Let's face it: There will always be days you wake up with little confidence, burn the toast, spill your coffee, and bang your knee getting out of the shower. We could all use a musical pick-me-up in these times, so here's a list of songs guaranteed to turn your bad hair day into a fearsome rocker coif so you can kick adversity's ass.
1) "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill
Let's start here, because it's just so perfect to start your day with. If you're having a lapse in confidence, give this a spin and let O.G. Riot Grrrl Kathleen Hanna build you up as you lace up your Doc Martens and make like it's 1993. This song is the original Riot Grrrl Anthem, perfect for putting on something spiky and pink. Go out and kick some ass, woman.
2) "Baptized by Fire" by Spinnerette
After going through a messy divorce from fellow rocker Tim Armstrong and the dissolution of her punk band The Distillers, Brody Dalle penned this song about accepting the disasters in your life and recreating yourself in the conflagration. It's only after destruction that we can be reborn, so help yourself turn a crisis into an opportunity and blast this track for inspiration.
3) "Girl Anachronism" by The Dresden Dolls
Hello, my fellow misfits. This song is for you, for any day you feel like you just don't fit into society's norms, or conform to someone else's idea of you, or even belong in your own time. It's time to embrace your weirdness, your awkwardness, your imperfectness. This punk Cabaret song fully accepts itself for what it is and dials up the zaniness to 11.
4) "50 Ft. Queenie" by PJ Harvey
This track is for all the days you feel like your problems are insurmountable, weighing down your shoulders until you can barely walk. This song is basically a pep talk set to punk rock played at breakneck speed. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself growing bigger and bigger until you tower over all your problems.
5) "Sleep to Dream" by Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple has no time for your nonsense and she's not afraid to let you know it. For any day other peoples' hangups are dragging you down, the thumping beat of this song is enough to get your hips swaying so you can dance away your stresses. Don't worry about everyone else, you've got your own hell to raise.
6) "Army of Me" by Bjork
You are the only army you need. The driving synthesizer of this track is all the motivation you'll need to recognize yourself as the fearsome warrior you are and charge into battle. Bjork's growling war cry will light fire to your soul.
7) "sh*tlist" by L7
Have you ever been so angry you wrote scathing words in your notebook until the pencil wore down to a nub? L7 definitely have. Singer Donita Sparks' warbling shrieks of ire are the perfect catharsis for when all you want to do is scream into a pillow and punch the wall.
8) "Gold Dust Woman" by Hole
I could just as easily have picked the original version of this song by legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac, because Stevie Nicks will forever be a rock goddess. But it's hard not to get riled up by this grungy take on the classic track by 90s rock band Hole. Courtney Love's imperfect vocals are perfect for riding into whatever battle you might have ahead of you.
9) "When I Am Queen" by Jack Off Jill
Ladies, has society and all the suffering in the world got you down? Do you ever just wish you could take someone's pain away and make it so they never had to cry again? This song is for you. Because when you are queen, you'll have the power to make everything right.
10) "Supervixen" by Garbage
If I was ever granted superpowers, I would probably call myself Supervixen after this invigorating track. Shirley Manson is one of the sexiest frontwomen of all time and she projects her seductive power with a sassy boldness we could all use before stepping out to face the world. This song is my #1 cure for the Mondays.
