Feminist Songs
Anyone up for creating the ultimate feminist playlist?
What shall we put on it...
Independent Woman by Destiny's Child?
Can't Hold Us Down by Xtina?
I am Woman by Helen Reddy?
God by Tori Amos?
Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush?
Your thoughts plizz and happy listening!
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Ani Difranco
Ella by Bebe (It's in Spanish but still)
Ani Difranco's "Not a Pretty Girl" and "32 Flavors."
Dido's "Hunter."
Stupid Girls - Pink.
Although I can't point to any specific lyrics, R.E.M. tend to espouse political messages that are sympathetic/relevant to feminism.
p.s. I like Tori Amos too.
INDEPENDENT by Webbie (imagine that! A mainstream rap song talking about feminists in a positive light! What is this world coming to)
"Thank God I'm Pretty"- Emilie Autumn. Rather depressing though
"INDEPENDENT by Webbie"
Love it. I wouldn't have made it through my last year of law school without it!
Waltz (Better than Fine)"- Fiona Apple.
Patty Smith
Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band
The Distillers
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
K.D. Lang
Tracy Chapman
L7
4 Non Blondes
Alanis Morissette
Dresden Dolls
Melissa Ethridge
Sinead Oconnor
the Pill Song, Loretta Lynn
Working 9-5, Dolly Parton
Katara, Diamanda Gallas
Beautiful, Christina Aguilera
Dixie Chicks
I'm sure there's a Missy Elliot song or two, Queen Latifah too...maybe a Janet Jackson song?
"Seneca Falls"- The Distillers
Not too many songs about the leaders of the 19th century American women's movement.
Also, for the LGBT side of it: "Allies" by Strike Anywhere.
He-Man Woman Hater by Cheeky
Legislative Bodies Legislating Bodies by Witch Hunt
Suck My Left One by Bikini Kill
Oh Bondage! Up Yours by X Ray Spex
This Is What A Feminist Looks Like by Gruk
Estatdo Asesino by Adelitas
Also songs by Le Tigre, the Coathangers, the Raincoats, Liliput, and Huggy Bear.
"100 Easy Ways" from Wonderful Town!
Shasta or Grandmother Song by Vienna Teng
rock and roll nigger by patti smith.
"She" by Green Day
"Unpretty" bye TLC
Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill
22 by Lily Allen
Bitch by Meredith Brooks
and speaking of editing Wikipedia...someone should add to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Songs_with_feminist_themes
Just a Girl by No Doubt
"As Cool as I am" and "I was a boy too" by Dar Williams
"American Girl" by Trisha Yearwood
"Goodbye Earl" by Dixie Chicks
"Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera.
"The Fear" by Lily Allen
"Vow", "Cherry Lips" by Garbage
"Ampersand", "Oasis", "What's The Use Of Wond'rin'" by Amanda Palmer
This is such a good idea!
Not all of these may be obviously feminist, but they always make my feminist playlist.
La Resistance--Mary Prankster
Passive Manipulation, You Don't Know What Love is (You Just Do As You're Told)-- The White Stripes
City Hall, Whatever You Want--Vienna Teng
Samson--Regina Spektor
A Scale, A Mirror, and those Indifferent Clocks--Bright Eyes
The Story--Jean Grae
and...these
http://www.feministing.com/archives/012247.html
hi
"Nice, Naive, and Beautiful"--Plumb
"Love Song" and "Fairytale"--Sara Bareilles
"What If I'm Right"--Sandi Thom
"Who You Are Without Me" and "Angel"--Kate Voegele
"White Houses"--Vanessa Carlton
"Paper Bag" and "Shine"--Anna Nalick
"Single"--Natasha Bedingfield
Wow, "Respect" hasn't been mentioned yet?!? Or any Pretenders? ("Brass in Pocket" would be number one pick for The Pretenders.) It's so funny -- those were the two most obvious choices to me.
"Girl" by Robots in Disguise
anything by Otep
pzychobitch-Go pussy go
spinnerette has some good songs. The lead singer was the former lead singer of the distillers
and of course anything by sleater-kinney
Oh, and because it's hilarious-- "Natalie's Rap," by Lonely Island.
A few:
Nellie McKay-Mother of Pearl
the Slits-Typical Girls
Huggy Bear-Her Jazz
ESG-Erase You
Queen Latifah-U.N.I.T.Y.
Salt-N-Pepa - Ain't Nuthin' But A She Thing
Ladies Nite in Loserville by Propagandhi.
Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks
Taking the long way - Chicks again (I'm kind of a fan...)
Definitely RESPECT by Aretha
Rebel Rebel by David Bowie (gender bending and also an alternative to pretty-girl images)
You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore (who in general is anti-feminist - see It's My Party and Judy's Turn to Cry - but this song rocks)
Free to Be Me and You?
Seconding the No Doubt Just a Girl suggestion
I love this idea! I'm totally using everyone's suggestions to make my own playlist.
I like "Letter to a John." Ani DiFranco has some particularly feminist music, but that song, for me, is most striking.
Pink has at least a few songs that can be seen as feminist, too, like 18 Wheeler and Stupid Girls. I think Respect is supposed to be one, too, but lately I've noticed it seems to play into the idea that women are supposed to trade sex for relationships (eg., that they'd never WANT to have sex in the back of a limo) and also that if we just "respect" ourselves enough, men will stop mistreating us (victim blaming). Kind of sucks because I liked it a lot when I was younger.
Also, a lot of stuff by My Ruin (metal), Joan Jett (rock), Bif Naked (pop/rock), and Le Tigre (electropop?). For specific songs, I also like "Just a Girl" by No Doubt and "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill.
I keep coming back.
Some cool gender-bending lyrics in Sheila Take a Bow by The Smiths
Mika-- Billy Brown and possibly Big Girls You are Beautiful--challenges the beauty norm, at least
Most of the X-Ray Spex catalog could be described as feminist punk,especially 'Oh Bondage,Up Yours'. Still one of the greatest bands of all time.
Robyn tends to come up with some some feminist songs. I always liked Show Me Love because of the opening lines - "Always been told that I've got too much pride / too independent to have you by my side / But my heart said, all of you will see / Just won't live for someone until he lives for me." It stands out against the conventional idea of how women are supposed to act in relationships and seems like a big FU to people like my friends who always said I needed to stop being so picky otherwise I'd end up single forever, like that's something I should fear.
I also like her song Who's That Girl, which is a rebellion against societal expecations of women being perpetually smiling and polite and existing for the viewing pleasure of others.
You've blown me away! What fab taste we all have.
Been listening to Bitch by Meredith Brooks recently, a re-discovered classic rouser, perfect for Monday morning feelings.
There's a bloke called Billy Bragg who wrote a song called 'New England' (i'm from England btw) that Kirsty MaColl covered, it works better from a female point of view I think. Have a listen and let me know what you think.
Keep going with the recommendations. We clearly have the world's greatest playlist!
I looooove Billy Bragg. Personally I like his version of "A New England" better than Kristy MacColl's (hers is a little to 80s-tastic for me), but it's a great song either way.
Cherry Lips by Garbage is apparently inspired by a book by (pseudnym) TJ Leroy called 'Sarah'. I read the synopsis but couldn't figure out whether it was a book with a feminist message or just meant to be freaky. Can anybody offer an opinion?
Sorry that should be JT LeRoy.
Great idea. How about "I am not My Hair" by India Irie.