Now that we have more time our usual playlists have been overplayed, it is time for something new or maybe something old. We would enlighten you with our 50 favourite underrated songs from your favourite artists. Did you know about Katy Perry’s 80s dance song or Britney’s dance-gospel masterpiece? Exactly! Prepare yourself for a musical journey, hopefully resulting in you discovering new songs to dance to. Let your hair down and join us in dancing/sobbing to these underrated classics.

1. ‘Successful’ – Ariana Grande

Beginning our playlist is this badass anthem from reigning pop princess, Ariana Grande. The production is soft, dreamy and ever so slightly funk-inspired, much like the rest of her album sweetener. The lyrics exude confidence and quite simply make you feel like you are on top of the world.

2. ‘Break the Ice’ – Britney Spears

This underrated gem is one of my favourites and quite possibly the best Britney Spears song ever released. The song opens with the enticing words, “it’s been a while, I know I shouldn’t have kept you waiting, but I’m here now.” The song is an utter musical explosion of gospel singers, pounding drums and whining synths, all complemented by some of the strongest vocals Miss Spears has ever delivered, all at the peak of her “breakdown” in 2007. Pretty legendary if you ask me.

3. ‘Trouble for Me’ – Britney Spears

Femme Fatale was a pure electro-pop masterpiece and this track is merely a window into the album. The song is a whirlwind of roaring synths and Britney’s sassy yet despairing lyrics. Behind the seemingly simple message of Britney falling for a “bad guy” is actually the sad reality of Britney’s addiction. “Me and you were a disaster and you’re only a danger to me,” Britney sings. The masking of the deep lyrics behind an effortlessly intoxicating song makes it all the more captivating.

4. ‘Roulette’ – Katy Perry

‘Roulette’ is a total explosion of 80s pop in all its best forms. The playful lyrics complimented by the electrifying synths make the song gripping from start to finish. The song hits its peak at the chorus when the beat plunges into an unapologetically 80s dream. It’s hard to describe just how stimulating those first moments the chorus hits are but I am envious of anyone who gets to experience them for the first time. Katy wants us to “lose control” with us on this track and we are absolutely dancing our hearts out alongside her.

5. ‘Close Your Eyes’ – Kim Petras

Despite this song being taken off of Kim’s Halloween album, Turn off the Light, it does not discount it in the slightest from being perfection and a year-round bop – you may just need to ignore the plainly Halloween nature of the lyrics. Kim’s sassy speak-singing in the verses and powerhouse vocals in the chorus, listen in for those notes at the end, topped by the gripping beat make the song thoroughly enthralling from beginning to end, a perfect window into the artistry of Kim for any new listeners as well.

6. Venus – Lady Gaga

‘Venus’ is the absolute pinnacle of Gaga’s 2013 album, ARTPOP. The song is a curated compilation of Gaga yelling over various stirring and explosive, obdurately electronic dance-pop beats. Despite being promoted on various shows in 2013, it was never released as a single, which I think is a crime to pop music. The song is a musical ticket to another dimension, one with an abundance of dance, sex and joy.

7. Cherry – Lana Del Rey

Lana has a certain bewitching way about her that means she can so much as cough into a microphone and the world is enchanted, and ‘Cherry’ exemplifies this in the greatest possible way. The simple stripped back production is eerily alluring and manages to grip the listener from the moment Lana opens her mouth. The chorus is irresistibly catchy and embodies the essence that is Lana Del Rey, the sexy-sad playfulness is inescapable and almost certainly manages to pull you deep under the spell of the Mother Witch herself.

8. Genetics – Meghan Trainor (ft. The Pussycat Dolls)

A day will not go by where I do not try and convince someone to listen to this song. ‘Genetics’ is utter exuberant, bubble-gum pop perfection. The sassy lyrics are refreshing and empowering and the warping beat of the song echoes the unavoidably catchy nature of previous Meghan Trainor body empowerment anthem, ‘All about that Bass’. Meghan and The Pussycat Dolls sound incredible and the confidence this track exudes can’t help but make the listener feel slightly happier than they did before they pressed play.

9. Vulnerable – Selena Gomez

Radiating confidence and self-assurance, ‘Vulnerable’ ushers the listener into Selena’s mind, one of peaceful euphoria and soft, thoughtful contemplation. Selena’s voice is enticing and as the song descends into the chorus, as opposed to the habitual EDM beat familiar in Selena songs, it exchanges it for a smooth dreamy mix, shadowing her softly spoken words and completing the track entirely. Definitely one for playing around the pool, if/when we are eventually allowed out of our homes.

10. – I Did Something Bad – Taylor Swift

Reputation era Taylor Swift was possibly one of the most powerful, fearless and badass figures in recent pop history and criminally underrated deepcut, ‘I Did Something Bad’. As petty as it is catchy and endearing. it shows a (bitter and better) Taylor harnessing the heartbreak and hurt of her precious work and totally reimagining the outcome, giving the listener an apathetic psychopathic swift seemingly showing no remorse for her alleged wrongdoings. thunderous stomps of the beat, mixed with roaring synths pull the listener in and out of the song, the lyrics spill over each line as if a reptilian Taylor is hissing them out, entirely consuming you, chewing you up and spitting you out. leaving you reeling from an all bodily encompassing musical experience.

Words by Joe Gardner

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post 50 Underrated Songs That Will Lift Your Lockdown Mood appeared first on Voir Fashion.

All the women independent throw your hands up at me.’ When it comes to empowering anthems, we all agree they come in different moods and not all the songs serve the same purpose. We can also agree that the task of working from home is not always easy considering at home is where everything related to your relaxation lives. So, here is an independent woman’s work from home playlist we have put together to empower you while you work hard and secure the bag during this quarantine.

Empowering

This is the list of songs that are assured to empower you. Based on different situations. To remind you of the power in being who you are just in case you forgot.

Beyoncé-Run the world Girls

Nothing says empowering like Beyoncé. an anthem designed for all women for the different roles they play

Ariana Grande – God is a woman

Ariana Grande in this female anthem sings on the divinity of women and womanhood.

Lizzo-Juice

Mirror, mirror on the wall don’t say because I know I’m cute sings Lizzo. her brand of female boldness and confidence is portrayed wholly in this song

Destiny’s Child-Independent Women

Originally written for the Charlies angel movie this song has become a female anthem with the movie portraying badass women

Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink – Lady Marmalade

This song is the Collab we never saw coming and one we all needed set to a boudoir theme lady marmalade is set to empower everyone’s inner goddess

Sia-Unstoppable

This song was written by Sia herself and Christopher Braide the song referenced as an empowering stomping empowering jam has served as an anthem and also remade for Gillette 2016 ad campaign ‘Pretty isn’t Perfect’

Beyoncé -Formation

Written by Rae Sremmurd, Beyoncé and Asheton Hogan this song was cultural empowerment that also sings like a female empowerment anthem on hard work to achieve your goals.

100% That Bitch

Sometimes you don’t feel like that bitch and you need a reminder these songs will have you feeling yourself. But careful the journey to that bitch is not always polite so we urge you to listen at your discretion

Cardi B-Bodak Yellow

Bodak Yellow speaks on all the women who started from the bottom and now they are where they want to be much like the singer

Lizzo-truth hurts

‘Why men great till they got to be great’ this song is the ultimate break up song. The song reminds us of how we all are 100% that …. Well you get it

Meghan Trainor-Me Too

With a hypnotic beat, Meghan Trainor reminds us to value and love yourself for who you are and the life you live. So, turn the base up and ‘sing if I was you, id wanna be me too’

Nicki Minaj-Feeling myself

Feeling myself is all you need to know and as we said with Beyoncé you can never go wrong but when you add Nicki Minaj to that mix you have the ultimate female anthem

Beyoncé-Flawless

Another favourite, a remix with Nicki Minaj. Beyoncé’s flawless features words on feminism by Chimamanda Ngozi TED talk the song speaks on female beauty as a juxtaposition to female gender roles

Cardi B-MONEY

Cardi B has always unapologetically sung female ambition and sexuality and in ‘Money’ she sings on securing the bag no matter how you need to do it.

Oldie but a goodie

If you are looking for something more old school here are just a few oldies to remind you of female iconic singers and the empowering anthems the sang to give you a look at the olden days.

Cyndi Lauper- Girls just want to have fun

Cyndi Lauper song girls just want to have fun sings the importance of enjoying life and remaining independent

Helen Reddy-I am woman

Helen Reddy sings on what it is to be a woman based on the common female experiences so don’t forget you are strong, you are invincible, you are woman.

Queen Latifah- UNITY

“Who you callin’ a bitch?” Queen Latifah song UNITY stands up for her fellow women urging them to unite against the patriarchy.

Dolly Parton 9 to 5

This song was written for the comedy film 9 to 5. The song addresses the female working culture back in the ’80s when most women worked as secretaries.

Aretha Franklin Respect

The late Aretha Franklin has been spelling it all along. It’s what we want and what we need.

We may have missed some of your favourites, but this is our picks for the empowering anthems. So, turn up to these songs and dance freely in the comfort of your own home. We hope you feel empowered.

Words By Precious Njoki

Graphics By Katie Janes

The post The Independent Women’s Work from Home Playlist appeared first on Voir Fashion.