Songs For My Feminist Awakening 

by Leah Capelle

When I was a Junior in high school, I was scuttling along the edge of the campus athletic center to my beat-up 1994 Jeep Cherokee when a male friend accompanying me asked if I was a feminist. I was stunned. I had never taken a moment to actually consider the question. That was one of the first moments, looking back, that I was faced with the harsh reality of my own privilege. 

With my (unfortunately) underserved education on the topic at that time, the word ‘feminist’ left a sour taste in my mouth. I pictured rabid, bra-less women throwing Molotov Cocktails at men unprovoked. Though I knew in my gut that this was not the core of feminism, it was the image that stood out so vividly in my young mind. 

“No, I’m not a feminist. I mean, I agree with some elements of the feminist argument, like that all women should be treated the same as men – but no, I don’t hate men, if that’s what you’re asking…”

My discomfort was palpable. And in my discomfort, I felt embarrassed. Why would I ever question feminism? Why would I ever think twice about women’s rights? Why was my gut reaction a quick and nervous “no?” We engaged in a very intellectual conversation – well, insofar as 17-year-olds from an affluent, primarily white neighborhood could without any true experience in the ‘real world’ – about what feminism meant to us individually, and why it was important. Yet I still recall folding into my car with a distinct mark of quiet shame.

Now, nearly a decade away from that confused, questioning teenager, I am a proud feminist who – coincidentally – doesn’t wear a bra. Thank Gaia.

The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left many of us feeling defeated – our champion has passed on. Her death has poured gasoline on the fight for women’s rights, yet again, as did her impressive and iconic life. In light of her passing, and as a musician and a woman, I am excited to share a little expose on ‘feminist anthems through the years…’

The feminist anthem has morphed many times over – but I would like to break the history into a few categories with subsequent examples. For example, “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks: “I'm a bitch / I'm a lover / I'm a child / I'm a mother…” is actually not that different in tone from Lizzo’s smash hit “Truth Hurts,”: “You coulda had a bad bitch, non-committal / Help you with your career just a little.” So let’s get to it.

Flirty & Fun:

In 1966, Frank Sinatra’s daughter Nancy Sinatra released one of the most famous feminist anthems, “These Boots Are Made For Walking.” The essence of ‘mod’ distilled into music, this song is flirty, fun, and wholeheartedly non-committal. You think you can have *this?* Think again baby.

Flirty & Fun: Then 31 years later in 1997, country-pop queen Shania Twain (and yes, this one’s for you, Fiona,) dropped the equally fun king anthem, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” which immediately became the soundtrack to every female millennial teenagers bedroom-dance parties.

Badass:

Badass: Joan Jett (from The Runaways and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts is one of the mothers of punk. Her song “Bad Reputation,” though maybe tainted for millennials by its relationship to Shrek, is still a classic bad bitch anthem and kicked off a whole wave of women-empowerment songs in the 80s. And the hair, I mean, please…

Badass/SoftCore: Meredith Brooks’ song “Bitch” is an ultra-singable homage to the multi-faceted nature of women and all the roles we play in and out of relationships. A classic from 1997, it’s soft-core but powerful.

SoftCore:

SoftCore: Then, 6 years later in 2003, pop/singer/songwriter Michelle Branch blessed us with “Are You Happy Now?” which got us all thinking, and subsequently tearing around our parents basements, no – we were NOT happy now. And that football-playing boy can go to hell.

Sex Positive:

Sex Positive: Flash back to Sylvia Robinson. Sylvia is coined the first “god-mother of rap” by Billboard as a writer, producer, and A&R, and with her label Sugar Hill, she literally created the template for rap domination in the market. “In 1979, “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang … was not only the first rap single to conquer the radio and the charts, but the first to sell over a million” (Billboard). And her song, “Pillow Talk,” – inspired by the style of Al Green and released in 1973 – was the first recording ever to emulate the female orgasm on tape. Hell. Yes.

Sex Positive: The list of modern day sex-positive songs by women in the music industry could be its own book, but one of my favorites is “Needed Me” by Rihanna. This song just oozes sex. And sorry to use the word “oozes” because of Creed’s line in that one episode of The Office... But still – Rihanna is a modern day feminist icon and her music makes me feel like a bad bitch.

Womanhood:

Womanhood: A literal anthem in all senses of the word, though a little cheesy by modern standards, Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” is one of the first big songs about womanhood that peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts in 1975, though it was released in 1971!

 Womanhood: Joy Williams blessed us with her song “Woman (Oh Mama)” with lyrics like “I am a universe wrapped in skin” in 2015 with a corresponding video that celebrates the feminine physique and is so incredibly empowering to scream along to. I suggest you try it.

Modern Nuance:

Modern Nuance: Again, this list could go on forever, but one of my favorites recently has been Shea Diamond’s “I Am Her.” Shea Diamond is a Black Trans Woman with a superpower voice and unique story to tell. In her own words, “I was born into a gender role that I did not accept & I didn’t feel like myself. Desperate to find the financial means to transition to my true gender, I committed a crime in 1999 & was sentenced to 10 years in a men's prison. While incarcerated, I found a community that shared my trans experience - it was there where I found my voice. I began writing “I Am Her” as a statement to a world that said I shouldn't exist. I wrote it as an anthem for all those that felt shunned for simply being who they were.”

Modern Nuance And finally, to round out this admittedly very eccentric list is Laura Marling. Laura’s sixth studio album from 2015 is called Semper Femina, which thematically circles around womanhood and feminism. One of my personal favorites (though from a different record) is her 2013 release titled “I Was An Eagle.”

Of course, there are so many incredible women left off this list, so send me your list. I’d love to hear what makes you feel empowered and to learn from you. Email me at leahcapelle@gmail.com and let’s talk. 
















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