22 Catchy Lesbian Songs & Artists To Listen To Right Now
Back when I was a young, closeted lesbian, I would spend endless nights listening to love songs about unrequited love, girl crushes, and pick out the lyrics that were the most heartbreaking or romantic.
There were few openly lesbian songs and music artists to choose from back then, but it’s amazing to see the explosion of lesbian and LGBTQ artists in the music scene over recent years who are writing songs that are both catchy and relatable.
A funny story: When Chia and I first started dating, during our first Christmas holiday together, we got each other the same exact “music-related” gift! You can read the full comic about how it unfolded here.
Here’s a list of the best lesbian songs about women crushing on women, coming out, love, and heartbreak featuring LGBTQ artists to listen to right now:
1. Hayley Kiyoko — “Girls Like Girls”
Also known as “Lesbian Jesus”, Hayley Kiyoko’s catchy song about girls liking girls and how she’s not sorry if she’s gonna steal the thunder from all the boys is spot on.
🎵 Favorite Lyric:
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
2. King Princess — “1950”
A more subtle homage (compared to some of King Princess’ other queer songs) to being gay and #wlw. Listening to this poetic song reminds me of the lesbian movie, “Carol” back when being a woman crushing on another woman was highly taboo.
Other great King Princess songs worth listening to are”Holy”and”Pussy is God”.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I hope that you’re happy with me in your life
I hope that you won’t slip away
I hate it when dudes try to chase me
I love it when you try to save me
3. Girl in Red — “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend”
The classic longing for a girl song that every lesbian can relate to. I love the catchy tune of this song and with lyrics like “I don’t wanna be your friend. I wanna kiss your lips.”, Girl in Red has every gay girl singing along.
Also listen to “Girls” and “We Fell in Love in October” by Girl in Red.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I don’t wanna be your friend
I wanna kiss your lips
I wanna kiss you until I lose my breath
4. Clairo — “Sofia”
Every lesbian has had a “Sofia” in their life. If this song came out back when I was in high school, it would’ve been my anthem and played on repeat. It has a catchy beat and super relatable lyrics.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
Baby, you don’t got to fight, I’ll be here til the end of time
Wishing that you were mine, pull you in, it’s alright
5. Fletcher — “Wasted Youth”
Fletcher has a lot of great songs so it’s hard to just choose one, BUT if I had to choose a song to list here, it would be “Wasted Youth” (though “Undrunk” is a close second, but it’s a song that’s better suited for a heartbreak playlist). I remember watching the music video for this song and falling in love with it (Fletcher and Shannon are absolutely adorable).
Other notable Fletcher songs to listen to are “Undrunk” and “Forever”.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
You’re the ultimate high that I’m tripping on
You’re the edge of the cliff that I’m hanging on
6. Gia Woods — “Only a Girl”
The first time I dated a girl, I felt something that I’ve never felt before with any guy that I had ever dated. Gia Woods captures this sentiment perfectly. Because once you go gay, you never go back.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
Only a girl
Can make me feel this way
7. L Devine — “Daughter”
This song is for anyone who has ever had to deal with their girlfriend’s parents who weren’t supportive or thrilled about their gay relationship. The chorus is heart-aching on both sides-you can relate to the pain of loving a girl whose parents won’t accept your relationship as well as sense the sadness that parents initially feel when they realize that their daughter won’t give them everything they wanted.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
Here’s the part where we run away
Me and her take the great escape
8. Mary Lambert — “I’d Be Your Wife”
I first discovered Mary Lambert and fell in love with her voice and lyrics when she sang “Same Love” with Macklemore. Her song “I’d Be Your Wife” is a romantic, upbeat and catchy love song that puts a smile on your face whenever you listen to it.
If you like this song, you’ll also love “She Keeps Me Warm” by Mary Lambert.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
And every piece of me loves every piece of you
You were right for me right from the start
9. Taylor Swift — “Betty”
The list of iconic songs made by Taylor Swift is neverending, but her recent hits have given LGBTQ fans around the world more reason to fall in love with her (and continue to hope that she might actually come out as gay one day). The song “Betty” drops several subtle hints that imply that Taylor has had a crush on or unrequited love with a woman.
My other personal favorite Taylor Swift song with lesbian undertones is “Dress”, which is rumored to be about Karlie Kloss.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
If you kiss me, will it be just like I dreamed it?
10. Tegan and Sara — “Boyfriend”
Tegan and Sara are sisters who are both openly gay and have become lesbian icons over the course of their decades-long music careers. The song “Boyfriend” is relatable to any lesbian who’s ever had mixed signals from a straight girl or someone who hasn’t yet confronted their sexuality.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
You treat me like your boyfriend
And trust me like a like a very best friend
You kiss me like your boyfriend
You call me up like you want your best friend
You turn me on like you want your boyfriend
But I don’t want to be your secret anymore
11. Robyn — “Dancing On My Own”
This is one of those songs that hits you at your core and that you want to blast and sing out loud to in your car when you’re driving alone at night. In fact, many of Robyn’s songs are so relatable and heartwrenching that every gay person can see themselves singing their hearts out to.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I’m in the corner
Watching you kiss her
I’m right over here
Why can’t you see me?
I’m giving it my all
But I’m not the girl you’re taking home
I keep dancing on my own (I keep dancing on my own)
12. Tracy Chapman — Fast Car Remix (Jonas Blue)
This is an oldie but goodie. Tracy Chapman is a legendary singer and musician whose songs are always very poetic and meaningful. This remix is a modern rendition of “Fast Car” that combines a more upbeat/EDM tempo with the soulful lyrics of the original song.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
See I remember we were driving, driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ‘round my shoulder
13. Saara Aalto — “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching”
This song is both empowering and heartwarming. No wonder it was chosen as the offical anthem for Pride in London 2019. Saara Aalto first rose to fame when she became a finalist on X Factor and we love how she’s breaking barriers as a lesbian artist.
Also listen to a similar titled song by Saara Alto called “DANCE!!!” that will really make you want to get up and dance!
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
Dance like nobody’s watching
Nobody’s judging
Who you love
14. Keala Settle — “This Is Me”
This song was originally written for the movie, “The Greatest Showman” and has become one of my favorite Pride songs. It’s the coming out song every LGBTQ person needs to hear and encourages you to be brave and live your authentic life.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
15. Katie Pruitt — “Loving Her”
This song beautifully captures the sentiments of “Love is Love” with a mellow beat and an equally beautiful music video.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
If loving her’s a sin I don’t wanna go to heaven
No, there’s nothing else up there I could need
16. Jen Foster — “I Didn’t Just Kiss Her”
A classic lesbian song about kissing a girl and liking it. This song was actually a playful reaction to Katy Perry’s hit song ‘’I Kissed A Girl.”
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I didn’t just kiss her
We went all the way and I liked it
17. Elektra — “I Don’t Do Boys”
If you needed a more obvious song about being lesbian, then this song is for you. Just the title of this song alone is every lesbian’s mantra. The chorus is super catchy and you’ll be singing along in no time.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I don’t do boys, I just do girls
Just do girls with style and class
18. Kehlani — “Honey”
A sexy, sultry slow song that you can imagine playing in the background as you’re laying in bed with the woman you love and staring into each other’s eyes.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
All the pretty girls in the world
But I’m in this space with you
Colored out the lines
I came to find, my fire was fate with you
19. Janelle Monae — “Pynk”
A cleverly sexual song by the super talented Janelle Monae that has all the lesbian innuendos you could want. If you’re unsure of what she’s referring to, just watch the music video.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I wanna fall through the stars
Getting lost in the dark is my favorite part
Let’s count the ways we could make this last forever
20. Betty Who — “I Remember”
A sweet love song that reminds you about all the ways you love someone and how amazing it feels when they tell you that they’ll love you forever.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I remember I don’t want perfect, I want you
You know you’re the only one
How could I forget this love?
I remember, no matter what, it’s me and you
21. Diana Ross — “I’m Coming Out”
Of course, there’s no lesbian or gay playlist that’s complete with “I’m Coming Out”. It’s been an LGBTQ anthem and played at every Pride parade for decades.
🎵 Favorite Lyrics:
I’m coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
22. Lady Gaga — “Born This Way”
This song was my anthem when it first came out and I was still a closeted lesbian. It was certainly trailblazing for its time and I’m grateful for Lady Gaga applying her musical talents to support LGBTQ people.
🎵 Favorite Lyric
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
Check out the entire playlist on Spotify here:
Originally published at https://sesamebutdifferent.com on August 16, 2020.
