Exile in Girlville. via hector torres @ flickr
In the spirit (hopefully!) of PhDork’s earlier Friday fun thread, I thought I’d open up the comment boxes for our dear readers to share their picks for those women singers/songwriters/musicians who always seem to strike the right chord when you listen to them. (It’s Friday; I’m allowed to make bad puns.) About 90% of the 700 songs stored on my computer are performed by women. I’ll confess that I’m not exactly sure why my taste in music is so centered around women singers. Maybe it arose out of a frustration that the only really popular rock-type music I heard on the radio was all by male-only bands when I first started my music collection in the early nineties, and so it was infinitely refreshing to discover Hole and L7 and Babes in Toyland — I could listen to women singing about their anger in a way that never made it into the bland, mass-marketed pop songs that surfaced on New York’s behemoth station Z100.
15 years after I started listening to Courtney Love & Co. (Live Through This is still one of my favorite albums), my collection now features a lot of Kim Gordon, Exene Cervenka, Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Beth Orton, Sinead O’Connor, Veruca Salt, Kim and Kelley Deal, Jill Sobule, and Liz Phair. I’ll add a special mention for a terrific and unfortunately defunct Canadian band called Cub, that introduced me to the notion that pop songs could handle lesbian romances with humor and pathos — and not in a Katy Perry way. Sure, my collection features the odd track by Iggy Pop and Lou Reed and Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell and Tchaikovsky and The Lord of the Rings soundtrack thrown in the mix, but they’re anomalies. The women hold the majority, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
So, it’s your turn. Who are the women who make music that you love listening to over and over? (Or do you rarely listen to women musicians, just as I rarely listen to men?) Share whatever thoughts you might have in the comments, and Happy Friday to all!
I listen to Exile in Guyville constantly. STILL.
I love Lucinda Williams.
I find that most of my “frequent fliers” as I call them are women. Sometimes I identify more with the lyrics, or an experience the artist has had. Sometimes I think female artists just seem to make more of an effort to be inclusive in their fan base. Alphabetical as I scroll through my pod:
Adele, Brandi Carlile, Dido, Emily Haines, A Fine Frenzy, Fiona Apple, Garbage, Hem, Ivy, Joan Jett, Mamas and the Papas (go Mama Cass!), Mirah, Patty Griffin, Regina Spektor, Sarah Bareilles, Tori Amos, Tracy Bonham.
I’m sure I missed some.
I still take great solace and joy in listening to Tori’s earlier stuff (In the Pink, Boys for Pele and Choirgil Hotel). Those albums got me through some times, let me tell ya.
In the last five to ten years, I have been quite obsessed with Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, Regina Spektor, Martha Wainwright, Neko Case and Fiona Apple. Just to name a few!
@bluebears: As do I! Just last night, in fact. I also love whitechocolatespaceegg, which has a very different tone but the title song (about motherhood) really grabs me every time and the song “Polyester Bride” is grade-A+ pop rock.
@HistoricUpstart: Yes, those four albums are among my favorites. I confess that everything after Choirgirl kind of faded away for me, but those four albums are terrific. Fiona Apple has become sort of my new standard bearer, especially her song “Extraordinary Machine” which I can never get enough of.
I completely missed the Riot Grrl movement and never got into any of the artists I often hear other feminists mention (Ani DiFranco, L7, Liz Phair…).
But I love Fiona Apple. And Stevie Nicks.
@soalg: oh yeah. Exile is my favorite but honestly there are songs on every one of her albums that I love. Polyester Bride makes me so happy!
Another vote for Regina Spektor!
I also love Amanda Palmer, Adaline (http://www.myspace.com/adalinesmusic), Joanna Newsom (harpist!!), and I’m starting to really love Lady Gaga after seeing her perform some of her stuff live on piano.
I really do love a woman who rocks out hard on the piano.
Mia Zapata! http://www.myspace.com/thegitsrule
NEKO CASE. I listen to Middle Cyclone every day. And I really wanted to see Regina Spektor at the Beacon, but it sold out.
Others I haven’t seen mentioned yet: Bjork, who is a mad genius, and Sharon Jones. Her band, the Dap Kings, are all dudes, but she is the spiritual love child of James Brown and Tina Turner and she will make you dance your ass off. And did anyone mention PJ Harvey? (I’ll probably add more later).
At the same time as Cub was active, on the other side of Canada (Halifax) were two great power-pop groups, Jale and Plumtree. I still listen to them. And then there is Julie Doiron’s solo career (she used to be in Eric’s Trip, anyone hear of them?), which is fantastic. And more recently, some other Maritime artists I listen to are Rose Cousins, Rebekah Higgs, Jill Barber, and Jenn Grant (gotta support the local women!)
I also listen to Kathleen Edwards, Tegan & Sara, and Neko Case.
Also, Joni Mitchell and Buffy Sainte-Marie. Always Buffy.
Great thread!
Oh, such a good topic for a thread!
I love several of the names already mentioned here, and since my tastes run more towards the blues/jazz/folk-y side of things I’ll add Dar Williams (awesome singer and fabulously feminist/progressive lyrics), Erin McKeown, Allison Moorer, Aimee Mann, April Verch, Sarah Borges, Tracy Grammer, the Ditty Bops, and The Wailin’ Jennys.
I’d say ninety percent of my music is women singers/bands. I’d figured out the trend long ago but never had a good explanation for why that is beyond just a general preference.
Lacuna Coil
I’ve seen them twice but they were always an opening band. Once for Disturbed and once for Rob Zombie.
And it always frustrates me that the radio station will play “concert psyching rock” for other opening bands, but never them. Of course they won’t play anything with a woman singer, except for the occassional Evanessence song and it pisses me off so badly sometimes.
@PHDork: I just recently discovered Neko Case and I can’t get enough!
I can’t be the only one who still has a place in her heart for Alanis Morrisette? Aside from the Ironical Irony song not about Irony at all, I love me some Jagged Little Pill. I guess it just spoke to all the crazy feelings and emotions I was dealing with as a teenager.
Besides, ‘You Oughtta Know’ is my go-to karoake jam!
Ahhh, Gretchen, the Ditty Bops! How could I forget? Older stuff: Sweet Honey in the Rock, Big Maybelle, my beloved Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Ella and Billie and Kay Starr and Keely Smith and Rosemary Clooney and Peggy Lee…
Le Tigre, Ladytron, The Muffs, and The Shaggs (please someone else tell me you know and love The Shaggs).
@PhDork: I mentioned the amazing Polly Jean! Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea was one of the key ingredients in my 2002 road trip soundtrack, with the side effect that my dad now loves her music. Same goes for Beth Orton and Joan Osborne, who is SO much more than that “What if God was one of us” song.
@Crabby: I have mixed feelings on Alanis, but some of her stuff is awesome to belt out. Especially when she sings about “the cross-eyed bear that you gave to me”.
@bluenose sailor: You are the first person I’ve ever talked to (or swapped internet comments with) who has heard of Cub. I’m a NYC gal, so they weren’t a local act for me and a friend got me the CD as a 14th birthday gift because he thought the cover art was pretty. I just love them.
I’m gonna throw in some Estelle, Little Jackie, Lykke Li, M.I.A., Sahara Hotnights, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (for Karen O) and, for the quiet times when I am nostalgic for my San Diego days, Tristan Prettyman.
I like singing along to whatever I’m listening to… and it’s easier to sing along to women when you are a woman.
AND I get nostalgic for Lauryn Hill.
Neko Case!
Tori Amos is my #1 girl, her early stuff is classic, but I really like the newer ones too. The Beekeeper is my favorite.
Others: Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Liz Phair, Poe, Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, Patti Smith, Cibo Matto, Feist, Lauryn Hill, Hole, Kimya Dawson, M.I.A., Mazzy Star, Camera Obscura, Cat Power, Janis Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday.
Thanks to this post, I’ll probably have some new faves soon!
@Gretchen: Aimee Mann! I had totally forgotten about her. Time to hit up the iTunes store.
I get nostalgic for Lauryn Hill too!
I would agree with most (haven’t heard them all!) on the above lists, and would add Jill Scott and Carla Bruni. I also urge you to check out “The Hazards of Love” (the new Decemberists album) as Colin Meloy got some badass guest vocalists and they have some of the best parts in the whole album.
Though now I’m listening to one of Lisa Simpson’s favorites–Thelonious Monk.
@SarahMC: Re: your earlier comment about the Riot Grrl movement, I do have TONS of L7/Babes in Toyland stuff, as well as X and Sonic Youth (which doesn’t fall into that category) that I’m always happy to loan out. As for Ani and Liz Phair, I didn’t develop an affinity for them until the summer of 1998. And I never got into Indigo Girls, which made me feel like a huge outsider among other Ani fans.
@joytulip: Kimya Dawson is very cool. I actually was friends in middle school/high school with Adam Green, and it’s so surreal whenever I listen to The Moldy Peaches. As for Suzanne Vega, I love “Tom’s Diner” because I grew up five blocks from that restaurant — and it sucks ass.
Tracy Chapman, Sheryl Crow, Edith Piaf and the Dixie Chicks.
The Susanna Hoffs solo album got me through high school and a lot of tough times. also Beth Orton, Aimee Mann, and Heather Nova (that last one is pretty cheesy, I know
totally agree with Neko Case and Joni Mitchell.
Also I know its ridiculously twee but I love Kimya Dawson.
My all-time favourite is PJ Harvey, I own everything she’s ever done. Also from the UK folk scene – Eliza Carthy, Sandy Denny, the wonderful June Tabor, Shirley Collins, Kate Rusby (i grew up on Irish music, i love a good depressing ballad).
Other than that: Babes in Toyland, Hole and L7 from my university years plus Bongwater if only for ‘The Power of Pussy’ which still makes me laugh, Royal Trux and anything Kim Gordon or Kim Deal do.
Oh and The Cocteau Twins and The Sundays – not all female but great female singers plus Kristen Hersh and Lucinda Williams and Loretta Lynn and EmmyLou Harris (i am not afraid to admit to a bit of classic country love).
Finally Betty Davis, Bettye Lavelle, Aretha, Nina Simone, Etta James, Sarah Vaughn, Darlene Love, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.
Oh and I have a real soft spot for Kirsty McColl and actually Lily Allen who makes me laugh.
Hmm I’m going to stop now or i’d just be going on all bloody day.
Arggh and how could i forget Dusty Springfield – her version of 24 Hours from Tulsa was my wedding dance song.
Also i have a sneaking love of Jenny Lewis as well although not so much the stuff she does with Rilo Kiley.
Seconding Jenny Lewis! Also Sleater Kinney, and Matt & Kim are like buckets of rainbows and sunshine. So much fun!
This is such an awesome post that I, a semi-lurker, am coming out of hiding to say that:
A) Fiona Apple got me through high school.
B) Amy Winehouse, though totally NOT a person to look up to, has some pretty sassy lyrics sometimes and a KILLER voice.
C) Most of what I listen to is classic rock and 90s alternative, so it’s pretty much a guy-fest unfortunately, BUT I recently got heavy into Hole and Veruca Salt and both, but especially the latter, are fantastic examples of women rocking and not just singing about guys and love, but empowering women. It seems like the 90s were a pretty good time, compared to any other time, for women to actually be taken seriously in rock.
My two best girlfriends and I have a running joke about lady singers that stems from a particularly parochial bf giving one of us a Tori Amos CD in college on the theory that all vagina bearers must love all music made by women. Loved the Tori, hated the reasoning. We still regularly make each other “Strong Female Vocals” CDs.
The BF and I saw Neko Case live two weeks ago and we have been listening non-stop to Middle Cyclone ever since. I also like Fiona Apple, older Tori, Adele, The Gossip, Carla Bruni, and Brandi Carlile.
Sahara Hotnights! DM, I thought I was alone in even remembering them. I’ve been listening to Laura Marling a lot lately – she reminds me of Regina Spektor in the way she combines sweetness with creepiness. My favorite combination. And Camera Obscure makes me all swoony. If you want to hear the Russian version of PJ Harvey – that’s a crap description, but I highly recommend her – look up Zemfira. Her videos are on YouTube and she’s awesome and haunting and (gasp! hide the babushki!) maybe a little of the gay.
Fiona Apple and Tracy Bonham always get me through. I can count on their songs to pick me up and send me forward. Melissa Ferrick’s “Drive” gets me all hot and bothered every time. And I love Amy Winehouse for the same reasons as KMars, plus I love singing along.
But far and away the old No Doubt with Gwen Stefani is what I can listen to on endless repeat. “Rock Steady” and the stuff after, not so much, but that early stuff is pure Awesome. “Tragic Kingdom” is like an anthem album for me.
I also enjoy Sia’s “Some People Have Real Problems.” She does some strange, slurry things with her voice sometimes, but all in all it’s worthwhile listen. Plus, in her video for Buttons she has her head wrapped in Saran Wrap. She’s kinda kooky and I like it!
I’m coming out of lurking too, because I can’t believe no one has extensively mentioned the AWESOMENESS that is Shirley Manson!! Her lyrics speak to me in a way that few others can, and her voice is amazing. I think she was, and still is to a lesser degree, an amazing role model for women in music. I feel like she’s only gotten better with time. and that accent! sigh . . .
I’ve always liked smokey bluesy voices. Nina Simone, Bille Holiday. Most people have already mentioned my modern favorites, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple so I’ll go a totally different direction and say that the voice I can’t live without is June Carter Cash. Her final album Wildwood Flower is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.
British singer/songwriter Thea Gilmore. She’s pretty obscure in the US, but OMG y’all she is amaazing….check her out.
Only ONE person has mentioned Dar Williams? Well I’ll mention her again. Dar Dar Dar Dar Dar!
Agree with bellethellama on The Hazards of Love–I just feel bad that I can’t remember the names of the incredible female vocalists.
More: Loreena McKennit, the Indigo Girls, Patty Griffin, Suzanne Vega, Vienna Teng, S. J. “Sooj” Tucker, Tracy Grammer, and several others who have been mentioned already.
Hello Saferide – her song ‘My Best Friend’ is my favourite song of celebration of female friendship.
I also like Jenny Owen Youngs, Emmy the Great, Cat Power, Blossom Dearie, Feist, Bat for Lashes, Pony Up!, Holly Golightly, Nedelle, Au Revoir Simone, All Girl Summer Fun Band, El Perro del Mar, Hanne Hukkelberg and Miss Li, as well as a lot of others already mentioned here.
I love seeing Babes in Toyland mentioned… I grew up in Minnesota and saw them many times. LOVED them. What else… Northern State, Suzanne Vega, Tegan and Sara, Sarah McLachlan, The Trucks, Regina Spektor, Julianna Hatfield, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Imogen Heap, CSS, Siouxsie Sioux… Others I know, but I’m at work and don’t have access to my music library.
I have to second Stevie Nicks! She is my favorite. The songs she writes are very woman-oriented and focus on themes of independence and strength. Also, she has always been very supportive of other women in the music industry.
You guys have mentioned pretty much all of my other favorites. I think women are making most of the good new music these days.
OK, most of my music collection has femal vocalists.
In no particular order..
Sinead O’Connor, Sinead Lohan, cocteau twins, Kate Bush (love love love “Hounds of Love”), Eurythmics/annie lennox, tori amos, pretenders/chrissie hynde, romeo void, salt ‘n pepa, sarah mclachlan, siouxsie sioux, edith piaf, linda ronstadt, stevie nicks, patti smith, aretha franklin, enya, loreena mckennit, dar williams, kate rusby, connie dover
Another lurker coming out of the non-commenter closet for this post.
I know someone mentioned Emily Haines, but what about Metric? Oh my beloved Metric! I keep all the albums on shuffle/repeat for much of my commute time!
Also throw in The Distillers (ain’t nothing greater than a woman who can scream and sing), Feist, The Gossip, Lady Sovereign, definitely Lauryn Hill, Amanda Palmer and my first ever girl crush, Ani DiFranco.
Anyone got some more good reccomendations for post-90′s hard rock and alternative? I know there’s got to be a few more current lady rockers out there.
I listen to The Supremes way too much, and also to the Spice Girls. Heh?
But also: Peaches, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Kim Gordon, and some other stuff. I like any music with girl-yells. I even wrote a paper on girl-yells in music once. Yep.
I’ve been listening to myself a lot lately, honestly.
And I feel like a party pooper saying this but, aside from a few “indie” bands/women, this whole thread has me kind of disappointed. Yes, the artists everyone mentioned are female, but with the exception of Ani DiFranco, every single one of them is on a major label, which are overwhelming run in a sexist manner – only advancing the interests of the occasional woman who fits into a very specific mold.
If we’re going to really challenge patriarchy, we need to do a lot more work in even our leisure activities to uplift women who don’t fit that mold and don’t have the support of these giant blood-sucking corporations. Even smaller labels and organizations do a terrible job of properly promoting female musicians (let alone groundbreaking ones) and it can get very frustrating for those of us who are not on a major label, never could be, and would never want to be that other women (and so many men) are so complacent in where they get their music.
I do my best to write about female musicians as much as I can, though I don’t have a lot of time to write, and a friend of mine is doing music distribution through Etsy. Even if that kind of music isn’t your thing, there are thousands of labels out there releasing all kinds of music that you might like and where your money would mean a lot more than a major label. Some of those labels are owned by women (did you know Ani DiFranco and Joan Jett have their own labels?) and many of them sell women’s music.
So please, for the sake of feminism as well as music itself, branch out and explore!
(I’m going to be really embarrassed if my html doesn’t work.
)
Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), Emily Haines (Metric), and Victoria Bergsman (the Concretes) have been my three favorites for the past few years now. Honorable mention for Hayley Williams (Paramore).
A lot of the ones listed in the post, though, were my favorites throughout middle school, high school, and early college. In a lot of ways, music replaced a social life in that period, and I’m not entirely certain I could have survived my teens without some of these women to keep me company.
@waxghost: Your point is well-taken, agreed with, and very much appreciated; and yes, I personally did know that Ani has her own album label and has for nearly two decades. However, I must point out that not every single artist other than Ani is on a major label, as you state. Exene Cervenka is not (nor were her last two bands, Original Sinners and Auntie Christ), and Cub was never on a major label for the entirety of their existence. As for L7, SubPop was a semi-indie label but not a behemoth like Geffen. Same with Babes in Toyland and their affiliated label Reprise Records. And while I believe Sonic Youth’s best records were produced in the ’80s before they joined up with Geffen (albums like Daydream Nation and Sister), I was unfortunately unable to purchase them during their original runs because I was too young to be aware of them.
@waxghost: And thank you for the links. They’re working for me!
Love a lot of the ones mentioned.
Also, Eva Cassidy – gorgeous, gorgeous voice. Joan Armatrading (“I’m not in love/But I’m open to persuasion), and a more recent addition to my playlist – Inara George.