The year 2020—as happens once each century (specifically, every 101 years)—is a duplicating number (1818, 1919, 2020, etc.).  So, with the country's LGBT Pride Month festivities having gone virtual, due to the coronavirus pandemic, I figured I’d compile a Pride playlist featuring pairs of songs by 100 artists.

Each artist had to have two songs that I like (thus, no one-hit-wonders), of which one song had to have either resonated with gay audiences (or with me, as a gay audience of one); be about or address the LGBTQ+ community; or simply inspire the empowerment and equality that Pride is all about.  Also, as Pride is also about having fun and living one’s best gay life, I opted to avoid ballads and slow songs, to keep the mood upbeat.

So, you’ll find disco classics (by ABBA, Gloria Gaynor, LaBelle, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Melba Moore, Sister Sledge, Donna Summer, Sylvester, and Village People); House music gems (by Boney M., Cerrone, Change, Gwen Guthrie, Loleatta Holloway, Grace Jones, and Chaka Khan); New Wave/New Romantic hits (by a-ha, ABC, Bananarama, The B-52’s, Book of Love, Bronski Beat, Culture Club, The Cure, Duran Duran, Erasure, The Go-Go’s, Madonna, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, and Yaz); rock n’ roll jams (by Pat Benatar, Blondie, David Bowie, Elton John, Hole, Stevie Nicks, Psychedelic Furs, and Queen); contemporary bangers (by Adele, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Bjork, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monáe, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lizzo, P!nk, Rihanna, Robyn, and Britney Spears); dancefloor jams (by Black Box, Jam & Spoon featuring Plavka, The KLF, Snap!, and The Weather Girls); LGBTQ acts/artists (like Sandra Bernhard, Jayne County, Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Jimmy James, Jónsi, George Michael, Mika, RuPaul, and Scissor Sisters); inspiring allies (including Tori Amos, Deee-Lite, Kristine W, Cyndi Lauper, Jennifer Lopez, Billie Ray Martin, Gwen Stefani, and Jody Watley); iconic divas (think: Shirley Bassey, Kate Bush, Cher, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Liza Minnelli, and Diana Ross); and so much more.

There are the old-school anthems we know and love, such as "It's Raining Men" (The Weather Girls) and "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) and "I'm Coming Out" (Diana Ross); as well as their latter-day counterparts such as "Firework" (Katy Perry) and "Born This Way" (Lady Gaga).  Two songs make the list twice: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (both the original by Sylvester and the cover by Sandra Bernhard) and "Rolling in the Deep" (the original by Adele and the cover by Aretha Franklin).  And while there are no Jay-Z songs on this list, he is a featured artist on both "Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé) and "Umbrella" (Rihanna).  

Interestingly enough, many of these acts and artists—Christina Aguilera, Shirley Bassey, Pat Benatar, Cher, Kelly Clarkson, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Kristine W, Diana Ross, Britney Spears, and Gwen Stefani—have headlined Las Vegas residencies over the years.  

The tracks are listed alphabetically by artist, and feature hyperlinks to the respective videos, on YouTube.  The entire playlist can be found on Apple Music. So, enjoy the music, and have a happy LGBT Pride Month!

ShulmanSays' 2020 PRIDE Pairings

CLICK HERE TO PLAY ON APPLE MUSIC

“Take On Me” (2016 Remastered) - a-ha

“The Sun Always Shines On T.V.” (Extended Version) – a-ha

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” – ABBA
“Voulez-Vous” – ABBA

“Poison Arrow” – ABC
“The Look of Love, Pt. 1” – ABC

“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
“Rumor Has It” – Adele

“Ain’t No Other Man” (Ospina Sullivan Radio Mix) – Christina Aguilera
“Telepathy” (Erik Kupper Radio Mix) – Christina Aguilera

“Cornflake Girl” (2015 Remastered) – Tori Amos
“Crucify” (Remastered) – Tori Amos

“I Engineer” – Animotion
“Obsession” (12” Remix) – Animotion

“Crucified” – Army of Lovers
“Dynasty of Planet Chromada” – Army of Lovers

“Private Idaho” – The B-52’s
“Rock Lobster” – The B-52’s

“Cruel Summer” (Extended Version) – Bananarama
“Robert De Niro’s Waiting” (Extended Version) – Bananarama

“Get the Party Started” – Shirley Bassey
“The Living Tree” – Shirley Bassey

“Fire and Ice” (2005 Remaster) – Pat Benatar
“Invincible” (Vocal Edit) (2005 Remaster) – Pat Benatar

“Sex (I’m A…)” – Berlin
“The Metro” – Berlin

“Who Knew?!” – Sandra Bernhard
“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” – Sandra Bernhard

“Crazy In Love” – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
“If I Were a Boy” – Beyoncé

“Bachelorette” – Björk
“Human Behavior” – Björk

“Fantasy” – Black Box
“Ride On Time” – Black Box

“Call Me” (Rerecorded 2014 Version) – Blondie
“Dreaming” (Rerecorded 2014 Version) – Blondie

“Rasputin” – Boney M.
“Sunny” – Boney M.

“Boy” – Book of Love
“Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls” (2016 Remastered Version) – Book of Love

“Boys Keep Swinging” (2017 Remastered Version) – David Bowie
“Suffragette City” (2012 Remastered Version) – David Bowie

“Gloria” – Laura Branigan
“Self Control” – Laura Branigan

“Smalltown Boy” (12” Version) – Bronski Beat
“Why?” (12” Version) – Bronski Beat

“Hounds of Love” (2018 Remaster) – Kate Bush
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (2018 Remaster) – Kate Bush

“Heaven Is a Place on Earth” – Belinda Carlisle
“Mad About You” – Belinda Carlisle

“Love Is the Answer” – Cerrone vs. Bob Sinclar
“Supernature” – Cerrone

“Angel in My Pocket” (Extended Version – Change
“The Glow of Love” (Long Version) – Change feat. Luther Vandross

“Believe” – Cher
“Song for the Lonely” – Cher

“Buffalo Stance” – Neneh Cherry
“Kisses on the Wind” – Neneh Cherry

“My Life Would Suck Without You” – Kelly Clarkson
“Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson

“F**k Off” – Jayne County
“Man Enough to Be a Woman” (Amerikan Cleopatra Version) – Jayne County

“Dreams” – The Cranberries
“Zombie” – The Cranberries

“Karma Chameleon” – Culture Club
“Miss Me Blind” – Culture Club

“Just Like Heaven” – The Cure
“Why Can’t I Be You?” – The Cure

“Brand New Lover” – Dead or Alive
“Nukleopatra” – Dead or Alive

“Groove Is In the Heart” (Bootsified to the Nth Degree) – Deee-Lite
“What is Love” – Deee-Lite

“Video Games” (Club Clique for the Bad Girls Remix) – Lana Del Rey
“Young and Beautiful” (Cedric Gervais Radio Remix Edit) – Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais

“Planet Earth” (Night Version) – Duran Duran
“Rio” – Duran Duran

“I Confess” – The English Beat
“Save It for Later” – The English Beat

“A Little Respect” – Erasure
“Oh L’Amour” – Erasure

"Armed and Extremely Dangerous" - First Choice
“Doctor Love” (Tom Moulton 12” Mix) – First Choice

“Relax” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
“Two Tribes” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood

“Rolling In the Deep” (The Aretha Version) – Aretha Franklin
“Think” – Aretha Franklin feat. The Blues Brothers

“I Will Survive” (Extended Version) – Gloria Gaynor
“Never Can Say Goodbye” – Gloria Gaynor

“The Whole World Lost Its Head” – The Go-Go’s
“Vacation” – The Go-Go’s

“Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But the Rent” (Extended Version) – Gwen Guthrie
“Peanut Butter” (Larry Levan Mix) – Gwen Guthrie

“Celebrity Skin” – Hole
“Violet” – Hole

“Love Sensation” (A Tom Moulton Mix) – Loleatta Holloway
“Vertigo/Relight My Fire” – Dan Hartman and Loleatta Holloway

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
“My Love Is Your Love” (Jonathan Peters’ Radio Remix) – Whitney Houston

“Don’t You Want Me” (Remastered) – The Human League
“Heart Like a Wheel” (Remastered) – The Human League

“Find Me (Odyssey to Anyoona)” (Radio Mix) – Jam & Spoon feat. Plavka
“Right in the Night (Fall in Love with Music)” – Jam & Spoon feat. Plavka

“Famous” – Jimmy James
“Fashionista” – Jimmy James

“La Vie en Rose” – Grace Jones
“Pull Up to the Bumper” – Grace Jones

“Go Do” – Jónsi
“Tornado” – Jónsi

“I’m Still Standing” (Remastered) – Elton John
“The Bitch Is Back” (Remastered) – Elton John

“Ain’t Nobody” – Chaka Khan and Rufus
“Clouds” (Paradise Garage Mix) – Chaka Khan

“Love Come Down” (12” Version) – Evelyn “Champagne” King
“Shame” (12” Version) – Evelyn “Champagne” King

“Justified & Ancient (Stand by the Jams)” (Extended Version) – The KLF feat. Tammy Wynette
“Last Train to Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent)” (Us Version) – The KLF

“Feel What You Want” – Kristine W
“Land of the Living” – Kristine W

“Lady Marmalade” – LaBelle
“What Can I Do for You?” – LaBelle

“Born This Way” – Lady Gaga
“Paparazzi” – Lady Gaga

“Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)” – Cyndi Lauper
“When You Were Mine” – Cyndi Lauper

“Fashion Pack (Studio 54)” – Amanda Lear
“Nymphomania” – Amanda Lear

“Good as Hell” (Remix) – Lizzo feat. Ariana Grande
“Juice” – Lizzo

“Dance Again” – Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull
“Waiting for Tonight” (Hex’s Momentous Video Remix) – Jennifer Lopez

“Moving On Up” – M People
“Someday” (Sasha’s Full Tension Mix) – M People

“Into the Groove” – Madonna
“Like a Prayer” – Madonna

“Imitation of Life” – Billie Ray Martin
“Space Oasis” – Billie Ray Martin

“Freedom! ‘90” (Remastered) – George Michael
“I Want Your Sex” (Remastered) Pt. 1 & 2 – George Michael

“Grace Kelly” – Mika
“Love Today” – Mika

“I Gotcha” (Live) – Liza Minnelli
“Losing My Mind” – Liza Minnelli

“Cold War” – Janelle Monáe
“Violet Stars Happy Hunting!” – Janelle Monáe feat. The Skunks

“Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance” (12” Mix) – Melba Moore
“You Stepped Into My Life” – Melba Moore

“Temptation” – New Order
“Touched by the Hand of God” (7” Edit) – New Order

“Edge of Seventeen” – Stevie Nicks
“Rooms on Fire” – Stevie Nicks

“I Kissed a Girl” (Rock Remix) – Katy Perry
Firework” – Katy Perry

“Tonight Is Forever” (2018 Remaster) – Pet Shop Boys
“Two Divided by Zero” (2018 Remaster) – Pet Shop Boys

“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” (Explicit Radio Edit) – P!nk
“Raise Your Glass” – P!nk

“Love My Way” – The Psychedelic Furs
“Pretty In Pink” (Remastered) – The Psychedelic Furs

“I Want to Break Free” (Single Remix) – Queen
“Somebody to Love” – Queen

“Diamonds” – Rihanna
“Umbrella” – Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

“Call Your Girlfriend” – Robyn
“Dancing On My Own” – Robyn

“I’m Coming Out” – Diana Ross
“No One Gets the Prize/The Boss” – Diana Ross

“Back to My Roots” – RuPaul
“Supermodel” (There, U Just Got Rocked Good & Evil Mix) – RuPaul feat. Shirley Q. Liquor

“He’s on the Phone” – Saint Etienne
“Pale Movie” – Saint Etienne

“Filthy/Gorgeous” (Extended Original) – Scissor Sisters
“Kiss You Off” – Scissor Sisters

“Let the Music Play” (12” Version) – Shannon
“Give Me Tonight” (7” Version) – Shannon

“He’s the Greatest Dancer” – Sister Sledge
“We Are Family” (Sure Is Pure Remix) – Sister Sledge

“Girlfriend in a Coma” – The Smiths
“Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” – The Smiths

“Ooops Up” (7“ Edit) –  Snap!
“Rhythm Is a Dancer” (12” Version) – Snap!

“Say Hello Wave Goodbye ‘91” (Mendelsohn Remix) – Soft Cell
“Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?” (Extended Remix) – Soft Cell

“Till the World Ends” (The Femme Fatale Remix) – Britney Spears feat. Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha
“Toxic” (Lenny Bertoldo Mix Show Edit) – Britney Spears

“The Sweet Escape” (Konvict Remix) – Gwen Stefani feat. Akon
“Used to Love You” – Gwen Stefani

“Bad Girls” – Donna Summer
“I Feel Love” (12” Version) – Donna Summer

“Stars” – Sylvester
“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” – Sylvester

“Go West” – Village People
“Macho Man” – Village People

“Don’t You Want Me” – Jody Watley
“Friends” – Jody Watley feat. Eric B. & Rakim

“It’s Raining Men” – The Weather Girls
“Land of the Believer” – The Weather Girls

Back to Black” – Amy Winehouse
“You Know I’m No Good” – Amy Winehouse

“Don’t Go” – Yaz
“Goodbye Seventies” – Yaz

2020 Pride Pairings
Apple Music
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Get into it!
#Pride

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