We need a Bechdel test for music.

[kickassangel]

My suggested rules are:

1. Written by, or performed by a woman.
2. Not about love or wanting a partner or how good looking someone is.
3. Must not contain disrespectful tropes (e.g. The woman who tricked a man by looking so good but acting so bad)

I can't think of many but would suggest

Madonna, Holiday or Dance

Or Mariah Carey Dance with somebody

Or Cyndi Lauper Girls just wanna have fun

There are probably others about wanting to dance. This is a bit tricky as they often imply with somebody, or the while girls look nice but really are jay naughty minxes, but I am having to stretch a point here.

Opps no but I could be a singer in Density child - I'm a little chubby and my spelling is a bit dense :)

Coat of many colours by Dolly Parton would be a great big pass
Walk like an egyptian by the bangles is OK

Talking of The Bangles, 'Manic Monday' ( tho it was written by Prince who tho brilliant, has written a few dodgy lyrics in his time...)

Hate by Cat Power

about her time in rehab and hating herself nothing about loving or needing a man just her own demons

may have missed the point but only song I could think of

FS, that's a good one.

Good Luck, Mr Gorsky by Sleeper (though obviously it's linked to a gatekeepery urban legend)
Black Boys on Mopeds by Sinead O'Connor

There are loads of Kate Bush ones - There Goes A Tenner (about a bank robbery) being just one fairly offbeat example.

And the wonderful Fascinating Aida have given us 30 years worth of incisive and hilarious stuff about everything from cheap flights to bankers bonus.

Catatonia would probably have some.

I put horses heads in people's beds ... Is hardly typical love theme stuff

Indeed! I love I Am The Mob ("he sleeps with the fishes...missus").

Chardonnay, from Cerys's solo album Cockahoop, is also a great homage to said beverage.

Sinead O'connor. ...no mans woman. Talks about a spiritual love which I read as being a self love. In fact almost anything by her.

Joan Jett - Bad Reputation
Joan Armatrading - Me Myself I

Most of the songs from Matilda (OK, not written by a woman but mostly performed by women and girls)

there was a thread on here a while ago about listening to women, particularly those who wrote/co-wrote their own material. i followed up a lot of the recommendations and now buy mainly women artists. i have also adopted a policy of only having CDs featuring women in the car.

off the top of my head i think Sia, Nicola Roberts, Miss Dynamite, Paloma Faith, Laura Mvula all have songs that pass your test. issue is probably more about how much are these songs played/what do the charts have in them.

Two Abba Songs:
Slipping through my fingers
Chiquitita

Musicals have lots of good ones:
Wind beneath my Wings
do you want to build a snowman?
Do, ra, Me
my Favourite Things
Climb Every Mountain
Maria
A spoonful of sugar
Over the Rainbow

Tracey chapman - talkin' about a revolution
I'm sure a few of her others probably are too
Will have a think

Yes behind the wall and she's got her ticket both do too
There's probably more
So
Tracey Chapman

Just a recommendation, but Cerys Matthews on 6Music is excellent. It's on now!

Jessie J - Pricetag