Songs in the Key of Equality

By Mike Ross (formerly known as DJ Shpank)

Music has long possessed the power to bring people together and to give artful expression to the collective experiences of diverse communities. This is certainly true for the LGBT community, the formation of whose identity was integrally linked to the underground bar and club scene of the early and mid 1900s. Each generation of LGBT people has its beloved songs – its anthems – which voice its struggles, its victories, its Pride. In the following list, I highlight 12 such anthems, which are distinguished not just for their musical quality but also for the enduring relevance of their messages of Pride and self-love.

For me, this song is the quintessential Pride anthem. I first heard it when I was about eighteen. At that point, going out dancing was a huge part of my life. I had just discovered the local gay bar, called The Grotto, and it was an unbelievable rush to be in a place full of people just like me. The lyrics encourage the listener to take “a stand for freedom” and never to give up. “What have you done today to make you feel proud?” Small reminds us that while we have made great strides toward equality, there is still much to be done. Josh Harris’ remix is the only one that is commercially available. It can be found on the Josh Harris Remix EP.

Hodges declares “a war against hate” in this feel-good diva anthem! Rosabel (Ralphi Rosario and Abel Aguilera) deliver a stomping club mix by combining classic piano house chords with tribal, Latin-influenced percussion. The upward key change in the bridge invokes a feeling of celebration, which is reinforced by the added sound of a cheering crowd. This one is available on Pat’s single, Love Revolution: The Remixes. There is even a handy radio edit of this remix for you non-DJs!

This is Whitney at her finest. Her emotional delivery showcases a broad, dynamic range, moving seamlessly from quiet, intimate passages to powerful belting. “You’ll Never Stand Alone” was taken from her My Love Is Your Love album, but never released as a single. Tony created two remixes of this song – the first around 1999, which is the mix I am referring to here. It has tremendous amounts of drama with an epic tempo change that features – wait for it – church bells! I wouldn’t be surprised if this production were the inspiration for the Thunderpuss remix of Mary J. Blige’s dance floor hit, “No More Drama,” which famously slowed down for half of the production. Sadly, there was never an official release of this remix.

The title says it all! This fantastic, but lesser known, song was the final single from Amber’s self-titled sophomore album. The melody has an extremely catchy, rolling feel, with a heavy reliance on neighboring tones. Amber co-wrote “Love One Another” with Billy Steinberg and Rick Nowels. It was later covered by Cher, whose version inspired further remixes. The shorter radio edit of the Mystica Trance Mix can be found on Amber’s best-of album, Hits Remixed.

Lara is a French Canadian artist who is best known for “I Will Love Again.” She was marketed by Columbia Records to fill the void that would be left by Celine Dion during her 1999-2002 hiatus from the music business. Not to be confused with the similarly titled “I Am What I Am,” this song also contains lyrics that speak to the importance of staying true to oneself. HQ 2 was comprised of Hex Hector and Mac Quayle, who delivered an exciting, dramatic remix of this song. It’s disappointing that Columbia didn’t properly release or promote this single, especially after the success of “I Will Love Again.” The full, extended remix can be found on a compilation CD from House Nation, entitled White Party USA.

I have a deep and longstanding love for Ace of Base. “Never Gonna Say I’m Sorry” was the third single from their second album, The Bridge. It was written to be a musical sequel to Ace of Base’s first international hit. Listeners will notice a flute melody reminiscent of “All That She Wants.” “Never Gonna Say I’m Sorry” is joyful and celebratory, proudly refusing to apologize for being oneself. Lenny B’s dance remixes on the original 1996 maxi single have a buoyant house vibe resulting from the syncopated synth and organ chords. I am currently working on new 20 th anniversary remixes from the original vocal tapes. Keep an eye out for them. They should be released by late 2016! Lenny B’s versions are included in Never Gonna Say I’m Sorry (The Remixes).

Taborah is a double threat, with talent in both singing and songwriting! Her voice is quite distinctive due to her lower range and heavy vibrato. Johnny’s arrangement is both encouraging and uplifting. Its cheerful, high string melody is the icing on the cake! The lyrics of “I Am (The Rising)” speak about breaking free and being yourself. This song deals with themes that everyone encounters when coming of age, and especially resonates with those of us who grew up feeling different. The remix is available as part of Taborah’s single I Am (The Rising) - EP.

This empowering anthem was released in 1996, the year after Chaz Bono came out publicly via The Advocate. Following the single’s release, Cher was also featured in The Advocate as a proud parent! There is a notable tenderness in Cher’s vocal delivery, leading the listener to imagine that she was singing to Chaz. A whole lot of love and empowerment can be found in this jam! The shorter radio edit of the remix was used in lieu of the original version in the US release of her greatest hits album, The Very Best of Cher.

“So many people, lost and abandoned. Is there not enough love to go around?” Unlike most of the titles on this list, which are joyful, the lyrics of “Not Enough?” remind us that our fight is not over. While great strides have been made in human rights, more change is needed. The homelessness and suicide rates for LGBT youth are far too high, and we continue to be discriminated against by people like Kim Davis and Kathryn Knott. It’s up to us to take a stand and to make a difference. This rare track is not available as a digital download, as far as I can tell. Your best bet would be to look for a used copy of the maxi single.

Released only nine months prior to the July 1979 “Disco Sucks” movement, “I Will Survive” was one of the last hits of the disco era and the only song to win the Grammy for Best Disco Recording! While the themes of this tune revolve around the end of a romance, the song has evolved into a beacon of hope and strength. My own remix is the most recent rendition of this classic and the first officially sanctioned release of “I Will Survive” in over a decade. It was featured on The Today Show. It can be found on Gloria’s most recent album, We Will Survive.

RuPaul has been a gay icon since his 1992 release of “Supermodel (You Better Work).” “Superstar” is an affirming song about loving someone for who they are: “Gonna love you as you are. Gonna love you, you’re a superstar!” Matt Pop provides an energetic, 80s-inspired dance remix, which can be found on RuPaul’s remix album, Superglam DQ. I particularly love the way he highlights the backing vocals after the key change that happens towards the end of the track.

The lyrics are creative and uplifting, the production is impeccable, and Kim’s vocals are powerful. The main theme of this tune is coming together to make a difference, and that’s what Pride is all about! “We Get Together” was only commercially released as a single on vinyl, but it can be found on Tommy Boy Records’ continuously mixed compilation, Dance Mix NYC – Volume 2.

Creating a short list of top anthems is difficult due to the abundance of rousing songs that been used to empower our community over the decades. Each of the songs listed were game-changers. All of the artists and songwriters have my heartfelt gratitude. Honorable mentions go to: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert “Same Love” (Cutmore Mix); Lady Gaga “Born This Way”; Judy Cheeks “Reach” (Dancing Divaz Remix); and Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out” (Almighty Mix).

Mike Ross (formerly known as DJ Shpank) is a remixer, producer, and DJ from Holyoke, Massachusetts. He has been DJing for 14 years, appearing in clubs and circuit parties all over Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Arizona, including four Boston Pride block parties. He has produced remixes for such well-known acts as RuPaul, Ace of Base, Gloria Gaynor, and Right Said Fred. In 2015, Mike released his debut single, DJ Shpank feat. Victoria Ladd & Erica Romeo “Walk Like an Egyptian,” which enjoyed a successful stint on European radio.