20 self-love anthems to boost your confidence

Alessia Cara’s 2015 single “Scars to Your Beautiful” is a message for people to love themselves as they are. People go through life having an ideal image of who’s beautiful to them, and sometimes they go to lengths to make themselves in that image. Cara wants people to learn to love themselves and that they don’t have to change anything about them physically. 

Lizzo is no stranger to releasing a feel-good track that beams with positivity. This type of mindset is evident on her 2019 track “Juice,” in which Lizzo shows off her confidence. As she sings on the track, “If I’m shining, everybody gonna shine / I was born like this, don’t even gotta try / I’m like chardonnay, get better over time / Heard you say I’m not the baddest, b—-, you lie.”

Lady Gaga’s 2011 hit “Born This Way” beams with self-liberation, encouraging people to love everything about themselves. Someone trying to love who they are begins from a young age and can be influenced by their closest loved ones, so people need to be as uplifting and encouraging as possible. On the track, Gaga details being taught about self-love thanks to her mother’s wise words. As Gaga sings, “There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are / She said, ‘Cause he made you perfect, babe’ / So hold your head, girl, and you’ll go far.” 

In 2020, Jhené Aiko released her third album Chilombo to rave reviews. One of the standout tracks is “Speak,” in which Aiko reflects on self-liberation and empowerment. There were times when she would let the opinions of others guide her decisions, but now she’s at a point of doing what she wants and whatever makes her feel good and at peace. 

On Katy Perry’s 2013 track “Roar,” the singer details feelings of helplessness, but somewhere along the way, she finds the right strength to shine on her own. As she sings on the hook, “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter / A dancer through the fire / ‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar.” 

On Ariana Grande’s 2018 track, “thank u, next,” the singer mentions the relationships that didn’t work out in her favor. However, she’s grateful for them because they’ve helped make her a better person. She iterates having a better relationship with herself, and part of that is because of her exes. 

In 1985, rock band Journey released their ninth album, Raised on Radio, led by the single “Be Good to Yourself.” This track encourages listeners to give themselves grace and constantly treat themselves right, even if they’re being treated wrong by others. As they sing in the second verse, “When you can’t give no more / They want it all but you gotta say no / I’m turning off the noise that makes me crazy / Looking back with no regrets.” 

On Sara Bareilles' 2015 track “Brave,” she’s telling a friend that she wants to see them be themselves and that they shouldn’t be afraid to show their true colors to the world. As she sings in the second verse, “Don’t run, stop holding your tongue / Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live / Maybe one of these days, you can let the light in / And show me, how big your brave is.” 

On Demi Lovato’s 2020 track “I Love Me,” the singer focuses on how people are often too worried about what other people think, typically comparing themselves to what they deem ideal. As they sing in the hook, “Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone? / And I always got my finger on the self-destruct / I wonder when I love me is enough.” Sometimes working on confidence and self-love is a daily task.

On Meghan Trainor’s 2016 track “I Love Me,” she highlights how people are going to always deal with haters, but it’s important for people to still have love and confidence for themselves. It’s evident from the first verse, as she sings, “They gon' say all kinds of things / They’ll make jokes about my name / They gon’ try to clip my wings, but I’m gon’ fly.” 

Kali Uchis teamed up with Tyler, the Creator and Bootsy Collins on her 2018 single “After The Storm.” On the track, Uchis encourages people to have confidence and self-reliance. She sings, “So if you need a hero / Just look in the mirror / No one’s gonna save you now / So you better save yourself.”

Kelly Clarkson’s 2019 track “Broken & Beautiful” was featured on the soundtrack of the animation film UglyDolls. Lyrically, Clarkson reflects on how people should accept themselves, flaws and all: “I know I’m Superwoman, I know I’m strong / I know I’ve got this ‘cause I’ve had it all along / I’m phenomenal and I’m enough.” 

Ally Brooke’s 2020 single “Fabulous” iterates how people need to love themselves before they can truly love anyone else. Sampling LaBelle’s hit song “Lady Marmalade,” Brooke makes sure her confidence and self-love about her looks shine through. She sings, “But now I understand that if I’m gonna love someone / I’m just gonna love myself / I already know I’m fabulous / I don’t need no one else.”

The world is filled with people who are judgmental, but Lizzo's song, “Special,” encourages people to continue believing in themselves, despite any outside noise. Her stance is evident on the hook, “In case nobody told you today, you’re special / In case nobody made you believe, you’re special.” 

Billie Eilish showed a different side to her artistry from 2015's "Ocean Eyes" with 2018's “You Should See Me in a Crown.” Eilish doesn’t shy away from her feelings of being strong and dominant over others. As she sings on the hook, “You should see me in a crown / I’m gonna run this nothing town / Watch me make ‘em bow one by one.” 

“Stronger Woman” is the lead single from Jewel’s seventh album, Perfectly Clear. On the track, Jewel reflects on her choices in partners but knows that ultimately it’s time to choose and love herself. The hook beams with confidence: “I’m gonna love myself more than anyone else / Believe in me even if someone can’t see / A stronger woman in me.” 

On Beyoncé’s hit song “Flawless,” the singer stresses that people will not always fit a certain image, but she encourages people to continue believing in themselves. The single was also the start of fans constantly using the lyric mantra, “I woke up like this.” 

Linda Perry wrote and produced Christina Aguilera’s 2002 single “Beautiful.” On the track, Aguilera reflects on people dealing with insecurities, self-esteem, and how much they need to love their beauty. As she sings on the hook, “I am beautiful, no matter what they say / Words can’t bring me down.” 

In 2015, Hailee Steinfeld released “Love Myself.” She stresses the importance of not letting past relationships define how she feels about herself. Themes of independence and self-value shine through, as she sings, “I love me / Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else.” 

On Taylor Swift's 2014 single "Shake It Off," the singer encourages listeners to be more optimistic and persevere no matter how hard life may get: "But I keep cruisin' / Can't stop, won't stop groovin' / It's like I got this music in my mind / Sayin', 'It's gonna be alright.'"