She’s leaving a group today with a leader who we only recently realized was controlling. I want to blast some, “you’re never doing that again” tunes for her.
Any ideas?
ETA - you guys are amazing! We’ve been listening on and off all afternoon. I won’t be able to really reply until after my kids go to bed, but these are amazing - as are all of you! Thank you so much!
This list SLAPS!
You Oughta Know - Alannis Morissette
Raspberry Swirl - Tori Amos (this one goes so hard it's on the playlist of songs I listen to on my motorcycle - pls don't tell the other dudes)
Kiss With a Fist - Florence + The Machine
You oughta know might be a little explicit for a tween but God damn is that a bop
"Jagged Little Pill" was, and remains, a big deal.
Omg, yes!!! I was 15 when it came out & it was my soundtrack for months!
Ha, I was 16! That CD dethroned Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York from its coveted pride of place in my discman, lol.
I listened to that when it came out. Might or might not have been a tween yet... brain just skimmed past the parts I didn't understand :)
Lol, not little 11/12 year old me roller blading to that album in the unfinished basement with my little friends.
I was also popping Jay-Z into my portable cd player for the school bus ride, though, so my parents didn't monitor my music listening too much.
Raspberry Swirl doesn’t get half the love it deserves, it’s such a banger
THANK you, yes! I'm not saying I've been checking my mentions for 5 hours waiting for someone else to back me up on this undeniable objective truth, but I'm not not saying that either, lol.
You oughta know is my scream against the world song.
Also Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches
I have about half of these on my "Bad-Ass Bitch" Playlist, but I'm absolutely adding the rest of this to my list!
A couple of good ones as well for a confidence boost are:
Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Halestorm - Daughters of Darkness
These are two songs that never fail to make me feel powerful. It's an awesome idea for you to make a playlist for her!
I came here just to recommend fuck you by Lily Allen
Pink - U + Ur Hand
That's a good one too
I second Veruca Salt! Eight Arms to Hold You is one of my favorite albums of all time.
That's the first song that popped into my mind! Found it very powerful
Great List, Add Bad Cop, Bad Cop. Maybe Bombpops :)
Awesome!
Solid playlist, Grrrl.
Good list but a tween may be too young for anything by peaches, she’s raunchy
She is, but "boys wanna be her" is tame. It doesn't even have a swear word in it. It's not like I recommended "Fuck the Pain Away".
Ah ok 👍
Add in Sarah Bareilles, "Armor"
I love you.
I'd add Suck My Left One by Bikini Kill.
I have a playlist with a few of these already. I have a feeling I'm gonna add a lot more to it.
Love this!!!
Wanted to add Bishop Briggs! Particularly White Flag and Champion!
Ok fine - let's be best friends 😍
Thank you for this incredible playlist, it is pushing all of my musical taste buttons. ETA: Some Caroline Polachek songs would go well, although nothing specifically "kiss-off" comes to mind. Also: Warpaint - Bees, anything by Illuminati Hotties.
Thank you! Saved.
Thanks for the playlist! I'm hyped.
Thank you for the playlist. I can never find enough of this stuff.
I am saving this list. Thank you
One Girl Revolution by Superchick
'I will survive' is a classic for a reason. Applies to all relationships, imo.
Violet-- Hole
YOU SHOULD LEARN WHEN TO GO, YOU SHOULD LEARN TO SAY NOOOOO
GenX core memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH_rfGBwamc
GO ON, TAKE EVERYTHING, TAKE EVERYTHING, I WANT YOU TO
Fuck yeah, first song that popped in my head
As long as this song is here i can sleep tonight.
An oldie, but You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore.
Yesssss I recommended that one! Love it - but dusty Springfield same same :)
The song is even more interesting knowing she was a lesbian.
You should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish
It could be a nice one, given the context
My first billie song and I think still my favorite. Still listening to her new album tho which is fantastic 55yo punk post punk metalhead dude.
Have you heard of The Linda Lindas? They're AWESOME!
The Interrupters are also very good, except it’s not all women.
For a punkier vibe I love Bad Cop Bad Cop, particularly Womanarchist and Simple Girl
She's kerosene is stuck in my head now, thanks
Nightmare by Halsey
Mother’s Daughter by Miley Cyrus
Daisy by Ashnikko
Bodak Yellow by Cardi B
Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift
There’s a lot of great suggestions on this thread I’m saving some tbh lol
I was thinking Cry by Ashnikko too
Mothers Daughter is amazing
I LOVE Daisy 💗💕💗
Yesss
"These Boots are Made for Walking" by Nancy Sinatra
'Rip Her to Shreds' - Blondie
'Oh Bondage Up Yours' - X-Ray Spex
'Typical Girls' - The Slits
Oh I haven't listened to "oh bondage up yours" for years! Alexa!
Yes, great song! Love to scream along with her, too ;)
'Too Many Creeps' - Bush Tetras
Yes!!! Very underrated band from that same era. They remind me of the dancier version of The Slits.
Her voice also reminds me of lead singer of The Waitresses.
One of my fave Waitresses jams is 'Girls Gotta Do'....another to add to the list.
There was a great Poly Styrene doc that came out a few years ago called "I am a Cliche". Worth a watch if you haven't seen it.
Came here to see if anyone recommended Chinchilla’s Little Girl Gone! Such a powerful song.
SAME
Yeah, we love Little Girl Gone
Glad you like it. It's certainly a jam.
I was scrolling to see if I saw any Chinchilla recommendations! That song and many of her others are fantastic.
I recently discovered Chinchilla and I'm glad I scrolled to find Little Girl Gone before commenting! That song gets me goin'
Adding to the amazing recommendations (and reminders to update my playlists) and trying to avoid repetition (in part by being super retro about it):
As Cool as I Am by Dar Williams (featuring the best 'don't try pitting women against each other bc you think you're some grand prize, sir' refrain ever: I will not be afraid of women)
Boys will be Boys - Dua Lipa
Think - Aretha Franklin
Free Your Mind - En Vogue
It's a Shame - Monie Love (ETA features the most vicious call-out in history: 'he's been a dumdum and that's the way it is forever')
Wondergirl, Arizona, or basically anything by Hey Monday
Stronger, Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
Unpretty, No Scrubs - TLC
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
Celebrity Skin - Hole
Better Be Good to Me (even better in the context of this being a huge album for Tina Turner, after she left her abusive asshole of an ex - who took everything; all she asked to keep was her name - and experienced such astronomical success without him it is basically the embodiment of divine/poetic justice)
Idk if the songs are specific enough, and I'm not the biggest Fleetwood Mac fan myself, but there is something glorious about the fact that Stevie Nicks wrote a bunch of songs about what a dick Lindsey Buckingham (?) was and then an entire album about how much he sucks turned into a massive hit and he had to play a bunch of songs onstage while Stevie sang about his dickishness directly at him and everyone knew and that is a bad-ass-bitch move if there ever was one
COOL AS I AM, YES!!!
girls will be women 💪🏼
W.I.T.C.H. (Woman In Total Control of Herself) - Devon Cole
YES!
She ain't out to get you, but she's better on your side
I just discovered this one a few weeks ago!
In terms of artists any of the following (yes, I have specific tastes, I'm sure there are other great artists from other genres). All these are women fronted and/or all female. I could add another 100 or so, but this is a start.
Songs?
Gotta run to a meeting. Will edit more in later if there's interest.
There is SOOOO much good, aggressive female empowering music out there!
Great list!
You and I could road trip any day
I was hoping someone had mentioned “Shirley” by L7. How many times must we toe this line?
All these are women fronted and/or all female
Destroy Boys
Destroy Boys are fucking fantastic, and a great answer to this question IMO, but Alexia is non-binary so they aren't actually woman-fronted. Although, Violet, their lead guitar player does take over frontwoman duties on a handful of songs.
Man, I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
Flowers - Miley Cyrus
Mother's Daughter - Miley Cyrus
Just A Girl - No Doubt
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
My favorite is "Fuck you very much" by Lily Allen.
BC WE HATE WHAT YOU DO AND WE HATE YOUR WHOLE CREW O PLS DONT STAY IN TOUCHH.
Or or or the opening line:
Look inside. Look inside your tiny mind, now look a bit harder. Cuz we're no uninspired, so sick and tired, of all the hatred you harbor
Every line of that song is so on point, and I especially love the level of attitude she sings it with. Such a mood.
Poe: Control, Angry Johnny, and everything else
Lords of Acid: Who do you think you are
Republica: Ready to go
B-52s: Roam
Portishead: Cowboys
Roxxette: The look
Fiona apple: Sleep to deam
Elastica: whole album
Souxie & the Banshee's: Kiss them for me
MDFMK: Get out of my head
Jefferson airplane: White Rabbit
Suzanne Vega: Left of Center
Chess ost: Nobody's on nobody's side.
Cowboy Bebop ost: Gotta knock a little harder (cowboy bebop osts are treasure chests)
Gogos: We got the beat
Bananarama: Cruel Summer
Flyleaf: I'm so sick
4 non-blondes: What's up.
"Angry Johnny" is a solid choice, but if "You Oughta Know" is too suggestive for a tween, this one is probably a little bit way over the top, haha. Still, this thread would be incomplete without it.
(Poe was treated so shamefully, it's disgraceful what was done to her.)
Man I love Poe, she’s an artist I so wish would release some new stuff.
You oughta know by Alanis Morrisette
Alanis Morisette made an awesome album: Jagged Little Pill. A lot here have included songs from that album, but listening to it in its entirety helped me a lot as a teen and young adult.
I was almost 30 when it came out, and it helped me a lot too!
I loved this album as a teen. But it hits so much differently now that I am 41. Absolutely pivotal album for me
St Vincent - digital witness. Garbage - most of their 95' album or Cherry Lips. Nico Vega - Million Years. Meg Myers - Numb.
Labour by Paris Paloma!
Ani Difranco - Napoleon
Or maybe Little Plastic Castles.
Maybe Gravel, too?
There's always Ani defranco...
But maybe in a couple years.
No Doubt's "just a girl" hits harder than it did back in the 90's
I Love Myself Today — Bif Naked
The Distillers! Brody Dalle is full of feminine rage. Specifically the song Drain the Blood, but it’s a bit, uh, murdery?
I had a friend who was mentally drained and needed music to help recharge and Brody Dalle was one of my recommends.
She told me it got her through finishing her PhD in philosophy, and she was surprised how much she liked it since it wasn't her usual bleak goth music.
11/10 for Queen Bee.
Lots of great stuff here. Check out Paramore and Halestorm as well.
Halsey - I am not a woman, I'm a god.
Not necessarily girl power, but always fitting: Were Not Gonna Take it by Twisted Sister
Kiki Rockwell! Yesssssssss!
Fuck yeah! LOVE Burn Your Village! 🔥💗🔥
Paramore--Careful, Playing God, Ignorance, Grow Up, Ain't it Fun, maybe the interludes on their self-titled album. They probably have more, actually.
Pink--So What
Joan Jett--Bad Reputation
Katy Perry--Roar
La Tigre--TKO
Gloria Gaynor--I Will Survive
Aretha Franklin--RESPECT, Think
My current favorite f**k you song is Two Minutes Notice from Helluva Boss, but that's probably not appropriate for a tween. Definitely give it a listen, though, and maybe save it for when she's a little older.
Not specifically "girl power", more "strong women with agency" but definitely check out the band Sleeter-Kinney and maybe Savages, The Kills, Sylvan Esso.
Also "Treat Me Like Your Mother" from The Dead Weather rocks pretty hard.
Paramore Paramore Paramore
Higher by The Saturdays
Power by Little Mix
Stronger (What doesn't kill you) by Kelly Clarkson
Stronger by Britney Spears
Fight Song by Rachel Pattern
Roar by Katy Perry
Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield
Titanium sung by Sia
M.I.A Bad Girls
In this same vein Haiku Hands, my sister described them as the MIA Aussie Spice Girls.
It’s not about you- Haiku Hands
https://youtu.be/sbHxzMm0uOc?si=uhKnt22qzL1N_W-y https://youtu.be/sbHxzMm0uOc?si=uhKnt22qzL1N_W-y
You dont own me - leslie gore and yeah yeah yeahs album fever to tell are my faves lately!
Big fan of 'I Burn' by Jeff Williams
Because I'm awesome- by the dollyrots
Hero- Regina spektor
Fighter- Christina Aguilera
Since you been gone- kelly Clarkson
So yesterday- Hilary duff
I just want to say you are awesome to help you daughter learn how to process anger in a healthy way.
Labour by Paris Paloma, but a lot of her songs are female rage based
Cinderella Snapped by Jax and Woman by Kesha (there is a version on Spotify that bleeps the f bombs) are my favorites to belt out in the car right now.
ETA: Good As Hell - Lizzo & Ariana Grande. I know she’s canceled but this song slaps.
She’s a Rebel - Green Day (will forever remind me of my mom)
Bad Bitch - Bebe Rexha & Ty Dolla $ign (this one’s message isn’t as woman-friendly as the rest but it’s definitely an “I’m feeling myself” bop)
1 boots are made for walking 2 lets go girls - Shania Twain 3 soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow 4 welcome to the Jungle - GnR 5 Living La Vida Loca 6. let me blow ya mind 7 don’t ye forget me unicorns 8 Put your records on 9. No Diggity 10 No Scrubs 11. Waterfalls 12 Number 1 - Nelly 13 Jump 14 WALK THIS WAY 15 doesn’t matter if you’re black or white 16 Smooth criminal 17. The Twist 18 La Bamba 19 Sweet Emotion
The Man - Taylor swift
You Need to Calm Down - Taylor Swift
Labour (the cacophony) - Paris Paloma
This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things - Taylor Swift
Sorry Not sorry - Demi Lovato
Fight Song - Rachel Platten
I Did Something Bad - Taylor Swift
Nightmare - Halsey
Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo
Victoria's Secret - Jax
Pink has multiple songs about empowerment
So What?
All I know so far!
"it's about damn time" by Lizzo, specifically this line, "I'm not the girl I was or used to be, b!#$& I might be better!"
To me, it celebrates breaking free from whatever has held you back, whether it be freeing yourself from a person, a situation, or other commitment.
The language is, perhaps, slightly coarse for a tween, but it's quite a positive song. Also, I love a good funk riff, and this hits that spot for me 😄
Pedestal - Aiko
I was ready to comment this if I didn't see it, truly a robbed queen and should've made the grand final
Most anything by Pvris, but especially Burn The Witch, POW by FEMM, and Taxi by Nova Twins
Kesha - Woman
Woman by Kesha but probably a clean version because of of a fbomb in chorus
Rear View Mirror- Pearl Jam
Anything from No Doubt
Literally - F You by Lily Allen. And smile by Lily Allen
Feelin' Good- Nina Simone
Call Me Cruella- Florence +the Machine
Darkside- Neoni
Little Girl Gone- Chinchilla
Boss Bitch- Doja Cat
Survivor- Beyonce
Bring it and Stand up -Trapt
I would suggest Jack off Jill or Babes in Toyland... But maybe not for a tween. Altho that's when I discovered them (MySpace was wild). But be warned: JoJ specifically has lots and lots of naughty words said very angrily. But I find them empowering! For I too am an angry punk woman.
A throwback but Fefe Dobson had a bunch of songs that would fit this category.
My power song is En Vogue, My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It) Always pulls me up and out of a funk. An oldie but goodie. The video is pretty good too.
My wife loves the movie and the soundtrack to Captain Marvel. Awesome girl power movie.
Just a girl - no doubt
The Villain Mode playlist on Spotify is great for days like that.
FYB - Poppy
I Disagree - Poppy
So Mean - Poppy
Lol I can only think of poppy songs rn
Gives You Hell - All-American Rejects
I like Sia’s Unstoppable in my running playlists! Makes me feel like a badass.
TFW when I asked my 5 year old niece for her favorite song to make a friendship bracelet and that's what it was.
King - Florence & the Machine. Just cut it off at the last 20 seconds or so with the defeatist bit there at the end. The rest of it is great.
Seize the power by Yonaka is the very definition of a fuck you girl power song.
Almost anything by emlyn and EMELINE. Though beware of language of course
Girls - Aespa
HER - Megan Thee Stallion
IDGAF by Dua Lipa.
Anything by the all female punk band Bad Cop Bad Cop!
The Ride is a solid album!
Simple Girl - Bad Cop, Bad Cop (also The Ride album - Womanarchist, Breastless, Community )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOxO3-xI8Q
Just A Girl - No Doubt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzOOQfhPFg
Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill, the Linda Linda's also do a version. they are in middle school i think.
Most things from Kim Deal of The Breeders and Pixies.
Meghan Trainor. Me too. https://youtu.be/qDRORgoZxZU?si=DmyMNbDA0VTGHch4
Transformer - Marnie Stern
The beigeness- Kate Tempest
Dancing in the street - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Woman by Kesha
No by Meghan Trainor
Misery Business- Paramore
I love myself today by Biff Naked
i like “she persisted” by shania tubb and kate ferber. also, you are an awesome parent and your kiddo is gonna grow up to be such a confident and strong person.
The interrupters - she’s kerosene
Fingers and little girl gone by Chinchilla Deal With It, Ashnikko
My kids listen to them all but I'm pretty easy going about swears in a song :)
Great list of songs!
Eat Shit by Doll Skin. It's got swear words though, as is evident in the title. But it's absolutely amazing if you and your kid are okay with listening to more explicit stuff (check the lyrics yourself if you're worried about that). Also, hell yeah!! Good on her, I'm very proud of her for leaving a bad situation :D
All these great suggestions, and no one has mentioned the O.G. womens' empowerment song; Helen Reddy's 'I Am Woman'.
Bloody motherfucking asshole Martha Wainwright
🌹
Pussy Riot!!
Shit List - L7
Not girl specific, but a really excellent song to be angry to.
Bloody Motherfucking Asshole by Martha Wainwright.
YAAAAASSSSSSSSS!
Alanis Morisette Jagged Little Pill.
Bury it - CHVRCHES & Hayley Williams
I’m not in the mood (to say no) - Shania Twain
Born this way - Lady Gaga
Might not like me - Brynn Elliott
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
5 out of 6 - Dessa (really, so much by Dessa is good if she is into rap)
Let the Flames Begin, Ignorance, that’s what you get, pressure, fences, brick by boring brick - Paramore (there’s probably more I’m not thinking of at the moment but those all come to mind. They’re my favorite band for a reason and I got into them when I was 13 🎶)
Specifically NOT flyleaf because of the lead singer’s questionable stances on LGBT rights and abortion
Specifically not Lizzo due to the abuse allegations / lawsuit coming from members of her touring staff
(Which sucks because I would have recommended both of them had they not become problematic)
Don’t know if this is up your alley:
Lagertha - Frantic Amber
Khutulun - Frantic Amber
The Black Knight - Frantic Amber
Crimson Seas - Frantic Amber
Fairy Metal - Banshee
Hellevator - Thundermother
Burn! - Kobra And The Lotus
Barbie & Ken - Scene Queen, Set It Off
Let It Burn - Cold Kingdom
Heroin(e) - Eva Under Fire
Misery - Eva Under Fire
Typecast - Cinnamon Babe
New Evil - Nocturna
Burn the Straw Man - Butcher Babies
Stolen Life - Arch Enemy
Blood in the Water - Arch Enemy
You Will Know My Name - Arch Enemy
It’s Killin’ Time, Baby! - Butcher Babies
Elite - VEXED
Medicine - Spoil Engine
Silence Will Fall - Spoil Engine
We Shall Remain - Eleine
Just Another - Jinjer
Pearl Jam - rearviewmirror
I feel it's appropriate for all genders and persuasions.
A B C D E F...U by gayle
SIA is one of my go tos for this and I’m not a huge fan but she knows how to send a message of empowerment. - Unstoppable - titanium -bird set free
Just a few I can think of rn. & totally appropriate for a tween
Unstoppable is what came immediately to my mind, too. I use that a personal hype song when I need it
SuperGirl - Krystal Harris
One Girl Revolution - Superchick
Don't Need You - Samantha Mumba
Watch Me Shine - Joanna Pacitti
Can't Get Me Down - Lo-ball
Stronger - Britney Spears
Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
Perfect - Pink
Bad Blood - Taylor Swift
That’s My Girl - Fifth Harmony
Never Give Up - Sia
It’s About Damn Time - Lizzo
Keep On Singin’ My Song - Christina Aguilera
Army of Me - Christina Aguilera
Roar - Katy Perry
Pendulum - Katy Perry
Never Back Down - Kat Meoz
Rain On Me - Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
Treat Myself - Meghan Trainor
Champion - Carrie Underwood
Wonder Woman - Lion Babe
One Girl Revolution - Superchick
Rollin - Jess Glynne
Salute - Little Mix
Invincible - Kelly Clarkson
Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato
Who’s Laughing Now - Jessie J
Dear Me - Madeline Merlo
Don’t Feel Like Crying - Sigrid
Yes! “Sorry Not Sorry” is SO cathartic!
Unstoppable-Sia
Rose in Harlem
Ani DiFranco - lots of songs, but “Blood in the Boardroom” is a start
https://g.co/kgs/Rpb3vJ7 Blood in the Boardroom
I have a soft spot for the band Shampoo. Girl Power is a good one
Anything by Ashnikko, but specifically L8r boi, Stupid, Hi it's me, Cheerleader, Invitation and Toxic
Superbloom by MisterWives
If you like the Runaways, check out Suzi Quatro
Chinchilla has a few
You absolutely need to listen to NAH by Qveen Herby. It's so catchy and it's about setting boundaries with toxic people.
Depending on what you consider appropriate for your child, half of the songs on Chappel Roan's debut album fit this bill.
Hub City Stompers - Johnny Date Rape
F.F.F. (Fuck Fake Friends) - Bebe Rexha
The Donnas might work…
Mother mother by Tracy Bonham
Just thought of another one.
an underrated '60s banger by an underrated female singer, Lulu.
I consider this my personal theme song. It's all about being independent, not going with the crowd, and not giving a damn.
Revolver by bülow!
Freedom by Beyoncé (from Lemonade) hits every time I need to celebrate shedding toxicity
Gun - CHVRCHES
Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill
Darth Vader - Dragonette
Kill V. Main - Grimes
Shitlist - L7 (though that one has swearing in it, obviously)
Fuck You - Lily Allen (if you truly don't mind swearing)
50 Ft Queenie -PJ Harvey
So What - P!nk
Indestructible - Robyn
Volcano Girls - Veruca Salt
Crown - Angel Haze (also swearing)
Run the World (Girls) - Beyonce
Army of Me - Bjork
Don't Mess With Me - Brody Dalle
Confident - Demi Lovato
Yell It Out - the Derevolutions
Standing in the Way of Control - Gossip
I'm not a woman, I'm a god - Halsey
I Eat Boys Like You For Breakfast - Ida Marie
Warrior - Kesha
Bulletproof - La Roux
Boys Wanna Be Her - Peaches
Cherry Bomb - The Runaways
FWIW, I have a whole playlist of girl power music, if you're interested. It's long, but there's also an abridged version here.