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Updated: Feb 6, 2023 43 Comments · by

The Best Girl Power Songs for Women

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Here's a random open thread for today: do you enjoy listening to female empowerment anthems — aka girl power songs? Which are your favorites? I rounded up a few of the ones that I'm thinking of here, but they're all very dancey…

girl power songs

For my $.02 – a political commentator I follow on Facebook just posted a link to the new Kesha song Woman (link goes to YouTube; NB that the lyrics NSFW!). Sample lyrics:

I buy my own things
I pay my own bills
these diamond rings
my automobiles
Everything I got I bought it
boys can't buy my love…
I do what I want
say what you say
I work real hard every day

I was listening to it for the first time this morning and thought, oh, I like this genre of song! It's like a two-second decision for me to buy this kind of song on iTunes. Other songs I'd put in this “self-empowered woman” genre (links go to YouTube and are probably NSFW for the most part):

(There's a related genre here of “I'm an angry woman and I'm my own person and I do what I want and I don't need you” — examples might include The Million You Never Made by Ani Difranco, F*ck You by Lily Allen, Shake it Off by Taylor Swift, Bitch I'm Madonna by Madonna, Absolutely Not by Deborah Cox, So What by P!nk, Fighter by Christina Aquilera, RESPECT by Aretha Franklin)…

How about you guys — do you like this genre of music? Which are your favorite songs in the genre, whether you call it female empowerment, music for hardworking women, or (go ahead, roll your eyes) ‘girl power' music?

Which are the best girl power songs for women? As a professional woman I enjoy a good song like Kesha's new "Woman," Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)", Britney's "Work Bitch" and Iggy Azalea's "Work" -- and more! We rounded up all our favorite female empowerment anthems / girl power songs -- for women! -- in this post.

Psst: here's a totally random post where I talked about my favorite songs.girl power songs for women

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Comments

  1. Anon245

    “I will survive” by Gloria Gaynor also RESPECT by Aretha Franklin

    TJ: Anyone have experience using the online bank Tangerine? Considering getting a checking account with them but I live in a small town so would have to transact everything online.

  3. Anonymous

    Man, I Feel Like a Woman. Put this song on in a bar and every woman will sing along.

  4. Laura B

    I’ll add Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld, BO$$ by Fifth Harmony, GIRLS GIRLS by Icona Pop, Brave by Sara Bareilles to the list.

  5. cbackson

    This is old school, but I pretty much feel like “Cactus Tree” is a song about me. Because I am both highly independent and (you know) kind of commitment-phobic.

    There’s a lady in the city
    And she thinks she loves them all
    There’s the one who’s thinking of her
    There’s the one who sometimes calls
    There’s the one who writes her letters
    With his facts and figures scrawl
    She has brought them to her senses
    They have laughed inside her laughter
    Now she rallies her defenses
    For she fears that one will ask her
    For eternity
    And she’s so busy being free

    • Anon

      +1 Every time this comes on (my Pandora Joni Mitchell station :) ) I feel like it was written about me. I even know who the sailor is in my life. And then it makes me a little sad that I’m so busy being free.

  7. Anony-Mouse

    I remember being all about Superchick back in the day. Some of their stuff is more obviously Christian so it may or may not float your boat, but it’s all very girl power.
    “Some people see the revolution but most only see the girl
    I can lose my hard earned freedom if my fear defines my world
    I declare my independence from the critics and their stones
    I can find my revolution I can learn to stand alone.”

  8. Delta Dawn

    My sister just took the bar exam, and I made her a playlist titled “You Are A Bad-A.” Here is what is on it:

    Me Too – Meghan Trainor
    Diva – Beyonce
    Sit Still Look Pretty – Daya
    Roar – Katie Perry
    Work B – Britney
    I Love Me – Meghan Trainor
    Worth It – Fifth Harmony
    Run the World – Girls
    Confident – Demi Lovato
    I Am Woman – Helen Reddy

  9. Ellen

    Grandma Leyeh gave me a recording of Helen Reddy’s song: I am Woman, hear me RAWR!!!!!! YAY! However, since the song is dated back in 1971, and is older then most of the HIVE, I am copying the words here so that the ENTIRE HIVE can read it and realize that so little has changed in almost 50 years for us, and men keep trying to keep us down, but it will NOT hapen as long as we in the HIVE, RAWR as women united! YAY!!!

    The song is apropriate for all of us, whether at work or in relationships, or any other context, we MUST stand up for ourself against men that just want to SUBJUGATE US just b/c we are women and cute. TRIPEL FOOEY on THAT!!!!!

    I am woman, hear me roar
    In numbers too big to ignore
    And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
    ‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
    And I’ve been down there on the floor
    No one’s ever gonna keep me down again

    Oh yes, I am wise
    But it’s wisdom born of pain
    Yes, I’ve paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to, I can do anything
    I am strong
    (Strong)
    I am invincible
    (Invincible)
    I am woman

    You can bend but never break me
    ‘Cause it only serves to make me
    More determined to achieve my final goal
    And I come back even stronger
    Not a novice any longer
    ‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

    Oh yes, I am wise
    But it’s wisdom born of pain
    Yes, I’ve paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to, I can do anything
    I am strong
    (Strong)
    I am invincible
    (Invincible)
    I am woman

    I am woman watch me grow
    See me standing toe to toe
    As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
    But I’m still an embryo
    With a long, long way to go
    Until I make my brother understand

    Oh yes, I am wise
    But it’s wisdom born of pain
    Yes, I’ve paid the price
    But look how much I gained
    If I have to, I can face anything
    I am strong
    (Strong)
    I am invincible
    (Invincible)
    I am woman

    I am woman
    I am invincible
    I am strong
    I am woman
    I am invincible
    I am strong
    I am woman

  10. Anonymous

    Want to laugh? “You don’t have to be a Star” by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr!… 70’S kid, so when my daughter was a baby I sang it to her, out of nowhere…”now I don’t need no superstar, cause I’ll accept you as you are, you won’t be denied cause I’m satisfied, with the live you inspire”
    Currently on playlist

  11. Emilie

    “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” with Annie Lennox and Arethra
    “Girl on Fire” Alicia Keys
    “No Scrubs” TLC
    “Good Woman Down” Mary J. Blige

  12. Mel

    Rise – Katy Perry
    That song was so underrated, but so necessary when life grinds on you.

  13. January

    Good choices. Also, they work well for difficult job transition situations as well as romantic disappointments.

  15. TheElms

    The Climb by Miley Cyrus (forget about the Hannah Montana part)

    I can almost see it.
    That dream I’m dreaming,
    But there’s a voice inside my head saying,
    “You’ll never reach it.”
    Every step I’m takin’
    Every move I make feels lost with no direction,
    My faith is shakin’

    But I, I gotta keep tryin’
    Gotta keep my head held high

    There’s always gonna be another mountain
    I’m always gonna wanna make it move
    Always gonna be an uphill battle
    Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
    Ain’t about how fast I get there
    Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side
    It’s the climb

    The struggles I’m facing
    The chances I’m taking
    Sometimes might knock me down,
    But no, I’m not breaking
    I may not know it,
    But these are the moments
    That I’m gonna remember most, yeah
    Just gotta keep goin’,

    And I, I gotta be strong
    Just keep pushing on,

    • pugsnbourbon

      This is my secret gym song. Like it’s not going to get me pumped up, but it’ll carry me through.

      • cbackson

        I will admit that for me, when true crunk is required, I trend toward, like, 1980s metal.

  19. Anonymous

    Elle King – America’s Sweetheart

    After an especially rough performance review (I was told to ‘be friendlier’ and my (male) boss specified that this was because people tend to demand this more of women, so it was extra important for me to be friendly) I spent like a week listening to that on repeat during my commute bike ride:

    “No there ain’t nothing that I gotta prove
    You think your words will make me black and blue
    But I, I think I’m pretty with these old boots on
    I think its funny when I drink too much, hey
    You try and change me you can go to hell
    ‘Cause I don’t want to be nobody else”

  20. Kate

    I Am Your Leader by Nicki Minaj, Don’t Hurt Yourself by Beyonce (Love, God Herself!)

    Would someone make a public Spotify playlist of all these great tracks–pretty please?! : )

  21. Gigi

    Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill
    Decptacon by LeTigre
    Run Fast by Julie Ruin (So Kathleen Hanna FTW)
    #1 Must Have by Sleater Kinney
    You Don’t Own Me Lesley Gore
    Good As Hell by Lizzo

    Now I’m off to make a playlist…

  22. Sloan Sabbith

    Kesha’s other new song Praying is my current anthem. Someone here recommended it.

    • Marshmallow

      LOVE this song. I am a huge Kesha fan generally but it might actually be her best song ever.

  25. U

    bif naked – love myself today
    ani difranco – blood in the boardroom
    bjork – army of me
    meredith brooks – bitch
    pink – raise your glass
    pink – most girls

  27. Lorraine

    Christina aguilera – ‘soar’ & ‘the voice within’
    Demi lovato ‘skyscraper’
    Iggy azelia ‘heavy crown’
    Joanna pacitti ‘watch me shine’
    Niki minaj ‘fly’

  29. Officiallychic1

    Yes I love girl power songs! Of course, I grew up around the time of the Spice Girls and Destiny’s Child so I love all of their anthems. But my favorite girl power anthem is “Roar” by Katy Perry! I love the music and I really appreciate the message of “going hard”!

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