Top 10 Best Girl Power Broadway Songs

MsMojo

These girl power Broadway songs brought down the house. For this list, we’ll be looking at musical numbers that best celebrate female independence, confidence, and strength.

Transcript

00:00 "1986, the first female American cast in history.

00:06 Suddenly I'm in the cockpit.

00:10 Suddenly I've got my wings."

00:14 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 best girl power

00:18 songs from Broadway musicals.

00:20 For this list, we'll be looking at musical numbers that best celebrate female independence,

00:25 confidence, and strength.

00:26 "Not too stretchy, I'll step out brave to see if you're crying.

00:31 Such a cry."

00:34 Number 10.

00:35 "I'd Rather Be Me."

00:36 "Mean Girls."

00:37 "So raise your right finger and solemnly swear, whatever they say about me, I don't care."

00:51 The musical adaptation of the 2004 high school movie includes an empowering number performed

00:55 by Janis in the second act.

00:57 Following the Burn Book debacle, the rebellious student takes a stand in front of her peers.

01:02 She commits to being true to herself, even when it doesn't please others.

01:06 "So here's my right finger, is how girls should behave.

01:13 Sometimes what's meant to break you makes you brave."

01:20 Her message inspires many of the other girls at the assembly, who end up joining Janis

01:25 in song.

01:26 The tune is great both in the context of the show as well as on its own.

01:29 With its uplifting melody and assertive lyrics, listening to it always gives us a boost of

01:34 confidence.

01:35 "I'd rather be me than be with you."

01:49 Number 9.

01:50 Rose's Turn - Gypsy

01:51 "Some people got it and make it pay.

01:52 Some people can't even give it away.

01:53 This people's got it and this people's bringing it around."

02:05 This 11 o'clock number from a beloved mid-century book musical goes hard.

02:10 It comes at a turning point for the lead character, Rose.

02:12 Having grown apart from both of her children, the show mom is finally able to admit her

02:17 own desire for the spotlight.

02:19 The song is full of spunk, with a constantly changing melody, tempo and volume.

02:23 "Well someone tell me when is it my turn.

02:26 Don't I get a dream for myself.

02:28 Starting now it's gonna be my turn.

02:30 Gangway will get off of my runway.

02:32 Starting now I've had a thousand."

02:35 It expresses a myriad of emotions, from frustration to confidence to desire.

02:39 Many iconic female actresses have performed the body tune, including Bette Midler, Patti

02:44 LuPone and Bernadette Peters.

02:47 Although we may not sound as good, singing along makes us feel like a powerhouse Broadway

02:51 star.

03:02 8.The Schuyler Sisters - Hamilton

03:15 Lin-Manuel Miranda's famous show based on the life of a founding father includes a song

03:19 reminiscent of Destiny's Child and TLC.

03:22 It introduces sisters Angelica, Eliza and Peggy Schuyler as they explore downtown Manhattan,

03:27 singing in three-part harmony.

03:29 The women take control of the stage, supported by a group of backup singers and dancers.

03:34 Angelica in particular exudes girl power, shutting down Aaron Burr and calling out Thomas

03:39 Jefferson.

03:42 Overall, the number is full of excitement and confidence.

03:57 An empowering solo's always great, but girl groups are on another level.

04:06 7.Take Me or Leave Me - Rent

04:27 Performed by Maureen and Joanne in the second act of Jonathan Larson's beloved show, this

04:31 duet is a favorite among Broadway fans.

04:34 In it, the on-again, off-again couple get into an argument before breaking up once more.

04:54 They call in to question each other's personality traits while defending their own.

04:59 Maureen embraces her charisma, while Joanne takes pride in her responsible nature.

05:12 Although the two women are in conflict, the song feels generally empowering as the women

05:17 articulate what they like about themselves, which is something we could all benefit from

05:21 doing now and again.

05:32 6.Don't Rain on My Parade - Funny Girl

05:49 Act One of the biographical musical closes with an empowered solo from the lead character

05:53 Fanny Bryce.

05:54 Determined to live life to the fullest, she refuses to let anybody or anything get in

05:59 her way.

06:00 Belting is a staple of girl power songs, and this tune is built for it.

06:15 Of course, we can't talk about Funny Girl without mentioning Barbara Streisand, who

06:19 originated the role of Fanny on stage and screen.

06:33 She's been deemed the "Queen of the Divas," and her vocal style continues to influence

06:37 contemporary music.

06:38 Female icons Mariah Carey, Adele, and Whitney Houston are just a few of the vocalists who

06:44 have been compared to the Broadway star.

06:54 5.Cell Block Tango - Chicago

07:14 Five of the six merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail find themselves behind bars after

07:19 they decide to take extreme action against the men in their lives.

07:22 While we don't condone their choices, we love the independence, confidence, and strength

07:27 demonstrated by the women in this number.

07:39 The interlaced spoken bits performed by each of them are full of sass, and there's plenty

07:43 of dancing to accompany the singing.

07:59 The all-female chorus gives serious girl group vibes, and we're here for it.

08:04 This is the perfect song to play when we're not in the mood to be messed with.

08:21 4.And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going - Dreamgirls

08:35 Usually girl power embraces female independence, but we think this impassioned torch song embodies

08:40 many of its other important aspects.

08:42 It demonstrates female determination and desire.

08:56 The number shows Effie fighting to stay in her romantic relationship with music manager

09:00 Curtis.

09:01 Facing his decision to break up, she is at once devoted to and defiant of him.

09:06 The tune is traditionally sung by a woman with incredible vocal skill.

09:18 It was performed by Jennifer Holliday in the original Broadway production, and later by

09:22 Jennifer Hudson in the musical film.

09:25 With plenty of vocalizations and opportunities for improvisation, it's a show-stopping and

09:30 empowering solo.

09:52 3.Defying Gravity - Wicked

10:06 For Elphaba, a challenging moment becomes a transformative one when she finds empowerment

10:10 within herself.

10:12 Faced with adversity, the misunderstood woman literally rises above the rest of the Emerald

10:17 City and decides to try things her own way.

10:31 While the rest of the city condemns the so-called Wicked Witch, Glinda offers her support, vocally

10:36 and emotionally.

10:44 The end of the song is especially powerful, full of belted and sustained notes.

10:49 Going into intermission, this Act 1 closers message is inspiring and hopeful.

10:54 Singing along makes us feel as powerful as the Wicked Witch of the West herself.

11:07 2.6.6 - Tutor History - Get Down and I Don't Need Your Love

11:25 It was hard to pick just a single tune from this contemporary retelling of Tutor History.

11:29 The empowering songs "Get Down" and "I Don't Need Your Love," led by Anne of Cleves and

11:34 Catherine Parr respectively, were strong contenders.

11:41 However, in the end, we picked a number that features the six wives singing in tandem.

11:57 In the show's finale, the women rewrite their collective histories to be better than the

12:01 ones they got.

12:14 They imagine becoming free of Henry VIII's oppressive control and forming a band.

12:31 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

12:35 Watch What Happens - Newsies - Catherine psychs herself up to take a chance in her career.

12:43 Right Hand Man - Something Rotten - Bea knows she's capable of giving more in her marriage.

13:04 I'm Here - The Color Purple - This song is a reminder to find love and satisfaction within

13:20 ourselves.

13:36 Big Blonde and Beautiful - Hairspray - Motormouth Maybel gives a lesson on body positivity and

13:41 self-love.

13:56 The Lioness Hunt - The Lion King - There's nothing quite as empowered as a pride of lionesses

14:01 on the hunt.

14:24, so much better, Legally Blonde.

14:38 This Act 1 finale celebrates Elle's academic and professional achievements.

14:42 It also serves as a turning point for her character.

14:45 After months of non-stop studying, the law student is rewarded when she sees her name

14:50 on the list for Callahan's internship.

15:03 Having set out for Harvard in order to get a guy, she finds reaping the benefits of her

15:07 hard work to be even more satisfying.

15:10 Emmett, the Greek Chorus, and Elle's mom via cell phone demonstrate their support by celebrating

15:15 with her.

15:21 The song radiates the new intern's joy and excitement.

15:25 She takes pride in her own accomplishments, and it's a reminder that we should do the

15:28 same with ours.

15:41 Do you agree with our picks?

15:43 Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo.

15:46 And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

15:50 -

15:56 (upbeat music)

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