Girl power: The best girl group songs of all time

In 1999, TLC released their third studio album Fanmail, led by the hit single “No Scrubs.” Written by Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (both Burruss and Cottle were members of former girl R&B girl group Xscape), Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, and group member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes,” the theme behind “No Scrubs” tells the story of women dealing with men who are some of the worst of the dating pool. As they sing on the hook, “No, I don’t want no scrub / A scrub is guy that can’t get no love from me / Hanging out the passenger’s side of his best friend’s ride / Trying to holla at me.” 

In 1996, the Spice Girls came onto the scene with their hit song “Wannabe,” though the song actually topped the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1997 after first being released in the group's native UK. It was the perfect track to showcase the group’s "Girl Power" mantra in which they sing about the importance of friendships, even when they get into romantic relationships. As they sing on the hook, “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends / Make it last forever, friendship never ends.” 

After seeing moderate success on their eponymous debut album, Destiny’s Child returned in 1999 with their critically acclaimed sophomore album The Writing’s on the Wall. Lead single “Bills, Bills, Bills” illustrates dating experiences that deal with suitors who don’t contribute much to the relationship from a financial standpoint. It’s evident from the first verse when they sing, “At first we started out real cool / Taking me places that I ain’t never been / But now you’re getting comfortable / Ain’t doing those things you did no more.” 

The legendary songwriting and production duo of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards ( founders of disco band Chic) wrote Sister Sledge’s hit 1979 song “We Are Family.” It seemed like the perfect track for the sister quartet, that easily became a song played at family functions across the world. The track is all about how families can have a close bond with each other. 

In 2004, The Pųssycat Dolls put the world on notice with their debut single “Don’t Cha.” Written by Cee-Lo Green and Busta Rhymes, the song gives the narrator’s perspective of taunting a guy and telling him that his girlfriend isn't as hot as she could be. 

Some of the best songs are about love, even if it’s an ultimately doomed romance. The Supremes bring this topic to the forefront on their 1965 single “Stop! In the Name of Love.” On the track, the narrator knows that she’s dealing with her lover’s infidelity, and she’s tired of dealing with the heartbreak. 

In 1998, Irish girl group came on the scene with their single “C’est la Vie." While the girls' vocals and production sound like a bubblegum pop song, the track cleverly contains a lot of innuendos than the music would suggest.

Missy Elliott wrote and produced 702’s hit single “Where My Girls At.” On the track, the trio sings about claiming their man and stepping to anyone else that tries to steal him. As they sing on the first verse, “See, he’s my property / And any girl that touch / I might just call your bluff / ‘cause I don’t give a…” 

The Emotions have Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White and Clarence McDonald to thank for their hit single “Best of My Love.” On the track, they tell from a narrator’s perspective of feeling loved by their significant other and they want the world to know. As they sing on the first verse, “Demonstrating love and affection / That you give so openly, yeah / I like the way you make me feel about you, baby / Want the whole wide world to see.” 

In 2008, Danity Kane released their sophomore album Welcome to the Dollhouse, led by the hit single “Damaged.” On the track, the girls tell the story of possibly moving on to a new relationship, but they’re still dealing with wounds and a broken heart from a past love. But if they move on, the new suitor will have to learn how to fix their heart. 

Rick James wrote and produced the Mary Jane Girls’ hit track “All Night Long.” On the track, the girls sing from the perspective of anticipating getting intimate with their significant other. It’s evident from the first verse, singing, “Oh something’s got me so excited baby / A feeling I’ve been holding back so long / You got me shook up shook down shook out on your loving / And boy I can’t wait to get started loving you.” 

In 1996, En Vogue released their hit song “Don’t Let Go (Love).” On the track, the narrator tells the perspective of being friends with someone that she has feelings for, with hopes of progressing to a romantic relationship. As they sing on the hook, “What’s it gonna be? / Cause I can’t pretend / Don’t you wanna be more than friends.” 

In 1984, British group Bananarama released their hit single “Cruel Summer.” The track gives a different perspective of people during the summer season, and seems to depict how the season can at times not be as fun as people assume.

In 1961, The Marvelettes came onto the scene with their debut single “Please Mr. Postman.” The track tells the story of a woman hoping that the postman is bringing a letter from her lover. It’s evident on the first verse as they sing, “There must be some word today / From my boyfriend who’s so far away / Please, Mr. Postman, look and see / Is there a letter, a letter for me?”

Destiny’s Child 2000 single “Independent Women, Pt. 1” became the theme song to the film Charlie’s Angels. It’s the perfect female empowerment anthem that shows the boldness, strength, power, and fabulosity of a woman. The song spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The Angels wanted to let people know to not mess with their feelings on the 1963 single “My Boyfriend’s Back.” On the track, the ladies sing about how someone is cruel to them, but now that their boyfriend is back in town, he’s going to handle any bullies. As they sing on the second verse, “You been spreading lies that I was untrue / (Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back) / So, look out now ‘cause he’s coming after you / (Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back).” 

“Who Can I Run To” was originally sung by The Jones Girls, but in 1995, Xscape took the song’s success to another level. The smooth ballad finds the ladies reflecting on how much they want love and a significant other to cherish and support them. As they sing on the hook, “Who can I run to / To share this empty space? / Who can I run to when I need love?” 

Labelle’s hit song “Lady Marmalade” easily entices a listener from the first lyrics, “Hey sister, go sister / Soul sister, go sister.” While the hook is sung in French, it actually translates to asking for a sexual encounter. Almost thirty years after its release, Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Lil Kim covered the song for the 2001 film Moulin Rouge. 

In 1993, trio SWV released their third single “Weak.” The smooth ballad finds the narrator detailing the infatuation she has on a potential lover. As they sing on the track, “‘Cause my heart starts beating triple time / With thoughts of loving you on my mind / I can’t figure out just what to do / When the cause and cure is you.” 

One of the biggest hit records for trio The Ronettes came in 1963 with “Be My Baby.” On the track, the narrator is convinced that she should be in a relationship with a potential lover, and she’s hoping that he feels the same way. As they sing on the first verse, “The night we met I knew I needed you so / And if I had the chance I’d never let you go / So won’t you say you love me? / I’ll make you so proud of me.”