Beyoncé Knowles at the 2014 VMA Awards. Image courtesy of TheTab.com
Girl Power Anthems to Beat the Winter Blues
Written by: Natalie Lim
It is now late October, which means that here in the BC/Yukon region, we've basically skipped straight over fall and plunged head-first into winter. It won't stop raining, the skies are grey, and stepping outside without a jacket can be hazardous to your health. Meanwhile, in the WWEST office, we're hard at work developing a Sound Engineering Desktop Application that will show girls what it's like to play with and manipulate music, and hopefully spark an interest in computer science as a future career. A fundamental part of the app is actually having music to manipulate, and we had a lot of fun deciding on a set of songs that would be appropriate to use. They're so good that we thought we'd share them (plus a couple of our other favourites) with you! The winter blues may set in early in Canada, but never fear - here's a special playlist that is encouraging, empowering, and will help you survive until next spring.
Because they do. This is the perfect song to get you excited about your next project, whether it's an upcoming school paper or a new business venture. In a recent interview with Elle magazine, Beyonce explained her usage of the word "feminism" in her music and on her tours: "I'm not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it's very simple. It's someone who believes in equal rights for men and women...We need men and women to understand the double standards that still exist in this world, and we need to have a real conversation so we can begin to make changes". My persuasion can build a nation, indeed.
Attention! This song from British girl group Little Mix calls us all to action, whether we prefer to rock killer heels, sneakers, pumps, or lace up our combat boots. It's a good reminder that there's a lot of work to be done in terms of gender equality, and coming together as a group is by far the best way to make a difference.
Confidence is a trait that is usually not encouraged in girls or in the workplace - all too often, we see women who act assertively at their jobs being characterized as "bossy" or "too emotional". Persistent stereotypes about the way that women are expected to look and act at work and at home can be incredibly harmful, especially when younger girls internalize them. That brings us to this pop-rock anthem, which asks the question: What's wrong with being confident? Absolutely nothing. Embrace who you are, and live it out loud - we all want to see you shine.
Most of us know this song from the soundtrack of Legally Blonde (which, by the way, you should rewatch if you haven't recently, because it's still so, so good). It's perfect for getting pumped up before an exam, during a work-out, or whenever you need some extra spring in your step. Remember: you will be everything you want to be. Don't let anything get in your way.
"Try Everything" comes from Disney's 2016 hit Zootopia, a family-friendly movie that managed to deal with highly topical social issues such as tolerance and racial tensions, while simultaneously featuring a bunch of terrible animal pun names and this ridiculously catchy Shakira song. It's been proven that girls who are exposed to STEM subjects at a young age are more likely to pursue them as they grow up, but really, it doesn't matter how old you are. Don't let yourself be afraid of failure and miss out on something amazing - go and try everything!
This song may be from a bygone era of Disney shows, but that doesn't make its message any less relevant. Some days, we just need to be reminded that girl power is the best kind of power. Throw your hands up if you know that you're a star! I hope your hand is up right now. Is it? Good.
One of the best songs to sing in the shower and/or dance around your house to, "Brave" reminds us all to say what we want to say, when we want to say it. History is full of incredible women who were brave, made hard choices, and wouldn't let anybody stop them from trying to change the world. You are a living legacy of that history. Let the words fall out, and watch women across the globe come around to support you, 100% of the way.