My record collection used to be very male-oriented. Spoiler alert: it still is. Almost everything I bought and listened to, from the 1970s onwards, was by men. There would be the occasional exception, like everything Carole King has ever done, a lot of Carly Simon‘s music, Judee Sill and Laura Nyro, but mainly it would be music by men. And I think that is because during my formative years, and for a few years and decades after, women were there to be seen and literally not heard. The fact of evolution in nature has worked with my music, too, and although my own collection is still massively slanted towards the male species, I’m getting better.
I know I am not alone in this. When people share music on social media, it’s usually men who have made it. And, over the years, I have definitely learned to embrace a wider spectrum of music, not just in terms of sex but genres. Music is my utter obsession and I can’t get enough of it.
Every week, I share on this blog a music shuffle with my loyal reader, where my music machine selects ten random songs from my collection. Today, I’m going to curate – how utterly pretentious is that? -a playlist of songs performed by women. And guess what? Women are every bit as creative and brilliant as men. I’m not going to comment on the songs, just include a link to each one and if you like it, you can do your own research. This is not me being a lazy bastard – honest, guv – but if you want to find some great music, why not make an effort? Anywhere, here goes:
- Regret by St Vincent.
- Rae Street by Courtney Barnett.
- I Was Neon by Julia Jacklin.
- It Changes by Amber Arcades.
- Smoke by Caroline Polachek.
- Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling.
- Prism by Say She She.
- TQG by Karol G and Shakira.
- Despechá by Rosalía.
- Green Garden by Laura Mvula.
As I enter life’s geriocracy, I know I am still in the learning stage of discovering music by women. This has not been a deliberate effort to be more right on or anything. But after years of listening to new music, particularly on the greatest radio station of them all, BBC Radio 6 Music, I am simply coming across more of it.
Now I am still in the learning phase of music made by women, as I enter the geriocracy of my life, and my own regret is that I have been too narrow-minded in not allowing myself to listen to more of it. I grew up largely with music made by men and it didn’t occur to me that beyond Carole King there might be more music out there other than that made by men.
I hope you enjoy these tracks. It turns out that women are at least the equal of men in the world of music and my life is far better for having learned it.
PHOTO AT THE TOP: Caroline Polachek in Bristol, 2023.
