Girl Groups
Hi Friends!
Hope you’re doing well. Welcome to the fifth edition of Music Mondays! In case you missed it, we started a new series on Prodigy Strats, a month ago called Music Mondays where we deep dive into a CD’s (Don’t know what that is? Look it up! They’re awesome!) worth of music in a specific category with analysis of the songs spanning different genres and eras! On 10/12 we explored Current Country Music, on 10/19 The Four Seasons, on 10/26 2000s Rap, on 11/2 Indigo Dream (Disco & Funk) and today, 11/9, Girl Groups! Start listening to the playlist below right now as you read this piece and hopefully you’ll come back to it and enjoy it over and over in the days that come.
Girl groups is the broad term for incredible groups of powerful women singing together. Girl group music typically features tight harmonies, catchy beats, and deep emotional resonance. Their music spans the gamut of topics and styles and songs gravitate toward awesome themes like female empowerment, self-reliance, self-love, resilience, boss energy, and survival. As you listen to the Spotify playlist and read what I like about each song, spanning over 60 years of iconic girl group energy, think about how these anthems echo the historical themes of the eras they were released in and how they’ve changed the landscape of how we think about music today.
Stop! In the Name of Love - The Supremes (1965)
“Stop! In the Name of Love” is an iconic girl group classic that features perhaps the most memorable dance gesture in girl group history: the hand on the hip and the other outstretched to indicate "stop"! For those unfamiliar, The Supremes featured Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard, and remain one of the most streamed girl groups of all time! This song is all about betrayal and heartbreak and the hope to save a relationship. Give it a listen. I like the simple melodies and powerful message.
We Are Family - Sister Sledge (1979)
“We Are Family” “I got all my sisters with me” is an amazing song about solidarity, friendship, and chosen family. Finding community is a challenge we all face in life and it often comes from those actually within our family and those we choose to be our family through our deep friendships. We all want a place to belong, and this lively bop gives us just that. This song has become an anthem for feminism, the LGBTQ+ community, and so many more groups over the years. Beautiful!
I’m So Excited - Pointer Sisters (1982)
“I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters is one of those songs that instantly puts me in a good mood. The second it starts, I want to turn it up and sing along, even if I don’t know every word. “I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it!” I love how tight the sister harmonies sound (there’s nothing like family harmony, trust me I know being in a very musical one) and the song is all about fun making the excitement feel contagious.
Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles (1986)
I like “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles because it’s a little weird, and hard not to move to. The beat pulls me in right away, and I always find myself singing along to the chorus. I like that it doesn’t take itself too seriously; it’s just a song I can put on and enjoy without overthinking it. It has a playful energy that makes even something boring, like cleaning my room, feel a little more entertaining. Did you know it was actually inspired by passengers struggling to balance themselves on a ferry boat deck? How fun is that! Definitely been there! The music video was also an awesome example of how music unites people across class, gender, race, you name it, enjoying the fun ferry walk together!
Wannabe - Spice Girls (1996)
The Spice Girls are the best-selling girl group of all-time whose iconic “Girl Power” manifesto is everything!! I like “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls because it’s upbeat, catchy, and makes me want to sing along as soon as it starts. It’s all about speaking your mind and saying what you want. This is definitely one of those songs that promote advocacy unlike any other. There’s something about the way Scary, Sporty, Baby, Ginger, and Posh Spice bounce off each other that makes it feel like a group of friends just having fun. I also love that it puts friendship first.
No Scrubs - TLC (1999)
I like “No Scrubs” by TLC because it’s catchy and confident and all about the singers knowing what they want and don’t want. The beat is laid-back, but it still makes me want to move and sing along, iconic of that late 90s R&B vibe. I love that it’s about knowing what you deserve and not settling for someone who doesn’t put in any effort.
Survivor - Destiny’s Child (2001)
I like “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child because it makes me feel more confident, especially when I’m having a rough day. I love how much attitude they bring to the song, and the chorus is one I can’t help singing along to. I would play it with my family when I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with my day. It’s about surviving positively, being resilient, growing from tough situations, and it’s presented in such an empowering way! It was hard to pick just one Destiny’s Child song for this blog but please deep dive into their incredible music. Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle are all incredible artists in their own right, and together they’re magic.
Don’t Cha - The Pussycat Dolls (2005)
I like “Don’t Cha” by The Pussycat Dolls because the beat pulls me in right away, and the chorus is hard not to sing along to. I love the playful attitude in the vocals. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it fun to listen to. Between the rhythm and the cheeky lyrics, it always makes me want to sing and dance. While you may only know Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, all the members of this group were fierce incredible dancers and singers who put on incredible shows. This particular track is extra fun with Busta Rhymes hyping the song up throughout.
Worth It - Fifth Harmony (2015)
I like “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony because the beat grabs my attention right away, and I love the attitude they bring to it. The chorus is so catchy that I end up singing it even after the song is over. I also like how bold and playful it feels; it makes me want to turn up the volume and dance without worrying about how I look. The whole song has a fun energy that puts me in a good mood. There's not a person on Earth who doesn't feel like they’re less than from time to time. This song is all about self-worth and breaking away from expectations, which I think is a message we can all resonate with.
DDU-DU DDU-DU - BLACKPINK (2018)
Blackpink spearheaded the female K-pop group movement! Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo are all phenomenal in their own right and together they’re dynamic, brilliant, and create an energy in their shows that is unmatched! “DDU-DU DDU-DU” is like a signature for the group, highlighting the fierce, powerful, savage “Black” aspect of the group and the pretty, sweet, and feminine “Pink” aspect. It also highlights authenticity and not being fake, a valuable lesson.
What is Love? - TWICE (2018)
I like “What Is Love?” by TWICE because it has such a bright, cheerful sound that puts me in a good mood. The chorus gets stuck in my head, and I love how playful their voices sound together. There’s something sweet about the song that makes me smile, even when I’m just listening on my own. TWICE is a HUGE girl group, with 9 members. It also reframes the love story narrative with one of excitedly awaiting love rather than focusing on the sadness of breakups or heartbreak. This song has passed 950 million views on YouTube and will surely cross a billion!
I AM - IVE (2023)
I like “I AM” by IVE because it feels big and exciting, especially when the chorus kicks in. I love how their voices build up throughout the song, making me want to turn the volume up and sing along. There’s something about it that makes me feel proud of who I am instead of worrying so much about what other people think. Plus, the high notes give me something to attempt, even if I’m nowhere close to hitting them.
Gabriela - KATSEYE (2025)
KATSEYE might be the most diverse girl group here, with all six members from different parts of the world: Philippines, India (shoutout Lara Rajagopalan, my fellow Tamil American homie), Switzerland, China, Venezuela, South Korea, and three of the six are American as well. I’m not going to lie, so many of my friends have this as their favorite song! It has over a billion streams and as a Spanish guitarist myself, I love hearing it in a top pop song! Content wise this song is like a modern take on Dolly’s “Jolene”, which clearly resonates with many.
Golden - HUNTR/X (2025)
K-Pop Demon Hunters might be the most influential movie of the 2020s thus far. “Golden” is the most iconic song from this film. If you haven’t watched the film or at least listened to the soundtrack, whatever your age, wherever you’re from, it will change your life! HUNTR/X is a fictional animated girl group featuring Rumi, Mira, and Zoey from the film, with real life singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, respectively. Through all the challenges of growing up and the inner struggle of coming into your own and self-realization, this song is everything, especially for those of us growing up and finding ourselves. Fun fact, besides singing this song countless times with the fam and friends, I’ve actually performed it on guitar too!
We hope you enjoyed this blog about girl groups. If there’s any songs you would add that we may have missed, let us know in the comments, and if there are other genres or eras of music you’d like me to explore, do the same by letting us know in the comments!
That’s all for today! See y’all next time! Sarang out.
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