There’s this line from one of my favorite movies of all time, 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. It’s spoken by the character Cameron, played by the sweet and adorkable Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who explains the nature of Kat’s interests as “likes Thai food, feminist prose, and angry girl music of the indie rock persuasion.” Cameron and his friend Michael are trying to get Ledger’s character Patrick (tough, sarcastic, temperamental), to date Kat (stubborn, independent, intense), so that Cameron has the chance to ask out Bianca (Kat’s sister). However, Bianca is under the impression that Cameron is helping her get Kat to date Patrick so she can date Joey, the hot and arrogant popular older kid. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s hilarious, weirdly charming, and very 90s/2000s rom-com-esque.
While rewatching this movie for the millionth time this past weekend, I thought I would share some of my favorite musical artists. Although you could describe most of these suggestions as of the alternative genre, they could be considered those of the “angry girl music” category. For example, there’s indie, pop-rock, and general pop. Moreover, I think calling it “Angry Girl Music” is hilarious for many reasons, partly because most of the artists are grown women and partly because the whole idea is that they don’t take crap from anyone. In this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, I love the idea of Kat being a feminist who loves “angry girl music,” and I think this genre or style of music has had a significant impact on my life. Sometimes you’re female-identifying, and you’re upset at the world; sometimes you’re female-identifying, and someone (perhaps a man, IDK) has made you angry. Feel all the emotions and check out some of my favorite artists below!
- Bishop Briggs
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Genres: Alt/indie, Dark rock-influenced pop
- Ashnikko
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Genres: Alt pop/Indie pop, Indie rock
- DeathbyRomy
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Genres: Alt/indie, Dark pop
- Mothica
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Genres: Dark pop, Indie pop/rock
- Ellise
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Genres: Dark pop, Dance/Electronic
Also check out “Soul Sucker Pt. 2” with DeathbyRomy and Mothica!
- Tate McRae
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Genres: Alternative R&B, Alt-Pop, Electropop
- BANKS
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Genres: Alt/indie, Alt/pop, Alt/R&B
- Charlotte Lawrence
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Genres: Pop, Electropop
- GALXARA
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Genres: Electropop, Hip-Hop
- UPSAHL
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Genres: Alt/indie, Pop rock
- Mia Rodriguez
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Genres: Alt-pop, Dark pop
- Bea Miller
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Genres: Pop, Pop rock
- Griff
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Genres: Pop, Dark pop
- Au/Ra
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Genres: Alt-pop, Electropop
- Crimson Apple
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Genres: Alt-pop, Modern rock
Also, you don’t have to be an “angry girl” to like these musical artists either. I think they’re just super fun to listen to when you’re feeling like taking on the world, and I think that overall, alternative, indie, modern rock, pop-rock, etc., are all fantastic genres to listen to when doing that. Happy listening!