The Best Girl Power Music Videos

Being a girl is cool. Whenever a new Barbie came out when I was little, with each awesome addition to my nail polish collection, and upon waking up to my Spice Girls poster each morning, I am reminded of this fact. But sometimes when I think about words like “swag,” or when I hear popular music, I feel like boys sort of have the corner on “coolness,” at least in contemporary American mainstream culture. On days like this, when I feel like not even my new black motorcycle boots can console me, I turn to YouTube, and watch my favorite music videos of women being absolute bo$$es. These women not only nail cool, they transcend it in the most perfect-est way, a way that only a woman could. 

In my view, the late ‘90s and early 2000s were the absolute pinnacle of American culture. Economic prosperity and all of the baby boom-lettes wandering the streets made for a lot of awesome teenage consumerism (the movie Clueless, anyone?). Just before the third wave feminism tailed off, we were hit with a lot of really steezy females! So this is why I may be a little biased towards this time period. Get over it.

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1) “Ex-Girlfriend” by No Doubt (2000)

You have no idea how difficult it was to choose which No Doubt video to include, because Gwen Stefani epitomizes everything I admire. She is a front woman for an incredible band; she has a successful fashion line; and she was able to date one of her band mates, break up, and continue to play alongside him in their band. Gwen Stefani literally kicks ass in this video, beating up several men near a urinal at one point. She also has pink cornrows and wears really scary makeup, which was very disconcerting to me when I first saw this video at age 8, but now I think is really cool (especially as someone who has dabbled, rather unsuccessfully, with pink hair dye myself).

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2) “More Than A Woman” by Aaliyah (2001)

First of all, I love Aaliyah. The world suffered a horrible tragedy by losing her so early in her life, and I can’t help but feel Aaliyah’s absence more poignantly when I watch this video. First, she drives on a really cool motorcycle, and then dances – really well – with a co-ed dance troop. She looks hot in the many variations of catsuit she wears during this video. And she does all this while singing about her sexual prowess. Unreal.

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3) “Nobody Does it Better” (Live) by Carly Simon (1987)

Okay, so this isn’t a music video in the traditional sense, but I had to include Carly Simon somewhere. My mom has elevated her to the mythical status in our family, and I truly think she that she is one of the most beautiful, talented people in this world. Carly Simon oozes 1970s flower child chillness, a sort of feminine attitude that was lost on the performers of Lillith Fair. Plus, she pulls off not wearing a bra so well! While “Nobody Does it Better” is about a man who is unparalleled in Simon’s eyes, Simon is the star of this video. Skipping around Martha’s Vineyard in a peach colored dress, she is the epitome of natural beauty and unadulterated coolness.

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4) “Carnival” by The Cardigans (1995)

Nina Persson, the lead singer of The Cardigans, is a delicate Scandinavian beauty, but she is also one of the most awesome front women ever. In this video, she primps herself alongside the boys, frequently looking bored. (Bored + Flattering Haircut = Nina Persson = Cool). This is an awesome video, for an awesome song, performed by an awesome band.

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5) “Countdown” by Beyoncé (2011)

Like Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé is an incredible performer who has made a lot of really sick videos, it’s hard to choose just one. I like this video in particular because it’s all about Beyoncé. Most of the shots are either close-ups of her face, or panels of her wearing color blocked outfits. I actually bought the j crew blouse she wears in this video in three colors, in a desperate attempt to be anything like this pop powerhouse. Just like my girl Lauryn Hill in her video for “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – which, unfortunately, did not make this list – Beyoncé is also pregnant in this video, which just shows that she doesn’t give a wut.

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It’s not like I don’t normally love being a girl, because I do. But I really, really love being a girl when I see how cool these artists are. It’s helpful for any marginalized group to have representatives who project positive, empowering images. That’s why these music videos rock. Songs and lyrics wreak of double consciousness, but music videos, well you know coolness when you see it. Sorry to any of y’all who disagree, but it’s my list.