Bank’s blazing queer club anthem? The queer community would be nothing without this song!
9. "Ima Read" by Zebra Katz ft. Njena Reddd Foxxx
This track motivates us all to read those who cross us for FILTH! Zebra Katz gives us hope that no matter who we have to go up against, we can take them to school!
10. "Raising Hell" by Kesha ft. Big Freedia
Kesha brought in the Queen of Bounce Big Freedia for this song full of hope and power that lights a fire under us every time we hear it! This is the ultimate queer degenerate anthem!
