Queer pop music royalty!
Erika Goldring/WireImage; Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Live NationJustin Tranter is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter whose pen game is responsible for some of the biggest songs of the last decade, including one of the most-streamed songs of 2024.
The out queer musician, who was once the frontman of Semi Precious Weapons, has brought his songwriting skills when collaborating in songs for artists like Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Dua Lipa… and that's just the start!
"I've spent so many years fighting for my dreams," he told Out in 2016. "I've seen so much homophobia. And, now that I'm here, I just want to stay. Forever and ever and ever. It's a very weird feeling when your dreams finally come true."
Not only did Tranter stay, but his impact in the music industry — particularly as a songwriter who brings queer sensibilities to various massive pop hits — is very understated. 2024 was yet another landmark year for Tranter, so turn up the volume as we go through a list of iconic pop songs written by the queer musician.
Keep scrolling to check out our list of pop music anthems written/cowritten by Justin Tranter!
"Good Luck, Babe!" — Chappell Roan
Tranter's latest hit was none other than Chappell Roan's smash sapphic hit "Good Luck, Babe!"
"It's just so crazy to get to work with an artist who is a once-in-a-generation talent," Tranter said about Roan in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "This might be the coolest moment I've ever had."
"Sorry" — Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber's "Sorry" was not only a smash hit on the radio and the pop music charts, but is also considered one of the tracks that ushered in a particular island/dancehall sound popularized in the late 2010s. Tranter was one of the writers behind this Bieber bop.
"Make Me Feel" — Janelle Monáe
Tranter also played a part in Janelle Monáe's sensual coming-out era by collaborating in "Make Me Feel."
"Hands to Myself" — Selena Gomez
Arguably Selena Gomez's best song, "Hands To Myself" cemented the pop star's now-iconic sound that is still imitated by other singers as of 2024.
"More & More" — TWICE
K-pop super group TWICE also has a Tranter original, too: the dance banger "More & More."
"Cake By the Ocean" — DNCE
Joe Jonas' band project DNCE was launched into the spotlight with an absolute banger, "Cake By the Ocean," written by Tranter.
"Issues" — Julia Michaels
Tranter wrote several huge hits for other artists alongside Julia Michaels. When the time came for Michaels to release a bop like "Issues" as a recording artist herself, it made perfect sense for Tranter to be involved.
"911" — Lady Gaga
Tranter worked on a handful of songs for Lady Gaga's Chromatica album. Given that "911" became such a signature song for that era, it's worth noting that Tranter was one of the creatives behind this Gaga anthem.
"Believer" — Imagine Dragons
Imagine Dragons's "Believer" is one of the most popular songs of the 2010s decade — and Tranter's pen game contributed to it.
"Lose You to Love Me" — Selena Gomez
Despite her pop superstardom, Selena Gomez only has one no. 1 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100 — "Lose You to Love Me," an iconic ballad penned by Tranter.
