For example, ' Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)' from West Side Story. Search for acceptance: Songs about a welcoming promised land where the dream of acceptance and belonging and hope lives.Celebrating unashamed sexuality: The theme is of transcending cultural shame to celebrate one's sexual nature.' The Greatest Love of All' as sung by Whitney Houston. Hard-won self-esteem: The theme involves fighting through oppression, darkness, or fear to gain freedom, beauty, or self-esteem.
In the 2002 book Queer, the following ten main themes were listed that are common among many, if not all gay anthems:
Melanie Brown was shown kissing another woman in her ' For Once in My Life' video, making this song a hymn of the gay community.Īlthough every song is individual, the criteria for what makes a gay anthem has shown a trend among the years.
