# Looking for a medley of feminine empowerment songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219 "2008-06-08T13:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/1 "2008-06-08T13:08:19Z")
Empowerment is perhaps not the right word; I’m looking for songs by female artists about overcoming adversity and affirming the speaker’s own self-worth. Thus far I’ve got “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera and “Me” by Paula Cole. Any other thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/2 "2008-06-08T13:23:29Z")
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, Aretha Franklin? ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/3 "2008-06-08T13:26:18Z")
Destiny’s Child - I’m a Survivor Alicia Keys - A Woman’s Worth And some others that you may think are silly, by Shania Twain ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/4 "2008-06-08T13:55:07Z")
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/5 "2008-06-08T14:27:07Z")
“Out of Range” by Ani DiFranco (this is just the first of hers to come to mind; I’m sure she has others that qualify for the OP) “Sisters are Doing it for Themselves” by Annie Lennox ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/6 "2008-06-08T14:28:09Z")
I Am Woman, by Helen Reddy ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/7 "2008-06-08T14:55:19Z")
Koko Taylor, [I’m a Woman.](http://www.metrolyrics.com/im-a-woman-lyrics-koko-taylor.html) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/8 "2008-06-08T15:18:57Z")
“How Dare You” by Basia And not specifically feminine, necessarily, though it is in the original context, “Without You” from _My Fair Lady_. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/9 "2008-06-08T15:27:44Z")
[Cause I’m a woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIWpqSajYPM) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/10 "2008-06-08T15:48:16Z")
“Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. Theme song from the woman-empowerment movie “The Legend of Billie Jean.” Not sure it’s quite what you’re looking for, but I’ll toss it out there anyway. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/11 "2008-06-08T15:52:28Z")
Bif Naked “I Love Myself Today” Shampoo “Don’t Call Me Babe” No Doubt “[Sunday Morning](http://www.zshare.net/download/12940736122fc57b/)” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/12 "2008-06-08T16:04:24Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I Am Woman, by Helen Reddy There’s a cover version on the soundtrack to the movie “Trick” which is quite good, if you want somethnig a bit more up-tempo. Two covers actually, remixes. [QUOTE=winterhawk11] “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. Theme song from the woman-empowerment movie “The Legend of Billie Jean.” Not sure it’s quite what you’re looking for, but I’ll toss it out there anyway. [/QUOTE] I can’t tell if you’re making two separate Benetar suggestions, but the theme song from TLoBJ is “Invincible,” which is also by Benetar. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/13 "2008-06-08T16:10:59Z")
Holly Near, “Mountain Song / Kentucky Woman” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/14 "2008-06-08T16:21:19Z")
Peter Gabriel/Shaking the Tree ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/15 "2008-06-08T16:25:02Z")
[Sisters are Doing it For Themselves](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDQE4UMVhEQ) by the Eurythmics (mentioned earlier but I still love it!) [Independent Women](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuMmfDWMLgY) by Destiny’s Child ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/16 "2008-06-08T16:37:15Z")
Tori Amos – “Silent All These Years” Madonna “Express Yourself” ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/17 "2008-06-08T18:01:44Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I can’t tell if you’re making two separate Benetar suggestions, but the theme song from TLoBJ is “Invincible,” which is also by Benetar. [/QUOTE] D’oh! Sorry about that. That’s what I get for posting half asleep. 🙂 Retract my suggestion and change it to “Invincible.” Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/18 "2008-06-08T19:30:28Z")
[QUOTE=Glory] [Sisters are Doing it For Themselves](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDQE4UMVhEQ) by the Eurythmics (mentioned earlier but I still love it!) [/QUOTE] And Aretha Franklin. I’ll also nominate Tina Turner, “Better Be Good to Me.” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/19 "2008-06-08T19:47:59Z")
It’s an odd suggestion, but “Carrie” from _Carrie - The Musical_ is about Carrie White’s plans and desires to go from a nobody to being memorable and remembered. There’s a version on Linzi Hateley’s (who originated the role) album “Sooner or Later.” “I’m Beautiful” by Bette Midler might fit the bill. “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton from _Best Little Whorehouse in Texas_. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219/20 "2008-06-08T21:54:48Z")
I think “Girls just want to have fun” fits, along with the more “serious” stuff listed. also “I’m Gonna be an Engineer” by Peggy Seeger. Great lyrics, can be found here among other places: [http://www.lyricstime.com/seeger-peggy-im-gonna-be-an-engineer-lyrics.html](http://www.lyricstime.com/seeger-peggy-im-gonna-be-an-engineer-lyrics.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-medley-of-feminine-empowerment-songs/452219.md?page=2)