Eight Songs for Women's History Month
The cover of Demi Lovato's album, Confident Remixes.
By Claire Wu, staff writer
Women's History Month, first inspired by a 1978 celebration in our very own Santa Rosa, California, is a time to commemorate women's contributions to the history of the United States. This year, the theme of the month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." In honor of the women who have shared their feelings with the world and empathized with our own through their music, here are my top eight women-empowering and storytelling pop songs by female singers.
1. "Confident" by Demi Lovato: (listen on YouTube)
Through this song, Lovato tells her story of becoming comfortable in her own skin without being held back by body image. With the booming and drumming bass, Lovato shouts out her confidence and pride for who she is, firmly establishing her place in the world as the girl boss that all of the girls in this school can be.
Album cover for Fifth Harmony's album, 7/27, in which the girl band sings "That's My Girl."
2. "That's My Girl" by Fifth Harmony: (listen on YouTube)
In this upbeat song with driving instrumental rhythms, the pop girl group, Fifth Harmony, reminds girls all around the world that they are resilient. The singers voice the fact that girls are survivors of pain, and that they have the strength to stand back up after being knocked down
The cover of the album, SOUR, by Olivia Rodrigo, in which she opens with her song, "brutal."
3. "brutal" by Olivia Rodrigo: (listen on YouTube)
Many of us can relate to Rodrigo's song of feeling insecure and having anxiety during adolescence, which Rodrigo was in when she wrote "brutal" at the age of 17. Thus, her storytelling comforts teenagers everywhere by showing us that someone shares our experiences and that we are not alone.
Album cover of Adele's album, 21, in which she sings "Set Fire to the Rain."
4. "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele: (listen on YouTube)
Pouring out her pain from her first heartbreak, Adele puts into words the universal devastation that people feel from breakups. But with the conclusion of her song, Adele voices her determination to move on from a life-changing ordeal, revealing the power of a woman to me.
Album cover of "The Man (Live From Paris)" by Taylor Swift.
Album cover of Ariana Grande's album, My Everything (Deluxe), which includes her song, "One Last Time."
5. "The Man" by Taylor Swift: (listen on YouTube)
With this sorrowful, but powerful song, Grande admits to deserving the blame for a breakup. But her accountability reminds us that girls can be the one to take the first step in mending a relationship, and that despite being humans who make mistakes, we can all try to repair what we break.
Album cover of Alessia Cara's album, Know-It-All, which her song, "Scars To Your Beautiful" is in
6. "One Last Time" by Ariana Grande: (listen on YouTube)
With this sorrowful, but powerful song, Grande admits to deserving the blame for a breakup. But her accountability reminds us that girls can be the one to take the first step in mending a relationship, and that despite being humans who make mistakes, we can all try to repair what we break.
7. "Scars To Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara: (listen on YouTube)
Cara's sweet and moving song was influenced by her shame in youth of balding in some places. Because of her experience, she wanted to boost the self-confidence of other girls in the world, and urges them through her singing to see that they are perfect, and worthy, as they are.
Cover of Alicia Key's album, Girl on Fire, which has the same name as her powerful song.
8. "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys: (listen on YouTube)
Keys wrote this song to pick herself up, as it now does for the women in her audience. Singing at the top of her lungs, Keys spreads the message that any one girl can reach the highest heights, and be in charge of who she becomes.