Hello again Amorelles! It’s the second week of December and only a mere 12 days away from waking up in our onesies, warm and toasty with our cups of tea, opening presents and filling up on turkey and roast potatoes celebrating Christmas with our families. I’m so excited!!
Last week, we reflected on the Top 12 Tracks of the Year to round off the releases of 2016. However, this week, I’d like to reflect upon the Top 12 Women in Music of 2016. Here at Amor, we pride ourselves on not only being ran by a group of strong and empowered women, but also that we celebrate women alike!
To begin, I’d like to start with none other than Alicia Keys.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys earlier this year wrote a letter for Lena Dunham’s Newsletter Lenny and explained her battle with the pressure of looking perfect in front of the media. She led a ‘nomakeupselfie’ movement and empowered and influenced the minds of many girls and women out there! She also expressed that we should be comfortable in what we do and that “It would be so amazing to just embrace each other how we are,”and we here at Amor, completely agree with her!! Not only that, she delivered a powerful speech on equality that blew the audience away at this year’s VMA Awards. Alicia Keys, a woman who promotes Inner and Outer Beauty, exudes intelligence and is talented beyond compare… how can we not make her number 1?
Beyonce
Arguably the most influential woman on Earth (is it obvious I’m a big fan?) Beyonce dropped a bomb of a visual album entitled Lemonade which openly promotes Black excellence and women empowerment. This album was rumoured to be based on her marriage with Jay Z due to the references in his nicknames in a couple of songs. However, the other rumour was that it was based on her mother’s story of how she handled herself and her family during years of her Father’s infidelity. Either way, this album encouraged women to take charge and be strong as per Queen B’s trait.
Solange
The Knowles’ family clearly are full of great genes and good people. Can you adopt us please??- Solange makes our list due to her earlier release of ‘A Seat at the Table’ where she explored the ups and downs of being a black woman. There have been nothing but excellent reviews on this album. We’re a massive fan of the story and truth she tells of black cultural and social history in this album. It was needed so much at this time of the world.
Rihanna
Her annual charity Diamond Ball ran for the second time this year with Kevin Hart the King of Trolling played as host. Isn’t it just lovely to see women, even as bad ass as this woman, do great things (one of the many things she does to give back). Rihanna’s influence keeps us on a perfect balance of bad ass with class and nasty but not trashy. Let me explain, songs such as BBHMM and You Needed Me shows how much of a bad ass, borderline gangsta attitude she is and what we all would like to think we all have inside us. However, songs such as Work and Sex With Me… well, those are the songs that let’s us be a little nasty with a dose of ratchet but, allows us enough control to not overdose. Although if it makes you go 0-100, we would never judge. Do you boo boo! I’ll be twerking on the side with you
Gwen Stefani
After a painful break up with her then husband, Gwen Stefani found love on the road again last year with Blake Shelton after thrusting herself back into work and bringing her kids. Gwen definitely showed us that we can have it all!! She’s even out touring again! Finding love is not impossible even if you focus on rebuilding yourself, continuing to achieve your dreams while also, being a hands on mum!
Kehlani
After suffering a very open breakdown where she posted a picture of herself in hospital after a suicide attempt this year, Kehlani received an incredible amount of hate. It was disappointing to see it from many, many women when really, we should all be sticking by each other’s side. I have witnessed depression first hand from a family member and know it is hard to understand their point of view when they get to a vulnerable stage, but I felt a deep compassion for Kehlani. We never really know the full story!! Anyway, although she suffered that during the earlier part this year, she still managed to bounce back and do her tours and release more singles. She even returned to social media and now seems stronger than ever!
Teyana Taylor
Showing us that you can be sexy and strong at the same time. This sexy mama showed off her snapback body after having her beautiful baby a few months before filming Kanye’s Fade video and made the world’s jaw drop all the way to the floor. She owned her body, sweated and danced her way to gaining everyone’s respect here in Amor. Teyana is GOALS! WHAT A WOMAN!
Zendaya
This year, Zendaya mentioned in an interview that she had not first hand experienced bullying herself but had witnessed it- and said nothing. Through this, she was taught that by doing nothing, you are as guilty as those that were doing it. She then made a stand on photoshopping and body image by complaining publicly about an over photoshopped picture of her in Modeliste magazine (the magazine shortly apologised). We stand by you too Zendaya!
Little Mix
I’ve added these girl’s for the fact they are the strongest girl band worldwide and they’re representing the UK very well! Apart from their open support to Perrie during the whole Zayn Malik and Perrie break up, especially when he shortly became public with his Pillowtalk video vixen Gigi Hadid, they have been non stop with the hits. Their most recent song Shout Out To My Ex is not only a bedroom karaoke, shower diva moment, guilty pleasure, it’s also an anthem for all the ladies out there who refuse to let their ex break them.
Ke$ha
Ke$ha has been dragged through the mud throughout her public battle with Dr. Luke and Sony due to her allegations that Dr. Luke “sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally” abused her during their professional relationship. She had received a lot of public support from stars such as Miley Cyrus and Anne Hathaway and had fought a hard battle. This year, she was awarded with HRC’s Visibility Award and Women in Music’s Trailblazer award for her work with the LGBT community and for standing up for her rights and what she believes in. What stuck with us over here is her words “If you keep showing up for yourself, you can move mountains … Do not let anyone else take your happiness.”
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has done a lot for the LGBT community since the start of her career but this year, she made more waves by discussing her mental illness and PTSD from a rape when she was 19 years old. She also gave gifts and led a meditation group for victims and those who suffer the same as her. Lady Gaga has been such a role model through her songs and honest bravery and we hope that she continues on this path to recovery and to inspiring others to be strong.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez gave a heart warming speech at this year’s AMA’s upon winning Best Pop/Rock female. Selena was open with her struggle of being true to herself and true to her commitment to her fans and said “I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here [holds chest]. I’m not trying to get validation nor do I need it anymore.” she then thanked fans for staying loyal to her during her break and added “If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”
Madonna
Madonna was honoured as this year’s Billboard Woman of The Year and she delivered a speech that we are sure will echo through time. From being a musical legend, to a woman who constantly pushed the boundaries of sexuality and creativity for women, Madonna will be forever immortalised by the influence she has left on not only our generation’s parents but artists who were born during her beginning and those that have been raised around her music have taken parts . I can safely say every woman we have mentioned above, openly has taken influence from this woman and are able to push the boundaries so freely because of Madonna. So for that, we here at Amor would like to also make her our Ultimate Woman of 2016.
