Kathryn Bigelow made Oscar history Sunday night by becoming the first female ever to win Best Director for her film The Hurt Locker. And just what did the Academy do to commemorate this monumental moment? They played Kathryn off with an orchestral version of Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman”. It was a choice so cliche, that it made thousands of women (and men) across the country slap their palms against their foreheads and ask, “Did they really just do that?”. Had we been the musical directors of the Academy Awards Sunday night we think we could have helped avoid such a melodic faux pas. Now, we’re not saying that these are the best song choices that could ever be selected in the history of Oscars, we’re just saying that they would have been better than “I Am Woman”. Check out our picks after the jump—and no, No Doubt’s “I’m Just A Girl” is not on the list.

“I’m Every Woman” – Whitney Houston

“Respect” – Aretha Franklin

“Independent Woman Part I” – Destiny’s Child

“Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” – Eurythmics ft. Aretha Franklin

“This Woman’s Work” – Kate Bush

“Finally” – CeCe Peniston

“Winner Takes It All” – ABBA

“This One’s For The Girls” – Martina McBride

“Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson

“I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas

Like we said, any song would have been a better choice than “I Am Woman”.

–Have a song in mind that didn’t make the list? Leave it in the comment section below.