While Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover for The Bodyguard soundtrack may be the more popular of the two, Chaka Khan‘s original cut has since been used to promote the celebration of women of all walks of life. “I’m every woman, it’s all in me/ Anything you want done, baby, I’ll do it naturally” - Chaka Khan, “I’m Every Woman” (1978) ![]() 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999, this Whitney Houston gem from her fourth studio album, My Love Is Your Love, provides the ultimate playbook for wisening up after being jilted, and leaving the drama behind. “It’s not right/ But it’s okay/ I’m gonna make it anyway/ Close the door behind you, leave your key/ I’d rather be alone than unhappy” - Whitney Houston, “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay” (1998) Justine Skye‘s 8 Ounces takes a few cues from Janet Jackson‘s liberation record, Control. “Nasty” probably contains one of the legend’s most iconic lines - one that would motivate pop culture enthusiasts and women offended by Donald Trump referring to Hillary Clinton as “a nasty woman” 20 years later. Jackson if you’re nasty” - Janet Jackson, “Nasty” (1986) “No, my first name ain’t baby/ It’s Janet… Ms. On “Too Young To Die,” the singer doesn’t allow a breakup to spoil her newfound independence, and as a result she churns out this rebellious chant. Tinashe was not the only up-and-coming R&B star to release a record about perseverance last year, as her peer Justine Skye did the same with her The-Dream and Tricky Stewart-produced EP, 8 Ounces. “I’m way too young to die (over you, over you)/ I’m way too young to cry (over you, over you)/ I’m way too dope for lies (over you, over you)?/ Too fly to stand in line (over you, over you)” - Justine Skye, “Too Young To Die” (2016) This lyric in the album’s opening track discusses managing your own destiny. “If it’s my life, ain’t nobody gonna tell me how to live it/ They can’t see the way I see it, through my eyes/ See nobody gonna know just what they’re missing/ Cause it’s my life” - Tinashe, “Lucid Dreaming” (2016)Īfter facing struggles with her record label, the then-22-year-old singer decided to take matters into her own hands and release Nightride, a personal record that explores her darker, more personal side. ![]() Here, Kelly Rowland embraces her supporters, knowing that they recognize her value and swag. On her third studio album, Here I Am, the best friend and confidant to the Knowles sisters understands that a cocky attitude is sometimes needed. For “Don’t Touch My Hair,” Solo doesn’t compromise her identity or beliefs and ultimately, demands respect. ![]() Her sister was not the only artist to break down the struggles of black women in America - Solange‘s A Seat At The Table is a near-bible of recounting those experiences. “Don’t touch my pride/ They say the glory’s all mine/ Don’t test my mouth/ They say the truth is my sound” - Solange, “Don’t Touch My Hair” (2016) This standout recounts Beyoncé‘s daily goal and became an anthem for boss ladies. Lemonade served as one of the definitive albums depicting the experience of black women in modern-day America. “I see it, I want it/ I stunt, yellow bone it/ I dream it, I work hard, I grind ’til I own it … ‘Cause I slay/all day” - Beyoncé, “Formation” (2016) Taking on a term that many still find demeaning for women, Kelis reclaimed the descriptor and listed all her game-changing accomplishments. Kelis had no qualms over gloating about her boss mentality on her fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here. “I’m bossy/ I’m the first girl to scream on a track/ I switched up the beat of the drum” - Kelis “Bossy” (2006) On her posthumous self-titled studio LP, the industry’s “Baby Girl” provided a record that inspired multiple women, and was even interpolated on Kehlani’s previously mentioned SweetSexySavage album. “I’ll be more than a lover/ More than a woman/ More than enough for you” - Aaliyah, “More Than A Woman” (2001) If she’s going to live life, she might as well do it to the best of her abilities regardless of the haters. Mirroring an attitude similar to Rihanna’s (a personal icon that she shouted out in a birthday tweet), Kehlani breaks the mold of societal expectations on this single from her debut LP, SweetSexySavage. “Everything I do, I do it with a passion/ If I gotta be a b-h, I’ma be a bad one” - Kehlani, “CRZY” (2017) This bold declaration from her fourth studio album, Rated R, gave audiences the first real impression of her explicit, bad-gal persona - something that the singer has lived up to in all her endeavors since. Since the start of her career, Rihanna has blessed listeners with anthems that endorse females driven by their natural edge. “I’m such a f–kin’ lady” - Rihanna, “Wait Your Turn” (2009)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |