Women's Music: love songs, political songs, reverent or irreverent songs, instrumentals ... whatever moves you.
 

I was cruising youtube tonight looking for "Sister", an old song by Chris Willliamson that I have always loved. As I went from one song to another, it became at first a trip down memory lane. Then I came across some powerful music that I had never heard before. Some I listened to over and over again.

Here on the Planet, I love the "dedications" thread because I can get to know some of what you are thinking and feeling by the songs you choose.

I thought it would be good (wonderful? educational? stimulating?) to have a thread just for women's music. (Which I am defining as music perhaps written by women, but at least performed by women for women listeners.)

I can remember the first time I heard a love song sung by one woman for another woman. So many many feelings stirred by that music.
"Lavendar Jane Loves Women" was the very first album of women's music that I owned. So many talented beautiful women performing in those days, the early days, the beginning of women's music. Meg Christian, my personal favorite to this day, Chris Williamson, Teresa Trull, Holly Near, Sweet Honey and the Rock, Janis Ian, and so many others.

For the first time we had good music, well produced, not just back porch music (though that is also wonderful.) I was at the first four years of The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. It was one joyous high after another. Well, then life got in the way, hubby decided to transition and was no longer welcome at the MWMF, so I didn't go either. My life became more and more that of a straight woman, and I lost touch with women's music for a good little while. So I have a lot to learn, a lot to catch up on. That sounds like so much fun.

Will you share with me your own favorites? If you want to tell us a lititle bit about the music, the performer, the history, or the way the music affects you, that would be fabulous.

Smooches,
Keri

"Sister" by Chris Williamson, was one of the songs she wrote to be included in a play about the life of Amy Semple McPherson.

Here's another by Chris WIlliamson. I heard it for the first time tonight. It is hauntingly beautiful. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It is about native women singing together at the end of day.
Smooches,
Keri



"like the power of a woman's voice when she whispers your name"

This one is by Holly Near with Emma's Revolution - also not new, but I never heard it before.
A funny scary song.
Smooches,
Keri

A personal favorite of mine by Meg Christian. I couldn't find a video of her performing it. If you can find one, please post it
Smooches,
Keri

okie dokie..........I am going to be lost in 'filling up and spilling over' and 'kumbya'

however I do find women's music speaking to me for many years.....

try Walela,,,,,,,,,,,

my personal favorite is 'turn my radio on'

I'll Turn My Radio On
All alone and quite contrary
No one to help share my worry
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
When there's one you love dear
Disappear you know not where
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
Sometimes up, sometimes down
Sometimes going around
And around
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
Yes I travel over the highway
And I travel in the air
Couldn't find him anywhere
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
There's no one I can blame
All alone and bear my name
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
From the mountains to the valley
From the deserts to the plains
From the deepests caves of ocean
I've traveled over a canyon again
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll look forward to the day
When the right one comes my way
Nothing more I can do
All alone and sometimes blue
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on
I'll turn my radio on
My radio on

I could not find a utube of it but I did find this.....another of my favorites of these women lead by Rita Coolidge:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRFuc9bVO4M&feature=BFa&list=PL1AD9F68A7BC 2EC97&lf=results_main"]Wash Your Spirit Clean (Song in Cherokee and English by Walela) - YouTube[/nomedia]

I love Teresa Trull. Can't find much of her on youtube.

Fun idea for a thread.

I really didn't post this just because of the "spit on my snatch" line.

mary chapin carpenter is like the mother teresa of song.
a singer, writer, musician. she has moved me many times with her writing.





and another is catie curtis. she's real. she captures humility.

Margie adams. I loved Sweet Honey and the Rock. It seems like it is down to Etheridge and Lang now. Are there new groups...are there anymore festivals ever. Had my nose to the grindstone last 20 Yrs. Im way out of the loopage

Fiona Apple - Slow Like Honey

alix dobkin lesbian code
 

http://youtu.be/yKEHdSB8PXQ

lesbian code

http://youtu.be/sVb-Upncr2s

the women in your life

Just found this one. It sounds pretty current. It's very graphc! It rocks!
Smooches,
Keri

Ah ya, Sweet Honey and the Rock.

Here's a video of Bernice Johnson Reagon from Sweet Honey and the Rock with her daughter.



Just Toshi

She can be my Daddy any day :)

Don't mess with Texas women! Tell it girl <3
 

Phranc singing "Martina"
 

Couldn't resist

Ode to a Gym Teacher - Meg Christian
 

Not my favorite song, but there isn't much on youtube. This one at least shows pictures of her. There was a great song about when the revolution comes that i loved back in the day - "It Won't Take Long." i saw her many times. One of the few "women's musicians" i liked.

Lucille Bogan - B D Woman;s Blues
 

Came across this fantastic artist when I was listening to a few songs by Phranc who I had never heard of before Martin's post (as I said I was out of the loop for a good little while.) This song was recorded in 1935!!! Amazing! I'm including the lyics because I found parts of it hard to understand.

Sending BD woman smooches your way
Keri

Comin' a time, B.D. women they ain't going to need no men
Comin' a time, B.D. women they ain't going to need no men
'Cause the way they treat us is a lowdown and dirty sin

B.D. women, you sure can't understand
B.D. women, you sure can't understand
They got a head like a sweet angel and they walk just like a natural man

B.D. women, they all done learned their plan
B.D. women, they all done learned their plan
They can lay their jive just like a natural man

B.D. women, B.D. women, you know they sure is rough
B.D. women, B.D. women, you know they sure is rough
They all drink up plenty whiskey and they sure will strut their stuff

B.D. women, you know they work and make their dough
B.D. women, you know they work and make their dough
And when they get ready to spend it, they know they have to go

I was just listening to this today. I first heard it on a blues collection called Sissy Man Blues. This CD has many blues songs about taboo subjects, and more songs about gay men than women, but it does include a few that are seemingly about us, such as Two Old Maids in a Folding Bed.

Meg Christian and Holly Near were my introductions to Women's music.

makes me miss being held like this......
 

Butches on my mind tonight.
Smooches,
Keri


Diana Di Gioia intros Butch Daddy Blues

Bumping this thread to ask....

What is the best Catie Curtis album, if you wanted to see if you liked her and had never heard her before...?

Ferron. Our Purpose Here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlUl...&start_radio=1

More Ferron singing Girl On a Road. She played this at the last Michfest and we were all gutted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7C5...0lGtFg&index=3

Ferron, Snowin' in Brooklyn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnvj...0lGtFg&index=8

Ferron, Shadows on a Dime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMvn...lGtFg&index=12

Ferron, Proud Crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAVQsLUBqic