Who needs a cup of coffee in the morning when you’ve got music to energize you and set the tone for the day? There’s no doubt that songs have this amazing ability to empower you. It’s a great medium for expression and preaching powerful messages, which many performers have used to shed light on their advocacies and beliefs. So if you’re looking for a quick confidence and self-esteem boost, add these songs to your playlist and get ready to seize the day.
“Express Yourself” – Madonna
This particular song is a crash course on how to enjoy your life – living day to day with no inhibition or holding back from your true self. Since it first tore through the airwaves in 1989, “Express Yourself” has become a dance-floor hit and female power favorite. Madonna reminds us to always love ourselves and never settle for what we don’t deserve. We’re all queens, after all. And if you ever need a reminder of that, then blast this song out as you gaze at yourself in the mirror.
“Stronger” by Kanye West
Despite his recent mishaps and questionable antics, Yeezy still gets it right when he said ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’. Well, technically, Friedrich Nietzsche said it first, but ‘Ye managed to turn it into a supercharged rap anthem focusing on empowerment and resilience. It’s a great tune to blast out at the gym when you’re aiming to hit a new personal best, or in the morning heading to work and in need of a little more motivation to work harder, better, faster, and stronger.
“Formation” by Beyoncé
This list would not be complete without a shoutout to the one and only Queen B. While she has no shortage of self-love and empowerment songs, a sure favorite is “Formation,” which is off her iconic 2016 album, Lemonade. Beyoncé has proven herself to be a much-needed voice for the voiceless, wearing her advocacies on her sleeve and showcased through her art. This particular song is the ultimate feminist call-to-arms, reminding everyone of our innate power to rise up from whatever challenges and problems we face. So go ahead, “twirl on haters” and “grind until you own it.”
“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
Okay, so you might be wondering how this song made it into the list. According to researchers from Northwestern University, heavy music has the power to make you feel more confident and motivated than if you listen to light, easy going music. On that note, this Guns N’ Roses classic surely fits the bill, and it’s also one of the most influential rock songs of this decade. Not only does it continue to blast through speakers on a daily basis across the world, it has also has had a profound effect on pop culture as we know it. This hard-hitting track has been played in films like Lean on Me, and even made the cut in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It’s such a classic that it inspired its own 5-reel game dedicated to Guns N’ Roses on the Sandlot Games digital platform. Now isn’t that a testament to its ability to get you hyped? It’s hard to contain your excitement with this playing in the background!
“Good as Hell” – Lizzo
Ever since breaking out with her debut album “Lizzobangers” in 2013, this rapper and artist has continued to gift us with song after empowering song. A standout among her impressive discography is “Good as Hell,” a larger than life song inviting as to “do our hair toss” in the face of life’s struggles, to know our worth, and to love ourselves unequivocally. It’s the type of song that starts small and ends in a chorus of infectious rhythms, and you simply can’t help but answer Lizzo’s “Baby, how you feelin’?” with “Feelin’ good as hell!” The cherry on top of this anthem? The video is packed with women of color and of every size and shape you could imagine.
“Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
Few frontmen have as much as panache and swagger than Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury. His band blessed us with countless chart-toppers throughout the years, many of them coupled with equally iconic music videos. “Bohemian Rhapsody” may have propelled them to international stardom, but they’ve got other songs that are just as powerful. “Don’t Stop Me Now,” for instance, has all the makings of a feel-good song — even science says so! In an analysis, University of Groningen professor Dr. Jacob Jolij found that its upbeat groove has the ability to boost one’s mood. “My analysis confirmed very nicely what we already knew from the literature: Songs written in a major key with fast tempo are best at inducing positive emotions,” he told The Huffington Post in 2015.
Now that you have the playlist to lift your spirits, share this post so another woman can get encouraged to go out and conquer the world!
Author Bio: Darlene P. Birch is a human resource specialist with a degree in psychology and a passion for helping others be their best selves. Based in Austin, Texas, she enjoys macramé crafts and yoga in her free time.
Pictures provided by Canva’s – Natural Women collection
