Recently, a friend and I were discussing break-up songs, and it occurred to me that I’d written about this topic, once upon a time.  So, I looked it up, and it was among the first essays I posted when I launched ShulmanSays, in 2009.  What’s more, I still stand by every one of these, more than a decade later.  So, with some updated images and videos, here it is.  

I tend to use music as medicine; and when I’m feeling forlorn, there’s nothing better for my get-up and go than a fierce anthem, with a fabulous female vocal.  Mmmmm!  Probably has something to do with being bipolar, or some such nonsense.

Anyhoo – A lot of people have been asking me to do some posts about my take on pop culture.  I guess it makes sense. It’s my “thing” after all…  So, for those of you who asked – this one’s for you.

So, I was watching Ugly Betty (although I’ll be damned if there’s a connection) when I started putting together a Playlist [for anyone over 35, this is what we would’ve referred to back in the day as a “mixtape”] of songs that embody that feeling of pushing through, wiping off the grit, and saying “Ha!  Here I am!  Learn it!”

That said, here are a half-dozen of my favorite songs of empowerment, brought to you for no reason other than to feel good about yourself.  Enjoy!

6.  “The Boss” by Diana Ross – Love taught Miss Ross “who was the boss,” and did so with a fantastic bassline and a terrific rhythm section.  Another triumph for the incomparable (and married) songwriting/production team of Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson.

5.  ”Kiss You Off” by Scissor Sisters – The metaphor of men as lipstick and finding “a brand new shade” is a bit of clever, witty erudition from the band’s in-house glamazon, Ana Matronic.  And the beat?  Made for the catwalk, Sweetie.

4.  “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor – Perhaps the most famous disco anthem of them all (I have vinyl versions, recorded in Spanish and Japanese), it stands up still as advertised, and survives to this day.

3.  “Moving On Up” by M People – This sassy UK import was all the rage in the ’90s due to Heather Small’s saucy vocals and an over-it sense of elegant blasé.

2.  “You’ll Never Know” by Hi-Gloss – A rare House track from the early ’80s, I was turned on to this delicious cup of bitterness by one of my musical senseis, Billy Beyond.  The fact that the cover art is so yummy is just a bonus!

…and the most empowering anthem out there, according to ShulmanSays—which should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows me—is:

1.  “This Is My Life” by Dame Shirley Bassey – DSB throws down the gauntlet, declares that she doesn’t “give a damn for lost emotions,” and lets you know why she’s earned the moniker Burley Shassey.  A vocal tour de force!

Get into it!
#Music