Snobs may try to marginalize pop music precisely because of its mainstream appeal, but the fact is that there are few purer joys than singing a well-crafted pop song with gleeful abandon at the top of your lungs. And the artists delivering these songs are some of the most talented vocalists, dancers and all around entertainers in history. While we have eternal love for Hanson, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and the like, because so many of these pop songs have been delivered to us by women — who for all intents and purposes form the backbone of most eternal pop music — we here celebrate the top 20 pop songs in history by female artists.

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Whether you're looking for some encouragement or just need to be reminded of the strong and powerful woman you are, there are tons of awesome songs out there to choose from for any situation. Here are some of the best girl power songs EVER Taylor Swift shines a big light on the double standards between men and women in this song from her album Lover. Most empowering lyric: "A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do". For anyone feeling stuck in the gutter, Kelly helps us remember that weathering life's biggest storms only make us stronger. The rap at the end of this song is everything! It's a rallying cry, and a mantra rolled into one. Most empowering lyric: "She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel". Most empowering lyric: "When did you get too comfortable? Cardi revealed that she wrote this song at a time when she was feeling herself , and you can totally tell.
Some of the most powerful songs—electrifying hits, moving ballads, or rebellious anthems—have come from women. The artists here celebrate their womanhood and what makes them different, inspiring us to do the same. Whether it's Women's Month or any month, treat yourself to a confidence boost with these empowering melodies. This is an obvious choice. Queen Bey's powerful, high-energy anthem is everything, from a crowd favorite to a straight-up battle cry. Buy Song.