WOMEN IN POWER !

For the past 2 weeks in class we've been talking about 60s,70s, women & music. We watched a video about this women being housewives and how she was tired of doing the samething everyday. The video was pretty funny but it also shows how she wanted to show that’s she’s more than a housewife. She went out, proved that she could more than that.

   On Tuesday, we listened to a song by Kathleen Hanna and I personally disliked it because it was too loud and a lot of screaming. I also understand the message of the song. Afterwards, we watch a documentary about Kathleen. In the documentary, we learn about her, and why she wanted to start the band because she wanted her voice to be heard. Kathleen is the type of women that I would love to be friends with because I love her confidences, bravery, and she makes you feel like you shouldn’t be afraid of who you’re. It only takes, one person to stand up in order for everyone else to follow. It goes to show, if you believe in something. DO IT! If you have something to say. SAY IT!

    We also had to another group presentation. Each group was given artists names and we got to pick 2 songs for 2 artist given. My group and I decided to pick a Lil Kim and Alanis Morissette. We split up the work, the females did one song and the males did the other. I’ve  already heard the song by Lil Kim and the Alanis song never heard of it before. Alanis song is very relatable to people that’s going through a bad break up, someone leaving them for someone else, heart break, and etc. I personally hate presenting but it went by quick and I wasn’t bothered by it. Most songs, that are made by female singers talks about how strong, heartbroken, will fight back, won’t listen, doesn’t care, getting over someone, believe in yourself and etc. Women are taking a stand and won’t put up with anyone’s mess anymore. Back in the day they couldn’t fight for what they believed in. Now we can. Thank you, to the brave women that stood up for us and being able to have a voice without a man permission.  

Influential Women In Music

             This past week we have had class discussions, watched videos, watched our classmates presentations and even created our own presentations after doing our own research. It has been really eye opening to how much women have changed in the music industry and how they have used their platform to change the world. From their lyrics, wardrobe and personality traits, women have had an incredible change and impact to the world. They have used their platform they were given and were courageous, strong and brave as they spoke and influenced their fans. 

T-BONES, CHILLI AND LEFT EYE

                  The girl group TLC has made a lasting impact on pop culture and for women in the black community from their rap and r&b sounds. The group sold 65 million records worldwide making themselves the best selling girl group of all time not only that but their girl power anthem has made a lasting impression with the public this song is “hat 2 da back”. The songs play on sexuality and vulnerability as they proudly showcase their own style of their femininity. within the song hat 2 da back they sing about women who choose to be a gender nonconformist by having the freedom to choose what you would like to wear and celebrating that they get to be themselves within fashion that wasn’t deemed acceptable for women to wear like baggy clothes and backward baseball caps a fashion trend that became extremely popular for both men and women in the mid to late 90’s.
  the song is great it truly is an anthem for women to see beauty in other ways than what is deemed acceptable because for both genders norms are so narrow-minded and having a view that is so unique can be considered taboo. tcl wanted to show that there is more to life than fitting in that standing out is wonderful because the only person that will live your life for you is yourself so doing what you like is the best option. i personally enjoyed their message because its nice that a celebrity would say something like that during a time where they can lose so much from saying that. compared to now so many artists can have songs about being yourself that you will be fine but it doesn't seem as authentic rather than it being a trend to look good. back then you had to careful and walk on eggshells as an artist because of strict beliefs.
Being that I am the kinda girl that I am
Nobody can make me do what I don't want to
I can be myself a lot and I'm proud of what I got
So I'll never change for you
Being that I am the kinda girl that I am
Tight jeans don't hit the scene with one like me
I got to be feeling free and you better believe I'll
Do what pleases me
Yo Left Eye kick the scene

Dixie Chicks

This week in class we discussed different female artists and the different types of music that they created. The song that stood out to me was “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks. I have always loved country and it is a genre that my whole family listens to, but I recently noticed that the majority of my playlist was male artists. After hearing this song, I was interested to see how a female country group sounded in comparison to what I was used to. 

The song addressed the controversy that the group faced after the comment that they made about former United States President, George Bush. I could feel how passionate the group was about what they were singing, and I could see how the controversy affected them. I really enjoyed how the song sounded because it was upbeat, but it was also very easy to tell that they were unhappy. Before I heard this song I had never listened to the Dixie Chicks, but I really enjoyed them and will most likely add some of their songs to my playlist. 

                                              

                                           Okay, Ladies Now Let’s Get in Formation!

This week we covered multiple women icons that influenced women across the country. We talked about Bikini Kill, and many other women icons. We did a group presentation about women like TLC, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliot, and Lil Kim. These artists had the same tone with their music they all created an upbeat song with important lyrics.

Our group discussed TLC’s No Scrubs, and Janet Jacksons Rhythm Nation. TLC’s No Scrubs is a song about girl power and not needing a man when women can do things themselves. The term no scrub means a broke guy. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation gave me a Michael Jackson vibe to it because of Janet Jackson’s music video, choreography, and clothing. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation was actually my favorite because of the creative and powerful music video when I watched It, I felt the message of unity and women empowerment.

I think today women are still underestimated and they are not taken seriously. Women can do anything that a man can do. These artists truly did show America how to stand up and be a leader. Women are the face of the country! Girl Power!

Girl Power!

This week we learned about women's bold barrier-breaking actions in the music industry. My group and I researched Hole and Lil' Kim. Both Hole and Lil' Kim rose around the 1980s and set taboo images of themselves to show leadership and inspire girls and women. Each of their styles were very outgoing; each portraying sexual personas and exploitation of themselves. This was far from the norms at the time. Both artists created a step in the revolution of feminism becoming normalized. Both wanted equality for women and wanted to speak their minds for what they deserve.

As a female, I am so thankful that these great influencers were able to take steps to reach a goal for all women. Girls should always help and empower girls! I think it takes a really bold person to be so outward with themselves, so to put themselves out there shows a lot about what their morals are. The fact that so many female artists such as the ones I discussed, Rihanna, TLC, and more all stood for what they believed in and weren't afraid to show it really inspired me. I usually hate confrontation but learning about how these women weren't afraid o show their opinions really got me thinking about how I should voice mine more!

Doll parts

In class this week we spent time watching the fascinating documentary on Bikini Kill. I had never before heard of this band, which really surprised me after watching the movie and seeing how popular they were during the 1990s. They were an American punk rock band that came to be because of Kathleen Hanna's feministic values and need to get her voice heard. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna  guitarist Billy Karen , bassist Kathi Wilcox and drummer Toni Vail. The band is considered to be one of the greatest influences for the Riot girl movement. The band was especially known for their radical feminist lyrics and untraditional performances. They sung about sexual abuse, body image, equality and was completely unfiltered. This shocked a lot of people and made them grow to popularity because no other band had ever done something of this sort before. The band interacted with audiences, often directing all women to the front of stage and men in back, which was unheard of before this time. The singer Kathleen Hanna was unapologetic, and had enegery and spunk that lit up the entire concert atmosphere. 

Similar to Bikini Kill, Hole is a well known American band that grew to popularity in the 1990s. My group spent some time researching the band and the music they created. Like Bikini Kill, Hole was a feminist centered band that sang about real life issues pertaining to women during the 1990s.

They were an American rock band that grew to fame in 1989. They were an alternative rock band whose style was influenced from the punk scene of Los Angeles California. The band was formed by singer Courtney Love, and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. Through their musical career the band had a shift in drummers and bassists, but their most famous members were Patty Schemel and Kristen Pfaff. The band is known to be one of the most successful female fronted rock bands of all time. Together, over three million of the bands records have been sold in the United States alone. Their songs were known to expose serious issues of this time, such as gender issues, body image, abuse and sexual exploitation. One of their most famous songs "Doll Parts" was a particularly good example of the issues they would write upon. Their lyrics would be sung about feeling lifeless, having to live up to perfection and wanting to be loved. Generic issues women felt but never prior sung about to the extent they did.

"I am doll eyes, doll mouth, doll legs

I am doll arms, big veins, dog bait
Yeah, they really want you
They really want you, they really do
Yeah, they really want you
They really want you, and I do too"

A complete different style from Bikini Kill and Hole, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and missy Elliot were also big female performers in the 90's. They however had very different presentations of themselves as well as lyrics. These female rappers tended more to promote sexuality, sing more explicit lyrics and dress more exposing. They were different than the bands, but like so did something never before seen, and grabbed a lot of attention by doing so. They rapped lyrics about men typically men would rap about women, and showed the world women can produce any types of music they like.