10 Disney Channel Songs To Kickstart Your Galentine's Day

Disney Channel and Galentine's Day may not seem like they go together and maybe they shouldn't, but like peanut butter and celery, somehow they do.

What is Galentine's Day, you ask?

Made famous by the NBC mockumentary Parks & Recreation, Galentine's Day is a Valentine's Day adjacent celebration that is typically held on February 13. Rather than celebrating with a romantic partner, women come together with their women friends and just have a good time. And what is more fun than getting together with girlfriends (and maybe a few drinks) and singing along to some feel good music?

If you were born in the 90s or early 2000s, chances are, Disney Channel shaped your formative years. From the outfits to the shows to the angsty teen drama, we all wanted to be a part of that world. But arguably the greatest things to come from Disney Channel were the badass female stars and the music they made. And if you're a woman like myself, who finds yourself single this Valentine's Day, you don't have to sit in your room crying to sappy love songs. Instead, grab your girlfriends and get a little throwbacky with these Disney Channel diva gems.

1. "Potential Breakup Song" - Aly & AJ

The type of guy who doesn't see what he has until she leaves

Don't let me go

'Cause without me, you know you're lost, wise up now or pay the cost

Soon you will know

This song was originally released in 2007 and like many songs, has made a resurgence in popularity after a Tik Tok that featured it went viral. And while there was an unsettling number of Tik Tok users who had no idea what this song was and were insanely surprised that it is about Joe Jonas, those of who grew up watching these two women on our screens and reading teen gossip magazines were well aware of just how iconic it is.

This song came out when I was nine years old and I sang along to it because... who wouldn't? But now as an adult, after experiencing inconsiderate boyfriends for myself, I completely get what the anger was about. And when you're with your girlfriends and the inevitable conversation about past relationships comes up, this song is perfect to let out some of that frustration and make yourself feel like a bad b*tch in the process. And because this song is the gift that keeps on giving, the explicit version is available now for those of us who are grown and don't think the words "stupid birthday" are strong enough.

2. "Cinderella" - The Cheetah Girls

I can slay, my own dragon

I can dream, my own dreams

My knight in shining armour is me

So, I'm gonna set me free

The Cheetah Girls were the original gal pals for a lot of us so of course they would have to make an appearance at a proper Galentine's Day celebration. This song screams "I don't need a man." Truthfully, me and my cousins had no business singing this song as hard as we did at five years old, but in our twenties, the message is something that we can fully appreciate now.

This song is all about being independent and defying the idea that girls are somehow the weaker sex. And on a day that is all about women empowering women and embracing singlehood, what message could be any better?

3. "Girl Power" - The Cheetah Girls

Throw your hands up if you know that you're a star

You better stand up if you know just who you are

Never give up, never say "die"

Girl power, girl power

The Cheetah Girls were really giving us feminist bops in the 2000s and it's truly what we deserved. In the movie, the girls sing this song in response to record producer, Jackal Johnson, telling them that they need to change their sound in order to appeal to the masses. But defiantly, the girls sing this song instead which is all about paving your own path and not giving in to the pressure around you. And what is Galentine's Day without lots of girl power and a little bit of defiance?

4. "What Dreams are Made of" - Hillary Duff

I've got somewhere I belong

I got somebody to love

This is what dreams are made of

Did you really watch Disney Channel growing up if you don't sing along to this song every time it comes on? In the Lizzie McGuire Movie, Lizzie and Isabella show their girl solidarity as they work together to expose Paolo. And while the lyrics of this song may sound like it's talking about romance, when you watch the movie, you realize it's really talking about friendship and self love.

5. "Ready or Not" - Bridgit Mendler

Ready or not, here I come

Where you at? The night is young

In the crowd the music's loud but I will find you

One of the best parts about being single is being able to go out and flirt with whoever we want and this song is all about that. In the song, Bridgit spots a guy in a party or club who she thinks is good looking and is bold enough to pursue him. And while you and your friends may not be able to hit a club or a party for Galentine's Day, this song might just give one or more of you the courage to DM the cute guy who's been liking all of your Instagram posts.

6. "The Great Divide" - The McClain Sisters

I'm on your side

Let's take this ride

And together we're facing the world

Doing things nobody's done before

Being single doesn't mean being alone and Galentine's Day is a perfect representation of that fact. This song is about having good friends by your side to take on the journey of life. Friends that make everything a little bit easier. This song is sweet and wholesome and will probably lead to a group hug at the end of it about 99% of the time.

7. "She's So Gone" - Naomi Scott

Here I am, this is me

And I'm stronger than you ever thought I'd be

Are you shocked?

Are you mad?

That you're missing out on who I really am

It is widely agreed upon that Lemonade Mouth has one of the best soundtracks of any Disney Channel Original Movie and this song is probably the best on it. I remember being a seventh grader and singing along to this at full volume when my parents weren't home.

In it, the girl is shedding her old skin and embracing confidence and her inner diva. It's a response to being in an unsupportive relationship (which many of us can relate to) but it is also an anthem for any woman who has ever felt overlooked or underestimated. So whip out your hairbrushes ladies, because this song calls for a full theatrical performance and lots of hair/head whipping.

8. "La La Land" - Demi Lovato

And who said I can't be single

I have to go out and mingle

Baby, that's not me.

No, no.

Ah, the good ol' days when Disney was still branding all of their stars as pop punk artists. I can't say I blame them though. With bands like Paramore releasing hits at this time, everyone wanted to be Hayley Williams and to be fair, this song is definitely one of the best attempts by a Disney Channel artist at pop punk music. And messages like the one in this song are what made pop punk such a popular genre in the 2000s.

This song is all about defying society's expectations. And with Valentine's Day being a holiday where people are expected to celebrate with a romantic partner and with women being constantly bombarded with questions about our love lives, defying society's expectations is exactly what Galentine's Day is. It's a big middle finger to people who ask us when we're getting married or people who perpetuate this idea that female friendships are shallow or full of drama. As Demi rightfully put it, there's no need for us to change to fit "in a la la land machine."

9. "Who Says" - Selena Gomez & The Scene

I'm sure you got some things

You'd like to change about yourself

But when it comes to me

I wouldn't wanna be anybody else

When you're single, it can be easy to feel like something is wrong with you, or probably more likely, for other people to feel like something is wrong with you. But this song is all about embracing who you are and not letting anyone project their insecurities on to you. Even our flaws can be beautiful and when it comes to Galentine's Day, reminding yourself and your friends that they are beautiful and perfect just the way they are, is sometimes the best gift you can give.

10. "Party in the U.S.A." - Miley Cyrus

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick

Too much pressure and I'm nervous

That's when the DJ dropped my favorite tune

And a Britney song was on

Of course I had to end this list with the Princess of Disney Channel herself. I remember how hard everyone would sing this song when it first came out. This was right when Miley was breaking out of her Hannah Montana mold and to this day, it's one of those songs that you can't help but sing along to.

This song isn't just catchy, but it's relatable. It's all about feeling inferior in a world of people who seem so much more successful than you. And on Valentine's Day, it can be easy to feel inferior when you're a single person scrolling down your social media timelines and seeing all of these seemingly perfect couples. But just like Miley does in the song, we just have to learn to embrace the moment and enjoy life in spite of what we see around us.

With the help of good friends and some good music, we can turn our singleness into our own "Party in the U.S.A."

There are many songs that could be added to the perfect Galentine's Day playlist, but what better way to get it started than with some of the women who first made us proud to be girls/women. No matter how you spend it this year, remember that Galentine's Day is all about having fun and celebrating the women in your life (and that includes yourself).

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