Happy Friday Everyone!
Although I admit to not knowing a ton about the LGBTQ+ community, I stand behind stating I’m an ally. Celebrating Pride throughout June is so happy to me (even though I’m well aware that it shouldn’t be just one month of hope and joy rippling throughout a community before basically getting swept under a rug for the rest of the year). So because I love Pride so much, I wanted to do another post piggybacking off of its themes. This brings me to my latest and greatest idea of also trying to tie in my passion for Broadway.
In a continuation of ‘Broadway songs to *insert series of situational words here*’, I bring to you a few Broadway hits to belt out during this rest of this celebratory time!
…
1. And You Don’t Even Know It – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
‘Cause I’m a superstar and you don’t even know it. In a wonder bra and you don’t even know it. You’re so blah blah and you don’t even know it. I’m like au revoir and you don’t even know it.’
I love love love the sass this song brings. I love that it’s all about owning who you are and recognizing the dull people around you have nothing to truly hold you back. Just keep being the fabulous superstars we all are. And also celebrate the art of drag while we’re at it.. obviously.
2. Sugar Daddy – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
‘So you think only a woman can only love a man? Well you buy me the dress, I’ll be more woman than a man like you can stand.’
This song is so fun. I haven’t seen Hedwig so I can’t speak much on the message as a whole, but I have seen Neil Patrick Harris’ Tony performance and it made me smile the whole time. I think this is an upbeat number that can be played throughout the month to remind everyone that love can be given (and received) by anyone.
3. Take Me or Leave Me – Rent
‘Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be. And if you give a damn, take me baby, or leave me.’
Even though I believe in a world where everyone accepts all, it’s still good to remember that there will be people who won’t and they simply are not worth fighting for. I love the message behind taking me for who I am, unapologetically.
4. Automatic Rainy Day – Head Over Heels
‘It’s an automatic rainy day, when I see you. It’s the perfect consolation prize, a little piece of blue.’
Okay so this song really has no message that I’m trying to convey but I once read that this is a better angry lesbian song than Defying Gravity and that really just stuck with me. Also, Head Over Heels is a really bomb musical that is littered with themes of acceptance and sexuality, and this is a doubly bomb song. Therefore, it had to be included.
5. Just Breathe – The Prom
‘Just breathe, Emma. Not everyone is that repressed.’
I haven’t seen The Prom (even though I hope to before it closes in August), but I believe this song comes about after one of the main female characters asks another female to prom and gets a not so hot reaction. Despite not knowing a ton about this musical, I felt like this is an important line. I wish every day that people were as accepting of one another as they are in my dreams, but that’s not the reality. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, defeated, and maybe even outcasted but if you can just take a moment to breathe and remember there are places where those feelings will disappear entirely and be replaced by security, there is hope.
6. You Will Be Found – Dear Evan Hansen
‘Even when the dark comes crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you, and when you’re broken on the ground, you will be found.’
There are so many lyrics from this song that I could pick out but I chose these as for me, they’re the spine. While this musical is not centered on LGBTQ+ themes, I feel it applies. For anyone who has ever felt alone, there are people all around who care and will be here for you during those darker moments.
7. Raise You Up/Just Be – Kinky Boots
‘One, pursue the truth. Two, learn something new. Three, accept yourself and you’ll accept others too. Four, let love shine. Five, let pride be your guide. Six, you change the world when you change your mind!’
Lowkey I sometimes tear up when I listen to this song still to this day. There is something so inclusive and empowering about it. Just from that little snippet of lyrics alone, it’s a song that screams Pride to me and one I’ll happily be listening to as this month wraps up.
…
And that concludes some of my favorite Broadway songs to listen to throughout the month of June. Like I mentioned, not all of these shows have LGBTQ+ plots, but the power behind the lyrics still reigns true for what I believe to be essential themes during Pride. Are there songs you can think of that could also be included on this list? Let me know!
And remember, I love every single person on this planet no matter what..
Until next time,
xx.Britani Skye
manhattanskye.wordpress.com 