From Lil Nas X to Kehlani, these passion-tinged tracks will get you feeling the love just in time for the holiday.
There are few topics as frequently touched on in popular music as love — whether through tender ballads, bombastic anthems or heartbreaking torch songs, romance is always in the air when it comes to music. After all, what feeling could be more universal than the concept of love?
Yet even with a dearth of tracks dedicated to infatuation, songs about explicitly queer love have been historically rarer than their straight counterparts. For decades of music, finding LGBTQ+ artists singing about their relationships was practically impossible, while the use of same-sex pronouns in love songs was even rarer.
But as society and cultural conversations around sexuality and gender progressed, so, too, did the frequency of romantic depictions of queerness in music. With A-list LGBTQ+ artists like Lil Nas X, Kehlani, Janelle Monáe, Troye Sivan and dozens more taking up their rightful space in the modern pantheon of pop music, queer folks around the world no longer have to make do with listening to love songs written without them in mind.
So, if you’re looking to feel the love with some queer-affirming music this year, then we have got you covered. With Valentine’s Day 2024 just around the corner, Billboard decided to take a look back at 25 love songs from LGBTQ+ artists that were created with the community in mind. There’s a little something for everyone here — spanning genres from pop to rock and beyond, these songs offer as many different flavors for the season of love as one could hope for.
MUNA feat. Phoebe Bridgers, "Silk Chiffon"
Where other songs about love delve into the messy, difficult, multi-faceted nature of romance, “Silk Chiffon” leans hard in the opposite direction. Inoculated with uncomplicated joy, MUNA’s sapphic anthem refuses to live anywhere but in the moment, reminding listeners at every given opportunity that “life’s so fun.” The eminently singable track just wants you to revel in the romance of it all for a few minutes — and on Valentine’s Day, we recommend that you oblige.
Hayley Kiyoko, "Girls Like Girls"
“Girls like girls like boys do. Nothing new.” It’s a simple statement made by Hayley Kiyoko in the chorus of her breakout hit “Girls Like Girls,” and it’s an effective one. Throughout the song that transformed her into “Lesbian Jesus,” Kiyoko takes the trope of the “guy who steals another guy’s girlfriend” on its head, instead insisting that a queer woman can do just the same thing, making “Girls Like Girls” one of the best queer love songs of the 21st century.
Listen here.
Frank Ocean, "Forrest Gump"
You wouldn’t necessarily expect to hear a love song written from the perspective of a gender-bent Jenny to Forrest Gump from the 1994 film of the same name. But then again, Frank Ocean is never one to do something expected. “Forrest Gump” works from beginning to end as a soft, sweet ode to complex relationships. Try to listen to this track without having its chorus inevitably running around your mind.
Listen here.
Chika, "Cinderella, Pt. 2"
Fairy tales often follow a princess and her prince charming, a formula that Chika was more than happy to mix up on “Cinderella, Pt. 2.” In the song, Chika takes on the role of a princess charming, vying for the attention of the titular Cinderella with her beautiful musings. The gorgeous track sees Chika letting her vulnerabilities show, as she tries to relate to her glass slipper-wearing lover with incredible lyrics that will have you in your feelings.
Listen here.
Years & Years, "Starstruck"
Ever get dizzy just being around the person you love? Olly Alexander certainly has, as he demonstrated in Years & Years’ “Starstruck.” The disco-tinged single is filled with all the feel-good energy you could hope for in a song about crushing on someone so hard that you lose your composure around them, and Alexander works to be the perfect conduit on this bubbly new queer pop anthem.
Listen here.
Janelle Monáe, “Make Me Feel”
There’s a reason fans so quickly dubbed Janelle Monáe’s “Make Me Feel” an anthem for sexual fluidity — along with the video’s overt references to Monáe’s queerness, the singer herself makes it clear through the sultry lyrics just what it is she’s trying to say. With its warbling bassline and blissed-out guitar riffs, “Make Me Feel” makes us feel the love from Monáe over and over again.
Kehlani, "Honey"
“I like my girls just like I like my honey — sweet.” With a single line, Kehlani made clear exactly who she was singing about on “Honey.” The smooth R&B track plays like a love note torn out of the singer-songwriter’s personal diary, as she swoons over a girl that she can’t help but fall in love with. It’s a simple message, but a powerful one that helped solidify Kehlani as one of the most sought-after artists around.
Listen here.
Perfume Genius, "Alan"
On “Alan,” Mike Hadreas, known better as Perfume Genius, gets specific as he pens a loving song to his longtime partner, Alan Wyffels. The sweet, soulful track highlights a quieter, more personal side of the singer-songwriter, encapsulating the feeling of being safe in another person’s arms.
Listen here.
Girl in Red, "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend"
Marie Ulven, a.k.a. Girl in Red, has quickly cemented herself as a queer cultural touchstone (the phrase “do you listen to Girl in Red” has already become internet code for asking women if they’re interested in women). It’s songs like “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” that illustrate why that is — throughout the bedroom-pop single, Ulven focuses on a girl named Hannah, singing to her that “I don’t wanna be your friend, I wanna kiss your lips/I wanna kiss you until I lose my breath.”
Listen here.
Fletcher, "Girls Girls Girls"
What would it look like if an actual queer person wrote “I Kissed a Girl?” Alt-pop star Fletcher answers that question on “Girls Girls Girls.” Interpolating the Katy Perry classic and bringing the kind of queer romantic energy that only she can truly provide, Fletcher created a love song for women that didn’t just taste like cherry-chapstick-flavored fluff.
Listen here.
Lil Nas X, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)"
Strip away the drama, the outrage and the trolling from Lil Nas X’s controversial single, and you’re left with a song that just wants to talk about queer sex. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” almost serves as a challenge from the rapper — if straight artists can sing so openly about sex, then why shouldn’t he get to? Lil Nas X may have set out to push some buttons with “Montero,” but he ended up writing an anthem for LGBTQ lovers everywhere.
Troye Sivan, "Lucky Strike"
Throughout his career, Troye Sivan has made a habit out of penning heartfelt songs about queer relationships. One of the best (and perhaps most underrated) examples of this is “Lucky Strike,” a synth-infused pop single that sees the singer listing off all of the various ways that his lover makes him feel special. When he asks his partner to “tell me all the ways to love you,” it lands like Cupid’s arrow, directly into your heart.
Listen here.
King Princess, "Hit the Back"
King Princess didn’t mince her words when shedescribed“Hit the Back” as an “anthem for bottoms everywhere.” The chilled-out-yet-still-danceable single sees the star offering up a sensual, sexy thrill ride for queer people everywhere, as she lets her lover know just how into her she really is.
Listen here.
MNEK, "Tongue"
Wanna let your lover know just how sexy you find them? Look no further than MNEK’s simmering single “Tongue.” The British singer-songwriter’s track employs his exuberant sexuality, a hard-hitting beat and expertly crafted melodies to make this one of the sexiest songs about gay romance in recent memory.
Listen here.
Wrabel, "Nothing But the Love"
Wrabel has often written and performed songs about heartbreak — so when the rising singer-songwriter unveiled his latest single, “Nothing But the Love,” it was a pleasant surprise to hear him crooning about how deeply in love he is. Wrabel’s voice lends itself perfectly to power ballad territory, where he reassures his lover that no matter how low he’s feeling, their love will always bring him right back up.
Listen here.
Rina Sawayama, "Cherry"
“Cherry” serves two fundamental purposes: as a place where Rina Sawayama could publicly talk about her pansexuality, and as one hell of a love song. Sung to a stranger the star spotted on a subway ride, “Cherry” shines in its expression of the complex feelings that come with discovering your first-ever queer romance. Once you hear Sawayama’s voice softly asking, “Will you be my cherry,” you won’t be able to get it out of your head.
Tayla Parx, "Fixerupper"
While some love songs like to ruminate on the bigger, more joyous parts of love, Tayla Parx is instead interested in examining the smaller, messier parts of the process. On “Fixerupper,” the singer-songwriter explores what it means to start falling in love again when you’ve been hurt a number of times before. Love isn’t always as clean and tidy as music can make it out to be, and lyrics like “Baby you might have to build a lover/ ‘Cause I know my heart’s a fixer-upper” show that Parx is here to represent for those who’ve been burned before.
Listen here.
Romy, "She's On My Mind"
“She’s On My Mind,” an immediate standout off Romy Madley Croft’s debut album Mid-Air, doesn’t want to work harder than it has to. With a precisely-calibrated disco melody and house beat, the song eases itself along as Romy speculates about the woman she just cannot stop thinking about. As Romy’s feelings get more intense, so does the instrumental, as she bursts into the euphoric realization that she’s in love.
Listen here.
Jordy, "Long Distance"
Sometimes you can’t be physically with the person you love, so you have to take on the harsh reality of dating long distance. It’s often hard, but to hear Jordy tell it, it can also be wonderful. On his breakthrough track, Jordy takes the good with the bad, and comes to the heartwarming conclusion that “I’d rather be distant with you/ Than distant with someone who is/ Standing in front of me, but I can’t even feel a thing.”
Listen here.
The Aces, "Daydream"
Jordy’s not the only one looking to take on long distance relationships — on “Daydream,” The Aces tackle what it means to be away from the person you love most, as you dream about what it will be like when you finally get to be with them in person again. It’s a feeling we can all relate to in 2021, even if The Aces hadn’t considered the possibility of a pandemic when writing this excellent pop-rock jam.
Listen here.
Dove Cameron, "Boyfriend"
Sure, “Boyfriend” isn’t necessarily the first song you’d think of when it comes to queer love songs, but there is something inherently passionate about Dove Cameron’s “steal your girl” single. Persuasive, slinky and sensual from her first line, Cameron promises to treat her lover better than any man could ever hope to — and her argument is pretty compelling.
Cavetown, "Sweet Tooth"
Sometimes, falling in love can be hard when you have your own issues with self-doubt. That’s a theme Robbie Skinner, a.k.a. Cavetown, tackles on “Sweet Tooth.” Throughout the lo-fi, bedroom-pop track, the singer makes it clear that while he has a hard time loving himself, his lover seems to have no problem with it, giving him the sugar rush he needs to fall deeply in love.
Listen here.
Rebecca Black, "Girlfriend"
Even in the wake of a breakup, love can still be right there waiting. That’s exactly the case for Rebecca Black’s “Girlfriend,” a sugary-sweet pop single where the star illustrates what it means to be going through a tough breakup, before finally realizing that you’re not over them. The pure glee in Black’s voice as she sings “I’m getting back with my girlfriend” is enough on its own to earn a spot on this list.
Listen here.
Vincint feat. Alex Newell & Princess Precious, "Higher"
With “Higher,” Vincint captures the feeling of falling in love on the dance floor — this pounding dance-pop single sees the star illustrating the peaks of pleasure, asking his lover aloud, “Where have you been all my life?” Add in Alex Newell’s stunning vocals and Princess Precious’s ballroom-ready pre-chorus, and you have an instant anthem to LGBTQ love on your hands.
Listen here.
Serpentwithfeet, "Safe Word"
On “Safe Word,” baroque pop star Serpentwithfeet wants to talk about the security of loving intimacy. Sure, there’s plenty of pleasure and ecstasy to be found in a lover’s arms, but there’s also refuge from the world outside, which is exactly what Serpent offers to his partner on this luscious, moving single.
Listen here.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up
