Ahead of International Women’s Day, the Front & Female team has picked the ultimate list of empowering anthems that honour womanhood in all its glory
Women’s achievements are cause for celebration, and female musicians know how to raise a toast to that through their music. Over the past years, numerous women from all around Asia have taken over the music industry, and have shared songs inspired by their everyday life, joys and hardships. While some of their art appeal to the general public, many experiences are specific to the female experience—and women empowerment is one of them.
From K-pop musicians Blackpink and Lim Kim to Hong Kong musician Janice Vidal and Chinese rapper Lexie Liu, Front & Female has selected ten songs by ten Asian women who sing about the multifaceted experiences and the inherent power of womanhood.
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1. ‘Likes’ by Yuna
Malaysian award-winning singer Yuna, who sings mostly in English and plays the guitar too, has built her reputation as a trailblazer in the music scene for over a decade. Having broken into the music scene as Pharrell William’s protégé in 2012, she has been long advocating for tolerance and better representation of Asian women in the global entertainment industry.
Yuna has released many songs touching on women empowerment over the years. But the seventh song in her album Red (2019), called Likes, really stands out for its unique take on the scrutiny that Muslim women constantly face. In it, she explores and denounces the judgment she faces as a Muslim woman who wears a veil and offers an alternative narrative that is often silenced by society.
Read more: Across the Yunaverse: Yuna on making music her way