1. “Stand in the Rain”

I remember hearing this song on the radio while I was just a kid in Michigan. I was amazed that a girl could front a rock band and that there was Christian rock to begin with. This was pre-Flyleaf, Evanescence and Avril Lavigne in my music tastes. I started listening to Superchick and fell in love with them as we moved from Michigan to South Carolina. Back then, I would listen to anything with a good beat because I was only ten. Now, my Dad had always told me that I was beautiful, but between the state of my clothes, how different I was from the other kids and partially how they saw me and my family, I found it extremely difficult to believe him. This song helped me to realize that no matter how much pain I was experiencing that God was with me through it. It was the first time that I was really able to relate to music because it was real and raw. While I listened to Barlow Girls and their music helped me too, Superchick became my go to angst music because it felt right and my parents couldn’t say no to Christian music. They soon became my favorite band and are to this day.

2. “One Girl Revolution”

This song is all about female empowerment as much as Superchick is. Whenever I felt weak, I would turn on this track and go crazy imagining how I could change the world for the better. It helped to give me an identity and a me vs the world mentality that ironically was used to survive my time at the Christian school I attended when I first moved down from Michigan. I’m not going to call the school out because they and I have made peace, but things were not easy for me there. This song allowed me to privately stick it to them with the belief that I was going to revolutionize the world for good whether others believed in me or not. This song started me on the road to feminism and finding my true identity in Christ and I love it.

3. “Hero”

When I attended that Christian school, my family and I were victims of indirect bullying by way of rumors and general avoidance. My older sister and I got the worst of it because we were the most different. My brother and younger sister could at least blend in like we never could. It wasn’t their fault or ours. It’s just the way it is. Anyways, this song helped me a lot. It’s a call to put an end to bullying, self-harm and encourages people to befriend those who are different. Feeling empowered to help others who were going through the same thing as I was helped me a lot. One, it told me that I wasn’t alone. Two, it told me that I can do something about it. And, three, it believed in my ability to change the world for the better by helping others. These three things gave me a new sense of purpose growing up as the outcast. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that we belong and this song did that for me.

4. “Rock What You Got”

This is another feel-good empowerment song which was cranked out by Superchick on one of their many albums. Its lyrics appeal to the outcasts and underdogs, especially ones who have rock in their souls like I do. While it appeals more to musicians, I took it as you rock any talent that you have. For me, that is writing and dance. I worship God through dance and sign language, and most people do not understand why I don’t just sing like everyone else. The kids at school certainly didn’t understand and I felt even more separated from them because I was more different; however, I persevered and still dance today partially because a teacher named Clint Sloan walked up to me after chapel with tears in his eyes and told me to never let anyone keep me from dancing. I was so shocked that I simply agreed and escaped to my next class, but I’ll never forget that. He helped me a lot more than he realized that day. This song with Mr. Sloan’s encouragement drove me to own my way of worship and gave me the courage to keep worshipping God through dance despite all of the opposition. Mr. Sloan, thank you so much. I know that you will probably never read this, but thank you. I really appreciate it.

5. “Stories”

Now, if you have read any of my other articles, then you already know that I did not have it easy growing up. If you haven’t, then life wasn’t always peachy for me. This song can be explained most appropriately through its title “Stories”. The lyrics explain stories from all different people about different struggles in people’s lives. I really connected to this song and still listen to it all the time. It basically speaks that you are not alone in your personal fight and, again, that God is with you through it. It is possibly one of the most influential for me out of all the songs that I mentioned here.

All in all, I love these songs and this band as well as their message. Now, I know that it seems like my self-worth comes from feminism, use of my talents and, of course above everything else, God. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. If you listen to these songs and others by Superchick then you will see that their mission statement was basically to help teenage girls who did not see their worth. They helped me and countless others. Another song that helped me out even more than these is “Barlow Girls” by Superchick in the self-worth area. So, oops 6 instead of 5. Please go check them out and enjoy! They helped me out a lot, and I hope they help others too. Also, a disclaimer is needed. In this Christian school, all of the teachers helped me out a lot. I am indebted to all of them in one way or another, but Mr. Sloan fits the bill most securely this time. Thank you for understanding and for looking out for me. Have a good one and God bless!