I first came up with this blog post idea a long time ago when, in my SuperBetter account, I created "listen to an empowering song" as a power-up. I had a few on my iPod, came across a few more, and decided it would be cool to put them all together in a list post. After all, empowerment is about getting ready to kick ass and to take names, so why not help others be able to do the same? In doing a little research for this post, I found lists and songs that were dedicated to empowering women after a breakup! It sends the message that a man will empower and validate us, so when we are without one, we have to find out how to do it on our own. I also found lists and songs that I didn't think were all that empowering at all, like Adele's Rolling in the Deep (Sorry Adele, but this does more fall into the 'empowerment after breakup' category). Besides, we shouldn't only be looking for empowerment and self-confidence when we're newly single. We should be doing that all the time and looking for ways to channel that energy besides being someone's girlfriend or wife. So, I'm changing that by creating my own list of empowering songs that are actually empowering (I fail to see how Somewhere Only We Know by Keane is empowering) and can actually be applied perhaps when we're in a happy relationships. Here are nine empowering songs for kicking ass and taking names. I know that some of these artists have done more than one empowering song, but I wanted to feature each artist only once.
Roar - Katy Perry
An obvious choice for an empowering song. I prefer the lyric video to the official one. I don't think the jungle theme showcases the message of the song all that well. I don't think Olivia Henken did it justice on season 5 of the Voice.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9SeJIgWRPk]
Hair - Lady Gaga
It's not one of her most popular hits, but this song is one of my favorites from her. I want someone to sing this on the Voice.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okq8xHrIZ8I]
#thatpower - will.i.am ft. Justin Bieber
Not only is this great song, but the music video is awesome too. The choreography is so deliberate, like what it takes to succeed in life.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGIgXP9SvB8]
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
The version by Michael Buble isn't bad either, but I do think the original has much more character and emotion to it. I also think that it would be harder to sing if you had to sing it live.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHs98TEYecM]
Counting Stars - OneRepublic
No more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars. Or, in my case, words. I want to be counting words.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg]
Try - P!nk
This song applies to love and relationships, as that's what P!nk is singing about, but you need to try in life also. You can't be afraid of failure or uncertainty. Well, you can be afraid of those things, but you shouldn't let your fear getting in the way of doing things. Let P!nk tell you all about it. Another video with great choreography.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M]
Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys
Around the time this song came out, my cat accidentally lit his tail on fire by sweeping across a lit candle. My fiance and I put it out frantically, while my cat wasn't too pleased that we pet him the wrong way. Now, the lyric goes, "This kitty's on fire!"
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J91ti_MpdHA]
Dog Days are Over - Florence + the Machine
Now, Pentatonix did this song justice when they performed it on the Sing Off. They made it their own while keeping the intensity and character of the song.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU]
Walk Tall - John Mellencamp
Not only is this an incredibly inspirational and empowering song, but the music video is beautiful too. Mellencamp may have been singing for a long, long time (although this song came out in the early 2000's), but this song is timeless.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjNn9_bfp6k]