Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives
Episodes
The Greatest bits from the last 3 seasons
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas has come early as Jake selects some of his favourite bits from the last 3 seasons. Really just a reminder to go back and listen to the episo...
A Queer Year in music with Self Esteem
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For this special episode of Queer The Music Jake is joined by the brilliant Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem. With a critically acclaimed new album...
'Epic' by Faith No More - with Roddy Bottum
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's our season finale and we're delighted to be joined by Roddy Bottum, best known as the keyboardist of Faith No More. Back in 1990 Roddy found h...
'Grace Kelly' by Mika
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Queer The Music we celebrate Grace Kelly - the debut single from Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and Grammy nominated global pop vi...
'Queen' by Perfume Genius
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode celebrates the anthemic song 'Queen' by Perfume Genius. Singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas aka Perfume Genius first emerged around...
The B-52s - with Kate Pierson
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a big one - we are celebrating the iconic The B-52's. A band that paved the way for queer artists through their unapologetic on-stage ide...
‘My Lady of Mercy' by The Last Dinner Party
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Jake Shears for this episode are Abigail and Georgia from one of the most talked-about bands of the moment…The Last Dinner Party. 2024 wa...
‘Not My Father’s Son’ from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter - Part 2
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second part of the legendary Billy Porter on Queer The Music with Jake’s Shears where we hear the Tony, Grammy and Emmy award winner ...
‘Not My Father’s Son’ from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter - Part 1
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Queer The Music this week celebrates the multi-award winning actor, singer and activist Billy Porter. Billy is the first gay Black man to win an E...
'Statue In The Square' by Kae Tempest
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kae Tempest joins Jake Shears to talk about his song 'Statue In The Square'. With two Mercury nominations and the Ted Hughes Poetry Prize under his...
‘Raw Deal’ by Judas Priest with Rob Halford - Part 2
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second part of Jake's revealing conversation with The Metal God himself, Rob Halford - frontman of legendary rock band Judas Priest Last ...
18 - 'Raw Deal' by Judas Priest
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Series 3 of Queer The Music! We're kicking off with an absolute icon from the world of rock - Rob Halford. Rob has spent half a century...
17 - 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this festive edition of Queer the Music Jake sits down with the iconic Holly Johnson, the front man of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, to discuss the 19...
16 - 'It's a Sin' by Pet Shop Boys
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the Season Finale of Queer The Music and we have a big one for you! It's none other than Neil Tennant to talk about Pet Shop Boys' 1987 smash hit...
15 - 'Take Your Mama' by Scissor Sisters
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard the news?? Scissors Sisters are reforming and going on tour next May so for this special edition of Queer The Music, recorded in front ...
14 - 'Midnight Radio' with John Cameron Mitchell
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode celebrates the song 'Midnight Radio', by Stephen Trask, the epic finale song from the ground-breaking film and stage musical Hedwig and ...
13 - 'Free Yourself' by Jessie Ware
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Queer The Music not only shines a light on songs by queer artists but also those that have been adopted by the LGBTQ+ community and in this episode we...
12 - 'Explode' by Big Freedia
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Queer The Music we’re shining a light on an incredible artist as we celebrate ‘Explode’ by the rapper and ‘Queen of Bounce’...
11 - 'Glacier' by John Grant
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Queer The Music we welcome the great singer songwriter John Grant to talk about his epic song Glacier. Glacier is the standout track fr...
10 - 'Tutti Frutti' by Little Richard
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Queer The Music we celebrate the phenomenal artist Little Richard and his groundbreaking song 'Tutti Frutti'. We can’t underplay the im...
9 - 'Standing In The Way of Control' by Gossip
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with Season 2 of 'Queer The Music' and what better way to kick off this series with the brilliant Beth Ditto to talk about the anthem that ...
8 - 'Fast Slow Disco' by St Vincent
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have a bonus episode for you! Join us as we are celebrating the brilliant ‘Fast Slow Disco’ the up-tempo reworking of ‘Slow Disco’ by singe...
7 - 'Going To A Town' by Rufus Wainwright
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For our last episode of this current series we celebrate the brilliant 'Going To A Town' by singer, songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The song, which was t...
6 - '1950' by King Princess
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The hit '1950' is the focus of this week's episode - Jake speaks to American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikaela Straus, better known...
5 - ‘King’ by Years and Years (Olly Alexander)
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode celebrates a hit from 2015 that went straight to the top of the UK Charts and was named song of the year by Time magazine. It’s the co...
4 - 'Fuck The Pain Away' by Peaches
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cult feminist musician and artist, Peaches exploded onto the music scene in 2000 with her punky, electroclash album The Teaches of Peaches and it’s ...
3 - 'A Little Respect' by Erasure
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Bell was out and proud from the get go, fronting synth pop duo Erasure who sold over 20 million albums and had an incredible 17 Top 10 singles. T...
2 - 'I Do This All The Time' by Self Esteem
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since leaving her Indie band ‘Slow Club’ and going solo Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) has been releasing patriarchy-smashing anthems and s...
1 - 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' by Sylvester
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode celebrates trailblazing diva Sylvester James and his iconic disco anthem ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’. Black, gay and gender flui...
Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives - Coming Soon!
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have...