Leave Your Man at Home: A Galentine's Day Playlist
From Diana Ross to Beyoncé, here arethe songs you need to celebrate.
Galentine's Day might've started as a bit in the Parks and Recreation universe, but Leslie Knope's holiday for celebrating her favorite women has since become an occasion for many ladies in real life.
Intended for celebration on February 13, Galentine's Day is best spent sharing the love with your closest gal pals—we recommend a potluck complete with wine and copious amounts of dessert—before sharing the following day with your sweetheart. If you're single this season, Galentine's Day and the following weekend also mark the perfect occasion to hit the town with your fellow bachelorettes, soaking in each other's companionship instead of wallowing over a lack of romance.
No matter how you're spending Galentine's Day, you need a playlist. We've compiled plenty of empowering hits—from classics and modern pop stars alike—to get your day (or night) started on the right foot.
Robyn, “Dancing On My Own”
Robyn's biggest hit to date is simply magical. It's a relatively simple dance-pop song that remains pretty level throughout, but "Dancing On My Own" still has a cathartic power that's made it the definitive sad banger. It's irresistible to sing along to, but the best part is you won't actually be on your own—you'll be dancing with your girls.
▲Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
There's a reason this song has stood the test of time for nearly forty years. The best part of it is that it never suggests women need to be in devoted relationships to feel content. In fact, Lauper detests the notion of finding your worth in a romance: "Some boys take a beautiful girl / And hide her away from the rest of the world / I want to be the one to walk in the sun."
▲TLC, “No Scrubs”
Long before the trend of empowerment anthems fully arose, TLC made it clear that they weren't willing to settle. "No Scrubs," arguably the original proclamation of "men ain't s--t," made sure women everywhere knew not to bother with men who dare approach them without looking their best.
▲Aretha Franklin, “Respect”
Aretha Franklin's signature hit was originally recorded by Otis Redding, though the two versions have a few key differences; Redding's depicts a working man desperate for appreciation from the woman he loves, while Franklin flipped the script and made it a powerful early feminist anthem. Better yet, it came to symbolize the unyielding power of the civil rights movement.
▲Lizzo, “Good as Hell”
Lizzo has become synonymous with empowering tunes, and "Good as Hell" is the definitive soundtrack to picking yourself up after a severed relationship. As the rapper tells us, a breakup is the perfect opportunity to work on ourselves and come out looking and feeling our best.
▲Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj, “Bang Bang”
"Bang Bang" was first written as a solo track for Ariana Grande. But she didn't like the original result, so producers tapped Jessie J and Nicki Minaj to each record a verse, revamping the song into a massive, girl-power banger (pun intended). The result is a dose of infectious female energy.
▲Ariana Grande, “thank u next”
If there were ever an award for getting over breakups, it should go to Ariana Grande. Plenty of pop stars still live in the shadows of their exes, but Grande reclaimed that narrative by name-dropping her former flames: Big Sean, dancer Ricky Alvarez, SNL namestay Pete Davidson, and—most heartbreaking of all—the late Mac Miller. "thank u, next" focused on the positives in all those losses, all culminating into maybe her greatest song to date.
▲Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Since emerging with her list of "New Rules" back in 2017, Dua Lipa has made plenty of songs to help us get over breakups. But maybe nothing is more infuriating in a breakup than when an ex is suddenly re-interested in you after seeing you out with someone else. "Don't Start Now" calls out the jealousy and the bulls--t.
▲Charli XCX, “Girls Night Out”
This one speaks for itself.
▲Rihanna, “Needed Me”
Rihanna has the power to make her casual flings fall in love with her, which is the energy we're trying to exude this year.
▲Diana Ross, “I’m Coming Out”
Diana Ross commissioned Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, founders of disco band Chic, to help write material for her tenth album. Rodgers was inspired to write "I'm Coming Out" after seeing multiple drag queens dressed as Ross from her days in the Supremes; it's since become vital to the ballroom community, serving as an ode to self-acceptance.
▲Chaka Khan, “I’m Every Woman”
There's nothing quite like the bond shared between women, and there's no song quite like Chaka Khan's massive debut single.
▲Beyoncé, “Formation”
Honestly, "Formation" would be perfect for pretty much any occasion. It repeats "I slay" so many times that, by the song's end, there's no way you won't believe you slay, either. It's another powerful example of women uniting, particularly black women.
▲Miley Cyrus, “G.N.O.”
Miley Cyrus had us telling boys off before we'd even held hands with one. For those who grew up in Disney Channel's golden era, "G.N.O." enforced the power of female friendships early on. Now with an added nostalgia factor, it's a can't-skip song for any Galentine's celebration.
▲Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Ladies, leave your man at home.
▲Follow the playlist on Spotify!
Galentine's Day