The 50 Best Songs Celebrating Women

As our March Women and Power Issue comes to a close, I thought I'd send us out with a bang. And by bang, I mean a soundtrack. So, I reached out to a bunch of women and non-binary femmes to find out what empowerment anthems mean the most to them to make the ultimate in celebratory playlists.

These tracks will make you feel like a boss at work, a siren in the bedroom, and at peace with yourself. They cross genres and generations. In the same way that womanhood is not monolithic, neither are the songs that keep us going. These are the 50 bops—in no particular order—that will most help you feel yourself.

1. "Feelin Myself" - Nicki Minaj featuring Beyoncé

This song is the ultimate in giving women permission to unapologetically brag about themselves and their accomplishments.

2. "Da Baddest Bitch" - Trina

If I had intro music for every time I walked into a room, this would be it. It's a hip-hop classic with a raunchy "girls can do it too" attitude.

3. "Not Tonight (Remix, Ladies Night)" - Angie Martinez, Lil Kim, Left Eye, Da Brat, and Missy Elliott

The perfect reminder of how much power there is in female friendship. And while the video, below, is perfect as is, an update would be most welcome.

4. "Show Stopper" - Danity Kane

When girls interrupt traditionally male spaces, it's a total power move, and that's just what Danity Kane did with "Showstopper."

5. "Survivor" - Destiny's Child

"[I listen to this because] when I'm having a rough season, I'm reminded that I've survived worse." —Nikki Tucker, brand strategist

6. "You Don't Own Me" - Lesley Gore

Never let someone make you feel bad for being free or saying whatever you please.

7. "Just Fine" - Mary J. Blige

"It feels spiritual." Rissa Papillion, video producer, Refinery29

8. "Freakum Dress" - Beyoncé

"This is my ultimate 'time to hit the club' with my girls song." —Sojourner Elleby, radio host

9. "thank u, next" - Ariana Grande

"I think it models my healthy breakup mentality." Brooke Hinton, associate research and insights director, Refinery29

10. "I'm Coming Out" - Diana Ross

"It may seem a bit cheesy now, but it's major that a Black woman created what's become a definitive queer anthem! This one makes me want to embrace my identity in every way possible." —Raquel Willis, executive editor, OUT Magazine

11. "Spice Up Your Life" - Spice Girls

This is unifying rally cry for women of all races if there ever was one.

12. "Addicted To Ballin'" - Kamaiyah

"Self-explanatory." —Raven Baker, associate social media editor, Refinery29

13. "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" - Whitney Houston

"Whitney is the originator of receipts on this one." —Audrey Williams, filmmaker and beauty editor, Bustle

14. "Diva" - Beyoncè Diva

"That 'What you saaaaaaaay?? She ain't no divaaaaaaaa!' is my call to action." —Channing Hargrove, fashion writer, Refinery29

15. "Freak Like Me" - Adina Howard

"I was maybe 11 years old the first time I heard it, and it might've been the first time I heard a woman being in charge of her body and her sexuality. I don't think I thought it was possible. All the other hip-hop songs were about men being freaky and 'doing' sex to a woman. All the woman had to do was get swept off her feet and be in love. Or she had to be a hoe, poppin her coochie so that some dude can 'zuma zoom zoom zoom in her poom poom.' Either way, she had to fall in line with what a man wanted. 'Freak Like Me' was the first song demanding that these dudes fall in line because it's all about the dawg in me.'" —Gabby Sidibe, actress, Empire

16. "Needed Me" - Rihanna

It feels good to know that you don't need a man. It feels even better to tell him that he actually needs you.

17. "Non, je ne regrette rien" - Edith Piaf

"It always felt so defiant to me, a woman celebrating the fullness of her life with no apologies." —Yetide Badaki, actress, American Gods

18. "Django Jane" - Janelle Monáe

"Whenever Janelle Monáe raps in a sickening, well-tailored suit, I feel like my actual pussy is a giving a monologue." —Amber J. Phillips, digital strategist

19. "Independent Women, Pt. II" - Destiny's Child

So many of my friends documented this song as their career woman awakening before they even knew what career they wanted.

20. "Free" - Deniece Williams

I am a fiercely independent Capricorn with a Venus in Aquarius. I don't believe in compromising that for a relationship, and with this song, I have never felt more seen.

21. "Deadbody" - Miya Folick

"It's about resilience." —Adrien Young, bassist for SASAMI

22. "So Good" - Destiny's Child

Before Beyoncé informed us that the "best revenge is your paper," she and the rest of Destiny's Child knew that living your best life was the remedy for haters.

23. "Do You Know Where You're Going To" - Diana Ross

"It reminds me to dream big and grand as hell." —Channing Hargrove, fashion writer, Refinery29

24. "BBHMM" - Rihanna

"As a boss, you know your money comes first, and you have no damn time for games." —Nana Agyemang, social media editor, The Cut

25. "I'm Every Woman" - Whitney Houston.

"That's such a powerful anthem. I remember my aunts playing it, and I would sing to it and loved it." —Amiyah Scott, actress, Star

26. "Hustling" - Trina

This song, formatted as Trina giving an interview about how she became such a bad bitch, could subconsciously be how I ended up in entertainment journalism.

27. "Control" - Janet Jackson

Women need way more of it. Period.

28. "Doo Wop (That Thing)" - Lauryn Hill

"I don't know if this qualifies as an empowerment anthem, but I always walk away from it with a reminder to know my worth. My eight-year-old self didn't really know what this song was about when it was first released, but the line 'don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem, babygirl' has stuck with me over 20 years later." —Taylor Bryant, senior editor, NYLON

29. "Formation" - Beyoncé

There are very few songs/videos that speak more directly to Black women's existence.

30. "Can't Get Enough Of Myself" - Santigold

"It makes me feel like I'm on top of the world, regardless of who's looking or laughing at me. It really just makes me feel like the icon I am!" —La'Shaunae Steward, model

31. "Hoochies Need Love Too" - Paradise

"It demands respect for women who fall outside the traditional 'good woman' trope." —Jessica Robinson, doctoral candidate, University of Illinois

32. "Nasty" - Janet Jackson

"It's one of the earliest songs I remember hearing as a kid and realizing what it meant to be a woman who didn't play by the rules. I still get a little chill and stand up a little straighter whenever I hear it." —Arianna Davis, editorial director, OprahMag.com

33. "I'm Here" - Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple Soundtrack)

"This song is all about resilience. It's gotten me through a lot." —Ericka Hart, activist and educator

34. "Pageant Material" - Kacey Musgraves

"I'd only heard this song once I had already moved out of the South, but I wish I'd had it when I was feeling the pain of being excluded... Though I never wanted to be a pageant girl and could never fit that mold, 'Pageant Material' is a swift kick-in-the-boots reminder that pageantry as a whole is pretty hollow... and if Musgraves isn't pageant material, I don't want to be." Bailey Calfee, staff writer, NYLON

35. "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" - Nancy Sinatra

"I literally can't listen to this iconic song without feeling an instant boost to my confidence. The line 'You keep thinking that you'll never get burned/ hah!/ I just got me a brand new box of matches,' perfectly encapsulates the magic and power of an angry woman." —Greta Chiocchetti, editorial intern, NYLON

36. "Bossy" - Kelis

The word "anthem" can be a bit overused, but there is no other word to describe Kelis' 2006 track.

37. "NICE" - The Carters

When you forget that you can do literally anything, listen to this.

38. "Sound Of Rain" - Solange

"The lyrics are super-empowering for women. She literally says, 'Nobody dress can effeminate me.'" —Sheila Rashid, fashion designer

39. "Grown Woman" - Beyoncé

On most days, adulthood feels like a nonstop cycle of bills and responsibilities. This song reminds me to appreciate the fact that I've achieved the independence I once craved when I was still a kid.

40. "His Eye on The Sparrow" - The Mississippi Children's Choir

"I feel as though I'm born again. My resurrection." —Chastity Hicks, financial advisor

41. "That Girl" - Yung Baby Tate

"It's such a confidence booster and really does make you feel like THAT BITCH." —Yung Baby Tate, rapper

42. "I'm Not Your Mother, I'm Not Your Bitch" - Courtney Barnett

You don't even need to hear the rest of the song to know that this is permanent mood.

43. "Immaterial" - SOPHIE

"This song details the experience of being a trans woman and grappling with a shifting social place. As a young queer woman, this song provided me with solace in my sexuality when I needed it most." —Allison Foster, editorial intern, NYLON

44. "Run The World (Girls)" - Beyoncé

"This song is a BOP. And It makes me feel like I can accomplish anything I put my fucking mind to. The combination of Queen B's luscious voice, the epic lyrics, and swift beat of the drums get me next level hyped."

—Serena Kerrigan, video producer and host,

Refinery29

45. "7 rings" - Ariana Grande

Not sure about you, but being able to buy expensive things for me and my homegirls is a major financial goal.

46. "I Been On/Bow Down" - Beyoncé

Sometimes you have to put folks on notice that you're better than them because you've worked harder, done more, and treat people better.

47. "Money" - Cardi B

This song is my only motivation to get dressed for work some days.

48. "Rock Yo Hips" - Crime Mobb

Every Black girl should know how to finish this line: "I got 32 flavors of that bootylicious bubblegum…"

49. "Big Ole Freak" - Megan Thee Stallion

"It's my first big song globally. It's playing everywhere." —Megan Thee Stallion, rapper

50. "You" Raheem DeVaughn

He made a beautiful ode to women that reminds me of the love I have for myself, for my best friends, and the women I have in my family.

Listen to the full playlist (minus the two songs Beyoncé didn't put on Spotify), below.