I make a lot of playlists. I buy new music, I listen to it a few times, then I start picking out other songs from my library that I think go well with the new music for one reasons or another, and soon I have a playlist or three. Or I’ll be having a conversation with someone, and some turn of phrase someone uses will sound like it ought to be the name of an album or band or something, and the next thing I know I’m constructing a playlist of songs that fit the title. Not to mention the many playlists I put together to help with my writing. I have playlists for specific recurring characters in my stories, and playlists for particular stories, and more importantly playlists for particular plot/character arcs within a story.

And every year during May I start constructing a Pride playlist. It’ll be a mix of new songs and old. What they usually all have in common is that they are songs I like to dance to, and resonate in some way with the celebratory side of being out and proud but especially loud. Or, as Miss Coco Peru might said, a life lived out, proud, loud and just a little bit ridiculous.

Some years I feel like putting in songs that are a bit more dirty and flirty, while other years my include some ballads and either more serious or slightly darker in tone. I also throw in songs that are by artists I’ve been thinking about a lot this year. Which is at least part of the reason you’ll see both Prince and David Bowie make an appearance.

Not all of these songs will mean the same thing to you or even evoke the same feelings, of course. And you may see some familiar titles that make you ask, “How can he dance to that?” Don’t just look at the title, but try to find the exact remix by the same artist. You may find that the cover version of an old pop song you think you know has been transformed into something completely different in the particular track I’ve listed.

Anyway, this is my 2016 Pride Playlist:

1. “Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix)” – Prince & The Revolution
2. “Feelin’ Free” – Sirpaul
3. “Spectrum (feat. Jo Lampert & Gyasi Ross)” – Ryan Amador
4. “Rebel Rebel” – David Bowie
5. “Reach out for the Stars” – Yehonathan
6. “Revolution (feat. Levi Kreis)” – Matthew David
7. “What’s It Gonna Be?” – Shura
8. “Genghis Khan” – Miike Snow
9. “Get Your Sexy On” – Lovestarrs
10. “I Wanna Boi” – PWR BTTM
11. “The Boy Who Couldn’t Keep His Clothes On” – Pet Shop Boys
12. “Just Stand Up!” – Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole, LeAnn Rimes, Ashanti, Ciara & Mariah Carey
13. “How Deep Is Your Love” – Calvin Harris & Disciples
14. “For You” – Quentin Elias
15. “The Good, the Bad and the Dirty” – Panic! At the Disco
16. “Desire” – Years & Years
17. “We Don’t Have to Dance” – Andy Black
18. “Feel So Good [Orignal Edit]” – Sean Ensign
19. “Eddie Baez Donna Summer She Works Hard for the Money” – Eddie Baez Presents
20. “Only Love Survives (Timothy Allan & Mark Loverush Remix)” – Ryan Dolan
21. “You’re So Beautiful (White Party Version) [feat. Jussie Smollett]” – Empire Cast
22. “Breathe Life” – Brian Kent
23. “Try Everything” – Shakira
24. “Halo (Gomi Club Remix)” – Beyoncé
25. “You Are Unstoppable (7th Heaven Remix)” – Conchita Wurst

Whatever music you prefer, never forget: dance with joy, dance with abandon, dance without worrying what anyone thinks, because life is too short to waste time sitting still!