Women in Song, Who Sing About It Quiz

Answer: Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande's 'Dangerous Woman' was the first single released from her 2016 album of the same name. The song immediately made it into the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 on its release in March 2016, setting a new record for an artist achieving that feat with the lead singles from all of their first three studio albums. It was written by Johan Carlsson, Ross Golan and Max Martin and has lyrics about female empowerment, beginning with the lines:

"Oh, yeah
Don't need permission
Made my decision to test my limits".

Answer: Chaka Khan

'I'm Every Woman' was the debut solo single for US singer Chaka Khan, who prior to this song was best known as the lead singer of the band Rufus. She launched her solo career in 1978 with the eponymous album 'Chaka' and released 'I'm Every Woman' in September of that year.

It made it to number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart (later known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart) and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also covered by one of the greatest female singers of all time when Whitney Houston created a version for the soundtrack to the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard'.

Answer: Britney Spears

'I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman' is a song by "The Princess of Pop", otherwise known as Britney Spears. It was the last single released from her third album, 'Britney' and failed to generate the same level of chart success as her earlier hits. It reached the top ten of a number of singles charts around the world (including the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Germany and Australia) but didn't make it on to the Billboard Hot 100.

It also had the misfortune to win the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song in 2002 after appearing on the soundtrack of 'Crossroads' - the film for which Spears was the joint winner of the Worst Actress Razzie (along with the "Queen of Pop", Madonna, for her role in 'Swept Away').

Answer: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift's 'mad woman' (her capitalisation, not mine) is a song from her 2020 album 'Folklore' that reached number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Swift in conjunction with the songwriter and record producer, Aaron Dessner. The lyrics are about the sexism inherent in how women can be characterised as being mad or crazy for showing emotions such as anger, ending with the lines:

"But no one likes a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
You made her like that"

Answer: Emmy Meli

'I Am Woman' is a song by the US singer-songwriter Emmy Meli that became a big hit on TikTok, gaining over 20 million views via the social media platform. As it wasn't initially released in the traditional way, its chart performance probably doesn't reflect its wider popularity and exposure - after its release by record labels Arista Records and Disruptor Records in November 2021 it made it into the lower reaches of both the US Billboard Hot 100 (number 74) and the UK Singles Chart (number 63).

A much older song of the same name was released by Helen Reddy in 1971.

Answer: Shania Twain

Shania Twain's upbeat country pop hit 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman!' made it into the top ten of charts round the world in 1999, also reaching number four on the US Hot Country Songs chart. It was written by Twain and her first husband Robert "Mutt" Lange and first appeared on her 1997 hit album 'Come On Over', which reached the top of album charts around the world.

The song also earned her a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2000.

Answer: Aaliyah

'More Than A Woman' by Aaliyah was released as a single in September 2001, less than two weeks after the US singer was killed in a plane crash. The song appeared on her eponymous third studio album and was written by Static Major and Timbaland. It made it to number one on the UK Singles Chart and into the top ten of various other worldwide charts, including the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

The song shouldn't be confused with the 1978 hit of the same name by the Bee Gees.

Answer: Gretchen Wilson

Gretchen Wilson is a US country music singer-songwriter who first came to prominence with the release of her debut single 'Redneck Woman' in 2004. It made it to number one on the US Hot 100 Country Songs chart and stayed there for five weeks, while also making it to number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This was a notable feat, aside from being a great result for a new artist, as it marked the first time in two years that a solo female artist had topped that chart. 'Redneck Woman' also earned Wilson the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2005.

Answer: Adele

'Woman Like Me' is a track from '30', the fourth of English singer-songwriter Adele's studio albums named after the age she was when she wrote the songs on them. The theme of the album reflects events in Adele's life such as motherhood and divorce and 'Woman Like Me' is no exception with lyrics focusing on a relationship falling apart due to complacency:

"Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy?
You ain't never had, ain't never had a woman like me"

The song was co-written by Adele and the record producer and songwriter known as Inflo.

Answer: Aretha Franklin

'(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' was composed by the influential singer-songwriter Carole King, with lyrics by Gerry Goffin, for the "Queen of Soul" - the amazing Aretha Franklin. It was first released as a single in 1967 and reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It went on to become one of Franklin's most famous song and over the years was also covered by a range of well-known female artists, including Peggy Lee, Bonnie Tyler, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion.