“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra
Fed up? Nancy is too. Somehow this anthem never seems to get old. Consider this a must for your next karaoke playlist.
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
This song is so perfect for an “independent woman” playlist, we would be remiss to not include it. Think you’re sick of the tune already? Give it another listen to remember why it became such a decades-surpassing hit.
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” by Beyoncé
Though she’s a shining image of marital bliss now, Beyoncé has enough single-girl-power anthems to fill out most of this list. Clearly, the best is the one that started a national movement…for learning a bunch of deceptively difficult dance moves. Watch the video again and see if you can’t avoid getting up and busting a move yourself. Just… be careful. Please.
“Since U Been Gone” Kelly Clarkson
We love this song (and can bet money that you do too) because it was so surprisingly spicy to be coming from a former American Idol. Fierce and fun, it’s the perfect “ok with being alone” tune.
“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore
When Lesley coos, “I’m not just one of your many toys,” you can’t help but nod along—and feel rather sexy while doing it. Here, style and substance intermingle and provide a message that we take for granted in this day and age.
“Chick Habit” by April March
A sticky-sweet voice delivering very real (and hilarious) threats to a notorious womanizer? A recipe for song superstardom. Evocative of cutesy 60s songs, but with a distinctly different message, “Chick Habit” was good enough for moody Quentin Tarantino soundtracking his film Death Proof—and it’s definitely good enough for us.
“Love Und Romance” by The Slits
This song, from the pioneering all-female British punk band The Slits, is full of sweet lyrics—and sardonic intentions. Less than railing against a man that’s wronged her, lead singer (the late) Ari Up is saying, “Love, marriage—who needs it? Not this girl.”
“What Have You Done For Me Lately?” by Janet Jackson
Being already wooed doesn’t mean you just accept whatever’s happening in your relationship. File this one with “These Boots Were Made For Walkin'” in the fed-up-lady canon (one of our personal favorites).
“No Scrubs” by TLC
The ultimate anti-loser anthem, we love “No Scrubs” because it reminds us to have high standards—as if you needed that, right? It also doesn’t hurt that we’ve known the words (and video) by heart since its release in 1999.
