NPR made a list of the 200 greatest songs by 21st century women+ recently. It was a fine list with good and necessary intentions but ultimately, I found it frustrating. Some of the voters’ devotion to country and folk music caused some ghastly inclusions (Pistol Annies??), awkward rankings (The Knife one spot behind Carrie Underwood???) and a few major artists completely left off (BEACH HOUSE!?!?!?). If the intention is to redefine the music canon to include voices across the whole gender spectrum, then let’s legitimize it and have publications with clear aesthetic guidelines take on these endeavors.
Since I wanted to voice my problems with the list, I felt I had to show I had a clear vision of how the list should look and make my own.
[I hope this does not come off as a cynical or pretentious affair on my end. Everyone knows all lists are inherently flawed, but some flaws are just hard to reconcile — especially when the intent is explicitly making a new canon. Making my own lists help me “recover.”]
200. Esperanza Spalding – “Earth to Heaven” (2016)
199. Mr. Twin Sister – “In the House of Yes” (2014)
198. Ravyn Lenae – “Sticky” (2017)
197. Jay Som – “Baybee” (2017)
196. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – “Existence in the Unfurling” (2016)
195. Makthaverskan – “Asleep” (2014)
194. Kelly Lee Owens ft. Jenny Hval – “Anxi.” (2017)
193. Selena Gomez – “Bad Liar” (2017)
192. Amber Mark – “Love Me Right” (2018)
191. Weyes Blood – “Do You Need My Love” (2016)
190. Nelly Furtado – “Maneater” (2006)
189. Julien Baker – “Appointments” (2017)
188. Snail Mail – “Heat Wave” (2018)
187. Jamila Woods ft. Noname – “VRY BLK” (2016)
186. Chromatics – “In the City” (2007)
185. G.L.O.S.S. – “G.L.O.S.S. (We’re From the Future)” (2016)
184. Goldfrapp – “Strict Machine” (2003)
183. Lower Dens – “Brains” (2012)
182. Zola Jesus – “Night” (2010)
181. Kehlani – “Undercover” (2017)
180. Angel Olsen – “Lights Out” (2014)
179. Hurray for the Riff Raff – “Pa’lante” (2017)
178. Jazmine Sullivan – “Let It Burn” (2015)
177. DeJ Loaf – “Try Me” (2014)
176. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Y Control” (2003)
175. Alvvays – “Archie, Marry Me” (2014)
174. Micachu & the Shapes – “Golden Phone” (2008)
173. Frankie Cosmos – “Young” (2015)
172. Ce’Cile – “Hot Like We” (2008)
171. Soccer Mommy – “Cool” (2018)
170. Lumidee – “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” (2003)
169. Tweet ft. Missy Elliott – “Oops (Oh My)” (2002)
168. SOPHIE – “Is It Cold in the Water?” (2018)
167. Paramore – “Hard Times” (2017)
166. Neko Case – “I Wish I Was the Moon” (2002)
165. Ibeyi ft. Kamasi Washington – “Deathless” (2017)
164. Kelela – “Rewind” (2015)
163. Waxahatchee – “Swan Dive” (2013)
162. Noname – “Yesterday” (2016)
161. Peaches – “Fuck the Pain Away” (2002)
160. Sally Shapiro – “I’ll Be By Your Side” (2006)
159. Jessie Ware – ‘Tough Love” (2014)
158. Lindstrøm & Christabelle – “Lovesick” (2010)
157. Crystal Castles – “Untrust Us” (2008)
156. Janelle Monáe – “Cold War” (2010)
155. Khia – “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” (2002)
154. SOPHIE – “Lemonade” (2014)
153. Broadcast – “Pendulum” (2003)
152. Kelela ft. Kingdom – “Bank Head” (2013)
151. Grouper – “Holding” (2014)
150. KING – “The Greatest” (2016)
149. Sugababes – “Overload” (2000)
148. Jessy Lanza – “It Means I Love You” (2016)
147. Let’s Eat Grandma – “Falling Into Me” (2018)
146. U.S. Girls – “Rosebud” (2018)
145. Savages – “Husbands” (2012)
144. Young M.A. – “OOOUUU” (2016)
143. Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up” (2017)
142. Rachel Stevens – “Some Girls” (2003)
141. Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” (2009)
140. Jlin – “Nyakinyua Rise” (2017)
139. Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsy Collins – “After the Storm” (2018)
138. Jorja Smith – “On My Mind” (2017)
137. St. Vincent – “Digital Witness” (2014)
136. Yaeji – “raingurl” (2017)
135. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Cut to the Feeling” (2017)
134. Nilüfer Yanya – “Baby Luv” (2017)
133. Lana Del Rey – “Love” (2017)
132. Charlotte Gainsbourg – “Deadly Valentine” (2017)
131. Santigold – “Lights Out” (2008)
130. CHVRCHES – “The Mother We Share” (2012)
129. Alessia Cara – “Here” (2014)
128. Alicia Keys – “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” (2009)
127. Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – “Problem” (2014)
126. Nicki Minaj – “Come on a Cone” (2012)
125. ANOHNI – “4 Degrees” (2015)
124. Charli XCX – “Boom Clap” (2014)
123. Big Thief – “Mythological Beauty” (2017)
122. HAIM – “Falling” (2013)
121. Sharon Van Etten – “Your Love is Killing Me” (2014)
120. Chairlift – “I Belong in Your Arms” (2012)
119. The Fiery Furnaces – “Here Comes the Summer” (2005)
118. Purity Ring – “Fineshrine” (2012)
117. QT – “Hey QT” (2014)
116. Robyn – “Be Mine!” (2005)
115. Best Coast – “When I’m With You” (2010)
114. Beach House – “Space Song” (2015)
113. St. Vincent – “New York” (2017)
112. Against Me! – “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” (2014)
111. Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (2012)
110. Ex Hex – “Don’t Wanna Lose” (2014)
109. Girls Aloud – “Biology” (2005)
108. Florence + the Machine – “Shake It Out” (2011)
107. Kacey Musgraves – “High Horse” (2018)
106. CSS – “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above” (2006)
105. Gossip – “Standing in the Way of Control” (2006)
104. Jenny Hval – “Conceptual Romance” (2016)
103. Joanna Newsom – “Peach, Plum, Pear” (2004)
102. Jessie Ware – “If You’re Never Gonna Move”/”110%” (2012)
101. Kelela – “Frontline” (2017)
100. Lil Mama – “Lip Gloss” (2007)
99. Kreayshawn – “Gucci Gucci” (2011)
98. Grimes – “Kill v. Maim” (2015)
97. SZA – “The Weekend” (2017)
96. Lily Allen – “Smile” (2006)
95. Sky Ferreira – “I Blame Myself” (2013)
94. Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX – “I Love It” (2012)
93. Julia Holter – “Feel You” (2015)
92. Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder” (2014)
91. The Pipettes – “Pull Shapes” (2006)
90. Beyoncé – “Partition” (2013)
89. Miley Cyrus – “We Can’t Stop” (2013)
88. Ladytron – “Destroy Everything You Touch” (2005)
87. FKA Twigs – “Water Me” (2013)
86. Ciara ft. Ludacris – “Oh” (2005)
85. Solange ft. Sampha – “Don’t Touch My Hair” (2016)
84. Fever Ray – “If I Had a Heart” (2009)
83. Feist – “1234” (2007)
82. Tinashe ft. ScHoolboy Q – “2 On” (2014)
81. The Knife – “Full of Fire” (2013)
80. Grouper – “Heavy Water / I’d Rather Be Sleeping” (2008)
79. Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry on Their Own” (2006)
78. HAIM – “The Wire” (2013)
77. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls” (2012)
76. Taylor Swift – “Style” (2014)
75. Broadcast – “Come On, Let’s Go” (2000)
74. Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill” (2010)
73. Fever Ray – “IDK About You” (2017)
72. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me” (2015)
71. Tune-Yards – “Powa” (2011)
70. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Heads Will Roll” (2009)
69. Grimes – “REALiTi (demo)” (2015)
68. Courtney Barnett – “Avant Gardener” (2013)
67. Life Without Buildings – “The Leanover” (2001)
66. Crystal Castles – “Celestica” (2010)
65. Mitski – “Your Best American Girl” (2016)
64. Chromatics – “Kill For Love” (2012)
63. Camera Obscura – “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” (2006)
62. Feist – “Mushaboom” (2004)
61. Beach House – “Dive” (2018)
60. Nicki Minaj ft. 2 Chainz – “Beez in the Trap” (2012)
59. Bat for Lashes – “Laura” (2012)
58. Joanna Newsom – “Good Intentions Paving Company” (2010)
57. SOPHIE – “BIPP” (2013)
56. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Zero” (2009)
55. Grimes – “Genesis” (2012)
54. Kelis – “Milkshake” (2003)
53. Dirty Projectors – “Stillness is the Move” (2009)
52. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep” (2011)
51. The New Pornographers – “Letter from an Occupant” (2000)
50. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston” (2015)
49. Santigold – “L.E.S. Artistes” (2008)
48. Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” (2004)
47. Amadou & Mariam – “Sabali” (2008)
46. Estelle ft. Kanye West – “American Boy” (2007)
45. Lana Del Rey – “Video Games” (2011)
44. Lorde – “Green Light” (2017)
43. The Knife – “Silent Shout” (2006)
42. Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood” (2015)
41. Beyoncé ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – “***Flawless” (2013)
40. Beach House – “Myth” (2012)
39. EMA – “California” (2011)
38. Ciara – “Body Party” (2013)
37. Bat for Lashes – “Daniel” (2009)
36. Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money” (2015)
35. St. Vincent – “Cruel” (2011)
34. Charli XCX – “Boys” (2017)
33. Beyoncé – “Countdown” (2011)
32. Lorde – “Royals” (2013)
31. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – “Umbrella” (2007)
30. Angel Olsen – “Shut Up Kiss Me” (2016)
29. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone” (2004)
28. M.I.A. – “Galang” (2003)
27. Katy Perry – “Teenage Dream” (2010)
26. Robyn ft. Kleerup – “With Every Heartbeat” (2007)
25. Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – “We Found Love” (2011)
24. ANOHNI – “Drone Bomb Me” (2016)
23. Arcade Fire – “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” (2010)
22. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe” (2012)
21. Robyn – “Call Your Girlfriend” (2010)
20. Amerie – “1 Thing” (2005)
19. Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass” (2011)
18. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow” (2017)
17. Annie – “Heartbeat” (2004)
16. SZA ft. Travis Scott – “Love Galore” (2017)
15. Beyoncé – “Formation” (2016)
14. Solange – “Losing You” (2012)
13. Beach House – “Zebra” (2010)
12. Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work” (2016)
11. Sky Ferreira – “Everything is Embarrassing” (2012)
10. Antony and the Johnsons – “Hope There’s Someone” (2005)
9. Solange – “Cranes in the Sky” (2016)
8. Robyn – “Dancing on My Own” (2010)
7. FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (2014)
6. Grimes – “Oblivion” (2012)
5. The Knife – “Heartbeats” (2002)
4. Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z – “Crazy in Love” (2003)
3. Azealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay – “212” (2011)
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps” (2003)
1. M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” (2007)
Bitter Melodies 