By Lily Smith (@lilysmithwrites_98)
Confidence – self-assurance, self-belief, self-love. It’s a quality we all want, but sometimes find hard to possess. You might assume confidence is this mystical thing that you have to be born with. That confidence can only be found in the loudest person in the room. That confidence isn’t in you. But confidence is in everyone; sometimes it just needs a little encouragement.
This is where the Bad Bitch Playlist comes in.
80% of us listen to music every single day. Either to get us going for the day ahead, for a little boogie or simply because we hate silence - as Rhianna said, “Please don’t stop the music” and if you’re anything like me, the music never stops. Why clean the house in silence when you can blast out some Bad Bitch anthems?
So what is a Bad Bitch? And how can you create a playlist to make you feel like one?
A Bad Bitch is a confident, independent, strong woman… and she’s pretty fit too.
She is you.
The Bad Bitch playlist is all about the hype. This isn’t the time for Drivers License (although it is a tune). We need stunning women singing about bad boys and breaking their hearts. Women who are confident and sassy - all beautifully belted over upbeat music.
The Bad Bitch playlist contains the kind of music that makes you want to get up and shake that sexy body of yours. It’s the kind of music that you’d put on before that first big night out [see you on June 21st ladies]. It’s the kind of music you blare in your headphones as you head into that job interview for the job you really want. It’s the kind of music that makes you feel confident, powered and like you can take on the world.
And Demi’s right: “What’s wrong with being confident?”
For many of us music is unequivocally connected to our emotions. If you’ve been drunk belting out Lewis Capaldi, you’ll know what I mean. Psychologist Anita Clark believes this is because “listening to music releases endorphins, especially beta-endorphins, the body’s natural opioid. Beta-endorphins act as intermediaries between music and the sensations or thrills some people get from listening to music.”
Music is also a huge source of motivation. In fact, research by Kellogg’s School of Management found that listening to high-power music before a job interview increased feelings of power and determination by 34%. While listening to pop music could increase performance productivity by 58%.
Good news if you’re a Taylor Swift fan like me.
So what is it about these songs that give us such a boost? For me, it’s the lyrics. Have you never wanted to scream at an ex or even your bestie’s ex “You’re dirty, disgusting … A,B,C,D,E, F.U” – well, pop on Little Mix and you can. And then stick on Saweetie’s Best Friend and let her know “best friend, you the baddest and you know it”.
These lyrics are the epitome of women being confident and empowered. These songs give us the chance to say what we wish we could; but with none of the consequences. Especially when it comes to break up songs – I don’t think all of us could get away with saying “I don’t fuck communal dick” but Mae Muller will say it for us.
Saweetie along with Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Mae Muller and Cardi B are all stunning female artists you might find on mine and many other Bad Bitch playlists. (Mine is here if you want to give it a go).
Even Lizzo herself has her own Bad Bitch Playlist with everything from Nicki Minaj to Missy Elliot. And of course, Lizzo isn’t afraid to put her own songs on there. After all, she is “100% that Bitch”.
Plus our very own Claudia has created the Mouthy Moods playlist for all of us lovelies to listen to when we’re feeling ourselves.
If none of those take your fancy, create your own. Your Bad Bitch playlist is there to hype you up. Whether it’s Billie Eilish or Shaina Twain, Ashnikko or Halsey, Palmona Faith or RAYE (yes, all these fabulous women are on mine). Let your Bad Bitch playlist represent you. Get those endorphins going and be the Bad Bitch you know you are.