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The AfterEllen.com Huddle: Theme Songs

The other day I was thinking about how awesome Jem of Jem & The Holograms theme song is. I mean, it’s an entire song talking about truly outrageous Jem is – truly, truly, truly outrageous. Not only that but she is excitement, adventure, glamour and glitter, fashion and fame. Who wouldn’t want that sang about them?

Which brings me to today’s Huddle topic: If a pre-existing song could be your theme song, which would you choose?

Dana Piccoli: “No Net Below” by Jonatha Brooke, who is a totally underrated performer, by the way.

My timing’s all wrong And the ladder is gone And all I can do, is Swing ’til it’s all net below
Kimberly Hoffman: Since forever, it’s been “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure.

Valerie Anne: This is the hardest question ever because I love music so much and any given moment of any given day my favorite song or my theme song or the song that speaks to me most could change. But for right now, I’m going to choose Taylor Swift‘s “Long Live.” Right now, at 27, writing for AfterEllen, being part of fandom, belonging to a Twitter community, being an out and proud lesbian in 2014, living in New York City…this is the happiest I’ve ever been. I feel like I’m a (very) small cog in a (very) big machine working towards positive change, and it makes my heart soar. And hopefully I’ll be part of this change in one way or another for the rest of my life, “But if God forbid fate should step in and force us into a goodbye,” my fellow writers and readers both, I say to you: “Long live all the mountains we moved. I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.”

Lucy Hallowell: “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett.

Grace Chu: While I only learned about the existence of this song because I saw a woman pee on the floor on television and, admittedly, it exceeds my actual level of braggadocio, sometimes, you just don’t give a f*ck.

Trish Bendix: I’ve always been frustrated that my name is left out of songs. Trish could easily rhyme with “kiss” or “delish” or some kind of affirming stanza. But until that song is penned, I’ll have to go with “Roseability” from Idlewild. Bonus points for the Gertrude Stein mention but I really love the sentiment and (unfortunately?) identify with it.

You’ve got off with too much now You’re getting off with too much now Stop looking through scrapbooks and photograph albums Because I know They don’t teach you what you don’t already know You’ve always been, dissatisfied
Jenna Lykes: This is a tough question, because I think there are probably different theme songs for various stages of my life. If I have to pick one to encompass all of me, I’ll say “With Arms Outstretched” by Rilo Kiley. I don’t have a real reason for why it’s my theme song, but whenever I hear it, I kind of feel like my heart’s going to explode. Therefore, it must belong to me in some way. (sound logic, I know)

Heather Hogan:

Come with me And you’ll be In a world of Pure imagination Take a look And you’ll see Into your imagination

We’ll begin With a spin Traveling in The world of my creation What we’ll see Will defy Explanation

(“Pure Imagination,” Willy Wonka)

Jill Guccini: I agree that this is HARD. For now, why don’t we go with everything Pink has ever written. And if I had to choose one, “Raise Your Glass.” (If you are wrong in ALL THE RIGHT WAYS!)

Elaine Atwell: I don’t know that I could pick one theme song, since some days I wake up like “I JUST WANT TO HUG EVERYBODY” and sometimes I wake up like “GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME OR I WILL BITE YOU.” But the song that always cuts through the bullshit and gets straight into my heart is “Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie” by Joanna Newsom. It gets me to that quiet, peaceful place that can be so hard to find.

Chloe: Rufus Wainwright‘s “Instant Pleasure.” I first heard Wainwright’s ode to sexualized apathy at 15 while spending a particularly memorable summer in Biarritz, an ancient cliffside resort town in the south of France.

Being a baby lesbian, I bonded intimately with some stunning Swedish girls in ourFrench language exchange program. There are a laughable amount of pictures of me happily snuggled between lanky blondes from that summer. They introduced me to cigarettes, bars, and Rufus Wainwright. “Instant Pleasure” spoke to me at 15 (God knows why. I knew nothing about life) and makes me happy at 24. “Instant Pleasure” never fails to summon happy memories of sunning on the Grand Plage with Pernilla and Sunee between puffs of Gauloise and bites of panini.

Janelle Sorenson: I don’t know if this is my overall life song, but I blast “Stadium Love” by Metric before I go into any intimidating situation…interviews, big social engagements, etc. I am a total sucker for “Roar,” too! I tear up every time I hear it, not even kidding.

Bridget McManus: My overall life anthem is “Good Times” by Chic, but my married life (with my wonderful wife Karman) would be best portrayed by blasting “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones.

Eboni Rafus: I don’t think I can pick just one. Right now, in this current state in my life, it would have to be a three way tie between: Katy Perry‘s “Roar,” Sara Bareilles‘ “Brave” and Alternative Routes‘ “Nothing More.”

What’s your theme track?

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