Get Empowered!

Music can bring you to a high

That elevates you to the sky

Music can have you shed a tear

With each note, each word so clear

Music allows you to live

Feel free and believe

Music is…empowerment to me.

`Music and writing has always been consistent in my life. I could always find a song or a lyric that would represent what I was feeling or thinking about at the time. It didn’t matter if it was sadness, lust, anger and greed-I could find a singer that felt the same and expressed it through song. One thing I’m learning and growing with each day is empowerment. I feel empowered every time I speak the words I love you to someone because I’m opening my heart to them. When I say it, it’s a big deal. I feel empowered when I dismiss something in my life that I know is bad for me. I feel lighter with each load of stress lifting off my shoulders. I feel empowered through my family, my writing and songs. I listen to certain songs that when I hear them, they make me smile and feel joy in my soul. Here is my list of songs of empowerment.

1^st is “U.N.I.T.Y.” by Queen Latifah, the jazzy hip hop jam that became an anthem for women. The lyrics are powerful that provokes an emotion that for awhile, women were not hearing a man calling them a bitch. Queen Latifah reminded us as women that we can be strong, beautiful and sincere without it being taken as too assertive, arrogant, or too outspoken. Queen Latifah has always demanded respect with a quiet whisper over a sultry jazz tune or a pounding hip hop beat. All Hail the Queen!

2^nd is “A Rose is still a Rose” by Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill. Up until then, I only knew of Aretha as the woman who asked for “R.E.S.P.E.CT”. That song in itself is a symbol of strength. I would like to think that “A Rose is still a Rose” is the next generation version of asking for respect. To be told that you don’t have to lay with this man and that man to get what you want is needed on the radio. Aretha Franklin is not only the Queen of Soul but she’s like every woman’s godmother who can sing. I remember telling my boyfriend at the time that “I’m still a flower and I hold the power”. That is forever imprinted on my soul.

3^rd is “Sista” by Rachelle Farrell. When I first heard this, it made me think of a something Tyra Banks. She said one thing that we as women do is instantly hate on another woman the second she walks into the room. It doesn’t matter if it’s her hair, her man, her clothes/shoes, money—it doesn’t matter, we can find something we don’t like and frown or say something about her. One thing I’ve done and try to do every day is not only uplift my people but another woman. I will admit that I don’t have many female friends for that reason-hating, but at the same time, I do try to praise a woman for taking care of her business. Whenever I meet other writers or poets, I can’t look at them for being more successful or have written more books than me. It just means I have to work harder but at the same time, be happy that someone else is living their dream. “Sista” is a great song for a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and best friend. This song is something to hear when you’re just hanging out with your girls and everything is cool.

4^th is “Me” by Tamia. This song is empowering in more ways than one. She’s talking about leaving a man because he’s not doing her right. She needs to take care of herself and only herself. This can heard when having problems at work, rollercoaster relationship with a boyfriend or best friend or even a family member. “And to choose between you two, boy you know If I have to choose, I choose me…” basically says there’s only one person that needs to be number one and empowerment begins with one first before the masses.

5^th is “Hate on Me” by Jill Scott. When I first heard this, I immediately started dancing and humming a long with Jill. I love her as an artist and the way she expresses herself through song. When this came out, she hadn’t released anything for a minute and that, in itself made it explode even more. She said “...You cannot hate on me cuz’ my mind is free”. That is very powerful statement for any woman, no matter how young and old. This song is fully of empowerment because it allows you to believe in yourself.

Every day, there is a woman watching a talk show, reading a book or talking to friends about self-esteem. When you need a song to fill you with empowerment and confidence, listen to the songs on this list and feel inspired. Feel beautiful, confident to song!