The Female Anthems Of 2017 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Female Anthems Of 2017

Women's Empowerment at its best

74
The Female Anthems Of 2017
YouTube

2017, you sure put up a tough fight. Even though I think most could have predicted this would be a year for the books, there is no way anyone could have foreseen the amount of crazy plot twists that unfolded. On those days when life felt impossible and I could feel the world falling apart, I would turn on the radio, open up my favorite Spotify playlist, or search for comfort in a SNL live performance.

Of the trending singles that found themselves permanently ingrained in my brain over the past 11 months, I found solace in the power, confidence, and resilience I heard from female performers dominating the charts year round. For your uplifting pleasure, I present my favorite pick me ups of 2017.

1. "Woman" by Kesha

Off of Kesha’s comeback 3rd album, "Woman" is an empowerment song that proudly proclaims, “I’m a motherfucker.” The song’s contagious party vibe will leave every woman who’s ever received unwanted attention when out screaming, “Don’t buy me a drink, I make my money.” Writing the song with her two male co-writers, Drew Pearson and Stephen Wrabel, Kesha believes the song is symbolic of the support that is and can be by provided by men in the name of feminism.

2. "Bad Mood" by Miley Cyrus

When listening to this song for the first time, I assumed it was just another break-up track. It wasn’t until I listened to the lyrics a bit more closely that the frustration in her voice began to make sense. Developing into much more than a string of melodies over a lover’s quarrel, Cyrus’s “Bad Mood” hints at an anger derived from an issue much larger than herself with lyrics such as “The glass ceiling’s gonna break… I’m not sure how much more it can take”, and an anticipated change on the horizon as she proclaims, “I’ve had… enough.”

3. "Angel" by Fifth Harmony

The song looks down on a lover for stereotyping women as either a persona of pure innocence or rebellious trouble, and then becoming disappointed when he/she realizes their partner is more complex. With lyrics like, “When you look at me, what do you see?/ Open your eyes, I’m more brilliant than you’ll ever be,” Fifth Harmony’s message is loud and clear: a woman is more than a stereotype.

4. "I Did Something Bad" by Taylor Swift

My personal favorite off of Swift’s newest album, reputation, “I Did Something Bad” is an unapologetic celebration of the reputation the singer has acquired for dating many men and targeting those that attempt to oppress her. As the public continues to condemn her behavior, she in turn challenges them, daring them to “light [her] up” like a witch at the stake.

5. "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato

The confidence spewing off of Demi’s carefree summer anthem was a pleasant tune to hear blasting out of every car’s window during evening traffic. All power, no apologies.

6. "Bodak Yellow" by Cardi B

Aside from making every woman magically transform into a different person when it comes on, "Bodak Yellow" is responsible for doing so much more. The first to overtake Taylor Swift’s comeback “Look What You Made Me Do” single off the top spot of the Billboard’s Hot 100, Cardi became the first female rapper to hit No.1 independently since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop(That Thing)” in 1998. Finding her own audience, Cardi was able to make her name known through “Bodak Yellow” without catering to a male or white audience. Much like most other women on this list, she dares to develop her success off of the very reputation she is so often condemned for.

7. "New Rules" by Dua Lipa

Taking a different approach from most songs that deal with heartbreak, Lipa creates a set of rules not just for herself, but every woman (or anyone in a relationship, really) that needs a supportive voice of reason in the times of weakness that follow a hard breakup. The message behind the song: you shouldn’t have to go back to someone who couldn’t accept you for who you are the first time around.

8. "It Ain't Me" by Selena Gomez

With a new mature stance, Gomez drew a definitive line on the status of a toxic teenage relationship that remained ongoing in her young adult life. As the entire world continued to weigh in on whether Gomez should (and should still) get back together with her old flame, she revealed the story behind the relationship that was destroyed over a partner’s alcoholism, with a painful interrogation to her ex-lover that asks, “Who’s gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning?/ Who’s gonna rock you when the sun won’t let you sleep?/ Who’s waking up to drive you home when you’re drunk and alone?” In the end, she alone makes the choice on whether to stay with someone that couldn’t change for the better of their future, announcing: “It ain’t me.”

9. "Most Girls" by Hailee Steinfeld

The song itself criticizes the cliche stereotype used time and time again in books, movies, and male fantasies of the girl that deviates from whatever is considered the norm for women. Steinfeld fights back against the cliche “compliment” that states, “you’re not like other girls,” by pointing out that it further implies behaving like a woman is somehow wrong or not commendable. Through her music video and song lyrics, Steinfeld makes an effort to show that women, in fact, are not all alike, and it is that individuality in roles and personalities (regardless of whether it is considered mainstream or not) that she admires and respects rather than condemns.

Listen to the playlist here...

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

672
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

17 Times "Friends" Accurately Described Life

You can't say that no one told you life was gonna be this way.

52
friends

In the 12 years since it went off the air, "Friends" continues to be adored by millions. The show that gave generations unrealistic expectations about love (or should I say lobsters?) and New York City apartments had a charming cast of characters that everyone could relate to at some point or another. Here are 17 times Ross, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel accurately described life.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Times Aubrey Plaza Described Sophomore Year

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

421
Aubrey Plaza
Flickr Creative Commons

Aubrey Plaza is one of my favorite humans in Hollywood. She's honest, blunt, unapologetic, and hilarious. I just started my sophomore year of college, and found that some of her best moments can accurately describe the start of the school year.

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

Keep Reading...Show less
graduation

Things you may not realize are different between high school and college:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments