From the outset of our discussions, we all knew that “Pussy Bites Back” would be a pivotal moment for our heroines. I was a little nervous to take it on, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. At the writer’s summit, we invoked Beyonce and Lemonade, which lead me to create a “bad-ass ladies of music playlist” as background music while I tackled PBB. I thought the work would be difficult, but with Heart, Janelle Monae, Queen Bey herself, Alanis, and M.I.A. blaring in my headphones, the words started to pour out. And a lot more of them were swear words than I anticipated…I’m sharing with you my very own playlist, minus Lemonade (because it isn’t yet available to stream). The only through line here is strong women, and it’s as varied as our heroines themselves. It starts off with those moments you don’t feel particularly strong, the ones when you question your judgment. We’ve all been there and had an “Only Happy When it Rains” mood. “Right Through You” and “Behind Every Good Woman” represent the realization that you’re done wallowing and you’re ready to push back. Then we get into the really fun stuff.From “Barracuda” to “Bad Girls,” it’s all about re-empowering yourself to go out into the world and start some fires, a few perhaps a little bigger than you intended. And then we round things out with “Q.U.E.E.N.,” “Feeling Myself” and “We Run This,” for those beautiful, unicorn moments when you finally feel at home with yourself and your decisions. If only life had more of those!
