Tracks You Need In Your Female Empowerment Playlist
Tracks To Groove To On International Women's Day
Powerful female performers of the century (L-R: Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Beyonce. Photo: Getty)
Photo: Getty
There are some very powerful women walking among us today. And there's no better moment to shine the limelight on you ladies, celebrity or not, than on International Women's Day today.
In light of the celebratory event and our March New Feminism issue, BAZAAR would like to say "Power to all the women everywhere", with a playlist that's dripping with girl power to remind women everywhere of their worth, to celebrate one another, respecting yourself and to keep making changes to the world to make it a better place for all.
Remember that you all wouldn't be where they are today if you didn't have what it takes to survive in and conquer what was once thought to be "a man's world".
Power Anthems
1) Who Run The World (Girls) - Beyonce
About: Arguably the female anthem of the decade, Queen Bey sings through her grunts about how women today are equipped with everything she needs to run the world.
2) Ain't Your Mama - Jennifer Lopez
About: You know when things get to comfortable in a relationship and guys just leave all the dirty work to you? Here's J.Lo telling dudes to pull your socks up because ladies aren't one to be taken advantage of.
3) Hard - Rihanna (Ft Jeezy)
About: Every powerful woman has a slew of haters talking smack about them. Well, Rihanna is telling you boss women that they can say whatever they want to say because YOU'RE the one with all the success.
4) Don't You Wait - Solange Knowles
About: The underlying meaning behind the song is Solange's right to express her freedom, as any woman should, instead of conforming to the pressure of what society expects of you.
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5) Independent Woman Pt. 1 - Destiny's Child
About: There's no greater power than independence. If a woman wants something, she can very well get it on her own.
6) Beyoncé - ***Flawless ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
About: When Beyonce says "I woke up like this" on this power-charged track, she wants women everywhere to repeat that line and own it. The star of the song is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's quote on feminism, where Adichie provokes the public's thoughts, airing society's double standards on female's equal rights.
It's All About Self-worth
1) Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill
About: This two time Grammy Award winning track has Lauryn Hill preaches to everyone to respect yourselves and not sell themselves out. Our favourite verse: Showing off your ass cause you're thinking it's a trend/Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again/You know I only say it cause I'm truly genuine/Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem
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2) NO - Meghan Trainor
About: With this catchy tune, Meghan Trainor just wants to remind guys that it's not right to objectify women, and women have the right to say "no" if she's not into a man's insincere advances.
Honouring Our Battle Scars
1) What It Feels Like For A Girl - Madonna
About: The Queen of Pop waxes lyrical on society's misogynistic perception on women, while subtly celebrating a woman's strength and resilience as she pulls through life's inevitable adversities. Who says women are weak?
2) Alessia Cara - Scars To You're Beautiful
About: We all know that the world is relentless when it comes to tearing a woman down because of body image. Yet Alessia, at a tender age of 16, belts out about how everyone is beautiful and if there's anything that should change is society's perception on beauty, not the girls themselves.
3) Superwoman - Alicia Keys
About: Alicia croons about the struggles women everywhere have to endure on a day-to-day basis. But she also shares that the silver lining when she's down and out, is her strength that will tide her through.
Feel Good Melodies
1) Roar - Katy Perry
About: For all the ladies who've spent the lives pleasing others, Katy is telling you that you can and you should speak up for your rights and what you deserve.
2) Who Says - Selena Gomez
About: Ever the darling, Selena takes the saccharine sweet path to remind girls that you are beautiful just the way you are, no matter what the haters out there have to say.
The Classics
1) I'm Every Woman - Whitney Houston (Originally by Chaka Khan)
About: Originally performed by Chaka Khan, this female empowering classic is all about a woman's right to have fun while encouraging a her use the charm she has within her.
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2) Man! I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
About: It's all about a woman letting her hair loose and having fun. Putting behind all of society's expectations of how a woman should behave this song is all about how every woman, just like a man, deserves to have fun once in a while.
3) Respect - Aretha Franklin
About: This classic feminist anthem has one of the century's most powerful singers Aretha Franklin demanding, as the title clearly states, respect. Daring, considering how the song was released back in the 60's at a time where women's rights were greatly limited.
By Syed Zulfadhli