The music industry is one of the most powerful and influential industries when it comes to inspiration and impact on popular culture. Iconic musical artists have an incredibly powerful voice because their work has the potential to be listened to globally. The message that a song portrays matters and it's imperative that artists are conscientious of the words they are telling adolescents to believe. Peppy beats and melodies have a tendency to mask the rather explicit messages that some artists embody--and so they get away with it. "Blurred Lines?" "Talk Dirty?" Artists like Robin Thicke perpetuate the sexualization of the female body, and demonstrates that objectifying women is acceptable. Fans of his music can watch his music video and listen to his song and justify his actions because he's famous and can get away with it.

It's the artists that take it upon themselves to perform music that fights for female empowerment that truly inspire me. They fight against this male dominated society and prove that we, as women, have a voice and can be heard just as loudly. Here are some specific songs that have spoken to me:

1. "Sit Still, Look Pretty" by Daya

Lyrics to Remember:

"Oh, I don't know what you've been told
But this gal right here's gonna rule the world
Yeah, that is where I'm gonna be because I wanna be
No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty
You get off on your 9 to 5
Dream of picket fences and trophy wives
But no, I'm never gonna be 'cause I don't wanna be
No, I don't wanna sit still look pretty"

Full set of lyrics here

This song exemplifies that a woman's life is not one dimensional or stereotypical. We are not here to cater to the man. We are our own people that are capable of succeeding without the presence of a man.

2. "Salute" by Little Mix

Lyrics to Remember:

" Sisters we are everywhere
Warriors, your country needs you
If you're ready ladies, better keep steady
Ready, aim, shoot
Don't need ammunition, on a mission
And we'll hit you with the truth
Divas, queens, we don't need no man, salute!"

Full set of lyrics here

This is another song that demonstrates the strength that women can possess. It inspires the idea of fighting against a patriarchy that has told us we are unworthy in variations for centuries.

3. "Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara

Lyrics to Remember:

"She has dreams to be an envy, so she's starving
You know, "covergirls eat nothing"
She says "beauty is pain and there's beauty in everything"
"What's a little bit of hunger?"
"I could go a little while longer", she fades away
She don't see her perfect, she don't understand she's worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
So to all the girls that's hurting
Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer
The light that shines within"

Full set of lyrics here

This song is an amazing anthem for body positivity and belief in your self-worth. It's a commentary on society's expectations on women's physicality and how it shouldn't matter. You are beautiful within your skin, and the skin you wear is beautiful regardless of what society tells you to believe.

4. "Confident" by Demi Lovato

Lyrics to Remember:

"I used to hold my freak back
Now I'm letting go
I make my own choice
[Clean version:] Yeah I run this show
So leave the lights on
No, you can't make me behave"

Full set of lyrics here

What I love about this song is that it demonstrates the strength and attractiveness of confidence. Women struggle with believing in their self-worth because of countless aspects of society that tell us we're imperfect--and we should hate those imperfections. Being confident in yourself to achieve anything--from your highest dreams to demanding the type of behavior you deserve--is something that should always be encouraged in any individual. You are worthy of the life you want and you should be confident in the pursuit in which it is obtained.

5. "BO$$" by Fifth Harmony

Lyrics to Remember:

"You say that you a baller
And I see you trying to holla
But that ain't how I was brought up-next
Working for the money
'Cause that's what my momma taught me
So yo a** better show me some re-spect"

Full set of lyrics here

I'm not a huge fan of Fifth Harmony (as a lot of my friends know), but I do appreciate that this song portrays a message of women's confidence and independence. There is an expectation in society of the man being the "bread winner" of the house. This expectation isn't as intense as it used to be, but it's definitely still present in some households. Women, demand respect for the achievements you have worked so hard to obtain. Again, you don't need a man to be successful.

6. "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé

Lyrics to Remember:

"41 rollin' to let you know what time it is, check
You can't hold me (you can't hold me)
I work my 9 to 5, better cut my check
This goes out to all the women getting it in,
You're on your grind
To other men that respect what I do
Please accept my shine
Boy I know you love it
How we're smart enough to make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children
Then get back to business"

Full set of lyrics here

Then comes Queen B with a fierce song that represents women's overall power and capabilities to succeed. Get at us, patriarchy.

7. "So What" by P!nk

Lyrics to Remember:"So, so what
I'm still a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And I don't need you,
And guess what,
I'm having more fun,
And now that we’re done,
I'm gonna show you tonight,
I'm alright,
I'm just fine,
And you're a tool,
So, so what,
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And I don't want you tonight."

Full set of lyrics here

Due to the fact that society feels like belittling women into making them believe that having a boyfriend and getting married is one of the most important achievements in our lives, I thought it ironically necessary to include this song in my list. We don't need a guy to be happy. Thank you, bye.

8. "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera

Lyrics to Remember:

"You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down....oh no
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down, oh, no
So don't you bring me down today..."

Full set of lyrics here

This song is so beautifully important for women who struggle with loving themselves physically or internally. Society makes sure that women find some sort of insecurity in themselves and this song is an anthem in fighting for loving yourself. Brush those unrealistic standards aside, because you're more beautiful than them anyway.

9. "Superwoman" by Alicia Keys

Lyrics to Remember:

"When I'm breaking down
And I can't be found
And I start to get weak
Cause no one knows
Me underneath these clothes
But I can fly
We can fly, Oh"

Full set of lyrics here

This song is wonderful for understanding that you are strong and you can overcome anything.

10. "Flawless" by Beyoncé

Lyrics to Remember:

"We teach girls to shrink themselves
To make themselves smaller
We say to girls,
"You can have ambition
But not too much
You should aim to be successful
But not too successful
Otherwise you will threaten the man."
Because I am female
I am expected to aspire to marriage
I am expected to make my life choices
Always keeping in mind that
Marriage is the most important
Now marriage can be a source of
Joy and love and mutual support
But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage
And we don't teach boys the same?
We raise girls to see each other as competitors
Not for jobs or for accomplishments
Which I think can be a good thing
But for the attention of men
We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings
In the way that boys are
Feminist: the person who believes in the social
Political, and economic equality of the sexes"

Monologue by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Full set of lyrics here

Had to save the best for last. This song and the monologue above honestly speaks for itself. Bow down to the Queen ladies and gents.

Music is one of the only industries that lets someone's voice be heard on a global scale. Those already in the spotlight have a responsibility to be conscientious of the messages their music teaches. I could rant on and on about how messed up the patriarchy and our social system is through a plethora of layers, but I don't want to bore you. Music and being a woman are two things that largely make up who I am and it's important that I know to be proud of that.