Top 10 Female Rage Songs of the 2000s
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most fury-filled ladies’ anthems of the 2000’s.
#10: “Picture to Burn”
Taylor Swift
Before Taylor Swift was a world-conquering superstar, she was a girl with a guitar and a dream. But her fourth single “Picture to Burn” showed she also had a serious axe to grind. Far from the wistful nostalgia of “Tim McGraw” or the bubbly infatuation of “Our Song”, “Picture to Burn” sizzles with adolescent angst. Her raw emotion set against the pop country beat perfectly captures the anger that can come from not getting what you want out of a relationship. She may still be angry, but she knows she’ll move on. After all, what's better than getting rid of a selfish guy? Destroying evidence that you ever spent time on him.
#9: “Smile”
Lily Allen
Don’t let the light, carefree tone of this track fool you. Despite being less musically harsh as other entries on this list, there’s deep resentment right bubbling beneath the surface of “Smile”. It’s never a great feeling to watch someone quickly move on after getting dumped. However, with help from friends, it gets easier to move on. Even when he tries to get her back, all she can do is smile while she rejects him. On top of that, Allen gets to take vindictive pleasure in watching misfortune befall him. If your revenge playlist is missing some schadenfreude, Allen’s got you covered.
#8: “I’m So Sick”
Flyleaf
Sometimes, there’s nothing quite so painful as feeling numb. Flyleaf knew this and explored it brilliantly with their 2005 single “I’m So Sick”. At its center, this song is a cry for something real in an otherwise fake world. Even if you didn’t know Flyleaf was a Christian band, the pain Lacey Sturm projects feels deeply spiritual. Sturm's guttural scream doesn’t just come from wanting respite. It’s a deep desire for the people who wronged her to never forget the pain they caused. As much as “I’m So Sick” feels like relief, it also feels like revenge. And we can’t think of a more appropriate combination for this track.
#7: “Bust Your Windows”
Jazmine Sullivan
Three years after Carrie Underwood released her car-destroying revenge anthem, Jazmine Sullivan threw her own crowbar into the ring with this R&B banger. “Bust Your Windows” is as heartbreaking as it is empowering, with Sullivan retaliating against her partner after catching him in bed with another woman. The pain she feels from putting five years into a relationship only for it to end like this is palpable. Even if trashing his car didn’t help all that much, it sent a clear message: break my heart and I’ll break your car. We don’t recommend actually committing property damage against an ex, but it can be fun to fantasize.
#6: “Are You Happy Now?”
Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch may have released the definitive post-breakup rage anthem when she put out “Are You Happy Now?” in 2003. The music video suggests the song could be self-directed to some extent, but the heart of “Are You Happy Now?” comes from Branch outlining the ways she was mistreated by an ex-partner. It starts as an indignant demand for him not to pretend their relationship never mattered. By the time the chorus hits, she finally lets her rage boil over with bite and sarcasm. Whether she’s belting or crooning, her voice teems with resentment for how casually she’s been discarded. Even if you never get to ask these questions yourself, shouting this song at the top of your lungs is the next best thing.
#5: “Losing Grip”
Avril Lavigne
The queen of 2000’s teen angst has arrived. Described by Pitchfork as “a nu metal-pop song”, Lavigne kicked off her debut album with a deeply frustrated lament about holding onto someone who isn’t treating you well. Despite everything saying you should let go, something inside of you still cares - even though you know you shouldn’t. Lavigne did everything she could to be seen by this guy and still felt invisible. The best part comes right at the end when she officially declares the relationship over and done with. It’s a cathartic feeling too many of us can relate to.
#4: “Not Ready to Make Nice”
The Chicks
The Chicks are no strangers to righteous anger. But not even “Goodbye Earl” can compare to the unapologetic fury of “Not Ready to Make Nice”. This was their first single after being blacklisted from country radio stations following critical remarks frontwoman Natalie Maines made about then-President George Bush. Rather than shy away or apologize, they doubled down with a powerful statement of defiance. From the very first note, this song seethes with it. Maines’ voice soars with frustration as she faces the backlash head-on, even referencing an actual death threat she received before a concert. Tense string arrangements and bombastic harmonies from Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer solidify The Chicks as a united front ready to face anything. Talk about girl power!
#3: “Misery Business”
Paramore
There’s no shortage of Paramore songs we could have put on this list. But how could we not pick “Misery Business”? The song was pulled from their setlist in 2018 due to backlash to the song’s lyrics and themes. And it’s not hard to see why. Frontwoman Hayley Williams spends the song spitefully mocking another woman after getting with that woman’s ex. Even if some of the lyrics haven’t necessarily aged well, it’s hard to deny how cathartic jamming out to this can be. It’s too catchy and goes too hard to not! Besides, who ever said rage was nice? We never meant to brag, but fans got what they wanted when “Misery Business” made a triumphant return in 2022 after years of demanding it back.
#2: “Fighter”
Christina Aguilera
Hell hath no fury like Christina Aguilera scorned. And she’s ready to go scorched-Earth on everyone who hurt her with her 2002 hit “Fighter”. Co-written by Aguilera, she explores all the different ways she’s been put through the wringer, but she channels that pain into self-improvement. Rather than crumble, she rises, becoming stronger, faster and wiser. “Fighter”’s hard rock edges drive home the burning rage in Aguilera’s delivery. And the way she belts “I’ve had enough” throws fuel onto an already raging fire. We just want to say “thank you” for this inspiring banger.
#1: “Since U Been Gone”
Kelly Clarkson
The first thing anyone should know about Kelly Clarkson: she gets what she wants. We feel like we can too when we belt this at the top of our lungs. With “Since U Been Gone”, Clarkson proved she had some hard edges which American Idol couldn’t soften. Thanks to that, she became all the more relatable. After all, falling too hard in a one-sided situationship is something too many of us have experienced, and the rage that comes from it bleeds all over this song. More than that, it’s a moment of triumph. Being awarded both Best Pop Video and Best Female Video at the 2005 MTV Music Awards for this must have been the cherry on top of a stellar winning streak.
Did your favorite make our list? What songs are you adding to your rage playlist? Let us know down in the comments and we’ll see you next time.