The Best Girl Power Songs From The 90s
The nineties were all about the girl power anthems.
Isi Parente on Unsplash The nineties were a magical time. The entire decade was heavily influenced by a lot of the counterculture movements of the eighties, and it created a melting pot of different styles, sounds, and visuals. In my opinion, 90s music is some of the best.
Out of everything, the nineties had some of the best girl power songs sung by the best girl groups and powerful women. When I need a pick me up, or I just need a new song to work out to, this is the list of 90s girl power songs and song lyrics I add to my playlist:
1. "Just a Girl" by No Doubt
"Oh I'm just a girl
Guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
Oh I'm just a girl
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh, I've had it up to here!"— No Doubt
Gwen Stefani masters style, vibe, and grace. Whether solo or with her group No Doubt, she defines the nineties pop-punk rocker style. This song is one of the best, and one of my favorites. The rocker guitar and rocker girl vibe was really iconic in the nineties.
2. "Zombie" by The Cranberries
"In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh" — The Cranberries
This post grunge, alternative rock band of the nineties came out with a real killer with this song (Get it? Because it’s zombie? No? Okay.) Dolores O’Riordan’s folksy voice blends really well to the grunge style of the song.
Fun Fact: the song is apparently about the IRA (not my words, hers.) Also, take a look at the music video, it’s actually pretty good for a nineties song.
3. "Don’t Speak" by No Doubt
"Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'
So please stop explainin'
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin'
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts" — No Doubt
Is this another No Doubt song? Yes. Do I care? No. I adore this song. The slower, Spanish vibe of the song works so well with Gwen’s powerful yet sultry voice. She doesn’t want to know that her man wants to end things cause it’ll hurt too much, and I totally FEEL that.
4. "Wannabe" by Spice Girls
"If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is" — Spice Girls
You can’t have a nineties girl power song list without including the Spice Girls. They defined what girl gang meant in the nineties, and this song continues to be a bop at every karaoke bar in the United States (and probably the UK too). From their style to their infectious beats, Spice Girls helped to make the nineties as iconic as it is today.
5. "Say My Name" by Destiny’s Child
"Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you
Say baby I love you
If you ain't runnin' game" — Destiny’s Child
The precursor to the BeyHive, Destiny’s Child introduced an entire generation to R&B. Beyonce’s voice is heavenly as usual, and she’s joined by the very talented Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Beyonce may be her own solo act now, but this song is still iconic for the nineties.
6. "Vogue" by Madonna
"When all else fails and you long to be
Something better than you are today
I know a place where you can get away
It's called a dance floor, and here's what it's for, so" — Madonna
Although drag queens had been vogueing for a long while when this song came out, the style came more into the mainstream spotlight after this song came out. Madonna’s style in the video and the song makes it a nice blend of eighties techno sounds and nineties pop.
7. "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
"Ooh, my body's sayin' let's go
Ooh, but my heart is sayin' no
If you wanna be with me
Baby there's a price to pay
I'm a genie in a bottle
You gotta rub me the right way" — Christina Aguilera
Oh man, Christina was really something in the nineties. This song was sung by every middle schooler ever and no one knew how sexual it was. How any parents let it be played at parties is beyond me. Nevertheless, it’s still a super iconic nineties song, and now it’s morphed into more of a girl power anthem.
8. "… Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears
"My loneliness is killing me (and I)
I must confess I still believe (still believe)
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me, baby, one more time" — Britney Spears
If you think nineties girl power songs, more likely than not Britney Spears will pop into your head. This music video was everywhere in the nineties. So many Halloween costumes came out of this video. Besides also hinting at a lot of teenaged angst, this pop anthem became very popular when it came out, and even today.
Kayla Baptista is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.