Karaoke night is one of the best ways to celebrate a girl’s night out. With no judgement passed on actual vocals, it may be the one and only time the spotlight is yours. Wailing guilty pleasure anthems to a crowd of friends is so much better with 10 of the best feminist karaoke anthems of the 2010s.
“King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles (2010)
Bareilles has come out with plenty of incredible jams since this 2010 feminist anthem, but there’s something about “King of Anything” that really lends itself to karaoke. It is angsty, it has an awesome beat and sends a message about unsolicited love advice.
Best lyrics: “You’ve got opinions, man, we’re all entitled to ‘em, but I never asked.”
“Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys (2012)
With simple, catchy lyrics and an empowering message about women blazing a bright trail, there’s no better karaoke jam. This one can get a little difficult vocally, but works well with a group.
Best lyrics: “So bright she can burn your eyes, better look the other way.”
“Roar” by Katy Perry (2013)
The anthem for self-love and empowerment “Roar” is for the point after a break-up where you’re finally feeling on top of the world. With a pop beat and the descriptive metaphor of a tiger, there’s no better way to feel like the champion that you are than with Perry’s eighth release to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Best lyrics: “I went from zero, to my own hero.”
“***Flawless” by Beyonce ft Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (2013)
Queen Bey’s intense, powerful anthem “Flawless” is cut by a clip of a TEDx talk from author and activist Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (Americanah). With the included audio from Adiche, this song makes for the perfect feminist group number for karaoke.
Best lyrics: “We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. Feminist: A person who believes in the social, economic and political equality of the sexes.”
“Confident” by Demi Lovato (2015)
Lovato is an artist who has suffered through her own hardships and come out on the other side–– she is intensely vulnerable and brave. Her feminism comes across loud and proud in most of her music, but “Confident” is perhaps the best self-empowerment karaoke number she’s released. It’s brassy, sassy, and exciting, which makes it perfect for feminist karaoke.
Best lyrics: “I used to hold my freak back, Now I’m letting go, I make my own choice, Yeah I run the show.”
“Good as Hell” by Lizzo (2016)
Though this track’s inclusion on this list should come as no surprise, it is shocking that we’ve been graced by Lizzo’s fiery feminism for nearly four years, but “Good as Hell” only topped charts this year. This is, perhaps, the epitome of the self-love anthem from the 2010s.
Best lyrics: “If he don’t love you anymore, than walk your fine ass out the door.”
“Hey Girl” by Lady Gaga ft. Florence Welch (2016)
A karaoke list without a duet wouldn’t be a list at all. Lady Gaga’s “Hey Girl” featuring vocals by Florence Welch is a song of sisterhood and female companionship. The song describes a female relationship in which both girls see each other home after a night out and are there for one another anytime, regardless.
Best lyrics: “Hey girl, hey girl, we can make it easy if we lift each other.”
“Woman” by Ke$ha (2017)
After suffering through a sexual assault case against her former producer, Dr. Luke, Ke$ha released new music filled with messages of empowerment and female fortitude. “Woman”, the exciting collaboration with Dap-Kings is an electric, powerful party song.
Best lyrics: “Don’t buy me a drink, I make my money.”
“Nightmare” by Halsey (2019)
A timely release, following the abortion ban conversations in spring/ summer 2019, “Nightmare” is Halsey’s enraged ballad of social change. For many women, the song rings true with its angry undertone and energetic, progressive lyrics. A song this emotionally charged is exactly what everyone should be singing at karaoke.
Best Lyrics: “I’ve been polite but I won’t be caught dead/Letting a man tell me what I should do with my bed.”
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande (2019)
The most important break up song of 2019, and perhaps the decade, “Thank U, Next” was the titular song of Ariana Grande’s album “Thank U, Next”. The music video gained major clout –– replicating the “Mean Girls” film –– and the song is certainly one to know.
Best Lyrics: “I know they say I move on too fast/ But this one gon’ last/ ‘Cause her name is Ari/ And I’m so good with that.”
Featured Image by Rafael Castillo on Fickr
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
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