My Pride Anthems: Charity Shop Sue

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything, and that includes how we’re all celebrating Pride in 2020.

With huge public gatherings out of the question, we’re asking a range of LGBTQ celebrities and allies for their personal Pride anthems, to help us all get into the Pride spirit from lockdown.

Every now and then, a new diva comes along that you know will come to define the decade ahead. The early 80s saw the arrival of Madonna. Lady Gaga put her stamp on pop music in the 2010s. And now, as we begin a brand new decade, it’s the turn of Bulwell’s own Charity Shop Sue to step into the spotlight.

Sue’s YouTube series about life in her shop Sec*hand Chances is responsible for a thousand and one memes, and has turned her into a social media sensation.  

And while her one-liners and shop-floor antics have led to her being embraced by the community, she’s long been an ally to LGBTQ people, as anyone who follows her on social media can attest, as well as becoming a Nottingham Pride staple in recent years.

“Just don’t ask me to tell you the story of London Pride in 1995,” she insists. “That’d be too much darlin’...”

If you want to celebrate Pride at home Charity Shop Sue-style, these are the tunes you need to set the mood...

Robin S – Show Me Love

“As soon as I hear that bass it takes me back to my clubbing days! This was a special period in time. The dance charts were full of powerful queens giving us soulful vocals over addictive house beats.

“In this track Robin S is telling her lover how she wants to be loved, on her terms. More people should listen to this song today. Timeless.” 

Madonna – Deeper And Deeper

“I could have picked any Madonna song for this list, but I chose this one because when this was released, it felt like there was a change on its way. It talks about sexual desire and the freedom you gain when you choose to live an unapologetic and open life.

“Disco, house, flamenco guitar and a lil throwback to Vogue at the end, Madonna really has done it all.” 

Bronski Beat – Small Town Boy

“This one really makes me emotional. I can’t say too much, but basically my best mate Dean had a similar experience to the story/video. Every time I hear the line ‘and as hard as they would try, they’d hurt to make you cry, but you never cried to them, just to your soul’ it never fails to give me goosebumps.

“It reminds me of the pain I could feel from him at the time but also the incredible strength and resilience from the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper

“I smile so much when I think of this song. The absolute power and uniqueness that Grace presented to us with this track was mind-blowing. They played the 12” mix of this in one of the bars back at London Pride ’94.

“I can’t put into words what the energy was like on the dancefloor. With Grace, every vocal is an affirmation and every look is a front cover - what an artist! Bumper is the sexiest dance classic there is!”

Erasure – A Little Respect

“I loved Erasure from the get-go and this song is an absolute blinder. The way Andy sings the words, definitely resonated within the LGBTQ+ community. It became an anthem to many of my friends campaigning against Section 28. We’re still singing that same tune today and won’t stop!

“It’s good to remember about how far things have come since this song hit the charts but also reminds us how much further we still have to go for respect and equality for EVERYONE in the community!”

Watch Charity Shop Sue on YouTube here.