Girl Power

Sugar and spice and everything hot — that's what our Girl Power Basics are made of. We've got the livin'-strong soundtrack for all the ladies, from the honeys makin' money ("Independent Women, Part I" by Destiny's Child) to those unusual girls out for a good time (Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"). From the alt-pop passion storms of Alanis and the feisty country rock of Shania, to the glam-bam-thank-you-ma'am declarations of the Runaways anthem "Cherry Bomb," the songs that give a shout-out to our sisters everywhere — not to mention the fellas who love them — are only a download away. Power on into Next Steps for more girl-power glory.

When supreme soul diva Mary J. Blige lays down the law on "No More Drama," you'd best believe she means to stand her ground; the beauty of our Girl Power Essentials is that every artist tells it like it is, each in her own fabulous way. So, while a super-smooth Queen Latifah raps out the rules on "U.N.I.T.Y.," punk outfit X-Ray Spex lets us know, loud and clear, what bad boys get, on "Oh! Bondage, Up Yours!" Tori Amos shows her ethereal steel and speaks up on "Silent All These Years," and the Bangles issue a sweet-and-sassy sparkle-pop warning to the lover of a "Complicated Girl." We know you want more — hit Deep Cuts to get it.

Deep Cuts gets down and dirty, as the Donnas seize control of the dial on the garage-rocker "Gimmie My Radio," the Breeders fire off the alt-rock classic "Cannonball," and electroclash queen Peaches spreads the news that even "Boys Wanna Be Her." Meanwhile, M.I.A. pounds out some chunky, funky beats to fire up her raucous new-school "Boyz," and the Pipettes wield their candy-coated girl-group sound to make their sunshine ditty "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me" one tart kiss-off. Vancouver's Dandi Wind chimes in with a roiling storm cloud of artful electro-rock and Linda McLean keeps it smooth 'n' rootsy with "Love Nor Money."

Ladies! It's the 21st century, and there's no better time to celebrate all that is great and glorious about being a full-fledged woman in control. With that in mind, we bring you our Girl Power Essentials, three playlists to back you up in high style, whether you want to hit the dance floor and express your gorgeousness to the tricky beats and righteous rhymes of Missy Elliott's "I'm Really Hot," sear the ears off a fool who's done you wrong to the tune of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know," or simply sing along with the Spice Girls as they spell it out, pop-style, for a wide-eyed "Wannabe." There's lots more, from Björk's pulsating "Army of Me" to Lily Allen's lilting "Smile," handpicked to let the world know that, just like Janet, you're in "Control."