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40 Amazing Spoken-Word Performances You Need To Listen To

The words you did not know you needed.

Indira Midha

Jan 12, 2018

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

718

40 Amazing Spoken-Word Performances You Need To Listen To

YouTube

I've loved spoken-word poetry since the sleepover during my freshman year of high school when my friend showed me "Pretty" by Katie Makkai while we painted our nails light purple. Five years later, I watch Button Poetry religiously, and I even write and perform some of my own pieces. I specifically love watching pieces on topics of empowerment, resilience, and social activism. Here are a few of my absolute favorites.

1. "Pretty" by Katie Makkai

2. "Heels" by Imani Cezanne

3. "Black Boyfriend" by Dave Harris

4. "Not A Leader" by Muna Abdulahi

5. "Here" by Aman Batra

6. "9 Things I Would Like To Tell Every Teenage Girl" by Melissa Newman-Evans

7. "When The Fat Girl Gets Skinny" by Blythe Baird

8. "Abuela Disciplines Dominican Drake" by Noel Quiñones

9. "Ten Responses To The Phrase 'Man Up'" by Guante

10. "OCD" by Neil Hilborn

11. "Shrinking Women" by Lily Myers

14. "Dear Straight People" by Denice Frohman

15. "You Can't Have My Culture" by Kito Fortune & Aman Batra

16. "Relapse" by Blythe Baird

17. "Why We Dance" by Dave Harris

18. "21" by Patrick Roche

19. "10 Honest Thoughts On Being Loved By A Skinny Boy" by Rachel Wiley

20. "Like Totally Whatever" by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

21. "Friend Zone" by Dylan Garity

22. "Weighing My Worth" by Beck Cooper & Jim Dulin

23. "Art Major v. Derrick" by Cy Ferguson

24. "Fat Girl" by Megan Falley

25. "Explaining My Depression To My Mother" by Sabrina Benaim

26. "To The Boys Who May One Day Date My Daughter" by Jesse Parent

27. "Skirt Steak Girls" by Blythe Baird

28. "Mom" by Alyesha Wise & Aman Batra

29. "Word Choice" by Imani Cezanne

30. "Mother Loves Me" by Arvind Nandakumar

31. "I Don't Have An Anxiety Problem" by Aman Batra

32. "For Colored Girls (The Missy Elliot Poem)" by Ashlee Haze

33. "My Name" by Yesika Salgado & Aman Batra

34. "For Teenage Girls" by Clementine Von Radics

35. "Pocket-Sized Feminism" by Blythe Baird

36. "Shiv" by Rachel McKibbens

37. "Yet Another Rape Poem" by Blythe Baird

38. "Too Big" by Beck Cooper

39. "The Help" by Ashlee Haze

40. "Girl Code 101" by Blythe Baird

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25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

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Recommended for you

40 Amazing Spoken-Word Performances You Need To Listen To

The words you did not know you needed.

1. "Pretty" by Katie Makkai

2. "Heels" by Imani Cezanne

3. "Black Boyfriend" by Dave Harris

4. "Not A Leader" by Muna Abdulahi

5. "Here" by Aman Batra

6. "9 Things I Would Like To Tell Every Teenage Girl" by Melissa Newman-Evans

7. "When The Fat Girl Gets Skinny" by Blythe Baird

8. "Abuela Disciplines Dominican Drake" by Noel Quiñones

9. "Ten Responses To The Phrase 'Man Up'" by Guante

10. "OCD" by Neil Hilborn

11. "Shrinking Women" by Lily Myers

14. "Dear Straight People" by Denice Frohman

15. "You Can't Have My Culture" by Kito Fortune & Aman Batra

16. "Relapse" by Blythe Baird

17. "Why We Dance" by Dave Harris

18. "21" by Patrick Roche

19. "10 Honest Thoughts On Being Loved By A Skinny Boy" by Rachel Wiley

20. "Like Totally Whatever" by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

21. "Friend Zone" by Dylan Garity

22. "Weighing My Worth" by Beck Cooper & Jim Dulin

23. "Art Major v. Derrick" by Cy Ferguson

24. "Fat Girl" by Megan Falley

25. "Explaining My Depression To My Mother" by Sabrina Benaim

26. "To The Boys Who May One Day Date My Daughter" by Jesse Parent

27. "Skirt Steak Girls" by Blythe Baird

28. "Mom" by Alyesha Wise & Aman Batra

29. "Word Choice" by Imani Cezanne

30. "Mother Loves Me" by Arvind Nandakumar

31. "I Don't Have An Anxiety Problem" by Aman Batra

32. "For Colored Girls (The Missy Elliot Poem)" by Ashlee Haze

33. "My Name" by Yesika Salgado & Aman Batra

34. "For Teenage Girls" by Clementine Von Radics

35. "Pocket-Sized Feminism" by Blythe Baird

36. "Shiv" by Rachel McKibbens

37. "Yet Another Rape Poem" by Blythe Baird

38. "Too Big" by Beck Cooper

39. "The Help" by Ashlee Haze

40. "Girl Code 101" by Blythe Baird

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

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