Music Monday: Fighters, in All Forms

I write a LOT of female characters. Some of them are strong from the get go (Em/Madelyne, Annie, Elys) and others have to come into their strength (Gin, Lucy). But one thing that both types have in common is that they have an opposite, a motivator, and that isn't always the antagonist. Tairn, for example, could sit back and blame Taeben for her woes but her motivator is herself, really. She is fighting against years of letting herself believe that she is inferior to her sister, Nel. That's what makes her a fighter...

Fighterby Christina Aguilera
After all you put me throughYou'd think I'd despise youBut in the end, I wanna thank you'Cause you made me that much stronger
Well, I thought I knew youThinkin' that you were trueGuess I, I couldn't trust, called your bluffTime is up 'cause I've had enough
You were there by my sideAlways down for the rideBut your joy ride just came down in flames'Cause your greed sold me out in shame
After all of the stealing and cheatin'You probably think that I hold resentment for youBut uh-uh, oh no, you're wrong'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to doI wouldn't know just how capable I am to pull throughSo I wanna say thank you
'Cause it makes me that much strongerMakes me work a little bit harderMakes me that much wiserSo thanks for making me a fighterMade me learn a little bit fasterMade my skin a little bit thickerMakes me that much smarterSo thanks for making me a fighterOh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah ohh
Never saw it comingAll of your backstabbingJust so you could cash in on a good thingBefore I realized your gameI heard you're goin' 'round playin' the victim nowBut don't even begin feeling I'm the one to blame'Cause you dug your own grave
After all of the fights and the liesGuess you're wanting to hold meBut that won't work anymore (no more, aha, it's over)'Cause if it wasn't for all of your tortureI wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back downSo I wanna say thank you
'Cause it makes me that much strongerMakes me work a little bit harderIt makes me that much wiserSo thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit fasterMade my skin a little bit thickerMakes me that much smarterSo thanks for making me a fighter
How could this man I thought I knewTurn out to be unjust, so cruel?Could only see the good in youPretended not to see the truthYou tried to hide your liesDisguise yourself through living in denialBut in the end you'll see, you won't stop me
I am a fighter and I (I'm a fighter)I ain't gon' stop (I ain't gonna stop)There is no turning backI've had enough
Makes me that much strongerMakes me work a little bit harder (oh)It makes me that much wiser (oh yeah, oh yeah)So thanks for making me a fighterMade me learn a little bit faster (yeah)Made my skin a little bit thicker (yeah, yeah, yeah)Makes me that much smarter (yeah)So thanks for making me a fighter (Fighter)
You thought I would forget but I, I remembered (ooh-ooh-ooh)'Cause I remembered (ooh-ooh-ooh)I rememberedYou thought I would forget (ooh-ooh)I remembered (ooh-ooh)'Cause I remembered (ooh)I remembered
Makes me that much stronger (ooh-ooh)Makes me work a little bit harder (ooh-ooh)It makes me that much wiserSo thanks for making me a fighterMade me learn a little bit fasterMade my skin a little bit thickerMakes me that much smarterSo thanks for making me a fighter