This week, NYGal is doing something new. We’re making a playlist. Every Friday from now on NYGal will list 10 songs that are centered around a specific theme. And this week is all about badass-ness.
M.I.A -Bad Girls
Will any music video be more badass than this? Nope.
M.I.A, who previously flipped off Super Bowl viewers and was subsequently sued for it has gained a slew of controversial moments throughout her career. In this song the words “suki, suki” which is the word ‘drive’ in Arabic focuses on the law (that has now been changed) banning women from driving in Saudi Arabia. As well as that, it’s a celebration of being “bad”, because, as M.I.A sings, “bad girls do it best.”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYs0gJD-LE[/embedyt]
Princess Nokia- Tomboy
For most of this song, Princess Nokia raps about her “lil titties” wrath. She says the word 23 times. I counted. Whether you have AAA or DD titties or none, anyone can appreciate the mood that envelops this IDGAF about conventional beauty standards song. Oh, and the backdrop for the music video is our very own NYC!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH-LyInSNYw[/embedyt]
Christina Aguilera- Dirrty
“If you ain’t dirty You ain’t here to partyyyyyy!” Legend has it, this song was the moment the “slut-drop” was invented by our insanely talented, and sexy, X-Tina. If this song can’t make you dance then I’m not sure what will. This song is the epitome of being white-girl-wasted while dancing as if you’re a good enough dancer to appear in this video. You’re probably not, but who cares? Slut-drop away.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rg3sAb8Id8[/embedyt]
Rihanna- Bitch Better Have My Money
An empowerment playlist wouldn’t be complete without Ri-Ri. In this song, and pretty much always, she calls the shots, shots, shots. Like brrap, brrap, brrap. Even though nobody owes me money, when this comes on I feel like everyone I know does. Rihanna can make you feel that. And this song is no exception. Remind yourself in situations when people are walking over you.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3eAMGXFw1o[/embedyt]
Destiny’s Child- Survivor
Yes, it’s totally overplayed. And maybe it isn’t the best Destiny’s Child song. But what it definitely is, is empowering. Whether it’s a person, a situation or anything you survived from, remember this as you play the song. You’re not going to give up, you’re not going to stop, you’re going to work harder. BECAUSE YOU’RE A SURVIVOR, GIRL.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmc8bQoL-J0[/embedyt]
Eve- Tambourine
Every time I hear this song, I’m reminded of Emma Robert’s dance in the 2008 movie, “Wildchild”, both impressing the boy she likes and pissing off S.U.L.A sufferer, Harriet Bentley. Unfortunately, I never went to a school dance, or a boarding school or had the courage to re-create the scene lRL. This scene and this song choice is a really big “fuck you” to all of the oppressive people around Poppy and it’s her way of letting them know that she isn’t one to be pushed around. Also, she’s pretty drunk. So, tha definitely could have helped.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWUV71G5W8g[/embedyt]
Mø- Kamikaze
“Was never really meant to do right/ So come on, feed the meat to the tiger/ We need to get in too deep.” Another badass music video complete with choreography and cars. This time, it’s all about self-destruction, but in the best way. Danish singer, Mø’s song is a celebration of owning the bad parts of yourself and running with them.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVD9j36Ke94[/embedyt]
Ariana Grande- God is a Woman
She is, and Ariana might be her. This instant classic is an anthem of femininity. In her recent MTV Awards, she performed the song and brought her mother and grandmother on stage during the end, as a tribute to their influence on the singer. In most religions, the depiction of “God” is usually a male figure. Ariana challenges this with this song from her latest album. How could you argue with her, though? Have you seen the video?
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHLHSlExFis[/embedyt]
Charli XCX- Break The Rules
Even if you don’t go to school anymore, totally sing along to it anyway and, er, definitely break the rules. Again, this is another female song written to empower. The video even shows what looks like Charli in a stolen school bus. However, this is more of a gender-neutral bop. We’re all about that at NYGal. Charli sings, “Boys and girls across the world/ Putting on our dancing shoes/Going to the discotheque/Getting high and getting wrecked.”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABhDiXbUaBE[/embedyt]
Maggie Rogers- Give a Little
Okay, so this song isn’t necessarily about being bad. Instead, it’s about letting go, which could be argued that we need to do before we get to the former stage. It’s about change and growth and letting that guard down as you do those things. Maggie’s asking for something a bit more from something or someone. She’s taking a step back (in those incredible boots) and letting whoever it is know that it’s up to them now. “If I was who I was before/Then I’d be waiting at your door/But/ cannot confess I am the same”. We need to learn these dance moves and we need Maggie’s cowgirl boots.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaXAMuhIe7Y[/embedyt]
