Songs for my sister- upbeat and woman-centered

December 19, 2008 1:42 PM

Looking for songs with a positive theme about sisters or female friendships for a cd I'm making for my sister's birthday. Also, she's going through a rough transition with a breakup, so other female-centered songs about positivity or independence would be wonderful.

Already have the current radio hit "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo and "So What" by Pink, but any genre/style to help fit either theme would be appreciated.

posted by potatopeople to media & arts (28 comments total)

Well, there's the classic post-break-up anthem, I Will Survive.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:48 PM on December 19, 2008

We Are Family by Sister Sledge.
posted by timeistight at 1:50 PM on December 19, 2008

Little Plastic Castles by Ani DiFranco. To me it captures that feeling of girl solidarity like almost no other song I've heard.
posted by pazazygeek at 1:53 PM on December 19, 2008

A few of my favorites:

Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves - Annie & Aretha
I Don't Care - Shakespear's Sister
Just Fine - Mary J. Blige
posted by gummi at 1:54 PM on December 19, 2008

We Are Family - Sister Sledge - is about a close group of sisters
Sisters Are Doing it For Themselves - Eurythmics & Arethea Franklin

And of course,

I am Woman - Helen Reddy
posted by nooneyouknow at 1:56 PM on December 19, 2008

"Independent Woman" Destiny's Child
"I'm Every Woman" (Get the Chaka Khan version. She does it best, IMHO.)
"Express Yourself," Salt -n- Pepa
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 2:15 PM on December 19, 2008

Golden by Jill Scott
posted by droplet at 2:18 PM on December 19, 2008

Alicia Keys - Superwoman
posted by bahama mama at 2:21 PM on December 19, 2008

"My Sister" by Julianna Hatfield
posted by foxinthesnow at 2:29 PM on December 19, 2008 [1 favorite]

"you gotta be" by des'ree.

sweet honey in the rock, "(women should be) a priority"
posted by rmd1023 at 2:34 PM on December 19, 2008

I Don't Cry Anymore- Catie Curtis
posted by kimdog at 2:50 PM on December 19, 2008

Depending on her sense of irony, Kitty Wells' "I gave my wedding dress away."
posted by fourcheesemac at 3:12 PM on December 19, 2008

Video by India Arie
posted by triggerfinger at 3:17 PM on December 19, 2008

Lauryn Hill's Everything is Everything
Pulp Glory Days
Liz Phair Help Me Mary
The Mountain Goats Woke Up New
posted by Sara Anne at 3:25 PM on December 19, 2008 [1 favorite]

Alive And Brilliant - Deborah Conway
Independence Day - Melanie C
posted by goshling at 3:35 PM on December 19, 2008

As Cool as I Am - Dar Williams
oddly enough, Mama's got a Girlfriend Now by Ben Harper
posted by mercredi at 4:00 PM on December 19, 2008

"I Still Believe in My Friends" by the Nields.

Also, my brother send me Smog's "Please Tell My Brother," and it really touched me. It's not specifically female-centered, but it's about family and might be a nice addition to your mix.
posted by bassjump at 4:04 PM on December 19, 2008

My Sister- Juliana Hatfield
Anchorage- Michelle Shocked
seconding As Cool As I Am.
posted by emd3737 at 4:07 PM on December 19, 2008

Break Up
Son of a Gun - Janet Jackson
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Believe - Cher
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
No Scrubs - TLC
Bust Your Windows - Jazmine Sullivan
Tyrone - Erykah Badu
What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
Hit the Road, Jack - Ray Charles
I love myself today - Bif Naked
Me, Myself, and I - Beyonce
Big Girl's Don't Cry - Fergie
I Don’t Need A Man - Pussy Cat Dolls


Independence/Empowerment
Ya Gotta Be - Des'ree
Cuz I Can - Pink
Single - Natasha Bedingfield
U.N.I.T.Y. - Queen Latifah
She Got Her Own - Ne-Yo
I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross
Survivor - Destiny’s Child
Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
Video - India Arie
This One's For the Girls - Martina MacBride
She Works Hard for the Money - Donna Summer
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Just A Girl - No Doubt
Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
Ladies First - Queen Latifah
Free Your Mind - En Vogue


Friends/Family
Count on Me - Whitney Houston and Ce Ce Winans
I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor & Many Others
Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Rihanna - Umbrella
That's What Friends Are For
I'll be There For You - Rembrants
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
posted by nooneyouknow at 4:46 PM on December 19, 2008

Maybe it's just a thing with my sister and me, but Sisters from the movie White Christmas.
posted by AV at 6:07 PM on December 19, 2008 [1 favorite]

"Soft Like Me" by Saint Etienne. Infectious upbeat silliness featuring British female guest rapper Wildflower.

"Little girls are made of everything nice
We pay the price
For wearing hearts on sleeves
I still believe
We hold the key
To the better way to be
With feminine energy."

Amanda Palmer's "Ampersand" for a darker mood.
posted by transona5 at 6:34 PM on December 19, 2008

Thirding "As Cool As I Am" - a really addictive song.
"Golly Sandra" by Eisley is a little bit melancholy but very sweet and pretty.


And in my opinion, "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago is the perfect break up song.
posted by SputnikSweetheart at 6:52 PM on December 19, 2008

The whole Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. Always did the trick for me.
posted by CwgrlUp at 6:58 PM on December 19, 2008

Ooh, You Are My Sister by Antony and the Johnsons.
posted by ludwig_van at 6:59 PM on December 19, 2008

"Little Plastic Castle" Ani Difranco
"32 Flavors" Ani Difranco
"Closer to Fine" Indigo Girls
"Loose Lips" Kimya Dawson
"Autumn and Me" Saving Jane
"One Girl Revolution" Saving Jane
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 8:18 PM on December 19, 2008

"Freed", "Behind Every Good Woman" Tracy Bonham
posted by MsElaineous at 3:51 AM on December 20, 2008

Anna Nalick - "Shine" (linked to a live version ... damn, what a voice!)
posted by jmnugent at 5:02 AM on December 20, 2008

My "Team [Friend's Name]" mix, after a particularly horrific cheating-involved breakup, included the following:

"Now That I'm Free" (Outlines feat. RZA)
"This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us" (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
"Seven Nation Army (Adam Freeland mix)" (White Stripes)
"Scratch Your Name" (Noisettes)
"Don't Stop Me Now" (Queen)
"Beautiful Days" (Fantastic Plastic Machine)
"Don't Rain on My Parade" (Barbra Streisand, from "Funny Girl")
"Sex Bomb (Peppermint Radio mix)" (Tom Jones and Mousse T.) -- sorry, not the greatest sound quality
"Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" (Tavares) -- the Cameron Diaz dance song in the first Charlie's Angels movie
"Both Sides Now" (Jason Falkner) -- this link is kind of a rough version

Also, I'm a sucker for "Climb Every Mountain" (I love me some Julie Andrews...) and my two favorite, though VERY different, versions, are either the Kiri te Kanawa with Mormon Tabernacle Choir version or the Junior Vasquez techno mix from the Welcome to Woop Woop soundtrack :)
posted by Madamina at 6:59 AM on December 20, 2008