I thought that song “Rude” was kinda… you know… rude? Like why is this dude gonna marry that girl whether or not her Dad says it’s okay? Why is he even asking if he’s gonna marry her anyway? But then I heard a girl sing the song about marrying a girl and suddenly it became subversively delightful! Which got me thinking about how really there’s nothing I love more than a queer person singing a popular song in her/their very own way. So I started making you this playlist… and then I did some research and discovered that Kina Grannis, the girl who covered that song, is not actually gay. Womp WOMP. She’s married to a man. Obviously, she could still be queer or bisexual or pansexual but unfortunately hasn’t said so on the internet. However, I didn’t want to let go of this post or including that cover of “Rude” in it, so I’m putting it in anyhow.

We’ll open with her song, but the rest of these are by genderqueer folks (Mal Blum, specifically) and lesbian, queer, bisexual or otherwise-identified women. (Toshi Reagon’s cover song was removed from the list because it made our website break, so there’s actually only 27, not 28, but enjoy!)

(not gay, who knows really) Kina Grannis, “Rude” (MAGIC!)

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, “Crimson & Clover” (Tommy James & The Shondells)

http://youtu.be/hdhonK8NMm8

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Brandi Carlile, “Heaven” (Bryan Adams)

Jenny Owen Youngs, “Hot In Here” (Nelly)

Missy Higgins, “Stuff and Nonsense” (Split Enz)

Kate Nash, “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You” (Black Kids)

Julia Nunes, “Baby” (Justin Bieber & The Supremes)

The Blow, “Come On Petunia” (some of it is from “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” by Sting)

http://youtu.be/_JEb2ktzuNU

Katie Melua, “Just Like Heaven” (The Cure)

Melissa Etheridge, “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye)

The Butchies, “Your Love” (The Outfield)

Daphne Link, “If I Was Your Boyfriend” (Justin Bieber)

Dani Shay, “She Will Be Loved” (Maroon Five)

Betty & Pam Grier, “Some Kind of Wonderful” (The Drifters)

Holly Miranda, “Lover You Should’ve Come Over” (Jeff Buckley)

KD Lang, “Joker” (Steve Miller Band)

Me’Shell NdegéOcello, “Who Is He And What Is He To You” (Bill Withers)

Santana Lopez and Brittany S Pierce, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (Whitney Houston)

Azealia Banks, “Slow Hands” (Interpol)

K’s Choice, “Yellow” (Coldplay)

CoCo Rosie, “Surfer Girl” (The Beach Boys)

MK Nobilette, “All Of Me” (John Legend)

http://youtu.be/Ik2WELm17vs

Mal Blum, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (Taylor Swift)

http://youtu.be/a8Olj29y_gQ

Sinead O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)

http://youtu.be/iUiTQvT0W_0

Angel Haze, “Same Love” (Macklemore)

https://soundcloud.com/angelhazeym/same-love-angel-haze

Allison Weiss, “I Think I Need a New Heart” (Magnetic Fields)

http://youtu.be/bM-D2aHfSIg

Tegan and Sara, “Dancing in the Dark” (Bruce Springsteen)

Tracy Chapman, “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King)

http://youtu.be/pjqre-8igAQ