[Songs Portraying Strong Women] Positive Tracks to Listen to When You’re Feeling Discouraged
When you hear the phrase “a strong woman,” what kind of woman do you picture?
“A person with an inner core,” “someone who isn’t easily intimidated,” “someone who doesn’t dwell on the past”…
There are many ways to interpret what it means to be strong.
In this article, we’ll introduce songs that portray strong women from a variety of perspectives.
If you’re thinking, “I want to move on from heartbreak,” “I want to follow the path I believe in,” “I want to be myself,” or “Who am I, really?”, please read to the end.
You’re sure to find your ideal image of a “strong woman.”
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[Songs that depict strong women] Positive tracks to listen to when you feel like giving up (31–40)
There is no tomorrow for the girls.Chatto Monchī
A Chatmonchy number that hits hard right from the start of the song.
The title “There Is No Tomorrow for Girls” is striking too—it instantly makes you think, “What does that mean?” and want to listen! After breaking up with a lover, it feels like you’ve thrown away your ‘girl’ self.
But at the same time, there’s a part of you that feels refreshed by the breakup.
Even if you can’t cleanly move on right away, when you notice that lighter feeling in yourself, it gives you the courage to think, “Maybe I can start walking forward again.” Despite the title saying there’s no tomorrow, it’s as if the song is secretly telling you that there actually is a tomorrow beyond this.
That feels like a hint for becoming a stronger woman.
The strong and fleeting onesCocco
This is the second major-label single by Cocco, a singer-songwriter from Okinawa who is also active as an actress and picture book author.
The song conveys a message that people can’t help but change, and that no matter how sad things get, we can overcome them and keep moving forward with strength.
That message is sung over a guitar riff in the intro that evokes a sense of floating and expansiveness, and a reggae rhythm that conjures images of the sea and southern islands.
While the combination of a strong message and a breezy, refreshing sound might seem contradictory, it’s precisely the poppy, catchy arrangement that allows the message to resonate naturally and makes the track a compelling expression of women’s strength.
Movin’ on without youUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada’s second single, “Movin’ on without you,” released in 1999.
After shocking listeners with her debut single “Automatic,” the second single once again surprised people—the sophistication of the lyrics was overwhelming for someone who was only 15.
You can also feel the era in the fact that the device mentioned in the lyrics isn’t a cellphone.
The song conveys a woman’s intuition noticing his change of heart and infidelity, the bittersweet resolve to let go, and the way she puts on a front of being a strong woman toward him—an aspect that makes your chest tighten even more.
Tears aren’t just for show.Nakamori Akina
Speaking of Akina Nakamori, it’s no exaggeration to call her a representative idol of the 1980s, and she’s also known for turning every song she released into a hit.
This song, “Kazarijanai no yo Namida wa” (“Tears Aren’t Just for Show”), is a single released in 1984, written and composed by Yosui Inoue.
Nakamori was 19 at the time, and it’s striking how masterfully she delivers such mature lyrics.
People often say “tears are a woman’s weapon,” but this song expresses the very opposite—a strong woman who refuses to use tears as her trump card.
VALENTIBoA
A cool and stylish track by BoA, a female artist from South Korea.
The sharp choreography in the music video is really impressive too! The title “VALENTI,” meaning “brave” or “resolute” in Italian, perfectly matches the song’s portrayal of a courageous woman.
You can feel her strong will to seize her dream called love—going all in for a love that suddenly fell into her life and pulling the man along with her momentum.
Rather than a woman who needs protecting, the song depicts an incredibly cool woman who will protect herself—and if anything, protect him too.
Songs Portraying Strong Women: Positive Tracks to Listen to When You're About to Lose Heart (41–50)
Girls don’t cry.katahira rina
Rina Katahira’s “Girls Don’t Cry” sings about a love you just can’t stop—those uncontrollable feelings.
Released as a single in 2014, it’s one of her signature songs and a popular number among love songs.
Even though you know you’ll get hurt, even though you kind of know it won’t work out, you still end up falling for him.
In the end, isn’t it strange to be made to cry by the very person who hurt you? It’s a breakup song that somehow lifts you up with that forward-looking feeling.
A track that makes you shed a few tears, yet leaves you stronger and positive.
Goodbye, Summer BoyMatsuura Aya
Aya Matsuura is one of the iconic idols of the 2000s.
She has many upbeat, quintessentially idol-like songs, and for those whose youth was in that era, her music likely feels nostalgic and energizing.
Her song “GOOD BYE Natsuo” is her 10th single, released in 2003.
It’s a track that sings about a so-called “summer fling,” with a summery feel in both its digital sound and lyrics.
You can also sense a certain “strength” in the way she rolls her Rs when she sings.