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 you independent women, from P!nk's kiss-off anthem "So What" and Katy Perry's cautionary tale of excess "Waking Up In Vegas", to M.I.A.'s Clash-sampling standout single from 2008, "Paper Planes", and La Roux's chunk of electro-poppin' magic, "Bulletproof". 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 better 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 Katie White from the Ting Tings insists "That's Not My Name" over infectious handclaps and a rubber-ball rhythm section, Gossip's Beth Ditto belts out "Heavy Cross" over a simmering underlay of funk-rock, and Taylor Swift takes the country pop road on "Love Story". We know you want more — hit Deep Cuts to get it.

Deep Cuts get down and dirty, as Gabriella Cilmi warns all potential suitors there's "nothing sweet about me" and gets all the men tied up in knots, and Shakira gives the sound of the pan-pipes a super-sexy overhaul on "Whenever, Wherever". Meanwhile, Adele unleashes her pipes-to-die-for on "Chasing Pavements" — one of the standout tracks at the heart of the '00s old-school girl-soul revival — and Jenny Lewis rocks it up, rips it up and throws it back on "See Fernando".

Ladies! It's the 21st century, and there's never been a better time to celebrate all that is great and glorious about being a 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 gorgeosity to "New In Town" by Little Boots, sear the ears off a fool who reckons he's "all that" to the tune of Mz Bratt's "Who Do You Think You Are", 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 Ladyhawke's ultra-energized "My Delirium" to Lily Allen's sideways look at fame, "The Fear", and every track has been handpicked to remind the world that us girls are not just here to stay — we're takin' over.