This blog will contain 2 playlists, one made by me and one made by Miette. We both work in radio and music is a huge part of our lives. For our Women and Gender Studies creative final project, we decided to discuss feminism in music. We made separate playlists and explained our choices, and will be reacting to each other's choices below!
Haley:
When I think of feminist anthems, these are the songs I go to. They’re by women, about women, and overall empowering tunes that address issues or stereotypes in our society and culture. These tracks emphasize how important the study of women and gender studies is, and their overall contribution to the fourth wave of Feminism.
Here is a break down of each song:
1. Beyonce - "Run the World (Girls)"
2. Kesha "Woman (feat. The Dap-Kings Horns)"
The first two songs on the playlist are both about women breaking gender stereotypes. Queen B, who is one of the most recognizable female artists of the last two decades. Run the World (Girls) was released as the lead single from Beyonce’s fourth studio album in 2011. This track is a definite feminist anthem if I’ve ever heard one. The song is clearly about powerful women ‘running the world’. The repetitive lines,
"Don't buy me a drink, I make my money
Don't touch my weave, don't call me honey"
in Kesha’s song, "Woman" touches on men’s contribution to some issues the feminist movement faces. I believe both songs address gender stereotypes and the ways women break them. These women in the media are reminding the people how important women and gender studies are, without the listeners realizing it.
3. Destiny's Child - "Independent Women"
4. Christina Aguilera - "Fighter"
This song was released as the soundtrack's lead single in September 2000, the song held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eleven consecutive weeks. The song was also part of the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack and pays tribute to self-sufficient, self-motivated, and self-made women. Fighter also has a similar feel and can mean many things to different people, motivating them to break the stereotype that women are weak.
5. Lady Gaga - "Born This Way"
A true icon. This track by the one and only Lady Gaga is not only a feminist anthem but has made an impact in the LGBTQ movement, drag cultures, feminism, and race, plus gender and sexual identity. One verse even manages to touch on most of them at once:
"Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're Lebanese, you're Orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby you were born this way"
The artist told Billboard she believes in being "born this way," but she also believes in being born again, in another way. Identity is as mutable as what outfit we choose to wear, something that constantly changes. What we are born with is something more elemental, not a sexual orientation so much as an essential self which is such an important ideology in many of the topics we covered this semester.
6. Helen Reddy - "I Am Woman"
An older song, which was actually part of third-wave feminism, Helen Reddy was not faced with some of the same love Lady Gaga was with her feminism anthem. According to NPR, the singer’s manager and then-husband, Jeff Wald, met with an executive at her label to discuss this song that she hoped to record with Capitol Records. They said, “That women's lib crap is gonna kill her,” and "why are you letting your wife do this stuff?" The article also stated that Wald, who identifies as a feminist himself, stood up for the song in some crazy ways and told the label executive that he and Reddy both believed the song would speak to liberated women of the era. This is a prime example of how men can hinder or support a movement like the third-wave.
7. M.I.A - "Bad Girls"
This song is not just a genius party anthem, according to Billboard.com, it came as a form of support for the Women To Drive movement in Saudi Arabia. This is just another example of how women in the media, even pop music, can make a cultural and political difference in a feminist movement.
8. Lizzo - "Like a Girl"
A more recent track, Lizzo brings a newer spin to the feminist anthem. Like A Girl celebrates identity and femininity. There are lyrics about succeeding in a male-dominated world and contrasts the negative connotation that is usually associated with the term “like a girl” and flips the narrative to make it a positive.
These last two tracks aren’t specific to feminism but more activist anthems that I wanted to highlight as well. A big part of this class for me was realizing I didn’t need to be at every march to consider myself an activist for any cause.
9. David Bowie - "Changes"
10. En Vogue - "Free Your Mind"
Changes by David Bowie was not meant to become so successful. I think the song connected with his young audience at the time who could relate to lyrics.
"These children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations, they're quite aware of what they're going through."
While this song is motivating and inspires many, Free Your Mind by En Vogue was written in response to the 1992 Los Angeles Rodney King riots. It addresses police brutality and shows that music can have a strong influence on political and social issues. Both an artist and an anthem can have an unexpected impact, so these are just 10 of the songs I think can or already have, done just that.
Miette:
Although Haley and I made our playlists with the same theme in mind, they turned out very different. Not just in our genres of music but the messages as well. I enjoyed that Haley’s playlist was filled with more “bops”. When I say bops I mean that it included more songs that I think of as “hype songs”. Her song choices are songs I really enjoy and listen to when I am in I need a confidence boost as a woman. Songs like “Independent Woman” by Destiny’s Child are seminal feminist anthems and get me in the mood to be carefree and confident.
I also found it interesting that we both included one song by a male. Although these were feminist tracks, it was apparent that we both found it important to “thank” the allies as well.
For my curation of feminist tracks, I wanted to take an alternative approach. I figured a lot of feminist playlists would include artists like Destiny’s Child and Shania Twain (rightfully so). Instead, I wanted to add tracks that might not immediately come to mind, or are feminist tracks of the past. These songs mean a lot to me and my passion for feminism in music.
1. Lesley Gore - “You Don’t Own Me”
I have heard this song in the past, but it really resonated with me when I heard it on Mrs. America on Hulu. If you haven’t watched this series before it is a quality dramatization about the 1970s women’s liberation revolution movement. The song features incredibly strong lyrics that play into the feminist tone. Lyrics like “you don’t own me” and “don’t tell me what to do” give the song an empowering message. Songs like this make me personally feel more confident and encourage me to be outspoken.
2. The Slits - “Typica Girls”
3. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - “Bad Reputation”
4. Bikini Kill - “Rebel Girl”
This Bikini Kill song might have been an obvious choice, but nevertheless it complements the message of the playlist. “Rebel Girl” is definitely a seminal feminist anthem and a shining star in the “riot grrl” era of the 90s. Songs like this and “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett are some of the punk, effortless sounds that give me an empowered feeling. Songs like this with the “I don’t care what you think, I am woman, move out of my way” tone is what I think of most when I think of feminist tracks.
5. Fugazi - “Suggestion”
I decided to add this track, despite the band being an all-male group because the lyrics hold an important anti-rape message. The sexualization of women and unsafe conditions women are forced to endure simply because they are female is portrayed in this track. Fugazi portrays themself as an ally in the song, which is something that is incredibly important in the feminism movement.
“Why can't I walk down a street free of suggestion?
Is my body the only trait in the eyes of men?
I've got some skin
You want to look in there?”
6. Sonic Youth - “Flower”
7. Carly Simon - “You’re So Vain”
This song is not only my favorite feminist song but also just my all-time favorite song. This song reminds me of messages found in movies like Thelma and Louise. This song reminds me of returning the gaze on to men while also normalizing that women can have multiple partners and be independent as well. This song spreads immense female confidence and clever social commentary.
8. Delta 5 - “Mind Your Own Business”
9. Summer Cannibals - “Talk Over Me”
This Summer Cannibals track is an outspoken track about women being talked over and ignored because of their gender. This song is a great example of a feminist track because it holds the same outspoken tone as songs like “Rebel Girl” and has very straightforward lyrics. Lyrics like
“I’m not a bitch, I’d just rather not be harassed”
are straightforward and bold. This lyricism is raw and unedited. It shows that women can be outspoken and want to be respected without being called nasty words. When men are outspoken they are seen as leaders or as “men being men”. Women should be able to stick up for themselves without being looked down upon.
10. Chaka Khan - “I’m Every Woman”
This song is a little, unlike the others. The lyricism is more about being able to be free about your sexuality. The song includes a lot of suggestive lyrics but to me is a “hype song”. This track is the kind of song you put on your playlist to listen to when you are getting ready to go out with the girls. This song exudes confidence and pure joy in being a woman. Songs like these are equally as important because women should be proud to be women despite the oppressive nature of some.
Haley:
Miette and I's playlists are very different but both speak to feminism and this class perfectly. I love hearing Miette's music suggestions. My favorite song on the playlist is Summer Cannibals - “Talk Over Me” as it's relatable and something I would listen to during my regular day.
This project allowed us to find tracks that speak to many things, including empowering women, breaking gender stereotypes, identity, and more. This is a lot of what feminism means to us. Music can carry many themes and it is awesome to have these playlists that speak to empowerment and topics that contrast a lot of mainstream media today.