Whether it’s a dance track or something more chill, female soloists have mastered the art of empowering songs.
Female soloists have long proven that the true mark of a bona fide diva lies in how their music makes people feel. Through their indelible artistry, these accomplished performers empower listeners with more than just catchy hooks or “girl power” anthems. Their greatest songs inspire confidence and resilience through unforgettable melodies, powerhouse vocals, and meaningful lyrics.
More importantly, their music resonates across boundaries of race, sex, and gender identity. Anyone can find comfort, strength, or motivation in these tracks, especially when they come from iconic artists such as Lady Gaga, Lizzo, and Taeyeon.
These female soloists continue to shape modern pop culture through songs that inspire confidence, identity, and resilience.
1. Good as Hell by Lizzo
Call it cliché if you want, but a song that talks about feeling “good as hell” leaves you exactly that! And a huge part of it is Lizzo’s infectious energy. The American singer and rapper has such a jovial delivery throughout “Good As Hell” that you truly feel like she’s cheering you on.
She reminds you that one person leaving your life is not the end of the world. In fact, the best is yet to come if you continue to love yourself!
2. Pink Pony Club by Chapelle Roan
Chappell Roan’s queer anthem couldn’t have come at a better time. Though she technically released it in 2020, “Pink Pony Club” didn’t get popular until her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, dropped in 2023. Around that time, politics was turning a tide for the worse, slowly drawing back all the progress the LGBTQIA+ community had made over the years.
Unfortunately, the fight for visibility and acceptance continues, but this song is a safe space for the community and its allies to party through it all. It serves as a stark reminder that you’re free and have every right to live and love your truth.
3. Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Speaking of queer anthems, it doesn’t get much bigger than Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has long been a champion of the LGBTQIA+ community, and her 2011 hit remains one of her most iconic songs. More than just a dance track, “Born This Way” celebrates self-acceptance and encourages listeners to embrace their identity with pride.
With her encouraging lyrics and spellbinding beats, Lady Gaga washes away all the shame you may be feeling about who you are. She explicitly pronounces that you should “rejoice and love yourself today, ’cause baby, you were born this way!”
4. Gorgeous by Doja Cat
If it’s a crime to be gorgeous, Doja Cat is its biggest perpetrator. The widely recognized “Queen of Pop-Rap” released her empowering single, Gorgeous, late last year, and it has since become a classic. It’s even a fashion staple, the kind you’d expect to hear at fashion shows or while dressing for a night out.
Perhaps what’s so great about it is that it’s not explicitly written as an empowering song. The track inspires with its lyrics of self-confidence, rapping about owning your own gorgeousness to the point that the rest of the world would consider it a crime. If only everyone had such high self-esteem!
5. Brave by Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles never fails to empower with her comforting and encouraging singles. One of the best ones she’s released so far is “Brave” from 2013, wherein she sings of courage in the midst of a troubling, often tragic world.
Her lyrics tell you point-blank that staying brave and true to who you are, regardless of what the rest of the world tells you, will help you thrive and survive. When she sings that she “wanna see you be brave,” she means it, and isn’t it so inspiring to know that there’s at least one Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who’s got your back?
6. The Hardest Part by Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean may have only just captured the world’s attention this past year, but she’s been around for a while. In fact, some of her best songs are arguably those she released before she hit it big, not the least of which is her 2020 single, “The Hardest Part.” The song captures her signature crooning and soft tones, not to mention her famously rich vocals.
But perhaps the most empowering part about “The Hardest Part” is its message. Dean’s biggest hits are all about the joy of finding and falling in love, but this track encourages contentment in growing out of it instead. You might not be the same person your partner fell in love with in the beginning, but that doesn’t make you a bad person, nor does it make the love you once shared any less real.
7. Spark by Taeyeon
Though she began her solo career singing memorable ballads for hit K-Drama series, Taeyeon still knows how to drop empowering anthems. Among the best in her repertoire is “Spark,” the second single off her 2019 album, Purpose. Paired with a fiery music video that had the songstress getting back into her Girls’ Generation groove with powerful choreography, the song speaks to the spark that’s within you.
Before this hit, the K-Pop legend mostly released emotional ballads that highlighted her famously strong vocals. This was one of the first times fans and first-time listeners alike saw Taeyeon as confident and empowered as her SNSD persona.
It’s easy to feel empowered by the right song, especially if it’s an inspiring anthem by superstar female soloists. Be it a lively pop single or an emotional ballad, these powerful divas know how to produce tracks that truly inspire you.
What’s your favorite empowering track from these awesome female soloists?
Sources: Lizzo Official YouTube Channel, Chappel Roan Official YouTube Channel, Lady Gaga Official YouTube Channel, Doja Cat Official YouTube Channel, Sara Bareilles Official YouTube Channel, Olivia Dean Official YouTube Channel, SMTown Official YouTube Channel, Wikimedia Commons
