Whether you’re well versed in loving yourself or need a helping hand, these songs are sure to have your back.
Sometimes we all need a little pick me up, so I have compiled a list of my favorite self-love songs that will bring you joy and help you begin to embrace being yourself.
Here are 45 songs about loving yourself that are sure to bring out the best in you – besides, in the words of Rupaul, if you don’t love yourself, how the heck are you going to love somebody else?
1. “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez
This self-love song is a pop ballad with empowering lyrics about discovering your true self after losing a lover, co-written and co-produced by the amazing Selena Gomez.
“Lose You To Love Me” has attained several gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications worldwide, and rightly so.
Craig Jenkins of Vulture praised it: “It was a gamble trusting that the lyrics to this song would sell it on their own, but it was a wise one.”
2. “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo
It would be a crime for Lizzo not to be on this list, due to her powerful commentary on loving yourself first and foremost.
This self-love song was originally released in 2017, but then re-released in 2019.
Lizzo’s hit was nominated for three awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020, and won the award for Best Pop Solo Performance.
The song has been certified 7x platinum, and certainly makes many women feel empowered.
3. “Good Thing” by Zedd & Kehlani
Zedd & Kehlani posted a picture together in 2019, leading to rumors of a collaboration which made everyone excited for the track that was to come.
Zedd later announced the collaboration, sharing a snippet of the track on social media, which was released later that year.
This self-love song serves as a reminder to us all that being on your own is okay – you don’t have to have a partner to be happy!
4. “Good As Hell” by Lizzo
This self-love song was originally released in 2016, but was re-released in 2019 when it became a sleeper hit like her first hit, “Truth Hurts“.
The hit by Lizzo is one of the best songs about self-worth out there, and has received a 4x platinum certification by the RIAA!
Billboard complimented: “the song’s message of self-love mixed with a melody that will worm its way inside your head make this track an absolute stunner.
5. “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
A pop and R&B ballad, this self-love song lyrically discusses inner-beauty, as well as self-esteem and insecurity.
Aguilera herself commented that she put “her heart and her soul” into the track, which she felt well represented the theme of the album, “Stripped”.
“Beautiful” received universal acclaim when it won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was also nominated for Song of the Year at the 2004 ceremony.
6. “Feel Special” by Twice
The lyrics of this self-love song are based on a conversation the writer had with members of Twice during dinner, where they expressed how they were dealing with the pressures of fame.
The song about accepting yourself is seen as one of the group’s most memorable tracks, and members have regarded the song as being sincere with its personal lyrics.
The key message of the song is “the shift from feeling insignificant to finding purpose”.
7. “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande
“thank u, next” was surprise-released in 2018, without any prior announcement or promotion.
This self-love song is an ode to Grande’s previous relationships, following her highly-publicized breakup with fiancé, Pete Davidson.
Considered a phenomenon among Gen-Z, the song’s title and its lyrics created several catch phrases and online memes.
It shattered many records on Youtube, including the record for the most-watched music video in YouTube within 24 hours, with over 55.4 million views.
8. “ME!” by Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie
“ME!” is a self-love song recorded by star Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.
The song about accepting yourself is a bubblegum pop and synth-pop duet about embracing your individuality, with lyrics encouraging self-affirmation and self-love.
It has since been certified double-platinum by the RIAA after selling over 2 million copies in the US – Taylor and Brendon sure inspired us all to love ourselves with this hit!
9. “Love Myself” by Hailee Steinfeld
Lyrically, this song inspires self-confidence and has been referred to as an “ode to masturbation” due to the music video, which features Steinfeld wearing a leotard lettered “self service”.
The song received positive acclaim from music critics who complimented Steinfeld’s voice and style, comparing positively to Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez.
10. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
This uptempo dance-pop song about self-love describes Swift’s indifference to her haters and their negative view of her image.
Her hit received a Diamond certification from the RIAA and also topped charts in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Hungary, Mexico, New Zealand, and Poland.
The self-love song has received numerous awards, including Favorite Song at the 2015 People’s Choice Awards and three Grammy nominations at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
11. “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
This self-love song was developed while Gaga was on the road with the Monster Ball Tour and was inspired by 1990s music, aimed to empower women, minorities and the LGBT community.
Gaga explained that “Born This Way” was her freedom song, and is often one of the first songs associated with her.
Critics noted the famous music video’s references to Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Björk, as well as to Greek mythology and surrealism.
12. “Dalla Dalla” by Itzy
“Dalla Dalla” (“Different Different”, in Korean) is the debut single by South Korean girl group Itzy, with its music video accumulating 17.1 million views (breaking records for K-Pop).
The song is a fusion hit that includes elements of EDM, hip hop, electropop, and house; it definitely opened the doors to the K-Pop era.
Lyrically, the self-love song emphasizes themes of individuality and self-confidence, and aims to inspire us all to embrace our true selves!
13. “Epiphany” by BTS
This hit is a self-love song by K-Pop boy band BTS, sung as a solo by member Jin.
Upon release, searches for the word ‘Epiphany’ increased by 575% and the song had over twenty million views in the first twenty-four hours!
The song about being yourself draws on the importance of self-love, with Billboard stating that the music video tied in with others from the “Love Yourself” era.
14. “ICY” by Itzy
Itzy described this song about loving yourself as an extension of their first record, “Dalla Dalla”; it shares similar meanings but has a more upbeat air.
According to Billboard’s Tamar Herman, the hit “may as well be the girl group’s anthem.”
Pop Crush wrote that “it’s a song that (…) is balanced perfectly with strong vocals, creating an effervescent dance track that empowers listeners to be confident and believe in themselves.”
15. “Joan of Arc” by Little Mix
This self love song is a catchy, trap-inflected track with hip hop beats and elements of urban and pop rap.
It received positive reviews from critics with praise given to its lyrics about feminism, indepence, and women’s empowerment.
A music video for the song was filmed; However, for reasons unknown to the public, it was never released.
16. “Confident” by Demi Lovato
As of October 2017, this popular song about loving yourself has sold over 1.1 million digital downloads in the US and has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA.
In “Confident” Lovato discusses self-empowerment and expels the stigma that confidence is equivalent to arrogance – an important idea.
Demi Lovato remains an inspiration to many, and this song definitely helped her shoot to the top.
17. “SOLO” by Jennie
“SOLO” is a debut self love song by Blackpink member Jennie, released in 2018.
Lyrically, it revolves around the theme of independence after a break-up, and feeling empowered despite being on your own.
The music video depicts Jennie’s transformation from an innocent to a strong independent woman, and has since accumulated more than 700 million views on the platform!
It has now received two platinum certifications from the Korea Music Content Association for exceeding 100000000 streams.
18. “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
As a teenager, Meghan Trainor struggled with negative body image, and therefore was inspired to write the song to promote self-acceptance and self love.
Some music critics praised the memorable message of the body-confidence song, while others criticized the failure of its lyrics to empower every body type.
“All About That Bass” was the best-selling song by a female artist during the 2010s in the US, and was therefore certified Diamond by the RIAA.
19. “Obsessed” by Addison Rae
The lyrics of “Obsessed” are about loving yourself while in a relationship, with Rae citing Taylor Swift as an inspiration for the song.
Addison later performed “Obsessed” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, marking her debut appearance on a late-night talk show.
Unfortunately the song was not received well by critics, with Nick Romano assuming the message was “about how obsessed [Rae] is with herself”, writing “the execution may have gotten lost in translation”.
20. “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
This pop-ballad was written when Cara felt motivated to make the song after viewing an episode of Botched.
Cara explained the process behind the song:
“Basically, that song is about body image. It’s directed at women, but I think men can relate to it as well. (…) They tell us that we’re not good enough or that there’s only one kind of beauty. This song basically is contradicting that idea.”
What an important message!
21. “Who Says” by Selena Gomez & The Scene
According to Gomez, this self love song was written to inspire people and fire back at the “haters”, particularly in regard to cyberbullying.
“Who Says” marks a departure for the band, due to its acoustic feel, in comparison to their previous dance-pop and club-oriented singles.
“Who Says” largely received positive reviews from critics, who noted its message and the change of pace for the band.
22. “Do My Thang” by Miley Cyrus
In this unapologetic song about being yourself, Cyrus raps explicit lyrics addressing her haters.
As we know, Miley has never had a problem being her authentic self, and this song highlights that!
From her album “Bangerz”, it is well-known for being the most explicit song on the album and is controversial because of this.
23. “CRZY” by Kehlani
This self love song is said to be made in an effort to “create an unapologetic statement embracing the challenges and double standards that come with being a woman”.
Kehlani takes on an assertive tone as she tells the listener not to discredit their passion, talent and achievements.
“CRZY” certainly empowers us all to be proud of who we are and what we have accomplished!
24. “I Am The Best” by 2NE1
Coined an empowerment anthem, the lyrics of this self love song revolve around the themes of self-confidence, dominance, and narcissism.
Music critics applauded the musical styles of “I Am The Best”, considering it an iconic symbol of the genre’s girl crush image (a concept of ferocity and female empowerment in the music industry).
It gathered more than 3.4 million digital downloads in 2011, becoming the fourth best-selling single of the year in South Korea.
25. “Solo De Mí” by Bad Bunny
“Solo de Mí” (“Only of Me” in English) is a song by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.
The empowering song is an important statement on domestic violence, with Rolling Stone magazine saying the song reflects someone who is “reclaiming herself” after being a victim of domestic violence.
NPR noted the video, which sees a woman lip-syncing while being hit, was “part of a campaign against domestic violence”.
26. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
This 1978 hit by Gloria Gaynor quickly became a top-selling song, being certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The self love song’s lyrics describe the narrator’s discovery of personal strength following a devastating breakup.
It is also frequently recalled as a symbol of female empowerment, withstanding the test of time.
In 2016, the Library of Congress deemed it to be “culturally, historically, or artistically significant” and selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
27. “Q.U.E.E.N” by Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu
“Q.U.E.E.N.”, which is an acronym of “Queer, Untouchables, Emigrants, Excommunicated, and Negroid”, was released in 2013 by Monaé.
In the form of question and response, each line of the song has her expressing her thoughts on intense subjects ranging from sexuality to religion.
Prince, a mentor to Monáe, said that the music video for “Q.U.E.E.N.” was the best music video of 2013 – an amazing compliment!
28. “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé
This hit song was motivated by Beyoncé wanting to do something different: a new sound with a message that would give women strength.
She succeeded, with the song’s title and lyrics comprising an unapologetically aggressive message promoting female empowerment.
Despite its commercial success, “Run the World” divided critics; some complimented Beyoncé’s aggressiveness, while others criticized the recurrence of past themes.
29. “Independent Women, Pt. 1” by Destiny’s Child
This song was recorded by Destiny’s Child for the soundtrack to the 2000 film adaptation of the television program Charlie’s Angels.
The empowering song held the number-one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for eleven consecutive weeks, shooting to popularity.
30. “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys
Keys co-wrote and co-produced this R&B ballad, and it inspired women worldwide.
“Girl on Fire” is said to be inspired by Keys’ giving birth to her son, Egypt, and her marriage to husband Swizz Beatz.
The self love song received extremely positive reviews from critics, with many praising Keys’ vocals and the song’s production, and it has been certified six-times platinum by the RIAA.
31. “You Don’t Own Me” by SAYGRACE ft. G-Eazy
The song, originally recorded by Lesley Gore, was covered by SAYGRACE, formerly known as Grace.
Featuring American rapper G-Eazy, the song about independence was certified 3× Platinum by the ARIA.
SAYGRACE told House Of Fraser “[Quincy Jones, the producer,] told me how the song came out during the feminist movement and how it was such a strong statement. (…) [You Don’t Own Me] really inspired me.”
32. “No Scrubs” by TLC
The lyrics of this song describe the role of a man in a relationship, and explain that women should not settle for anything less.
It won both Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best R&B Song at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
TLC attracted a large female audience and fan-base with this hit, and empowered us all!
33. “Juice” by Lizzo
This song about loving yourself has been described as a self-esteem anthem.
The song received positive feedback from critics, many of whom referred to the song as Lizzo’s best.
It is currently certified Double Platinum in the US and Gold or Platinum in five additional countries, making it a worldwide sensation for Lizzo.
34. “She Wolf” by Shakira
This song details Shakira’s boredom due to her uncaring partner, and how she looks for others to please her.
Upon its release, the song about female empowerment was met with positive reception from music critics who praised it for its inventiveness.
“She Wolf” performed well commercially and on record charts, reaching the top 10 in several countries such as Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
35. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain
This country song was Twain’s third biggest single on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of her biggest hits worldwide.
In 1997, Twain revealed the reason behind using Brad Pitt’s name instead of other suitable male celebrities.
She said that after she heard about the scandal between Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow and the subsequent leaking of Pitt’s naked photo in Playgirl magazine, she was left unimpressed by all the fuss around seeing naked people.
36. “Feeling Myself” by Nicki Minaj ft. Beyonce
This self love song spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest charting non-single by a female rapper!
In 2014, Minaj’s manager contacted her to inform her that Beyoncé wanted a remix of “Flawless” on which she would be featured.
Following this, Beyoncé sent Minaj a new version of the song she wanted and told her, “I want you to be you. I don’t want you to hold back.”
37. “The Way I Am” by Charlie Puth
The song describes Puth’s reaction to his sudden fame, specifically his insecurities and anxieties.
He has identified the song as his most personal on the album, with the content of the song so personal that Puth “was almost crying while writing it because it was so overwhelming.”
The song appears as Puth’s way of telling the world that he is ready to unapologetically accept himself, and we’re here for it.
38. “After The Storm” by Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, The Creator and Bootsy Collins
In 2015, Uchis stated in an interview with Billboard that she wanted to work with Bootsy Collins, “I followed him on Twitter and he still hasn’t followed me back, so I’m just waiting for him to follow me”.
Bootsy Collins responded to Kali Uchis’ interview days after the publication, contacting her via Twitter; Ah, the digital age!
39. “Broken & Beautiful” by Kelly Clarkson
This self love song was released as the lead single of the soundtrack to the 2019 animated musical comedy film UglyDolls, in which Kelly Clarkson plays a lead role.
The singer in the song is searching for someone to love her as she is and accept her, flaws and all.
40. “The Voice Within” by Christina Aguilera
This song about self love talks about trusting yourself and your instincts.
“The Voice Within” received largely positive reviews from music critics, who coined it an inspirational ballad and complimented Aguilera’s strong vocals.
Some likened the song to works by Celine Dion and Mariah Carey; big praise!
Commercially, the song performed well and peaked within the top 10 of charts in several countries.
41. “Who You Are” by Jessie J
This song’s lyrics address the importance of staying true to our identity and embracing ourselves.
According to Jessie J, she wrote the song after a three-month lonely trip during which she spent a lot of time figuring out how to accept herself.
The song received a lot of good reviews from music critics, who complimented her strong vocals in the song and considered it a highlight on her album.
42. “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber
Lyrically, the song is a wave goodbye to a narcissistic ex-lover who did the protagonist wrong.
In 2015, Justin Bieber announced in an interview that Ed Sheeran had written a song for his then-upcoming album.
Later, during an interview for Capital FM, Bieber revealed: “It’s just me and a guitar. Basically that’s how I started, playing on the street with a guitar.”
He went on to compliment Sheeran’s talent, something we can all get behind!
43. “This Is Me” by Keala Settle
“This Is Me” is a self love song performed by Keala Settle for the film The Greatest Showman.
It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 75th Golden Globe Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 90th Academy Awards.
It quickly became a self love anthem, empowering us all to be our true, authentic selves.
44. “Perfect To Me” by Anne-Marie
Many critics have coined this self love song “body positive” and said Anne-Marie had been striking a “resounding chord” with her empowering music.
GQ reviewed Anne-Marie’s live performance of the song at a Rough Trade store in Brooklyn, saying “she begins shouting her insecurities to the audience (…) Then she does the unthinkable. She grabs and pinches her own body fat onstage”, continuing to say she knows how to “put on a show”.
45. “Stronger Woman” by Jewel
This self love song is written by Marv Green and co-written and recorded by American recording artist Jewel.
It is her first release to country radio, and struck chords with many women who now use it to empower themselves to be strong and confident.
Songs About Loving Yourself – Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed your journey to self-love, with the help of these songs!
These songs will make you feel empowered and inspired to be truly you – besides, it’s what you’re best at.
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