Crank up this playlist and embrace the girl power anthems, quirky tunes, and fierce tracks that celebrate women doing their own thing — perfect for dancing like nobody’s watching and singing like nobody’s listening!
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| À caus’ des garçons | À Caus’ Des Garçons | “À Caus’ Des Garçons” (because of the boys), was written by Pierre Grillet and Alain Chamfort, The song became an anthem of girl power in France and was later covered and remixed by several artists. |
| Les Brunes Ne Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes | Lio | “Les Brunes Ne Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes”, by Belgian singer Lio, was written by Alain Chamfort, Jacques Duvall and translates to “Brunettes Don’t Count for Plums,” highlighting the appeal of brunettes in a playful manner, asserting that brunettes are just as valuable and attractive as blondes, challenging the stereotypes and clichés about hair colour. |
| Barbie Girl | Lady Aqua | “Barbie Girl” by Danish–Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, was released in May 1997 as a satirical pop song that comments on the superficial and materialistic aspects of modern culture, using the iconic Barbie doll as a metaphor. The satirical dance-pop song became a worldwide hit and sparked a lawsuit from Mattel, the makers of Barbie. |
| Stupid Girl | Garbage | “Stupid Girl” by the American-Scottish alternative rock band Garbage criticizes superficiality and was inspired by lead singer Shirley Manson’s personal experiences. |
| Mädchen mit Plan | 2raumwohnung | “Mädchen mit Plan” by German pop duo 2raumwohnung, Inga Humpe and her partner Tommi Eckart, celebrates a girl with a plan, symbolizing confidence, ambition, and determination in navigating life. |
| All That She Wants | Ace of Base | “All That She Wants” by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, written by Jonas Berggren, Ulf Ekberg, describes a carefree, independent woman who is not looking for a committed relationship, but rather enjoying life on her own terms. |
| I’m Not Your Regular Woman | Marta Ren & The Groovelvets | “I’m Not Your Regular Woman” written and performed by Portuguese soul singer Marta Ren and her band The Groovelvets is about a woman asserting her individuality and refusing to conform to societal norms or expectations. |
| Think | Aretha Franklin | “Think” written by Aretha Franklin and Ted White is an anthem for female empowerment and civil rights, urging people to think about respect, freedom, and equality in relationships and society. |
| Sweet About Me | Gabriella Cilmi | “Sweet About Me”, performed by Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi, is about self-awareness and the complexity of one’s personality, acknowledging that appearances can be deceiving. The song was co-written by the then 16-year-old Cilmi together with Xenomania. |
| Express Yourself | Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band | “Express Yourself” is the signature song of Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, about individuality and being true to yourself no matter what anyone else says. |
| In a Manner of Speaking | Tuxedomoon | The song by Winston Tong explores themes of communication, misunderstanding, and the limitations of language in expressing complex emotions and experiences. Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode) covered the song. Tuxedomoon was a group of musicians and performers formed in San Francisco in 1977 and whose main members included Blaine Reininger, Steven Brown, Peter Principle, Winston Tong, Luc van Lieshout and Bruce Geduldig. In 1981, they fled Ronald Reagan’s America and established themselves in Brussels where they created the score for a ballet by Maurice Bejart, released in 1982 as “Divine”. In 1985 the band had their largest success commercially with the international release of Holy Wars. |
| Strong | London Grammar | “Strong” by London Grammar, released in 2013, reflects on vulnerability and the struggle to maintain strength in the face of emotional challenges, emphasizing resilience. London Grammar are an English indie pop band formed in Nottingham in 2009, consisting of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic “Dot” Major. |
| Adia | Sarah McLachlan | “Adia”, released in 2011, by Sarah McLachlan is about her problems in dealing with feeling responsible for everyone else. In a radio interview, she stated that it was inspired by the way her father always felt responsible for making sure everyone was happy. In concert however she tells a story about falling in love with her best friend’s ex. Adia is a female name meaning “God’s Gift.” McLachlan chose it simply because she liked the sound of it. |
| Beautiful | Christina Aguilera | “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera, written by Linda Perry, is an empowering ballad that encourages self-acceptance and inner beauty, addressing issues of self-esteem and confidence. |
| I Am What I Am | Gloria Gaynor | “I Am What I Am” by Gloria Gaynor, released in 1984, is a declaration of self-acceptance and individuality, often associated with LGBTQ+ pride and empowerment. “I Am What I Am” is a song composed by Jerry Herman for the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles. |
| Pot Belly | Freshlyground | “Pot Belly”, released in 2014, performed by South African band Freshlyground, humorously addresses societal standards of beauty and body image, promoting self-love and acceptance. |
| All the Girls Are Complicated | Laura Cantrell | “All the Girls Are Complicated”, written and performed by American country singer Laura Cantrell, explores the complexities of women’s lives and emotions, highlighting the depth and intricacies of their experiences. |
| Mouthwash | Kate Nash | “Mouthwash” by British singer-songwriter Kate Nash, is a quirky song about everyday insecurities and self-affirmation, promoting the idea of embracing one’s imperfections. |
| Use Me | Bill Withers | “Use Me”, released in 1972 by Bill Withers, discusses the complexities of a relationship where one person feels used but continues to stay because of love and attachment. Withers was inspired by his employer while working as a mechanic making airplane parts making $3 an hour and wasn’t getting much attention from the ladies. |
| Do You Really Want to Hurt Me | Boy George & Culture Club | “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” was written by the four members of Culture Club: Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss. A reggae-influenced song about vulnerability and the pain of emotional hurt in relationships, often seen as a reflection of Boy George’s personal experiences with Jon. |
| Trouble Me | 10,000 Maniacs | “Trouble Me” by 10,000 Maniacs, composed by Dennis Drew and lyrics by Natalie Merchant, was written for Merchant’s father, Anthony, who was hospitalized at the time, and features background vocals by Gospel singer Jevetta Steele. |
| Did Somebody (Make A Fool Out Of You) | Van Orly | Did Somebody (Make A Fool Out Of You) by Van Orly (Saskia Lucia Bernardina van Oerle born in 1958), released in 2003, was originally written and performed by Tony Joe White. It addresses the feelings of betrayal and hurt when someone realizes they have been deceived or taken advantage of. During the Covid-outbreak she wrote her observations into a book “Machtmerries”. |
| Better Be Good To Me | Tina Turner | “Better Be Good To Me” by Tina Turner, released in 1984, was written by Mike Chapman, (Nicky Chinn) and Holly Knight for her band Spider in 1981. It is an empowering rock anthem demanding respect and good treatment in a relationship, showcasing Turner’s powerful vocals and strength. |
| Til I’m Done | Paloma Faith | “Til I’m Done”, released in 2017 by Paloma Faith, celebrates resilience and determination. Paloma Faith Blomfield is a British singer-songwriter and actress, born 21 July 1981 in Hackney, London from an English mother and Spanish father. She wrote a book “MILF or MOTHERHOOD IDENTITY LOVE F*CKERY” for adults and created “Paloma’s Bedtime” stories, sleep sounds, and soothing songs to help put your little ones to sleep. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
