25 essential Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ anthems

The sounds of Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ musicians are as vast and diverse as the community itself. An anthem can be loud and proud or heartfelt and intimate; it can be explicit in its subject matter or more subtly filled with hidden meanings. 

Below is a list of 25 essential Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ anthems spanning over 60 years and various genres, from folk and singer-songwriter to dance and pop. While it is by no means a comprehensive list, the songs below are seminal tracks that illustrate the love, pride and resilience of a community that makes up an integral part of this country and its vibrant music scene. 

'Any Other Way,' Jackie Shane

"Any Other Way" is a tale of heartbreak originally written by Memphis soul singer William Bell, but its best cover took on new layers thanks to its captivating vocalist. Recorded and released in 1962, Jackie Shane's version of this track languished in the painful aftermath of a relationship as the once Toronto-based singer infused each line with a toughness and melancholy that is just as palpable as the bright boom of horns. "Tell her that I'm happy, tell her that I'm gay," she sang, giving one word a dual meaning.  

'Rise Up,' the Parachute Club 

When Toronto band the Parachute Club released its 1983 single "Rise Up," they didn't intend for the song to be applied to any particular group. But its message of equality was quickly embraced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community, especially around its specific lyrics, "We want freedom to love who we please." The bright, joyous song solidified its relationship with 2SLGBTQ+ people when the Parachute Club performed it for the first time at the 1983 Toronto Pride Parade. "It was a beautiful moment," member Lorraine Segato told the Toronto Star in 2014, when "Rise Up" became the official theme of WorldPride. 

'Ever New,' Beverly Glenn-Copeland

It's fitting that "Ever New," a song about rebirth, had a second life of its own 30 years after it was originally released. The warmth Beverly Glenn-Copeland builds with the electronic backbone of "Ever New," which he first recorded in 1986 for his album Keyboard Fantasies, matches the comfort of his heart-deep vocals, proclaiming hope and transformation at a time when he didn't yet have the words for who he was. It would be years later that the classically trained singer would recognize himself as transgender, and when Keyboard Fantasies was re-released to acclaim in 2017, Glenn-Copeland would finally receive personal and professional recognition at a level he'd been deserving of for decades. An artist ahead of his time, Glenn-Copeland knew who he was long before he had the language — and "Ever New" is a song of hope for anyone looking to find their place in the world, at any age.

'Constant Craving,' k.d. lang 

It's the glorious sunrise of her voice — singular in its warmth, confident in its simplicity, rich with promise — arching over the purr of the accordion and the echoey hollow of the drum. These opening moments of k.d. lang's "Constant Craving" set the scene for what's to come: an evocation of the full body ache of all-consuming desire. Specifically, crucially, lang's song, which was released on her breakthrough 1992 hit album, Ingenue, is about queer longing and it was a massive success on radio, TV and the charts. She earned a Grammy Award for best pop female vocal for the song, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for best female video, and more than 30 years later, it remains one of the greatest songs about yearning in the pop music canon.

'Donna,' Fifth Column 

Toronto-based Fifth Column was an instrumental band in the development of the queercore music scene, and a notable predecessor to Riot Grrrl. They were unapologetic about their politics and wore every insult hurled at them, from being called feminists to dykes, as a badge of honour. While much of their music isn't available online anymore — the band released three albums between 1985 and 1994 — "Donna" (the B-side to their 1992 single "All Women are Bitches") showcases their great blend of punk-rock riffs with melodic hooks. 

'Everybody Say Love,' Mitsou 

While "Everybody Say Love" isn't Quebec pop star Mitsou's biggest hit to date, it's a song that has enjoyed a second life as a catchphrase on one of TV's biggest reality shows. RuPaul's Drag Race host RuPaul Charles is often heard saying "Everybody say love!" to his contestants as a way to spread joy and positivity, but he also has a direct relationship with the 1993 song: he co-wrote it with producer Jimmy Harry. Adorned with bells, horns and a funk riff, "Everybody Say Love" is jubilant and fun, while carrying its earnest message to love ourselves and "love one another, no need to fuss and fight." In 2021, everything came full circle when Mitsou appeared on Canada's Drag Race as a judge where she watched an epic lip-sync to "Everybody Say Love." 

'Set it Off,' Peaches 

"Come on, let's set it off" is a call to action from Peaches, whose objective as an artist is to empower others to be unapologetic in everything they do, from taking up space to owning their sexuality. The electroclash jolt of "Set it Off" is as direct as they come, with Peaches stomping straight out of the gate with the proclamation: "Motherf--kers wanna get with me/ lay with me, love with me, all right." Peaches' performance of this song on the U.K. program Top of the Pops had to be pulled for being too racy. Similarly, its music video, which featured two women kissing in a bathroom stall and Peaches' pubic and armpit hair growing long, led Sony to drop her from its label. All these years later, this anthem is one of many shining examples of just how ahead of the game Peaches was and continues to be. 

'Ban Marriage,' the Hidden Cameras 

"Ban Marriage" is both the pinnacle and the antithesis of the Hidden Cameras' once self-described genre of "gay church folk music." On the one hand, it's a rousing number that preaches its beliefs with the support of an enthusiastic choir, easily conjuring up the image of people clapping along in the pews. On the other hand, it's a song that rails against gay people who want to follow straight people's path down the aisle, warning its listeners to "let coupledom die." Joel Gibb, the lead singer of the Toronto indie-pop act, says this song is meant to raise questions rather than take a specific stand. "It's a protest song," he told Stereogum last year, "but it's also an anti-protest song." 

'Gay Messiah,' Rufus Wainwright 

Shortly after Rufus Wainwright first released the beautiful acoustic number "Gay Messiah" in 2004 — which he admitted was initially written as a joke — George Bush Jr. was re-elected as the U.S. president. "It was a dark period, and the song became more of a political rallying call about gay rights," Wainwright told Rolling Stone. But when Obama won in 2008, the song returned to its more lighthearted tone, proving its effectiveness as a timeless anthem that adapts to any era. 

'Boyfriend,' Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara's love triangle hit from 2016 encapsulates the universal feeling of chasing after someone who doesn't want to — or know how to — make the relationship official, but the lyrical gender twist turns "Boyfriend" into a song about queer love and longing. "You call me up, like you want your best friend/ you turn me on, like you want your boyfriend/ but I don't wanna be your secret anymore," Sara sings, steadfast in her need to be seen. At the time of its release, Sara told Buzzfeed that the song was written about her girlfriend at the time, who had never dated a woman before and was still involved with a man. Thanks to that relationship, Tegan and Sara gave fans a queer kiss-off song that is just as powerful nearly a decade later. 

'Part-Time Woman,' Vivek Shraya 

The title track from her 2017 album, "Part-Time Woman" finds Vivek Shraya pointedly asking the question: what defines a woman? "I don't shave/ I don't wear makeup/ No skirts/ I don't dress up," she sings on the track, "What does that make me?" Both a beautiful ode to anyone who has ever been misgendered and a necessary expansion of conversations around gender, girlhood and femininity, "Part-Time Woman" illuminated a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ spectrum that was rarely discussed with such honesty and frankness in music and beyond. In an interview with NBC News, Shraya said the songs on that album were "songs of love to other trans girls," and the end of "Part-Time Woman" reverently summarizes that message: "No one can tell you/ What you already know/ If you only could let go."

'Do Whatever the Heck You Want,' Rae Spoon

Should I be a man or a woman?
What does that really mean?
Should I be outside of it?
Or something in between?

Rae Spoon's simple, sing-song intro to their brilliant ode to inclusivity, empathy, acceptance, and moving beyond the gender binary is only six years old, but it's borne out of the singer-songwriter's lifetime of negotiating various barriers to be able to just live authentically as themself. It's a quietly joyful anthem of liberation, as well as a dance party where everybody and every body can find a little bit of home and "do whatever the heck you want"... like having equal rights and full bodily autonomy!

'Fille de personne II,' Hubert Lenoir

The chorus of this brassy, sassy French-language anthem from Hubert Lenoir's 2018 breakout album, Darlène, bears an "it gets better" message, translated as follows:

I'm here to say you can change!
I've seen a future where women are free

The song brims with pent-up energy, stifled by a society that often makes being yourself impossible: "You scream when it's too hard to talk," Lenoir sings — and who can't relate to that?

'Get Up,' Tika

It might be the shift, it may be the culture
It may be the fear, or even the hunger
It may bе the truth, it may be discomfort

Living one's truth is rarely straightforward, and these lines from the pre-chorus of "Get Up" hint at the complicated — and often conflicting — factors at play. But the song's house beat and Tika's sung-spoken vocals drown out the noise: "If you feel it in your heart, get up."

'I Want U 2 See This,' Sydanie

On "I Want U 2 See This," Sydanie drops poetic bars about lust and intense desire over a spacey electro-house beat. "I'm raving and riding tides ripping through all space/ I want you to see this side," she raps on the bridge, as she opens up completely to her love interest. The music video flits between different settings and moods, and Sydanie shared with Fader that the duality in the video "[is] supposed to be me dancing with masculine and feminine energies."

'Kalahari Down,' Orville Peck

Orville Peck has always done country music differently, carving out a space for himself with songs that are a blend of nostalgia and heartbreak. His sweeping ballad "Kalahari Down," from his second album Bronco, follows this formula, with lush strings and booming vocals. "Left to borrow, gone tomorrow/ Baby, there ain't a trail to follow," he sings about the bittersweetness of leaving home to make it big. As he lifts the anchor to his past, there's a feeling of hope that likely resonates with any listener looking to create a new home with a chosen community.

'10%,' Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis

Over the years, Kaytranada has collaborated with fellow queer musicians including Charlotte Day Wilson, Syd and Kali Uchis. "10%" featuring Uchis (who identifies as bisexual) earned Kaytranada one of his first Grammy Awards for best dance recording, with his album Bubba taking home best dance/electronic album, making him the first Black producer and the first openly gay artist to win that title. This song is a perfect encapsulation of what Kaytranda does best, creating bass-bumping dance anthems that draw from various inspirations including house music, a genre that's rooted in the Black queer community. 

'Candyboy,' Casey MQ

On "Candyboy," Casey MQ mixes serene hyperpop with the saccharine lyrical styles of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. Growing up, he was obsessed with boy bands and added his own queer take to the canon on his 2020 album, babycasey. On the song's chorus, he beckons his lover with a sweet, gentle voice, asking: "Would you be my Candyboy?/ I promise to be yours." Pink explosions, living on clouds, and jellybean dreams abound as Casey MQ fantasizes about his ideal partner.

'Burnin' Love,' Shawnee feat. Jamie Fine

Shawnee and Jamie Fine whip up an inferno on "Burnin' Love," a dramatic song that illustrates the inner turmoil of letting someone go. "You beg for me back, girl/ You must be insane," Shawnee sings, pain and fury dripping out of each word, "Running your mouth/ Don't you dare say my name." Shawnee and Fine's voices envelop this song, creating one of the most epic breakup songs ever and sending a grave warning to never mess with these two. 

'Gender Euphoria,' Ceréna

There's a part of me that needs addressing,
It comes from deep inside, it needs some loving,
When the stars and moon align
You can see it in my eyes
It's a kind of evolution
I've never felt so alive.

Toronto singer Ceréna's debut album, Resurrection, was written while she was first exploring her trans identity. CBC Music spoke with her after the album was released back in 2021, and she opened up about the experience: "I am moving through the world with ease. I feel like I can take on those challenges now because of this wholeness that was never there." One of the album standouts, "Gender Euphoria," taps into that sentiment. Ceréna is triumphant on the joyful dance pop number, as she basks in the high of finally living her truth. 

'Take Care of You,' Charlotte Day Wilson feat. Syd

"I was like, 'I want to write a no-nuance, lesbian R&B love song!'" explained Charlotte Day Wilson to Apple Music about "Take Care of You." Religious symbols are made sexy as she explains how she's willing to part the sea for her love interest, making it one of the most sizzling numbers on her debut album, Alpha. Lust and love collide on the sensuous track as she sings about a slow burn romance: "You'll come around like I've prayed for it/ Wearing your cross on my chain for it." Day Wilson's voice is an instrument; she plays with it on "Take Care of You," giving the song unexpected textures that invite listeners to perk up their ears and fall in love.

'Persephone,' Allison Russell

Love can be a saving grace, and no one knows this better than Allison Russell. Although her moving track "Persephone" begins as a dark retelling of the abuse Rusell endured at the hands of her adoptive father, it quickly becomes an anthem for resilience when she details how her first love, "Persephone," gave her solace. "Put your skinny arms around me, let me taste your skin," she sings, finding comfort in her lover. Equally emotional and uplifting, "Persephone" is a tribute to love's ability to heal. "She showed me what consensual loving kindness was," Russell told NPR of the woman who inspired the song. "I felt like I needed to just thank her and pay homage to that, because she's one of the people who saved my life."

'Come Through,' Queen Priyanka feat. Lemon

After Queen Priyanka won the first season of Canada's Drag Race, all eyes were on her for the next step in ascension. It came in the form of her debut album, 2021's Taste Test, which included the rapid-fire anthem "Come Through," featuring a searing verse from fellow Drag Race contestant Lemon. The two queens together created an unstoppable force, and their message of agency and survival came just in time to contend for song of the summer. "There was a time when people looked at drag queens to kind of just be like clowns," Queen Priyanka told CBC Music at the time. "But music is the next chapter where drag artists are charting on iTunes and drag artists are selling out stadiums, or opening for artists like Ariana Grande and Little Mix.... it's time for people to take drag music seriously." In the three years since, Queen Priyanka has only continued to prove that her music — and drag music in general — belongs in the mainstream.

'This Dyke,' Kimmortal 

"I have never fully leaned into expressing my queer sexuality in a track," Kimmortal said, when they released "This Dyke" in 2022. "I wanted to create a sexy banger for the dykes, for femmes, for my queer community, and ultimately for me." With a whispering delivery over a booming bass, "This Dyke" is Kimmortal at their most confident, taking full control as they ask, "Tell me baby watchu wanna do?" This song was even perfectly deployed in an episode of The L Word: Generation Q last year, as the soundtrack to an orgy scene. 

'Constellations,' Jade LeMac

You never forget your first love, likely because it was the first time you experienced such intensity of feeling. That emotional rush is the subject of Jade LeMac's debut single, "Constellations," released in 2021. Its title refers to her partner's freckles, which fascinate her along with everything else about the person (whose gender is "open to any interpretation," she says.) Fun fact: the piano version of this song got a boost when it was used on Season 1, Episode 5, of the Alberta-shot Netflix teen drama My Life with the Walter Boys.