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Women's Music CHAT THREAD

214 replies

InmaculadaConcepcion · 27/02/2012 18:41

I've been nattering away off-topic on Stewie's excellent thread asking for suggestions for her International Women's Day CD...so thought I would start an ongoing thread for anyone who, like me particularly enjoys music by female artists and female-fronted bands.

I'm not looking for lists of recommendations - there are two threads called Music By Women which have dozens of brilliant suggestions of artists to check out.

This is more about sharing a recent discovery (artist doesn't have to be new, though!) - a song, album, band, singer/songwriter etc. etc. that have inspired or excited you and you want to share. Or to chew the cud about anything related to women's music that catches your interest. Please join in!

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Original poster
InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/04/2012 08:08

IC's Tune For Today is taking a break while I go and enjoy the Cornish drizzle for a few days.

So I'll leave you with a live recording from the alt folk outfit, Whalebone Polly which seems to encapsulate the promise of new growth/renewal and other Easter-ish/Spring Equinox type ideas.

"May the fruits of your garden be the sweetest in the land"
Indeed [busmile]

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NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 22:40

Inmaculada there is no shame in liking those songs. They are good, catchy (a pre-requisite I find) pop songs.

Agree re Erin McKeown. That link is great. Bookmarked it for further listening tomorrow.

Original poster
InmaculadaConcepcion · 06/04/2012 21:30

Nich I have to confess I like all of those songs too [bublush]

*Note to self: seriously Spotify Erin McKeowan

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toweraboveyou · 06/04/2012 19:50

Immaculada - Erin is definitely worth checking out, she's incredibly talented, playing every instrument on some tracks.

NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 19:30

A short list of songs my mate Rod was astounded at me liking them:-

Baby One More Time-Britney Spears.
Sweet Dreams My LAX-Rachel Stevens.
Genie In A Bottle-Christina Aguilera.

I suppose he was more used to my usual playlist of Godflesh, Dead Kennedys, Jesu, Carcass, Suicide, Front 242 etc etc somewhat at odds with those songs. My argument was, and still is, that good music is good music, no matter the genre. And those three songs constitute what I call good music.

InAnyOtherSoil · 06/04/2012 18:45

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Original poster
InmaculadaConcepcion · 06/04/2012 18:41

Me too, Nich!

That's interesting IAOS - what did you have in mind? I'm thinking you mean Rhianna with the S&M thing? (Although Florence and The Machine's Kiss With A Fist doesn't sit too well with me either....)
And are you referring to Katy Perry about appropriating lesbianism? I tend to agree with you there if you do..!

Although I have nothing against very poppy pop music per se (and there are one or two Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue tracks that I think are pure pop genius, among others) but I find it more problematic as a feminist in the way the artists tend to be marketed and styled.... I don't necessarily have a problem with people not writing their own songs, but I would find it hard to bracket groups like The Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Destiny's Child etc. with the artists whose work I've linked to in other parts of this thread....(even thought I quite enjoy some of their tunes)...

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NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 16:02

Ooh, I'd completely forgotten about Holly Golightly so thanks for putting that up. She has a really old fashioned 'analogue' sound, which I like.

InAnyOtherSoil · 06/04/2012 15:14

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 06/04/2012 14:31

Ooh, The Donnas had kind of passed me by, but I like that one, thanks for posting it!

And love the Erin McKeown tune - I'll definitely be checking more of her stuff out.

It put me in mind a bit of this one by Holly Golightly:

As for feminist sensibilities of the various artists - well, some are more obviously feminist than others, but I guess unless they're actively trying to kybosh feminism and other women, I tend to be fairly forgiving.

After all, a lot of the songs are simply describing various life experiences from a female point of view in the world we live in and while they might not be especially "right on", I tend to regard the fact that the female artists are doing so at all as a good thing in general terms.
Not to mention that the music industry is still very male-dominated so credit's always due to women who do well in that sphere, especially if it's largely on their own terms (and doesn't involve trampling on other women or becoming a handmaiden of the patriarchy...).

Out of interest, has anyone been turned off a female artist because the things she says or sings about seem to be actively against women's interests? I remember being incensed after reading some very anti-feminist remarks in an interview given by the lead singer of The Cranberries and I've never been able to properly enjoy the music since....

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InAnyOtherSoil · 06/04/2012 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

toweraboveyou · 05/04/2012 19:41

You can't beat a bit of Erin McKeown

NicholasEggcupkozy · 05/04/2012 18:42

You're welcome Immaculada.

I can't find any music here by . This is probably my favourite of theirs, it's quite punky and thrashy. :)

CardgamesFTW · 05/04/2012 18:26

Also enjoying this thread :)

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 05/04/2012 17:16

Everyone welcome! If you hear something that lights you up, please share Smile

Thanks for the Lady Sovereign reminder, Nich - I'm not very well up on urban music, so it's great to get some recommendations in that area!

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EmilyPollifaxInnocentTourist · 05/04/2012 08:54

Thank you for sharing these:)

Crushinghard · 04/04/2012 23:31

Enjoying listening to some of these, thanks.

NicholasEggcupkozy · 04/04/2012 23:19

Further research was done. Her stuff isn't to my taste.

NicholasEggcupkozy · 04/04/2012 22:54

Just been on the Goggle and it's a rapper called C-Mone. Further research is being done. :)

NicholasEggcupkozy · 04/04/2012 22:51

I still like Lady Sovereign. I know rap isn't to everybody's taste, bu I do enjoy British rappers. I also liked the one who guested on The Streets album A Grand Don't Come For Free. She was bloody good. Can't remember her name though, sorry. Blush

Original poster
InmaculadaConcepcion · 04/04/2012 21:55

IC's Tune For The Day

It's ages since I heard anything from Macy Gray. So I thought it was time to remember one of her excellent tunes.

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 04/04/2012 13:35

Good to know the tunes are aiding your recuperation, Sweet!
Get well soon Smile

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SweetTheSting · 04/04/2012 11:08

Off sick and catching up on this thread and links. Love that Be Good Tanyas one. Off to iTunes now!

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 03/04/2012 16:24

IC's Tune For Today

The Be Good Tanyas' mash-up of folk, country and bluegrass in wonderful female harmony is an enticing combination. Well, it tends to entice me, anyhow.
Here's one of my favourites of theirs:

This was recorded when Jolie Holland was one of their number - indeed, I think she was the main writer of this particular song. She's since gone solo, so worth checking out her stuff if you like this one.

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Original poster
InmaculadaConcepcion · 02/04/2012 16:52

IC's Tune For Today

Caroline Martin was beloved of John Peel and recorded a number of sessions for him. Her stuff is often quite dark and biting but always compelling. She's launching a new album in two weeks' time, but in the meantime, here's one of her classic Peel Session numbers:

I Died by Caroline Martin

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