“Come on girls! Do you believe in love?” It’s the siren call of Madonna’s 1989 smash hit, “Express Yourself.” Even the “Queen of Pop” knows that it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of romance and it’s easier to lose sight of yourself and your needs. That’s why Madonna wrote “Express Yourself”. In it, she voices the need to be yourself and not be afraid to speak up for what you want – even if that means losing the other person. It’s a brilliant display of independence within relationship. She declares in the chorus, “Don't go for second best, baby / Put your love to the test / You know, you know, you've got to / Make him express how he feels / And maybe then you'll know your love is real.” It’s the boost of confidence every woman needs to be fiercely independent and still in love at the same time.

-J. Jones