Feminist and feminist-friendly music

[lightningandsnow]

We all know there's a lot of sexism in popular music, but there are also a lot of musicians who I think are staunch feminists (even if they don't come out and say it). Here are some of my favorites:

Kathleen Edwards: I love this woman. She's kind of in-your-face, but in a really wonderful way. One of her songs, "In State", is about a woman who reports her career criminal/abusive husband/boyfriend to the police. Another one, off of her newest album, is called "Alicia Ross", and it's about a woman who was murdered by her neighbor. Her music is kind of country/rock-ish. http://www.myspace.com/kathleenedwards

BETTY: Yes, the band who did the L Word theme song. They're all outspoken feminists, and their stuff is really catchy. I'd say it's broadway-inspired indie rock. http://www.myspace.com/bettymusic

The Indigo Girls: Because I just had to mention them. http://www.myspace.com/indigogirlsmusic

Andrea Menard: A jazz/folk singer from Canada. A lot of her songs are about her native American (Metis) heritage, and she wrote and starred in a one-act musical called The Velvet Devil, about a native jazz singer in the 1930's. It was later turned into a movie. http://www.myspace.com/andreamenard

I'm just going by my own musical taste here - so feel free to add your own!

[ismnotwasm]

1. OTEP

Gotta be a metal fan though

http://www.music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16519912

[BlueIris]

2. I think Tori Amos is still pretty feminist friendly.

I have the occasional quibble with some of the lyrics, but other than that, it's still good, pro-woman music. (I didn't love the last album, though.)

[bliss_eternal]

3. She's on my list...

:thumbsup:

...but I agree about the last album. I love Tori and her work, but can only take her in small doses--because so much of her music seems to sound the same (aside from the lyrics of course), to me at least.

[bliss_eternal]

4. I find more in the indie world...

..like Ani DiFranco.
She's never seemed to aspire to mainstream music success and was content to create her own path, with an indie label and self promotion. I admire her work as a musician and feminist.

There are others, I can name in a seperate post (don't want this one to be too long).

There are women within the mainstream music scene that I consider pro-woman, feminist and/or feminist leaning. But some's messages seem to get diluted once the media get's a hold of them. :grr::mad:

For example:

Alanis Morisette's You Oughta Know, became the "anthem for angry women." :eyes:

Fiona Apple's rant at an awards event, about the industry being bullshit, telling young people they needed to find their own path and not be followers--was a thing of beauty as far as I was concerned. The media back lash seemed to eventually force her to a place of distancing herself from that. Now when asked about it, she says she was "young" and overwhelmed by fame and "going through a tough time." :( (sigh)

[NashVegas]

6. My Only Important Factor For Any Female Artist

Is that her music reflects she is following her own muse, IMO.

Alanis' song might have been an anthem for angry young women, but "will she go down on you in a theatre" was directed straight at young men and the marketing guys all knew it.

The record industry chews up and spits out women in the rock genre. Right now there's a talented woman named Erin McCarley whose songs are catchy enough, she's had two songs featured in Grey's and elsewhere. As of this writing, the album is dead on arrival, mostly because its artwork and all the PR photos I've seen indicate she's being marketed as a fucktoy, and thoughtful music listeners don't appreciate that.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Koko Taylor

I'm a WOMAAAAN... W-O-M-A-N!

[He loved Big Brother]

7. Some artists that are great feminists

I loooooooove Ani, Indigo Girls, Tori, Alanis, Bjork, and of course riot grrl music.

I've also discovered some newer artists the last five years or so that are more dance-y, for when I need to power-walk or clean. I try to only like artists that are, I don't know, not assholes. I don't want to waste time being fans of jerks. So I kind of research any artist I may like to make sure they are not "part of the problem".

MIA- So much talent, and went through so much in life.

Peaches- Definitely a woman's woman, and collaborated with many other great women. Might be too racy for some, but she does what she wants, and I like her gender-bending. She has a beard sometimes, which is nothing except that a tiny tuft of hair can be so stupidly provoking and off-putting for the more narrow-minded.

And I just discovered Le Tigre a couple years ago. Seems everyone else knew about them before I did. "Feminist Sweepstakes" is a great album.

[ismnotwasm]

8. I Love Le Tigre

I just put them on, haven't listened to them in a while.

I hadn't paid much attention to Peaches, although I have heard about her. (I'm pretty sure)

So I just listened to "Fuck the Pain Away". One song and she blew me away. I have no problem with "racy" except when it's bullshit, you know, that listen-to-me-I'm-so-hard-core crap. Peaches sounds like she's just telling a truth. I bet she pisses people off.

Thanks for the recs, BTW, I was looking for some new music. A lot of the time I ask my kids, and use my own filter. My youngest daughter works around starving artists types so she tells me the good local music and my son tells me about harder stuff I might like.

I got no time, I swear.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Shirley Manson of Garbage

[BlueIris]

10. Though her more recent stuff is not her best quality, I find Dar Williams to be feminist.

I would be totally comfortable recommending her to any feminist I know.