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How hard is it to get a little respect around here? Aretha Franklin’s 1967 hit asks that question. She adds, “Respect, find out what it means to me.”
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When you’re going through an uphill battle that seems never-ending, listen to Rachel Platten’s 2014 hit: “This is my fight song. This is a song about taking back my life. This song about proving I’m okay.” It’s hard not to feel empowered by lyrics like these.
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This underrated pick of 2020 discusses the importance of self-care. “I promised myself that I would take care of myself. I will do my best to avoid sleepless nights. I will fight for myself. Honestly, I deserve the praise.”
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We almost had to include Shania’s 1997 hit, which has inspired millions of women to hype up the idea of letting loose and having fun, because “the best thing about being a woman is having the privilege to have a little fun.”
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Located on the same album as hits “Don’t Cha” and “Buttons,” this 2005 classic oozes sincerity: “You know I got a life, and everything in it I bought, so if you wanna be with me it ain’t all about all the fancy stuff you bring in.”
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Capture your protagonist’s energy with Mariah’s iconic 2009 song (rumored to be about a very famous rapper), in which she lets you know where she stands with lyrics like, “You’re a private company, I’m a corporation.”
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Ne-Yo speaks directly to women in this hit from his 2008 album Year of the Gentleman: “Oh, there’s something about a woman who can do it all for herself. When I see her, I feel proud. There’s something about her.”
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The hit was first sung by Chaka Khan in 1978, then given a second life by Whitney Houston in 1992. No matter who sings it, the message is the same: “I’m every woman, I’ve got it all inside of me.”
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When the song was released in 2004, JoJo, who was just 13 at the time, already knew not to put up with the game. “Why are you so confused? I’m the one who didn’t know the truth. Why are you so cold?”
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This 2015 double meaning song is about empowerment: “Love yourself — and no, you don’t need anyone else.” Make sure to read the lyrics to find out the funnier side of the double meaning.
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Gwen Stefani will certainly never be a Hollaback Girl. “I’ve been down that road a few times, I ain’t gonna be like that, ’cause I’m not a Hollaback Girl,” she sings in this 2004 hit, asserting that she’s a leader, not one to follow orders.
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TLC is very clear here that not all men are worth your time: “No, I don’t want a dirty man. A dirty man is a man who doesn’t love me back. A man who sits in the passenger seat of his best friend’s car and tries to hit on me.”
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The 2000s brought a flurry of hits about woman power, from Nelly Furtado’s chart-topper “Say It Right,” in which she assures, “You don’t mean nothing to me.”
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If you want to hear a powerful ballad, check out Christina Aguilera’s 2002 song “Beautiful.” She sings, “‘Cause no matter what anybody say, we’re beautiful, no words will bring us down, we’re beautiful in every way.”
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While many of these song selections are from the 2000s, it’s hard to forget Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 theme song: “But many a night I spent thinking you’d hurt me so badly. And I grew stronger, and learned to cope.”
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If you’re going through a breakup, do as Demi Lovato does and say goodbye to your ex by wearing number 10: “Because the grass is greener under me. Bright as technicolor, you can see. Yes, I know how much it hurts to see me like this, but it’s gonna get even harder.”
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Related: Best quotes about moving forward and accepting
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Sing loudly to “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys, an anthem about finding your inner strength: “When she walks by, all you stare, ‘Cause you see the fire in her eyes, Watch her light up the night.”
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The girl group Little Mix isn’t afraid to look back on herself, and even if she does have some regrets, she’s open to them: “I always say how I feel, because I wasn’t born with a zipper on my mouth.”
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Kate Franke (she/her) is an Editorial Assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and a BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME graduate and her work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread.
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