Queer as Folk: The Best Music Videos

We’re taking a look at the best music videos from Queer as Folk, one of the most groundbreaking and iconic TV shows of all time. From the catchy opening credits sequence to the show’s many heart-wrenching moments, the music played a vital role in shaping the show’s unique identity.

Introduction

In celebration of Pride Month, we’ve rounded up some of the best music videos with queer storylines or themes. These videos range in styles and genres, but all convey messages of love, acceptance, and pride.

Pink’s “Dear Mr. President”
This 2006 song is a searing critique of then-President George W. Bush’s policies on a number of issues, including same-sex marriage. The video features a lesbian couple getting married, as well as footage of queer people protesting the Iraq War.

Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”
Gaga’s 2011 anthem about self-acceptance and celebrating difference was accompanied by a video that featured queer people of all ages, races, and gender expressions.

Martika’s “Love… Thy Will Be Done”
This 1991 pop ballad was co-written by Prince, and the video features a same-sex relationship between two women. It was one of the first mainstream music videos to feature a lesbian relationship.

Melissa Etheridge’s “I Need to Wake Up”
This song was Etheridge’s contribution to Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and the video features footage of queer couples getting married. It was Etheridge’s first song to explicitly address her sexuality.

Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy”
This 1984 synthpop classic tells the story of a young gay man who leaves his small town for the big city after experiencing homophobia from his family and community. The video features shots of queer people cruising in parks and public spaces.

“Poker Face” by Lady Gaga

Few music videos have been as popular or as influential as Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” The video, which was released in 2009, was an instant hit, and it quickly became a Queer anthem.

“Poker Face” is a song about hiding one’s true self behind a poker face, and the video features Lady Gaga doing just that. She is shown in a variety of settings, including a club and a casino, but she is always wearing a poker face.

The video has been praised for its portrayal of Queer culture, and for its positive portrayal of Lady Gaga herself. It is widely considered to be one of the best music videos ever made.

“Born This Way” by Lady Gaga

“Born This Way” is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, from her second studio album of the same name. Released on May 23, 2011, it served as the album’s lead single. Written by Gaga and Jeppe Laursen, the track was conceived while Gaga was on the road with The Monster Ball Tour. She related that the idea for the song came about when she was at a gay bar with some friends, one of whom told her that she was “born this way”. The phrase “born this way” has become a rallying cry for the LGBT community. Gaga explained that “Born This Way” was about being proud of one’s identity and believing that everyone should be proud of who they are.

The track received positive reviews from music critics who praised its anthemic nature and estimated it would have broad cultural and musical impact due to its subject matter. The song debuted in the top five on most singles charts including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it became Gaga’s second number-one hit after her previous single “Bad Romance”. An accompanying music video was directed by Nick Knight and showcasing various landmarks including Liberty Island, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

“Telephone” by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé

“Telephone” is a song by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé, released as the second single from Gaga’s album The Fame Monster. The song is a mid-tempo dance-pop and R&B ballad with a ’90s-inspired sound. The lyrics of “Telephone” are about two friends who have unresolved sexual tension between them.

The music video for “Telephone” was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, and it features Lady Gaga and Beyoncé as inmates in a women’s prison. The video includes references to various films and television shows, such as Thelma & Louise, Pulp Fiction, and Orange Is the New Black. It was filmed in March 2010 and released on March 13, 2010.

The video received positive reviews from critics, who praised its campy and colorful aesthetic. Many compared it favorably to Gaga’s previous video for “Paparazzi”, which also featured Åkerlund as director. “Telephone” won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

“Alejandro” by Lady Gaga

“Alejandro” is a song by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released as the third single from her third extended play (EP) The Fame Monster (2009). Co-written and produced by Gaga and RedOne, the track inspired by her “Fear of Men Monster”, deals with Gaga’s fear of falling in love. Musically, it is an uptempo synthpop song built around a repeating piano hook. The song was also compared to Madonna’s works from her ninth studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).

The music video for “Alejandro” was directed by fashion photography duo Inez and Vinoodh. It features close-ups of the singer with imagery from Catholic iconography as well as shots of half-naked men holding large crosses. Intercut are scenes of Gaga in a skin-tight leather bodysuit dancing with her dancers in front of several large burning crosses. Madonna’s infamous music video for “Like a Prayer” (1989) has been compared to the video for “Alejandro”.

“Give Me All Your Luvin'” by Madonna ft. Nicki Minaj & M.I.A.

This video is everything you would expect from a Madonna music video – it’s sexy, it’s fun, and it’s queer as hell. The video features Madonna and her two backup dancers/lovers (Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.) strutting their stuff in skin-tight latex outfits. At one point, they even make out with each other! This video is a celebration of queer sexuality, and we love it.

“Justify My Love” by Madonna

“Justify My Love” is a song by Madonna from her first greatest hits compilation album The Immaculate Collection. It was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records as the lead single from The Immaculate Collection. The song was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with additional writing by Madonna. Chavez was not credited on the song, which caused a lawsuit that was later settled out of court. “Justify My Love” is a pop and R&B ballad that features a slow thumping bassline and excerpts of Kravitz’s “My Love”. The lyrics of the song are based on erotic desire and romance.

Critical reception of the song was polarized; many reviewers praised it as one of Madonna’s best singles while others criticized its overtly sexual lyrics. It became the highest-selling single from The Immaculate Collection worldwide. It was certified platinum in Australia, Brazil and the United States, while in the United Kingdom it received a silver certification. “Justify My Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and became Madonna’s ninth number-one single on that chart. It also peaked at number three in Australia, Canada and Italy; number five in France edition magazine; number six in Germany; number 17 in Japan; number 20 in Spain and Switzerland; and at number33 in her native country—the United States.

A black-and-white music video directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino was released with the single that caused controversy due to its Explicit Content. It featured close-ups of nude menjoined together, as well as see-through clothing worn by Madonna and model TonieMarshall. “Justify My Love” won Best Cinematography at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards but captured two nominations—Video of the Yearand Best Female Video—at ceremony itself which it lost both to Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat”.

“Vogue” by Madonna

“Vogue” is a song by Madonna from her 1990 album, I’m Breathless. The song was released as the album’s third single in March 1990 and became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in over 30 countries. The music video for “Vogue” was directed by David Fincher and inspired by the work of photographer Horst P. Horst. It features Madonna and her dancers dressed in lavish 1920s- and 1930s-style clothing, dancing against a plain white backdrop. “Vogue” won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 1991 and remains one of Madonna’s most iconic songs and videos.

“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera’s music video for “Beautiful” is one of the best examples of queer representation in mainstream media. The video features a diverse cast of queer and transgender people of all ages, races, and gender identities. It is a powerful and moving portrayal of the beauty in diversity, and the strength of the queer community.

“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton

“Can’t Hold Us” is a song by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Ray Dalton. The song was released on August 26, 2013 as the third single from their debut studio album, The Heist (2012). It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 2013.

The song’s accompanying music video was directed by Jason Koenig and filmed in various locations around Seattle. The video features cameo appearances from various Seattle landmarks and residents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many amazing music videos that feature queer performers and tell queer stories. These videos offer a glimpse into the lives of queer people and the struggles and joys that come with being queer. They also show how far the LGBTQIA+ community has come in terms of visibility and acceptance. We hope you enjoy these videos as much as we do!