Songs to Celebrate Women
In honour of International Women’s Day 2021, here are a few songs I’ve always come back to that celebrate, empower, and at times condemn the various norms and experiences that come with being a woman.
Hey Girl - Florence Welch + Lady GaGa
In “Hey Girl,” Florence and GaGa put it well that “we can make it easy if we lift each other” and “we don't need to keep on one-in' up another” in this powerful collaboration. When you listen in, one can’t help but be reminded of the beautiful parts of female friendship, and the formative experiences these relationships offer as you grow up. Hearing the melodies of women standing in solidarity, rather than in opposition is a beautiful tune.
2. Man from the Magazine - HAIM
If you know HAIM, you know they’ve experienced some unfortunate digs from their male counterparts in the music industry, particularly Portishead’s Geoff Barrow. I remember reading a headline about HAIM where they confidently stated “we can go toe-to-toe with any male rock band and blow them out of the water.” As someone who longed to connect with a female rock band, this was music to my ears, and a theme that is instilled throughout their discography. What I appreciate about “Man from the Magazine” is it is a ballad exposing misogyny in the music industry, ending with the line “you don’t know how it feels to be the cunt.” HAIM’s tenacity over the years addressing these barriers in their music is a prime example of “doing the work” that International Women’s Day celebrates.
3. Good Company - Mahalia
Mahalia’s divine womanly energy is so beautifully conveyed that every woman comes to embody it when you listen to her. The female protagonist in “Good Company” commands respect, can hang, and leads in full knowing of who she is, who is deserving of her energy, and good company.
4. Patricia - Florence & The Machine
Another important component of female empowerment is mentorship, and learning from the generations before us that offer support, and have worked towards equal opportunity for women today. Florence & The Machine’s “Patricia” depicts Florence’s relationship with her mentor, Patti Smith, infamous American singer/songwriter. Reflecting on this teaching friendship Welch and Smith hold, the lyrics “she told me all doors are open to the believer,” remind us that we need guidance from our female heroes to often believe in ourselves, and with this, women supporting women can open many doors.
5. I Did Something Bad - Taylor Swift
For many women, self-regulating their emotions, and oftentimes, rage, is not only commonplace these days, but has come to be expected for fear of being called a “b*tch.” In “I Did Something Bad,” Taylor Swift spits in the face of this fear, taking back her power. As many are familiar with, the Reputation album is rooted in Taylor Swift’s reclaiming of herself while the highly influential artist, Kanye West, targeted her in the public eye for years. “I Did Something Bad” helps one remember that their feminist rage has merit.
6. Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T) - Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia is an Afro-Indigenous female wrapper whose anthem “Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T),” clearly articulates many frustrations she has when women go for the jugular aimed at each other. A key line that sticks out to me from “Sugar Honey Iced Tea” is when Nokia states “I’m healing kids with my hands, I’m talkin’ loving my people not fighting bitches for brands.” In a few simple words, Nokia points at the competition instilled in our culture to set women against each other. While International Women’s Day is celebratory, it also exposes many barriers that still exist, this being one of them.
7. Snake Tongue - The Beaches
The Beaches’ “Snake Tongue” instantly became a fan favourite of mine due to its direct counter attack against being cat called. Lyrically, this song doesn’t beat around the bush, chanting “cold snake tongue stuck in-between two fingers shaped like a V, oh why would you think I’d want to meet you?” In tandem with this, “Snake Tongue” also depicts the experience of being a young woman in the digital age, and how harassment can transcend into the virtual world as they sing “stop sending me all your dick picks, they are boring me to pieces.” While there is a humorous element to how this song is written, it makes you laugh at your own expense, and perhaps that is a reality that is a coping mechanism that International Women’s Day also reveals.
8. King Princess - Pussy is God
With a title as bold as this, how could King Princess’ "Pussy is God” not be included in this roundup? This pick speaks for itself.
9. Savage - Megan Thee Stallion
No International Women’s Day roundup is complete without Megan Thee Stallion. When I was first introduced to Thee Stallion, someone shared with me that she was balancing the life of being a college student while touring, and seemingly taking over the billboard charts. Not only this, but what I also I find fascinating and admirable about Megan, and “Savage,” is the song takes traits commonly associated as negative, or ugly about women, and turns them into sources of empowerment. Whether you’re “classy,” “boujee” or “ratchet,” Megan makes space for all. Merriam-Webster defines being “Savage” as not domesticated or under human control. In the mere title itself, Megan spits in the face of expectations had of women to be submissive and meek, allowing for one to embrace components of themselves they’ve been told to restrain their whole lives.
