Five-Song Feminist Playlist March 16, 2010 Jill Jezebel has a Feminist Play List of five feminism-inspired songs, and they pick some good ones. But I know Feministe readers are primo Insufferable Music Snobs, so add your selections in the comments. And maybe the most fun thing about making this list? There are so many more than five songs to choose from. Feminism win. My five: Thao – Swimming Pools Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl Queen Latifah – UNITY Loretta Lynn – The Pill Madonna – Human Nature Leave your suggestions in the comments.
Thao is awesome. Bonus points to Loretta for rhyming “garbage” with “yardage.” I submit “Dreams in the Hollow” by Jesca Hoop, both as a statement on gender relations and a damn good song.
Second “U.N.I.T.Y.” That song meant so much to me as teenager growing up in an era of hair band misogyny. I can’t load the Jezebel post, so I’m sure there are some repeats, but I’ll add Sleater-Kinney’s “Anonymous,” Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s “None of Your Business,” and Nina Simone’s “Four Women.”
I totally second jezebel’s “you oughta now”. what a song! i also second u.n.i.t.y., and would add (very mainstream, i know…), pink with “u and ur hand” (i love it, it has so much power and makes me feel happy and strong, if only for the line “i’m not here for your entertainment!”), lauryn hill with “lost ones” (actually most of “the miseducation of lauryn hill”-album, i can’t believe it’s been more than 10 years by now), and “one girl revolution” (by superchick/saving jane). there must be so much more – i’ll think about it… 🙂
Good call on Madonna! “I’m not your bitch don’t hang your shit on me” is probably one of my favourite quotes of all time. Hm. BRB, updating Facebook profile. I have a hard time qualifying a song as feminist, but some of the songs that speak to my feminism are “Take It Off” by the Donnas, “Welcome to England” by Tori Amos, “On the Radio” by Nelly Furtado, “Control” by Poe, and, naturally, “Independent Woman” by Destiny’s Child.
Rose Maddox’ “Single Girl” brings me joy. As far as the dead obvious, Le Tigre’s “FYR.” Dead obvious, Salt N’ Pepa edition: “Ain’t Nothing But a She Thang.” It makes me more than a little twitchy to have Jezebel casting a song with the lyrics,”Are you thinking of me when you fuck her,” as somehow feminist. Odes to feminine rivalry, I tend to think, are difficult to consider empowering.
If I’ve told Lloyd Dobler once, I’ve told him a million times: you need to work out your delts with free weights, not a boombox. “Barbie Be Happy” by Essential Logic, and something by Sister Sledge.
I’m so glad you included Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill!!” That was my first thought. Harper Valley PTA was my second thought…. mostly because I grew up in a conservative area just like the one described.
Those are some pretty awesome songs and Liz Phair will always be on any feminist song list of mine, but here are a few others that I would add to that list. A Dame With a Rod by Julianna Hatfield Can’t Hold Us Down by Christian Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim Daddy I’m Fine by Sinead O’Connor None of Your Business by Salt-N-Pepa Missfit by the HorroPops Bata Motel by Crass
Hm…. I would have to say L7 – Everglade (well, most of their catalog for that matter) White Town – Your Woman (bonus, it’s performed by a man!) Lush – Ladykillers Rasputina – If Your Kisses Can’t Hold the Man You Love, Your Tears Won’t Bring Him Back (live version is better… not that the song is tremendously feminist, but it does fight a certain mentality that sets my feminist teeth on edge). Bis – Girl Star
A bit of a clich̩ but Sisters are doing it for themselves РEurythmics RESPECT РAretha Franklin Valentines Day is over РBilly Bragg
Almost forgot Patti Smith’s Gloria. That’s quite impressive seeing as she’s staring at me from the wall in front of my desk ¬_¬
And don’t forget about this Gloria. I haven’t subjected its lyrics to rigorous analysis, so let’s just say I’m going on gut instinct.
Married in London by Janis Ian (It’s about same-sex marriage) Brushing Her Hair by Ani DiFranco He Thinks He’ll Keep Her by Mary Chapin Carpenter (written after hearing a man say about his wife “I think he’ll keep her”) That’s Not My Name by the Ting Tings (open to interpretation, but to me it’s about other people trying to define someone’s identity)
@Norbizness, your “Gloria” (you’ve officially taken possession) was written by an Italiano dude, but I’m not questioning his ally status.
Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl Patty Smith – Free Money Le Tigre – Keep on Livin The Pansy Division – James Bondage The Blow – Come On Petunia
“Pocket Knife” by PJ Harvey Natacha Atlas’s awesome feminist cover of James Brown’s “It’s a Mans World” “Sister” by Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. I wish I had a copy of the lyrics to post, but it basically starts with the singer apologizing to women for any past disrespect, and (paraphrasing here) saying “What kind of brother am I if I call my sister “bitch” before blinking an eye, but then shake with fear to say the word “feminist”? A lot of songs by Oumou Sangare. I don’t speak or understand Bambara, but I’ve read translations of some of her songs and a lot of them deal with women’s place in society in Mali. Also she’s just super talented and awesome.
Melissa Ferrick’s “Drive” probably isn’t top 5, but it deserves to be nominated! Tori Amos’s “Silent All these Years” is a more obvious choice.
oooh, how about Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard For The Money”, Fiona Apple’s ANYTHING, Lilly Allen’s “Fuck You”, Tina Dico’s “Sacre Coeur”, India.Arie’s newest song “Lion and a Butterfly”, Cyndi Lauper “She Bop”, Mandy Moore’s “Extraordinary” and “Gardenia”, Kelly Clarkson’s “Maybe”, Anna Nalick’s “Shine” and “In The Rough” (although almost any song by her is awesome, including “Paper Bag”). That’s already more than 5, and I could go on! I love music that makes me feel happy for all the right reasons…
@Samantha b: I agree. the Alanis song is not exactly the most woman-friendly thing ever. Amanda over at the Sexist said it well when she put it among her Top 5 Pseudo-Feminist Anthems. @Mighty Ponygirl: completely second Ladykillers. an awesome awesome song. My five: “Typigal Girls” by The Slits. Which makes one of the most effective arguments against compulsory femininity: It’s boring. Huggy Bear’s “Herjazz”. Because. Boy/Girl Revolution! “Me Jane” by PJ Harvey. It’s just not Jane’s job to deal with Tarzan’s shit. Robyn’s “Who’s that girl”. With some really really insightful things to say about impossible standards and being reduced to your appearance. Heavenly’s “Atta Girl”. From their EP of the same title, about unhealthy fixations and date rape. “I don’t have to be cute right through, and can’t you concentrate on something other than me?”
“I’m Just a Girl” by No Doubt. “Not a Pretty Girl,” “32 Flavors,” (and pretty much anything else) by Ani DiFranco. “Hunter” by Dido.
How about Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5? Great song for a working woman: ‘9 to 5, for service and devotion You would think that i Would deserve a fair promotion ‘ ‘Its a rich mans game No matter what they call it And you spend your life Puttin money in his wallet ‘
Loretta Lynn’s ‘Rated X’ Veruca Salt – Seether Lily Allen – It’s Not Fair I want to say Martha Wainwright’s Bloody Motherfucking Asshole but I might just be projecting what isn’t there. It’s worrying that I can’t think of many more off the top of my head actually.
“When I Was A Boy” by Dar Williams. I love Madonna, and even though it’s not explicitly feminist, I have always felt freed by the lyrics to “Swim”, because it’s about liberating yourself from oppressive thoughts and being reborn as someone wiser and stronger, which is the story of so many women I know who are living feminist lives.
The Distillers– Seneca Falls Crass– Bata Motel Propagandi– Refusing to be a Man Chumbawumba– Mary, Mary Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon – Will the Fetus Be Aborted?
Lost Woman Song by Ani D! Me and A Gun, by Tori Amos, though it’s mostly a personal slant on something that feminism is highly concerned with. As Cool as I am by Dar Williams. most everything by Tracy Chapman. <3 i'm totally going to come up with non-90s ones later…
No one’s mentioned the Indigo Girls yet? “Hammer and Nail” gets my vote. For oldies, “Rebel Girl” by Joe Hill, covered by some folkies but clearly not enough.
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. And — as a man — I am ashamed that you all have not yet mentioned it. (Then again, I spent all afternoon listening to Cat Power, and Ani, and Mates of State, and Jill Sobule, and… and… and I just not thought of it!)
My five: Bravedancing: Rachael Sage The story of a woman getting back on her feet after a breakup. “So let faith fall on me now:/ I’m gonna be my own best friend./ If you do not see me bend/ Then you will know I have been bravedancing.” Everyday Goddess: Celia I could listen to this all day: a beautiful picture of a woman making her own way in a man’s world. “She’s a goddess on the phone/ She’s closing up a deal/ And though her back is aching, she’s a goddess in high heels./ They say she’s working like a man/ But they don’t understand/ She’s dancing with the goddess in her heart.” Joan: Heather Dale Joan of Arc has always been one of my favorite feminist figures. “And they won’t call me Mother or Sister or Wife/ They will know me or not by the strength of my life/ I will burn with a light of my own./ They’ll know me as Joan.” Mother of Mine: Susan McKeown The bond between a mother and daughter. “There with the beauty, the briars and the thorns/ For the ways in which all women are bound/ From the garden, I watched the world/ And hoped that it could be/ A better place for a little girl.” Wunderkind: Alanis Morrissette This was written for a “The Chronicles of Narnia” movie. I love it for the choruses. “I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment/ I am a wunderkind/ I am a Joan of Arc and smart enough to believe this:/ I am a princess on the way to my throne.”
Most things by Pink, really. Stupid Girls, U + Ur Hand, Dear Mr. President. 4 Non Blondes — What’s Up? Vagiant — Seven Flyleaf — I’m so sick Meredith Brooks — Bitch There are loads of popular bands out there with what I consider feminist messages too, but many people consider them more socially aware and not particularly feminist.
These get my feminist woman-power going: Cat Power – The Moon Tegan & Sara – Speak Slow Patty Griffin – Florida Lori Carson – Twisting My Words Lily Allen – Smile
I Get Out – Lauryn Hill Precious Illusions – Alanis Morissette Oh Bondage, Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex Cool Thing – Sonic Youth (“I don’t wanna. I don’t think so”. That line is my personal mantra!). Woman – Neneh Cherry’s stunning answer to It’s A Man’s World. http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/neneh+cherry/woman_20099542.html
Just about anything from Metric’s Live it Out album, but especially Patriarch on a Vespa – and also, “Feminism is for everybody” by Anti-Flag. I heart feminist dudes.
1) I will survive -Gloria Gaynor 2) Sisters are doin’ it for themselves (who sings this one again?) 3) Independent Women -Destiny’s Child 4) Black Eyes, Blue Tears -Shania Twain 5) Enough is Enough -Donna Summer and Barbara Streisand
India.Arie – Video and I Am Not My Hair There wasn’t a lot of India love in the Jezebel post either, which is weird because she’s SO feminist: “I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations” and “Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t, sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t, it really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul… I ain’t build like a supermodel but I learned to love myself unconditionally because I am a queen”
Precious – Esperanza Spalding badass jazz bassist/singer in general, but this song rocks: “I’m not gonna sit around And waste My precious divine energy Trying to explain And being ashamed Of what you think Is wrong with me “
So I spend a lot of time trying to find new songs of this sort, and for this reason I’m going to break the 5 rule and list as many as I can think of for everyone else 🙂 1. Christina Aguilera – Can’t hold us down, fighter, here to stay, keep on singin’ my song, make over, hello 2. Fefe Dobson – if I was a guy, as a blonde (both unreleased…you have to look hard to get a copy), bye bye boyfriend 3. Pink (favorite artist EVER) – U and Ur Hand, Stupid Girls, Try Too Hard, ‘Cuz I can, Fingers, Hell Wit Ya, Most Girls, So What 4. Sophia Ramos – Let me tell you something 5. India.Arie and Pink – I am not my hair, Video (just India.arie) 6. Care Bears on Fire – Everybody Else 7. Kristina DeBarge – Goodbye 8. Lily Allen – Knock ’em out 9. Natascha Sohl – If I was a boy 10. The Pussycat Dolls – Whatcha think about that, I don’t need a man 11. Natasha Bedingfield – Single 12. Britney Spears – Womanizer 13. Kelly Clarkson – I do not hook up, Never again, whyyawannabringmedown, 14. Destiny’s child – independent woman (pt. 1 & 2), survivor 15. Nelly Furtado – Powerless, One Trick Pony 16. Donna Summer – I will survive 17. The Veronicas – Revolution 18. Sara Bareilles – Fairytale, bottle it up 19. Beyonce – Single Ladies 20. Kate Earl – Can’t treat me that way