To close out Women’s History Month, I wanted to write an article about something I’m passionate about- music. From a young age, I’ve loved music. On weekends, I would watch MTV all day and write down my favorite songs.
So I used Billboard’s Year End Top 100 to compile the most prevalent songs written by women from 2000-2017. Note: I only took into account songs where the female is the main vocal.
2000- Breathe by Faith Hill #1
Admittedly, I had never heard this song until I was researching this. I was surprised a country song managed to top the charts! You go, Faith Hill.
2001- Fallin’ by Alicia Keys #2
I loved me some Alicia Keys when I was younger. She was my queen. The first singer I ever knew the name of. I walked around singing her music all the time. I used to steal my mom’s Alicia Keys CD all the time. I keep on fallin’ in love with this song.
2002- Foolish by Ashanti #2
Ashanti, I’m sorry. I totally forgot about you until just now. You made some of the boppiest bops of your era. You should come back.
2003- Crazy in Love by Beyoncé #4
A bop through the ages. Really, all Beyoncé songs are bops. Her successful career today is due to her popular songs when she was younger. This song means even more now that she is married to Jay-Z, who is featured on the track with her.
2004- If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys #3
This. Was. My. Song. My favorite song by Alicia Keys, the beginning of my love of R & B, the song of my 7 year-old life. Like I had any kind of idea about this type of love. I could barely make a sandwich.
2005- We Belong Together by Mariah Carey #1
Mariah Carey. Need I say more? (Besides the fact that four of the top five this year were female with other hits like Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani, Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson and 1, 2 Step by Ciara.)
2006- Promiscuous by Nelly #3
I don’t really know why, but despite the moral ambiguity in this song, it’s definitely a bop. Maybe because the beat was so addictive and easy to dance to.
2007- Irreplaceable by Beyoncé #1
I loved this song in third grade. I remember singing it for a talent show. Definitely the song for every time my third grade boyfriend tried to not share his snacks.
2008- Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis #2
This is a song everyone should know. If you don’t know it, try listening. It’s a power vocal song and Leona Lewis kills this song with her strong voice. A love song, yes, but also a song about surviving heartbreak and coming out on the other side willing to change.
2009- Poker Face by Lady Gaga #2
Catchy, kitschy and completely repetitive. It was tough to remove this earworm once this song came out.
2010- Tik Tok by Ke$ha #1
Probably the most popular song by Ke$ha. It is important to note- the party don’t start ’til she walks in.
2011- Rolling in the Deep by Adele #1
Everyone wanted to have Adele’s vocals. After she struck fame and stardom, many other amateur singers suddenly popped out the woodwork sounding just like her. Creepy.
2012- Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen #2
There are two people on the spectrum of this song- people that like it, but pretend to hate it, and people that will sing it loudly and do a dance. There is no other category. You’re either in one or the other.
2013- Just Give Me a Reason by P!nk #7
Males dominated the top ten of 2013 with hits like Thrift Shop by Macklemore, Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke and Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. P!nk and Katy Perry were the only two women to be listed in the top ten with their bops Just Give Me a Reason and Roar respectively .
2014- Dark Horse by Katy Perry #2
The melody of this song is one that is memorable and sticks around. Oddly, I really don’t recall the lyrics at all.
2015- Blank Space by Taylor Swift #7
One of the first precursors to Dark Taylor™. For some reason relatable even if you aren’t the crazy type.
2016- Work by Rihanna #4
YASSSSS. You better work. Again, a song where it doesn’t matter if a guy has done you dirty lately. If the song comes on, you dance like you are fine, because you are.
2017- Stay by Alessia Cara #17
You’re probably tired of this song by now. It was played so often over the past year that it’s likely falling out of your ears. Congratulations. All you had to do was stay.