New Music Friday: Songs You Should Listen to This Weekend (Sep. 2)

Your weekend starts now with these new bops!

In a year that already gave us Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Lizzo’s Special, a new contender is entering the pop diva wars: Taylor Swift’s Midnights. Right at the 2022 Video Music Awards, Swift announced that her 10th studio album, Midnights, is coming – with a release date now set for October 21.

Speaking of the 2022 VMAs, this was a pretty big year for LGBTQ+ artists and allies. For one, out bisexual singer Anitta performed “Envolver” at the event and became the first-ever Brazilian musician to win the Best Latin award at the VMAs. Lil Nas X also won a few technical awards for the “Industry Baby” music video featuring Jack Harlow. In the meantime, Dove Cameron won Best New Artist, and Lizzo won the Video for Good award.

During his performance of “Tití Me Pregunto,” Bad Bunny surprised audiences by kissing a male dancer on the stage – sending a clear signal that male reggaeton artists no longer need to rely on misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic tropes or lyrics to succeed on a global stage. In the end, Bunny also won Artist of the Year and became the first-ever non-English act to do so.

With so much to celebrate when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community’s involvement in mainstream music, it’s time to listen to the best new releases of the week from queer artists and allies.

Scroll through to check out this week’s best new releases from LGBTQ+ musicians and allies.

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Courtney Govan - “stay still”

Kali Uchis - “NO HAY LEY”

Jack Tracy - “Tired of Being Lonely”

Fletcher - “Sting”

Betty Who & Pabllo Vittar - “She Can Dance (Brabo Mix)”

Ava Max - “Million Dollar Baby”