BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum

The World Beyond BetterMost => Women Today => Topic started by: Brown Eyes on November 16, 2008, 03:44:20 am

Title: "Tell Me About the Game You Won"- Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 16, 2008, 03:44:20 am

Hey Buds!

This thread is dedicated to all the wonderful music by or about women that inspires us.

Keith Richards once said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that music is the little spark that can see us through the darkest of times.

And this is something that I truly believe.  On a personal level, for me, music certainly has helped me through some tough times... and particularly music by or about women.

There are so, so many examples of powerful songwriters and musicians that have inspired women throughout the ages.  Please, please post lyrics and recommendations here!  And, also please post stories about why the music is important to you personally.

From folk singers to rock stars to riot grrrls to country singers to jazz and blues singers, etc. there are so many types of music that have been important to women.  Please share examples that are important to you.



Also, if you make a request, I'll change the title of this thread to reflect a favorite lyric of yours.   Something that inspires you, or that makes you think about something important to women's issues.

Title: Re: "My doll mouth to your deaf ear" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 16, 2008, 03:52:08 am

I started with a lyric in the thread's title that's pretty important to me and that seems to be important for a lot of feminist music... the question of the audience.  Who is listening to feminist music?  And, is music with an important message reaching listeners who might be open to feminist suggestions or ideas (as in changing peoples' minds)... or is a lot of feminist music either not taken seriously or simply "preaching to the choir" in terms of an audience of women who already agree with the content of the lyrics?


The quotation I put in the title of the thread initially "my doll mouth to your deaf ear" ... (for now, until someone else suggests a new lyric) is from a pretty obscure song called "Burn Black" by Hole.  And, it's about just this anxiety... the anxiety about women's music reaching a significant audience... and the question of being taken seriously.

This is a running theme in many songs by Hole... another great lyric on this theme is:

"No one is listening my friends..." from the song "Miss World"

These lyrics are sung somewhat ironically because there's a self-consciousness that there is an interested audience.


But anyway, for me personally, music is hugely important and I love a lot of different kinds of music.  From David Bowie (his music has shaped my life in ways I can hardly describe) to other forms of classic rock, to folk, to punk to even the BBM soundtrack... music has always been an important way in which I cope with life and the world.

When it comes to women's music, I love Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Ani Difranco and a host of other people... but one genre that I run to a lot is riot grrrl music (or feminist punk/ rock).  Some of my favorite bands include Hole, Sleater-Kinney, L7, Le Tigre, Bikini Kill... and other tangentially related bands like Garbage.  The aggressiveness of this music and the bluntness of the lyrics can often be really cathartic to me.  The "surliness" of the music can be such a relief in terms of dealing with frustrations and the inevitable anger that can come up when thinking about some of the more dire and depressing aspects of feminist issues and women's rights struggles.

One of the most interesting things about riot grrrl music is that it's very self conscious and self referential... the music often talks about the music industry itself and the place of women in the music world.  It talks about women trying to make it as professional musicians, but it also talks about things like the safety of women in rock concert audiences, etc.  The lyrics can be truly fascinating.



And, I chose a Hole quotation, because, music by this band really truly saw me through some of my hardest, darkest hours.  And, I can sit and listen to Hole albums almost endlessly.  Courtney Love is definitely a fiasco in terms of being a general public figure.  But, in her real work as a musician she truly is brilliant... her current state is tragic in comparison to her original project.  Her career initially was all about producing really smart, feminist punk rock, which got derailed for obvious reasons.  In her heyday, she was the queen of the riot grrrls and one of the most fierce songwriters.  And, like I said, in my mid-20s when I was going through some tremendously hard times emotionally, her music was really helpful to me.

Reading lyrics without the accompanying music can sometimes be hard, but I'll definitely post some of the more interesting lyrics here in days to come.

 

Title: Re: "My doll mouth to your deaf ear" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 19, 2008, 11:42:04 pm

Cris Williamson's "Waterfall" from her album "The Changer and the Changed". 

I was one of the three men in the audience full of hundreds of women who would go to hear her at Harvard in the 80s.

But it was my best, gay man friend who introduced this to me.

"Filling up and spilling over...."

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpYoK20QpU[/youtube]

Sometimes it takes a rainy day
Just to let you know
Everything's gonna be - all right
All right

I've been dreaming in the sun
won't you wake me up someone
I need a little piece of mind

Wake me from this dream
That I have dreamed so many times
I need a little piece of mind
Oh, I need a little piece of mind

When you open up your life to the living
All things come spilling in on you
And you're flowing like a river
the Changer and the Changed
You've got to spill some over
Spill some over
Spill some over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It's an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It's an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Like the rain, falling on the ground
Like the rain, falling all around....

Sometimes it takes a rainy day
Just to let you know
Everything's gonna be - All right
I know, I know, I know all right

Filling up and spilling over
An endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It's an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Title: Re: "My doll mouth to your deaf ear" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 19, 2008, 11:47:06 pm

Quote from: southendmd on November 19, 2008, 11:42:04 pm

Cris Williamson's "Waterfall" from her album "The Changer and the Changed". 

I was one of the three men in the audience full of hundreds of women who would go to hear her at Harvard in the 80s.

But it was my best, gay man friend who introduced this to me.

"Filling up and spilling over...."

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpYoK20QpU[/youtube]

Heya Paul!  Thanks!!

Can I change the title of this thread to: ""Filling up and spilling over...." ? As, I mentioned in the first post, I'd love to change the title of this thread frequently to reflect favorite lyrics discussed by folks here in this thread.  And people are welcome to make requests of course.
:)

Title: Re: "My doll mouth to your deaf ear" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 19, 2008, 11:48:39 pm

I also love Cris's "Song of the Soul".

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7yjMLNops[/youtube]

Song of the Soul
(Cris Williamson)

Love of my life I am crying
I am not dying, I am dancing
Dancing along in the madness
There is no sadness
Only the song of the soul

cho: And we'll sing this song
     Why don't you sing along
     Then we can sing for a long, long time
     Why don't you sing this song
     Then we can sing along
     Then we can sing for a long, long time

What do you do for a living
Are you forgiving, giving shelter
Follow your heart, love will find you
Truth will unbind you
Seek out a song of the soul

Come to your life like a warrior
Nothing will bore yer, you can be happy
Let in the light, it will heal you
And you can feel you
Sing out a song of the soul

Love of my life I am crying
I am not dying, I am dancing
Dancing along in the madness
There is no sadness
Only the song of the soul

Title: Re: "My doll mouth to your deaf ear" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 19, 2008, 11:49:44 pm

Quote from: atz75 on November 19, 2008, 11:47:06 pm

Heya Paul!  Thanks!!

Can I change the title of this thread to: ""Filling up and spilling over...." ? As, I mentioned in the first post, I'd love to change the title of this thread frequently to reflect favorite lyrics discussed by folks here in this thread.  And people are welcome to make requests of course.
:)

Absolutely, Amanda! 

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 19, 2008, 11:55:36 pm

Thanks Bud!  :D

I really liked this ...

"Sometimes it takes a rainy day
Just to let you know
Everything's gonna be - All right"

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Front-Ranger on November 20, 2008, 12:03:00 am

This music is really new to me, and I look forward to discovering it!!

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 20, 2008, 12:08:04 am

Quote from: Front-Ranger on November 20, 2008, 12:03:00 am

This music is really new to me, and I look forward to discovering it!!

I sort of got interested in the so-called "women's music" of the 70s and 80s.  Personally, I admired Cris Williamson and Meg Christian for their sincerity.  (Holly Near was also very popular, but I didn't relate to her as much.)  They sang unabashedly about loving women!   

Cris and Meg both have "best of" albums on Olivia records; I listen to them often. 

In fact, Cris and Meg appeared together in Carnegie Hall in 1983:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51a0tj4YZbL._SS500_.jpg)

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 21, 2008, 05:08:19 am

I'm with Paul, hunnerd per cent on Cris Williamson and Meg Christian.  In fact I was electrified to see "filling up and spilling over" as part of a thread title here at BetterMost.  Thanks for those YouTubes, Paul, I looked for some about a year ago, and there warn't much.

Not long ago (early this summer?) I saw that Cris Williamson was giving a weekend songwriting workshop about 3 hours from here.  At first instant, I mentally had my bags packed to go, then as I thought about it a few hours, I didn't want to risk reality to spoil my memories of the last nigh on 28 years of love for her music.

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 21, 2008, 05:19:12 am

Ode to a Gym Teacher

Meg Christian

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msIP4k_0QGs[/youtube]


She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

I wrote her name on my notepad and the ink got on my dress
And I etched it on my locker and I carved it on my desk
And I painted big red hearts with her initials on my books
And I never knew till later why I got those funny looks...

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

In gym class while the others talked of boys that they loved
I'd be thinking of new aches and pains the teacher had to rub
And while other girls went to the prom I languished by the phone
Calling up and hanging up if I found out she was home

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along....

I sang her songs by Johnny Mathis
I gave her everything
A new chain for her whistle, and daisies in the spring
Some suggestive poems for Christmas by Miss Edna Millay
And a lacy lacy lacy card for Valentine's Day
(Unsigned of course)

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along...

(Here comes the moral of the song...)

So you just go to any gym class
And you'll be sure to see
One girl who sticks to Teacher like a leaf sticks to a tree
One girl who runs the errands and who chases all the balls
One girl who may grow up to be the *gayest* of all...

She was a big strong woman
The first to come along
To show me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
YOU"LL always be a player on the ballfield of my heart!

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 21, 2008, 05:40:27 am

Cris Williamson - Retrospective

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxCrjY73lz8[/youtube]

"Come to your life like a warrior, nothing will bore you, you can be happy."

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 21, 2008, 05:55:36 am

One of my favorite feminist songs.  It's told from the child's perspective, and while she's hunnerd per cent right that her babysitter's the best one, she doesn't even get the deepest reason why.  I well up every effin time I listen to it.

The Babysitter's Here
Dar Williams

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3D70qDs6rY[/youtube]

Tonight was just great, she taught us the sign for peace.
Now she's made us some popcorn, we've turned out the lights and we're watching movies.
I don't understand and she tries to explain how
A spaceship is riding through somebody's brain and their blood and guts...

She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair, and she's tall as my dad
And she tie-dyed my shirt, and she pierced her own ear
And it's peace, man, cool, yeah, the babysitter's here.

Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own? He says
"Not if she's going to college we won't"
And he kisses her, oh...someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that...

She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair, and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey, the babysitter's here.

And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big card
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn wearing the pink leotard
And there she was leaping up just like she said,
With a sparkling horn coming out of her head
And she's oh...oh... I can't wait to give her the card, I can't wait to give her the card

She's the best one...

But it's Saturday night, I can't sleep, and we're watching the news
She says "Do me a favor, don't go with a guy who would make you choose,"
And I don't understand and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain
Cause she's leaving me...

You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your hair and you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture for college next year
So hush now, peace, man, the babysitter's here.
The best babysitter's here.

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 22, 2008, 12:58:19 am

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5882863-dc4.JPG" border="0" />

Sleater-Kinney

The Professional

"There is a sound
they don't want you to own
Arrest every word
that escapes from your throat
They hand you the world's smallest microphone
It's still too loud and you're asked to go home

She can stay as long as she swears
that when she breathes it will be
her own air
She'll state her case and take up space
and that suffocates-
The professional

There is a sound that they want
you to hear
To drown out the voice
that plays in your ear
They hand you the world's biggest razor blade
an amateur bleeds
but she hardly gets paid

She can stay as long as she swears
that when she breathes it will be
her own air
She'll state her case and take up space
and that suffocates-
The professional

You better watch what you, you better watch what you say, no way
They're coming after you, they'll get in your head, your head, your head, head

She can be mad but they'll let her know
the scorched earth
allows nothing to grow
and she'll be blamed but feel no shame
'Cuz she'll have stopped-
the professional."



This is one of my favorite riot grrrl bands.  I could fill up this thread with their lyrics, they're so wonderful and just as important they're awesome musicians.  I saw them live in Philly during grad school and it was one of those great experiences where the live performance was even better than the albums.  They rock so hard I remember they were dripping with sweat at the end.  They're 3 petite women, which in some ways is such a delicious visual foil on stage to the power of their music and the amount of energy they put into their performances.  Riot grrrl music runs the spectrum from punk to rock... and Sleater-Kinney (or S-K) is closer to the rock side of the spectrum.  Brilliant.  And, this song is a good example of a pattern that runs through almost all riot grrrl music (almost a signature of the movement)... the lyrics often talk about the music business and examining the role for women in rock and punk music.

Title: Re: "Filling up and spilling over...." - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 22, 2008, 01:23:01 am

Hole

Old Age (excerpt)

"...
What was she for Halloween?
The ugliest girl you've ever seen
Someday she will die alone

What was she for Valentine's?
An old forgotten concubine
Someday she will die for no one

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age
Old age
Old age

It's okay to kill your idols
Just pretend you have no rivals
We all know that she is friendless

Spits at mirrors; it's not an issue
Just remove the hateful tissues
We all know her rage is endless

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age
Old age
Old age
Old age

And then she begs and she says "Pretty please?"
I'll make her pure again; I'll make her clean

No one knows she's Hester Prynne
Someone please tell Anne Boleyn
Chokers are back in again

Someday she won't have to fake it
Living will itself seem sacred
Someday she will just refuse

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age..."

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5889888-821.jpg" border="0" />

As I mentioned in my first post of the thread, Hole is another one of my favorite riot grrrl bands.  And, Hole is most definitely on the punk end of the riot grrrl spectrum... the earlier the Hole album, the more hardcore it is usually.  This song, however, is a rare example of an early-ish song that also sounds a bit more like a ballad.  It was published on the album My Body the Hand Grenade, but the song is an outtake from the earlier album, Live Through This.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5889919-b00.jpg" border="0" />

Title: Re: "What It Feels Like for a Girl" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 22, 2008, 06:09:29 pm

Here's one for Madonna fans out there!  You may recall that this song was accompanied by a video (directed by Guy Ritchie) that caused some controversy because it was so raw.  It featured Madonna driving around in a car and crashing into things, and generally going on a rampage.  I assume this was meant to be something of a visualization of feminist anger and frustration.


Madonna

What It Feels Like For A Girl


(Spoken:)
"Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
'Cause it's OK to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like
Wouldn't you?
What it feels like for a girl

Silky smooth
Lips as sweet as candy, baby
Tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches

Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

Chorus:

Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world
For a girl

Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently, baby
Hands that rest on jutting hips repenting

Hurt that's not supposed to show
And tears that fall when no one knows
When you're trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less

(chorus)

Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

(chorus, repeat)

In this world
Do you know
Do you know
Do you know what it feels like for a girl
What it feels like in this world."
   

Title: Re: "What It Feels Like for a Girl" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 23, 2008, 12:56:00 am

Lyrics by Holly Near, music by Meg Christian.  Beautiful melody, but couldn't find a recording.  The verses depict various women and their lot in life:  violence, poverty, loneliness, lack of choices.  I'll just show the chorus.

"The Rock Will Wear Away"

Can we be like drops of water
Falling on a stone
Splashing
Breaking
Dispersing in air
Weaker than the stone by far
But be aware:
As time goes by
The rock will wear away.

And the water comes again...

Title: Re: "Take this pink ribbon off my eyes" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 25, 2008, 03:44:48 pm

Just a Girl

No Doubt
from the 1995 album Tragic Kingdom

"Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And its no big surprise
Dont you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand

Cause I'm just a girl, oh little ol' me
Well don't let me out of your sight
Oh I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So dont let me have any rights
Oh... I've had it up to here!

The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I cant do the little things I hold so dear
cause its all those little things
That I fear

'Cause I'm just a girl,
I'd rather not be
'Cause they wont let me drive
Late at night
Oh I'm just a girl,
Guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
Oh I'm just a girl,
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh... I've had it up to here!

Oh... am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that youll let me be!

Oh I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some
Woh I'm just a girl, whats my destiny?
What I've succumbed to
Is making me numb
Oh I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
Oh I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum theres no comparison

Oh... I've had it up to!
Oh... I've had it up to!!
Oh oh oh oh oh ... I've had it up to here."

Title: Re: "Take this pink ribbon off my eyes" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 26, 2008, 10:38:28 pm

Quote from: southendmd on November 23, 2008, 12:56:00 am

Lyrics by Holly Near, music by Meg Christian.  Beautiful melody, but couldn't find a recording.  The verses depict various women and their lot in life:  violence, poverty, loneliness, lack of choices.  I'll just show the chorus.

"The Rock Will Wear Away"

Can we be like drops of water
Falling on a stone
Splashing
Breaking
Dispersing in air
Weaker than the stone by far
But be aware:
As time goes by
The rock will wear away.

And the water comes again...

:-* again, Paul.  I love that song, and have sung it many, many, many times, though not much in the last decade+.  I tried to find it on YouTube too, but couldnah.

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 27, 2008, 01:36:04 am

Quote from: Ellemeno on November 26, 2008, 10:38:28 pm

:-* again, Paul.  I love that song, and have sung it many, many, many times, though not much in the last decade+.  I tried to find it on YouTube too, but couldnah.

Heya Paul (or Elle)... why don't you go ahead and post the rest of the lyrics to that song even if you can't find a YouTube clip.  I'm interested because it's not a song I'm familiar with at all (as far as I know).

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 27, 2008, 01:49:04 am

Quote from: atz75 on November 27, 2008, 01:36:04 am

Heya Paul (or Elle)... why don't you go ahead and post the rest of the lyrics to that song even if you can't find a YouTube clip.  I'm interested because it's not a song I'm familiar with at all (as far as I know).

That's the whole thing.  :)

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 27, 2008, 10:32:57 am

Quote from: atz75 on November 27, 2008, 01:36:04 am

Heya Paul (or Elle)... why don't you go ahead and post the rest of the lyrics to that song even if you can't find a YouTube clip.  I'm interested because it's not a song I'm familiar with at all (as far as I know).

Sure thing, Amanda. (Had to correct  numerous typos in the wiki lyrics--e.g. "disbursing" for dispersing.)

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  Lyrics by Holly Near, Music by Meg Christian

SIXTEEN YEAR OLD VIRGIN
SPRING TIME TAKES HER TO THE PARK
WHERE THE MOON SHINES DOWN LIKE THE FUTURE
CALLING HER OUT OF THE DARK

BUT HER NIGHTMARE FINDS HER FREEDOM
AND LEAVES HER LYING, WOUNDED, WORN FROM INVASION

LIGHT AS A FEATHER FLOATING BY
LANDING THEN COVERED WITH SOOT
WAITING NOW WATCHING NOW FOR RAIN
TO WASH CLEAN HER PAIN

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY
AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN

3O YEAR OLD MOTHER
AUTUMN FINDS HER PREGNANT ONCE MORE
AND THE LEAVES,LIKE GOLD AND COPPER
REMINDING HER THAT SHE IS POOR
AND HER CHILDREN OFTEN ARE HUNGRY
AND SHE HUNGERS TOO
FOR KNOWLEDGE, TIME AND CHOICES

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY
AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN

80 YEAR OLD POET
WINTER KEEPS HER HOME AND ALONE
WHERE SHE FREEZES
AND DARKNESS KEEPS HER FROM WRITING HER FINAL WISDOM
BUT SHE LIGHTS HER LAST RED CANDLE AND AS IT IS MELTING
TILTING IT, WRITING NOW

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY

AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN...

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 28, 2008, 01:00:40 pm

Thanks Paul! 8)

Yes, I've found it interesting in searching for lyrics online for this thread... there's a lot of variation from website to website for the same songs.  And, some sites are clearly wrong when reading along and listening to the song at the same time... it's easy to find discrepancies.

Quote from: southendmd on November 27, 2008, 10:32:57 am

Sure thing, Amanda. (Had to correct  numerous typos in the wiki lyrics--e.g. "disbursing" for dispersing.)

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  Lyrics by Holly Near, Music by Meg Christian

SIXTEEN YEAR OLD VIRGIN
SPRING TIME TAKES HER TO THE PARK
WHERE THE MOON SHINES DOWN LIKE THE FUTURE
CALLING HER OUT OF THE DARK

BUT HER NIGHTMARE FINDS HER FREEDOM
AND LEAVES HER LYING, WOUNDED, WORN FROM INVASION

LIGHT AS A FEATHER FLOATING BY
LANDING THEN COVERED WITH SOOT
WAITING NOW WATCHING NOW FOR RAIN
TO WASH CLEAN HER PAIN

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY
AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN

3O YEAR OLD MOTHER
AUTUMN FINDS HER PREGNANT ONCE MORE
AND THE LEAVES,LIKE GOLD AND COPPER
REMINDING HER THAT SHE IS POOR
AND HER CHILDREN OFTEN ARE HUNGRY
AND SHE HUNGERS TOO
FOR KNOWLEDGE, TIME AND CHOICES

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY
AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN

80 YEAR OLD POET
WINTER KEEPS HER HOME AND ALONE
WHERE SHE FREEZES
AND DARKNESS KEEPS HER FROM WRITING HER FINAL WISDOM
BUT SHE LIGHTS HER LAST RED CANDLE AND AS IT IS MELTING
TILTING IT, WRITING NOW

CAN WE BE LIKE DROPS OF WATER FALLING ON THE STONE
SPLASHING, BREAKING DISPERSING IN AIR
WEAKER THAN THE STONE BY FAR BUT BE AWARE
THAT AS TIME GOES BY THE ROCK WILL WEAR AWAY

AND THE WATER COMES AGAIN...

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on December 03, 2008, 03:53:59 am

Quote from: southendmd on November 27, 2008, 10:32:57 am

Sure thing, Amanda. (Had to correct  numerous typos in the wiki lyrics--e.g. "disbursing" for dispersing.)

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  Lyrics by Holly Near, Music by Meg Christian

Oh that's right.  There were all those lyrics.  We never sang those, they were just on the album.  :)

Title: Re: "I hear my voice" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on December 12, 2008, 01:00:39 am

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/6063298-d31.jpg" border="0" />

Tori Amos

"Silent All These Years"
from Little Earthquakes, 1991

Excuse me but can I be you for awhile
My dog won't bite if you sit real still
I got the anti-Christ in the kitchen yellin' at me again
Yeah, I can hear that
Been saved again by the garbage truck
I got something to say, you know, but nothing comes
Yes, I know what you think of me
You never shut-up
Yeah, I can hear that

But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice
And it's been here
Silent all these years

So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
What's so amazing about really deep thoughts
Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon
How's that for thought for you
My scream got lost in a paper cup
You think there's a heaven where screams have gone
I got 25 bucks and a cracker
Do you think it's enough
To get us there

'Cause what if I'm a mermaid
In blue jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice
And it's been here
Silent all these
Years go by
Will I be waiting for somebody else to understand
Years go by
If I'm stripped of my beauty
And the orange clouds raining in my head
Years go by
Will I choke on my tears till finally there is nothing left
One more casualty
You know we're too easy easy easy

Well I love the way we communicate
Your eyes focus on my funny lip shape
Let's hear what you think of me now
But baby don't look up
The sky is falling
Your mother shows up in a nasty dress
It's your turn now to stand where I stand
Everybody lookin' at you
Here take hold of my hand
Yeah, I can hear them

But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of yours with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice
I hear my voice
I hear my voice
And it's been here
Silent all these years
I've been here
Silent all these years
Silent all these
Silent all these years


For some very strange reasone I found myself thinking about Tori Amos tonight.  It's strange because in many ways I'm not the biggest Tori fan in general.  I think she has some very strong songs, and an almost equal number of not-so-strong efforts.  And, some of her writing is a little too intense to really quote here (i.e. "Me and a Gun" about rape, etc.).

But, it occurs to me that she has an important place on a thread like this.  I've had several friends in my past who swear by Tori... they say she really helped them through tough times, etc.  And, she undoubtedly has a huge following of loyal and usually feminist oriented women.  One of my good friends from grad school gave me a copy of this album shown here.  She used to tell me that Tori (and a number of other musicians) were something of a lifeline for her when she was extracting herself from an abusive relationship with an ex-boyfriend during her college years.

And, the first woman I ever had a relationship with (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)... but not really a girlfriend (more a fling) was an obsessed Tori fan.  Her license plate on her car said "Tori."

Anyway, I think this is a beautiful song.

One nice thing about this song is that it reads very well as poetry... in the absence of the accompanying music.

Title: Re: "I hear my voice" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on December 12, 2008, 05:13:52 am

Mr. Meno introduced me to Tori Amos's music in 1994.  We went to a concert of hers soon after, and I had an emotional breakdown there.  I cried and cried.  Even walking several blocks to our car afterward, I cried the whole way.  It was an avalanche of tears.  And beautiful Mr. Meno (before he became Mr. Meno) was right there supporting me through it.  It's one of the reasons, probably, that he became my Mr. Meno.

Silent All These Years
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmGnEFu-1_0[/youtube]

Title: Re: "I hear my voice" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on December 12, 2008, 10:33:13 am

Quote from: Ellemeno on December 12, 2008, 05:13:52 am

Mr. Meno introduced me to Tori Amos's music in 1994.  We went to a concert of hers soon after, and I had an emotional breakdown there.  I cried and cried.  Even walking several blocks to our car afterward, I cried the whole way.  It was an avalanche of tears.  And beautiful Mr. Meno (before he became Mr. Meno) was right there supporting me through it.  It's one of the reasons, probably, that he became my Mr. Meno.

Awwwwwwwwww, {{Elle}}  :-* :-*

Yes, I think Tori's music can strike major emotional chords for a lot of people... for a huge range of reasons.

Thanks so much for sharing your response Elle.

cheers,
Amanda

Title: Re: "I hear my voice" - Feminist Music
Post by: Lumière on December 12, 2008, 05:16:12 pm

I love this song...

"Not A Pretty Girl"
Ani Difranco, 1995


I am not a pretty girl
that is not what I do
I ain't no damsel in distess
and I don't need to be rescued
so put me down punk
maybe you'd prefer a maiden fair
isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

I am not an angry girl
but it seems like I've got everyone fooled
every time I say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear
and imagine you're a girl
just trying to finally come clean
knowing full well they'd prefer you
were dirty and smiling

and I am sorry
I am not a maiden fair
and I am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

and generally my generation
wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
and generally I agree with them
trouble is you gotta have youself an alternate plan
and I have earned my disillusionment
I have been working all of my life
and I am a patriot
I have been fighting the good fight
and what if there are no damsels in distress
what if I knew that and I called your bluff?
don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down
whether or not you ever show up

I am not a pretty girl
I don't want to be a pretty girl
no I want to be more than a pretty girl

Title: Re: "I don't need to be rescued" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on December 14, 2008, 01:58:45 am

Hi Milli!  :D

And, hooray for Ani!  I was wondering when Ani would show up in this thread! LOL, I've been stocking up on songs and recommendations to post on this thread over time and Ani is definitely on my "to-post" list.

I saw her in concert in Philly during my grad school years with my girlfriend at the time, and two other lesbian couples that we were friendly with.  It was so fun.  The crowd at her concert was just amazing... talk about a sea of cool women.  And, I remember it was really easy to strike up little conversations with random people going to and from the concert.  It was an interesting community feeling.  And, Ani's energy level on stage was also really fun... but also really meaningful.  Ani certainly has some amazing lyrics.  I love the power she can get out of an acoustic guitar too.

Title: Re: "I don't need to be rescued" - Feminist Music
Post by: Lumière on December 15, 2008, 02:22:48 pm

Hey bud,

"Not A Pretty Girl" is one of my favorite songs.
 There is something about it that soothes me when I listen to it (which I do every other day almost). ;)


~M

Title: Re: "One step forward, five steps back" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on December 18, 2008, 12:51:52 am

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/6117764-fc4.jpg" border="0" />

So, here I'm posting 2 songs by Le Tigre.  This is the second major band formed by the phenomenal Kathleen Hanna.  Hanna is most revered as one of the foundational riot grrrl musicians and the driving force behind the earlier band, Bikini Kill.  Le Tigre is a very experimental band that blends a punk sensibility with retro dance music and electronica.  This description sounds very odd, I'm sure, but their music is both very interesting (and even catchy sometimes) and very smart.  Hanna has such an interesting singing voice too... when she sings her voice can be truly beautiful and lyrical, but then when she wants she can adapt her voice to sound, really, really punk.

As with any riot grrrl band, there's a huge focus on feminist issues and it can usually be assumed that they're addressing a feminist and gay-friendly audience.  Le Tigre routinely addresses both feminist issues and gay rights issues (and often other social issues too) in their lyrics.  Their lyrics often verge on protest music.

The first one here is one of their most polemical songs from the album Feminist Sweepstakes , 2001.  Really, almost any song from this album is relevant to this thread, and I'll probably post a few more as time goes on.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5897825-1d7.jpg" border="0" />



“F.Y.R.”

Ten short years of progressive change.
Fifty f’in years of calling us names.
Can we trade title nine for an end to hate crime?
RU-486 if we suck your f’in dick?
One step forward, five steps back.
One cool record in the year of rock-rap.

Yeah we got all the power getting stabbed in the shower
And we got equal rights on ladies night.

Feminists we’re calling you.
Please report to the front desk.
Let’s name this phenomenon.
It’s too dumb to bring us down.
F.Y.R. Fifty years of ridicule.
F.Y.R. Take another picture.

Mrs. Doubtfire on Mother’s Day.
On-the job stalker for equal pay.
Toss us a few new AIDS drugs as national healthcare bites the dust.
While you were on vacation black people didn’t get reparations.
You know these days no one’s exploited.
Sorry dude can’t hear you with my head in the toilet.

Feminists we’re calling you.
Please report to the front desk.
Let’s name this phenomenon.
It’s too dumb to bring us down.
F.Y.R. Fifty years of ridicule.
F.Y.R. Take another picture.

You’ve really come a long way baby.
It’s you not the world that’s totally crazy.
‘Cause we really rocked the vote with election fraud in poor zip codes.
Celebrate gay marriage in Vermont by enforcing those old sodomy laws.

One step forward, five steps back.
We tell the truth, they turn up the laugh track.
Feminists we’re calling you.
Please report to the front desk.
Let’s name this phenomenon.
It’s too dumb to bring us down.

I wonder whether we could be happy...

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/6117765-425.jpg" border="0" />


And, I love this song about the problem of social apathy or inertia.

“Much Finer”

My mind’s on rewind and quicksand. (what?)
I was up all night doing nothing. (last night again?)
Do you wanna stay in bed all day? (yeah!)
Do you remember feeling any other way? (no!)

I must have been sleeping when you called.
I’m not feeling well at all. (cough, cough.)
I got this thing that’s been going around called please pretend that I’m out of town. (okay?)

I’ll make some coffee, put on some eyeliner.
I think I’ll find that things are fine and they’re gonna get much finer!

Hey look, I’m really sorry I couldn’t make it to your party.
I know it looks like I’m gonna cry. 
Got a to-do list behind my eyes.

So, go tell your friends I’m still a feminist.
But, I won’t be coming to your benefit.
I give up.
I give up.
I’ll be at home today.

Title: Re: "One step forward, five steps back" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on December 18, 2008, 02:51:15 am

Wow, those are powerful lyrics, A.  I've never heard of Le Tigre.  I'm glad to be hanging with you young whippersnappers who keep me au courant.

Title: Re: "One step forward, five steps back" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on December 18, 2008, 11:28:40 am

Quote from: Ellemeno on December 18, 2008, 02:51:15 am

Wow, those are powerful lyrics, A.  I've never heard of Le Tigre.  I'm glad to be hanging with you young whippersnappers who keep me au courant.

Thanks Elle! :)

And, I agree that I've already learned so much from this thread about different music.  And, I love hearing about people's different musical tastes and personal experiences and reactions to music.

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: michaelflanagansf on December 24, 2008, 08:48:49 pm

Quote from: southendmd on November 27, 2008, 10:32:57 am

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  Lyrics by Holly Near, Music by Meg Christian

Hi all - Merry Xmas to you.

Currently I'm reading 'The Mayor of Castro Street' by Randy Shilts, Paul.  I don't know if you know this, but on the night that Harvey Milk was murdered this was the song that Cleve Jones recited at the beginning of the memorial march.

After a year of being told that we are as dangerous as global warming it is worth remembering these lyrics.  Thank you for posting this.

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on December 24, 2008, 11:21:44 pm

Quote from: michaelflanagansf on December 24, 2008, 08:48:49 pm

Hi all - Merry Xmas to you.

Currently I'm reading 'The Mayor of Castro Street' by Randy Shilts, Paul.  I don't know if you know this, but on the night that Harvey Milk was murdered this was the song that Cleve Jones recited at the beginning of the memorial march.

After a year of being told that we are as dangerous as global warming it is worth remembering these lyrics.  Thank you for posting this.

Thanks for that, Michael.  No, I didn't know that.  Good for Cleve. 

I've always thought that gay men and women have a lot to learn from one another. 

Merry Christmas to you, Michael.

Title: Re: "Can we be like drops of water" - Feminist Music
Post by: michaelflanagansf on December 28, 2008, 12:43:25 am

Quote from: southendmd on December 24, 2008, 11:21:44 pm

Thanks for that, Michael.  No, I didn't know that.  Good for Cleve. 

I've always thought that gay men and women have a lot to learn from one another. 

Merry Christmas to you, Michael.

As have I, Paul.  I got a minor in Women's Studies when I got my B.A.

I'm a bit late to wish you a Merry Christmas - although I hope you had one - but Happy New Year!

Title: Re: "One step forward, five steps back" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on December 28, 2008, 03:22:08 am

Quote from: michaelflanagansf on December 24, 2008, 08:48:49 pm

Hi all - Merry Xmas to you.

Currently I'm reading 'The Mayor of Castro Street' by Randy Shilts, Paul.  I don't know if you know this, but on the night that Harvey Milk was murdered this was the song that Cleve Jones recited at the beginning of the memorial march.

After a year of being told that we are as dangerous as global warming it is worth remembering these lyrics.  Thank you for posting this.

Wow, Michael.  I hope Holly Near and Meg Christian know that.  They probably do.   Thanks for posting it, and nice to see you here!

Title: Re: "All my life is right before me" - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on April 03, 2009, 11:30:35 pm

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882813-b2d.jpg" border="0" />

A little while ago Sleater-Kinney came up in some discussions over at Facebook... so they've been on my mind a lot.  One cool thing about that exchange at Facebook is I discovered that one of my co-workers and I have so, so much in common in terms of taste in music.  Now that I know about her interest in Sleater-Kinney... it seems almost completely obvious that she'd be a fan of riot grrrl music like this... as if I should have somehow known or sensed it before the Facebook exchange.

Earlier in this thread I posted a song from what is probably they're best-known album called All Hands on the Bad One (2000).  And, for this post I thought I'd post a handful of songs from another one of their albums called Call the Doctor (1995), which I just love.  I listen to this album over and over.

S-K lyrics are hard to read this way, in linear fashion.  Many of their songs are sung "in the round"... or with two or more voices/ elements of these lyrics intertwining.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882798-11f.jpg" border="0" />

"Anonymous"

she's worried she's worried she's worried she said too much
and talking i'm talking she's talking like books i read
it's easy it's easy it's easy to shut yourself off
never on the record it'll never show up

she wants to be to be anonymous
i sign i sign i sign anonymous

feel safe, inside, inside those well drawn lines
boyfriend, a car, a job, my white girl life
she swallowed the spider to catch, to catch that fly
but i don't know why, why she swallowed that lie

she wants to be to be anonymous
i sign i sign i sign anonymous
she wants to be to be like everybody else
i sign i sign i sign anonymous

not enough for you to know
not enough for you to own
not enough for you to know
not enough for you to own

she wants to be to be anonymous
i sign i sign i sign anonymous

these words are all i have
these words are who i am  

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882809-08b.jpg" border="0" />

"Stay Where You Are"

i can't find you
stay where you are
i'm in the dark
stay where you are

(i'm alright
i feel fine
you're my life
i'm alright)

she's dead if you want and that's me if you want
stuffed in the corner, "little girl lost"
and i claw and i scratch and i beg and i scream
i just need you to save me one last time
it's me if you want but it's not what i want
i want to burn up the place
set it on fire
she's bad because she wants to not be contained
i can't tell the truth, i can't speak this way

you can't find me
you're in the dark
i'm right here
stay where you are

(i'm alright
i feel fine
you're my life
i'm alright)

she's dead if you want and that's me if you want
stuffed in the corner, "little girl lost"
and i claw and i scratch and i beg and i scream
i just need you to save me one last time
it's me if you want but it's not what i want
i want to burn up the place
set it on fire
she's bad because she wants to set things on fire
i can't tell the truth, i can't speak this way

stay where, where, where you are
i'm where, where, where you are

(i'm alright
i feel fine
you're my life
i'm alright)

she's dead if you want and that's me if you want
stuffed in the corner, "little girl lost"
i claw and i scratch and i beg and i scream
i just need you to save me this time
it's me if you want but it's not what i want
i want to burn it up
set it on fire
she's bad because she wants to not be contained
i can't tell the truth, i won't speak your way

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882811-47f.jpg" border="0" />

"Taking Me Home"

you come here to my work
you come here every day
to make sure i'm still here
you look at me that way

rings on my fingers and
bows in my hair
you think i'm your present
you'll unwrap me here

is this a bad dream
is this really my life
well you wanna know
you'll show me tonight

NOT FOR SALE
NOT YOUR GIRL
NOT YOUR THING

i'm here on the counter
with no money down
for nine ninety nine
you're taking me home

a dozen red roses
a cheap little house
a cheap little ring
the deal is cut, now

something is messed up here
something isn't right
we're supposed to be free
i'm supposed to be mine

this part of my body
that you're pricing now
i'm cutting it off
i'm throwing it out

NOT FOR SALE
NOT YOUR GIRL
NOT YOUR THING

i got me mixed up with somebody else
i got me mixed up with somebody else  


<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882810-02b.jpg" border="0" />

"Call the Doctor"

they want to socialize you
they want to purify you
they want to dignify, analyze and terrorize you

this is love and you can't make it
(look out they want what you know)
in a formula or shake me
(steal a kid break a heart steal the show)
i'm your monster i'm not like you
(peel back the skin see what's there)
all your life is written for you
(i'll never show you what's in here)

your life is good for one thing
you're messing with what's sacred
they want to simplify your needs and likes
to sterilize you

this is love and you can't make it
(don't need you to explain the pain)
in a formula or break me
(i can prove to you it's all fake)
i'm your monster i'm just like you
(she's dead but she can stand she can walk)
all my life is right before you
(call the doctor miracle she can talk)

call the doctor
(you)
call the doctor
(are)
call the doctor
(not)
call the doctor
(me)
call the doctor
(YOU)
call the doctor
(ARE)
call the doctor
(NOT)
call the doctor
(ME)

this is love and you can't break it
(this is not really me at all)
in a formula or make me
(stunt girl daring twirls watch me fall)
i'm no monster i'm just like you
(carbon copy same body different hearts)
all my life is right before me
(can't tell anymore the real parts)  

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5882795-c10.jpg" border="0" />

Title: "Mothers, Daughters, Wives" by Judy Small
Post by: southendmd on November 11, 2009, 10:42:40 pm

In honor of Veteran's Day.  Judy Small is an Australian singer-songwriter.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find her version on youtube.  I heard Judy sing this at Harvard 25 years ago.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8AIU4q42mk[/youtube]

Title: "The Rock Will Wear Away" - Feminist Music
Post by: southendmd on November 11, 2009, 11:05:52 pm

Quote from: Ellemeno on November 26, 2008, 10:38:28 pm

:-* again, Paul.  I love that song, and have sung it many, many, many times, though not much in the last decade+.  I tried to find it on YouTube too, but couldnah.

Good things come to those who wait!  I found it!

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  sung by Meg Christian:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNCQZoaI2Uo[/youtube]

Title: Re: "Mothers, Daughters, Wives" by Judy Small
Post by: Brown Eyes on November 11, 2009, 11:45:23 pm

Quote from: southendmd on November 11, 2009, 10:42:40 pm

In honor of Veteran's Day.  Judy Small is an Australian singer-songwriter.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find her version on youtube.  I heard Judy sing this at Harvard 25 years ago.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8AIU4q42mk[/youtube]

Heya Paul!!  Thanks so much for reviving this thread!   :-* :D

It had kind of slipped my mind for a while. :) 

I'll have to chec k out this youtube tomorrow at work (on the faster connection there).

Title: Re: "The Rock Will Wear Away" - Feminist Music
Post by: Ellemeno on November 29, 2009, 05:41:28 am

Quote from: southendmd on November 11, 2009, 11:05:52 pm

Good things come to those who wait!  I found it!

"The Rock Will Wear Away"  sung by Meg Christian:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNCQZoaI2Uo[/youtube]

Thank you, Paul!  I hadn't heard that in a long time.  :)

Title: Re: "I told you from the start just how this would end." - Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on September 03, 2010, 12:50:20 am

I posted this in my blog recently, but it absolutely needs to be here too.

I mentioned in my blog, that in the mid-90s is was a total revelation to me to hear women this bold and fierce. So awesome. Really two of the most powerful songs.
 
The ultimate anthem.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJlkxMnvyo[/youtube]

And, a superb version of "Miss World".  I've watched this about 20 times since I discovered it the other day on YouTube.  

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_LqLS5n6dg[/youtube]

Title: Re: "It's time to stand up ."- Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on February 14, 2011, 12:38:43 am

The Kills- "Cat Claw"

Amazing song and super sexy singer (Alison Mosshart)...

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAErOxuq2Do[/youtube]


I feel the need to explain a bit about the word "kill" in relation to riot grrrl/ feminist punk music.  "Kill" has somehow become a code word/ insider word for feminist rock... and I don't entirely know how it originated.  But, yeah, in terms of an insider term... in "Miss World" by Hole above... there's a famous lyric "kill girls watch, I eat ether...", there's the foundational riot grrrl group Bikini Kill (founded by Kathleen Hanna who went on to found Le Tigre), the group I posted here (The Kills), and there's also a famous riot grrrl indie record label called Kill Rock Stars (who publish music by Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and many, many others).  I don't know if the origin of using the word "kill" comes from the Kill Rock Star label or from Bikini Kill... but it's, essentially, just an interesting phenomenon to be aware of in the category of feminist punk...

Title: Re: "Tell me about the game you won."- Feminist Music
Post by: Brown Eyes on August 09, 2011, 11:26:14 pm

LOL, funny that the last post here was about The Kills.  I saw them in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday and they were absolutely amazing.  The singer, Alison Mosshart is a total powerhouse.
 :)

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyjOzPrWiPA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]