Every girlboss needs a staple girlboss playlist. Here are the top female-centered bops to boost your confidence and find solace in.
- “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat
“Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat is essential to any any feminist playlist. The song is upbeat, easy to sing along to and simply uplifting. The chorus is nothing short of good vibes with lyrics “I’m a bitch, I'm a boss / I'm a bitch and a boss, I'ma shine like gloss,” that make you want to get up and strut down an imaginary runway.
2. “She’s So Gone” by Naomi Scott
Perhaps the first look at modern feminism for Generation Z, “She’s So Gone” from the 2011 Disney Channel Orginial Movie “Lemonade Mouth” shows the shy bassist of the band reinventing herself in this solo song. She declares “Here I am, this is me / And I'm stronger than you ever thought I'd be.” Not only is the song sonically powerful, but it conveys that girls should not confine themselves to the labels others place on them. Naomi Scott’s empowering throwback is sure to remind women they can be whoever they want while simultaneously bringing back positive childhood memories.
3. “Gaslighter” by The Chicks
Taking the phrase “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss'' quite literally, The Chicks proclaim their dominance in their country pop anthem “Gaslighter.” The song highlights how men tend to place the consequences of their actions on the women in their lives instead of accepting responsibility. The bridge is a direct call out to this idea — “Had to burn it up, had to tear it down / Tried to say I'm crazy / Babe, we know I'm not crazy, that's you.” The song is a simple reminder of women finding catharsis in uniting over long standing oppression with catchy and sassy flare.
4. “Going Nowhere” by Fifth Harmony
For anyone frustrated by unfortunate decisions made by men in their lives, the disbanded girl group “Fifth Harmony” provided fans with a clear reminder that women are able to speak their truth. “Going Nowhere” — from the band’s first studio album “Reflection” — reaffirms girls as authoritative.
The clever hook “Boy, you better act like you got some sense / 'Cause you got a dime, and that's money well-spent,” implies that a man’s decision in an unknown situation was done without thought, yet is perceived to be successful because men get to make choices without being questioned. It’s hard to listen to this intelligent pop song without feeling on top of the world, so it’s perfect for a girls’ night out.
5. “The Man” by Taylor Swift
Perhaps Swift’s most literal take on misogyny in the music industry, “The Man” takes a direct jab into the differences in how men and women are criticized in Hollywood in her seventh studio and first owned album “Lover.” Swift uses her unparalleled songwriting abilities to show why she feels treated unfairly as a woman in the male-dominated music industry — the bridge concludes with “If I was out flashing my dollars / I'd be a bitch, not a baller / they paint me out to be bad / So it's okay that I'm mad.” The song feels like finally getting something off your chest, which is exactly what fans are able to do when they find solace in the feminist anthem’s clear points applicable to everyday life.
6. “Sue Me” by Sabrina Carpenter
Known from her famed days on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World,” Sabrina Carpenter came in hot with the release of “Sue Me,” the lead single of her third studio album “Singular Act I.” Carpenter allows herself to express her confidence and frankly, hype herself up by saying “That’s my name, don't wear it out though / Feelin’ myself can't be illegal, illegal.” The song is not only successfully assertive, but reminds women they are allowed to feel good about themselves for their own sake.
7. “breadwinner” by Kacey Musgraves
The breakout song from Musgraves’ second album “starcrossed,” “breadwinner,” combines soft, rhythmic sounds with a loud message. In the wake of her divorce, Musgraves uses “breadwinner” to explain how men have made her feel small and diminished the success she created for herself. When the chorus states “He wants your shimmer / To make him feel bigger / Until he starts feeling insecure,” Musgraves emphasizes how men have taken women’s achievements and claimed them as their own, invalidating their feelings and accomplishments. Musgraves removes herself from this phenomenon and reminds young girls their feelings are valid.
8. “Take a Hint” by Victorious
Another throwback classic, “Take a Hint” from the beloved Nickelodeon show “Victorious” of the early 2010’s features protagonists Jade and Tori taking a stand against forceful flirting and unwanted attention by saying “You asked me what my sign is, and I told you it was ‘stop’ / And if I had a dime for every name that you just dropped / You’d be here and I'd be on a yacht.” The sassy pop valid extends to women of all ages and is a great outlet for blowing off steam.
9. “Alaska” by Maggie Rogers
In a genre cross between folk and dance pop, singer songwriter Maggie Rogers recounts her life-changing trip to Alaska in the honest ballad “Alaska.” Rogers writes “Cut my hair so I could rock back and / Forth without thinking of you / Learn to talk and say whatever I wanted to / And I walked off you / And I walked off an old me / Oh me, oh my I thought it was a dream.” The song articulates the female experience of life’s transitional periods. The song is beautiful, comforting and relatable to anyone ever feeling unsettled in an ever changing world.
10. “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
In a parallel version of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Chappell Roan emphasizes the importance of letting your guard down and following your heart. She envisions a scene of a young girl showing her mom she is able to dance like nobody's watching — “Oh mama, I'm just having fun / On the stage in my heels / It's where I belong.” The song pulses like a heartbeat and reminds listeners to be themselves.
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