
Country singer/songwriter Kalie Shorr was named a Woman to Watch 2016 by this blog, and a few others, and this song is the reason why. The video for "Fight Like A Girl" hit YouTube on New Year's Eve, and the song hit iTunes, Spotify and other digital music sellers and streaming sites on January 15. Empowerment anthems are easy to do, but hard to do well. "Fight Like A Girl" is one of those few, outstanding empowerment anthems. Written by Shorr, Lena Stone, and Hailey Steele (all part of Song Suffragettes), "Fight Like A Girl" is a single that sounds like a hit already.
Feminism has such a bad name in society right now. Doing things 'like a girl' continues to be an insult, even after the whole 'like a girl' campaign done last year. It's 2016, yet women still fight sexism, especially in country music. "Girl In A Country Song" by Maddie & Tae was the first real retaliation to how women are treated in country songs, but "Fight Like A Girl" is about a different sexist problem in country music: how labels don't always want to sign/promote female artists because they don't tend to do as well in the radio format, and against those idiots like Keith Hill who think that women don't deserve more than 15% of airplay on country radio. Shorr even directly addressed Keith Hill in the song, or any man who tells girls that they can't be country music singers when she sings "He's calling out my name / he says I'm just a featherweight." at the beginning of the song. This song brings back in the idea of doing something 'like a girl,' but takes it in a completely positive light, and redefines the meaning of the phrase. The chorus of the song says all you need to know about this song and Kalie Shorr:
"I got my high heels on with my boxing gloves
I can knock you out with a one-two punch
Iʼm perfume sweet and whiskey strong
I damn sure ainʼt no underdog
I might fall down, but I get back up
I shine brightest when the goingʼs tough
You say I canʼt, well darling watch me
You canʼt stop me cause I fight like a girl."
Shorr's music incorporates elements of pop and rock music, but her influences are brought together into a country song. This song is a country rock track that shows off Shorr's vocals, as well as emphasizing the extent of Shorr's songwriting ability. The amazing thing about Kalie Shorr is that she puts songwriting first, but still has killer, but unique vocals to match the killer songs she writes. The production of the song overall has a strong feeling, matching the message of the track.
Out of all the songs Shorr has released, whether they have been demos up on SoundCloud, or part of her Nashville Sessions demo EP, or even older songs on iTunes and YouTube, this is the song that represents her as an artist the most, making it the perfect debut single. It's radio friendly while still being country. It's important, and deep, while still being something people can blast at parties, or when they're feeling down. Queens of Country was built on feminism, and this song is a perfect representation of what all women in country music need to be saying about their place in the industry. Women need to fight like girls, and be unafraid to do so, just like Kalie Shorr.
Overall rating: 5 crowns
Out of all the songs Shorr has released, whether they have been demos up on SoundCloud, or part of her Nashville Sessions demo EP, or even older songs on iTunes and YouTube, this is the song that represents her as an artist the most, making it the perfect debut single. It's radio friendly while still being country. It's important, and deep, while still being something people can blast at parties, or when they're feeling down. Queens of Country was built on feminism, and this song is a perfect representation of what all women in country music need to be saying about their place in the industry. Women need to fight like girls, and be unafraid to do so, just like Kalie Shorr.
Overall rating: 5 crowns