School has finally started and hopefully, we’re starting to get back in the groove of things. From studying in the library for hours on end to the chill nights in your dorm or apartment, it’s essential to have a go-to playlist to keep you occupied from your swirling thoughts. It’s also nice to get a flavor of music that’s made by women FOR women, intended to express how WONDERFUL it is to be a woman. So, here are 21 different songs you can add to your playlist that highlight only a small set of reasons why women are amazing!
1. Most Girls: Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld started her music career after her role as Emily Junk in Pitch Perfect 2 and she’s captivated the ears and hearts of women across the globe. Her song Most Girls speaks the truth that women do not need to feel ashamed about wanting to look good. She’s also reaching out to little girls across the world about being confident in their own skin!
2. Run the World (Girls): Beyonce
Not only is this song a classic jam heard on nearly every girl’s playlist, but it’s also one that speaks to the hearts of women across the world. It has become an iconic song and has paved the way for pop music by showing the world that women mean business!
3. Who Says: Selena Gomez
Throwback to 2011 Selena Gomez! Who Says is one of the best uplifting, feel-good songs. My inner eleven year old belts this song out alone in my room proving to the world that I am a force to be reckoned with. If you’re looking for a song to scream at the top of your lungs, this one’s for you!
4. Beautiful: Christina Aguilera
On a different note, Beautiful, a ballad by Christina Aguilera, highlights what it means to embody someone who feels beautiful and isn’t afraid to show it. This ballad is a great song to sing in the shower; you won’t want to forget it on your playlist.
5. Salute: Little Mix
British female group Little Mix has an intense, sassy and rock-pop vibe. Their songs are undeniably the ones you’ll want to dance to all night long. Their song Salute embodies the power of women working together to bring up other women. You know what they say: “Empowered Women, Empower Women!”
6. Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Cyndi Lauper
An oldie, but a real goodie! This song has played on my playlist for hours on end for road trips, study time and nice long showers! This moving and grooving song reinforces the idea that girls really just want to have fun!
7. I Am Woman: Helen Reddy
This song might be one you haven’t heard before, but the initial lines “I am woman, hear me roar” says it all. Listen to I Am Woman if you want to feel empowered and vibe to a 70’s type of mood.
8. Praying: Kesha
Kesha’s decision to rebrand herself after a difficult year has been one of her greatest moves yet. If Kesha hadn’t eliminated the dollar sign in her name, we may have never been able to witness the glory and strength that has come from one of her newest songs, Praying. It just goes to show that women, even in the hardest of times, use their struggles to kick back at the world, letting them know that they’re fighters.
9. Brave: Sara Bareilles
This coffee shop pop jam by Sara Bareilles has been one of my long-time favorites. It proves to the world how important it is to be brave in every aspect of our lives.
10. Pocketful of Sunshine: Natasha Bedingfield
Here is another 2000’s hit to add to your empowering playlist! In this song, Natasha Bedingfield justifies that you’ve got to be in charge of your own happiness because no one is going to feel it for you!
11. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin has long been recognized for her heart and soul in music, and this iconic song has been a massive hit for all generations. Soulfully, she reminds women of their constant need for respect, for and from others, but mainly for themselves.
12. Man, I Feel Like a Woman!: Shania Twain
Not only is this song a massive bop to play on your night out, but it also celebrates the feeling of being proud and happy to be a woman. Having a little fun is never an issue, especially when you’re screaming out the lyrics to this song!
13. Blank Space: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has been a pop icon for over a decade. She continues to climb the charts with her ability to make music and proclaim the power a woman can have in the media industry. Her song Blank Space proves everyone’s initial thoughts about her love life wrong and highlights her power in being a strong woman.
14. Scars to your Beautiful: Alessia Cara
Alessia Cara released her album, Know-It-All, in 2015, and her vibey R&B music has taken its way to the Top 50 charts in no time. Her album is a celebration of women and brings awareness to stereotypical perceptions of women as insecure and stagnant. Alessia Cara flips this narrative and shows the world that women are special no matter what.
15. Human: Christina Perri
This ballad by Christina Perri gives precedence to the narrative that not only women, but all people, are only human, and emotions and pain are real. Not everyone can have the backbone to stay strong, and Perri proves that being vulnerable is an important part of being who we are: human.
16. God is a Woman: Ariana Grande
Ariana’s new album, Sweetener, is the perfect combination of songs that embody her insane year. After experiencing one of the most traumatic experiences of her life in the Manchester Arena bombing last year, she was brave enough to throw a benefit concert in support of the victims of the incident. In addition, she has inspired women and girls all around the world to be just as strong, and this mantra is instilled in her new song, God is a woman.
17. Dancing Queen: ABBA
Not only is this possibly one of the biggest dance songs of the century, Dancing Queen has indicated that women can be carefree and just simply enjoy life, as they should. Letting loose to this song only furthers the point that women can be prideful for how spunky and fun they are without the judgment of others.
18. Firework: Katy Perry
Katy Perry, along with all the amazing artists on this playlist, has really developed a distinct understanding that women are a force to be reckoned with. Her song Firework highlights some of the amazing qualities of confident women.
19. Girl on Fire: Alicia Keys
Like many of these songs, Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys shows what it really means to be a bright and confident woman. Girls are always on fire for showing who they are and being accepted for it, and proudly showing it off to the world.
20. Bo$$: Fifth Harmony
If you’re looking for a spunky song to dance to by yourself, then this song is definitely the one for you! It highlights influential women in the world, making references to Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. There are many women for us to look up to, and this song mentions just a few of these empowering females.
21. It’s Not Right, but It’s Okay: Whitney Houston
For the final song of this playlist, I had to choose a song by the icon herself, Whitney Houston. Her song It’s Not Right, but It’s Okay represents the spunk in all of us. To the doubters who never believed in us, this song proclaims that we can rise again in strength. We face our demons with our heads held high and a great perseverance.
Take some time and add these songs to your playlist and celebrate your strength as a woman all day, every day! Enjoy this playlist made by women for women!