So I’m trying to build a playlist that matches a certain mood I’m in. The criteria are fuzzy, so I thought it might be fun to post the loose framework I have and the songs I’ve selected so far, and see what y’all come up with.
The rules are: Must be a female artist. A groove, or uptempo, danceable is OK. The type of song a pumped-up girl might sing to loudly in the car as she speeds down the highway. Feisty but not angry. Upbeat Positive (as they say in the music industry) OK, but a certain “don’t fuck with me” attitude is OK too. Independent and perhaps ticked off with a certain man or situation, but not man-hating. (I’m calling it my Grrrl mix.) Selected songs so far are heavy on 80s/90s but any era is OK.
Selected so far:
Bitch -Meredith Brooks
Queen of the Night -Whitney Houston
Don’t Let Me Get Me -Pink (a bit of an outlier, but it just feels right)
Human Nature -Madonna
Promiscuous Nelly -Furtado
Miss Independent -Kelly Clarkson
Bad Reputation -Joan Jett
Your Little Secret -Melissa Etheridge
Ain’ No Other Man -Christina Aguilera
Take it Off - The Donnas
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (I mean, you gotta!)
The Affair - Honey
Le Tigre - Deceptacon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date With the Night
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
B*Witched - C’est La Vie (I know, I know, but I’m a sucker for a good pop reel)
Alanis Morisette - Thank U
Love that song.
Oh! Oh!
Bjork - Big Time Sexuality
The Watson Twins - How Am I To Be?
Regina Spektor - Poor Little Rich Boy
Bif Naked - Moment of Weakness
Veruca Salt - Volcano Girls
Robyn - Love Kills
Rachael Yamagata - Faster
Alexz Johnson - Another Thin Line
The Veronicas - Leave Me Alone
Lisa Hannigan - Keep it All
Scissor Sisters - Kiss You Off
He Thinks He’ll Keep Her – Mary Chapin Carpenter.
“Mesmerizing,” Liz Phair. Anything from Exile in Guyville, actually
What’s Up - 4 Non Blondes
Belly - Gepetto
Lush - Sweetness and light
- Deluxe
- Ladykillers
- The Childcatcher
Sinead O’Connor - Just like u said it would b
Sugarcubes - Coldsweat
Equipoise should be along shortly…(I still listen to her Women of World music mixes).
The first song that came to mind was “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. Too obvious?
How about “Move Over” by Janis Joplin?
Any of several songs by Aretha would work, such as “Respect” or “Think”.
Bettie Seervert - Attagirl
I don’t know if it qualifies, but I find Paloma Faith’s Upside Down plenty uptempo but perhaps lacking in the “grrl powah” je ne suis quoi you’re looking for.
oooh groovy. Many of these I don’t know (or at least, don’t know by title) so it’ll be fun to go have a listen. More, please, if anyone’s got 'em.
More data:
Almost added Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” but the lyrics are a little too bitter. Added “Rumo(u)r Has It,” instead. Also added Pink’s “U + Ur Hand.”
A few other notes …
Nearly made the first cut before I posted here, but didn’t: “I Will Survive” (post-breakup doesn’t really fit for some reason) & “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” (a little too peppy). Love MCC, but “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” too post-breakup. I might do “Passionate Kisses” from the same album … also “I Feel Lucky” …
Keep 'em coming.
For some reason the first song in my mind was Rasputina doing Fire and Ice.
But I’m a guy, so I may be way off base. Sorry if so.
As the owner and operator of a penis, I may be wide of the mark with some of these. Still, you might find something…
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan: Marianne Faithfull
Wall of Death: Linda and Richard Thompson
Wade in the Water and Chain of Fools: Eva Cassidy
Hard to Know: Mindy Smith
Portland, Oregon: Loretta Lynn
Goodbye Charlie Brown: Terri Hendrix
Cherry Bomb: Runaways
Pretend that We’re Dead and Monster: L7
Hit Me with Your Best Shot: Pat Benatar
When I Grow Up and On the Greener Side: Michelle Shocked
Honey Bee: Lucinda Williams
No Bad News: Patty Griffin
Addicted to Love: Tina Turner
People Got a Lotta Nerve and This Tornado Loves you: Neko Case
Man-sized, To Bring You My Love, and Long Snake Moan: PJ Harvey
What’s Love Got to Do With It, Tina Turner
Piece of My Heart, Janis Joplin