Listeners are turning to the LGBTQ Music Chart's Week 42 playlist for a vivid mix of pop, country, ballads and club-ready energy. With Hudson Blake leading the countdown and standout tracks from Leonardo Amor, Benjamin and Chris Housman, this European-curated selection offers both emotional depth and a celebratory weekend soundtrack.

Essential Takeaways

  • Top spot: Hudson Blake reaches number one with “We Were Dancing”.
  • Most moving moment: Leonardo Amor’s “18 Years” explores survival and resilience.
  • Fresh energy: Benjamin earns Newcomer of the Week with “I’m on Fire”.
  • Country crossover: Chris Housman’s “Another Love Song” brings queer Nashville storytelling to the chart.
  • Listening tip: The community-curated Top 50 is available through Apple Music and Spotify, with weekly updates.

Hudson Blake brings rootsy warmth to number one

Hudson Blake has gone straight to the top with “We Were Dancing”, a first-time chart entry that blends polished pop with country feeling. Its warm vocal delivery and open-hearted writing give the track an easy, late-evening glow, the sort of song that feels equally comfortable on a road trip or a crowded dance floor.

The appeal is its balance. There’s enough rhythmic lift to keep things moving, but the roots-inspired arrangement gives the song a more grounded feel than a typical pop anthem. The LGBTQ Music Chart’s latest edition places that transatlantic sound at the centre of its European listening community.

Leonardo Amor turns painful history into an anthem

The week’s emotional centre is Leonardo Amor’s “18 Years”, a candid ballad addressing survival after sexual abuse. The Oslo-based Norwegian-Philippino artist follows his Melodi Grand Prix appearance with a track that chooses vulnerability over easy gloss.

That makes it a demanding listen, but also a powerful one. Rather than treating personal pain as spectacle, the song gives survivors a language for endurance and self-belief. The chart’s previous editions have consistently made room for songs that pair queer visibility with emotional honesty, and this track pushes that tradition into especially serious territory.

Benjamin adds bright pop momentum

Benjamin takes Newcomer of the Week with “I’m on Fire”, his interpretation of Stratovarius’s “World on Fire” from the Finnish television series Vain elämää. The performance brings a bright, energetic pop sensibility to a song rooted in rock, giving it a fresh coat of colour without losing its punch.

It’s a natural fit for an artist who has become a familiar name around the LGBTQ Music Chart. The track also reflects a broader shift in queer pop listening, where dramatic reinterpretations, television performances and genre-blurring covers can travel quickly from national audiences to a wider European fan base.

Chris Housman keeps country’s queer story moving

Chris Housman’s “Another Love Song” earns Song of the Week, adding a distinctly Nashville-shaped voice to the countdown. His background as a fiddle player and his openly LGBTQ+ identity give the track a strong sense of place, while the writing reaches beyond traditional country boundaries.

There’s something quietly significant about seeing queer country music presented not as a niche curiosity, but as part of a lively international playlist. Housman’s work sits comfortably alongside the chart’s pop and dance selections, proving that a community playlist doesn’t need one sound to feel united.

A playlist built for discovery

Across the Top 50, the mood shifts from intimate ballads to glittering pop and full-volume dance tracks. That variety is one of the chart’s biggest strengths: listeners can arrive for a favourite artist and leave with several new names saved to their phones.

The playlist is community-curated, and that gives it a different feel from a purely algorithmic selection. It’s less about chasing one dominant trend and more about creating a shared space for artists from Europe and beyond. For listeners building an LGBTQ music playlist for a party, Pride event or reflective Sunday afternoon, the range is particularly useful.

How to listen to the full countdown

The accompanying radio show expands the weekly chart with the complete countdown, interviews and special mixes. It offers a more social way to experience the selection, especially for listeners who enjoy hearing the stories behind the songs rather than simply pressing shuffle.

The Top 50 playlist is available on Apple Music and Spotify and is updated weekly. Because the streaming version can differ from the published list, it’s worth checking both if you want the fullest picture of the week’s LGBTQ music releases and favourites.

Press play, turn it up and let the community choose your next favourite track.

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