My Current Feminist Playlist
This is Trina here, and I have a song for everything. I dedicate songs to a moment in time, to a person, to a situation. Music moves me to cry, react, remember what is real and right, and to also relax, be patient and humble. So here is my current feminist song list. It changes often, but here are the songs du jour. I have made a Spotify Playlist entitled, “Trina’s Songs for a Feminist Revolution” instead of linking YouTube videos here, because I want to honor the artists…
I Decide, by the Julie Ruin. I listened to it over and over again a few years back—imagining the same dumb face—until I realized he wasn’t worth my time—much less this song. Now I listen to it over and over and see my own face, and those of my students in our Feminist Student Union.
Invincible, by Pat Benetar. This song is a call to action for all girls. “We can’t afford to be innocent. Stand up and face the enemy. It’s a do or die situation. We WILL be invincible!” Pat, can you record an acoustic version? Everyone—can we please get a punk cover? This song is BEGGING for a fresh coat of paint. Its SO good. And the biggest badass ever—HEIDI—our mentor and friend, loves her.
Joyful Girl, by Ani DiFranco. I recently put this one back in regular rotation after not hearing it for like 20 years. Why in the hell do I keep fighting this fight? “Cuz I want to.” I asked Vivi if it was too painfully predictable that I sent our group this song in a text thread one day. She just looked up lovingly and said, “no way.”
Respect, by Aretha Franklin. You know it. It feels good to hear it—often.
Reflecting Light, by Sam Philips. While not an overtly feminist song, it has incredibly strong messaging for women: “turn and run at the mean dogs, chasing you—stand alone, and misunderstood.” Thank you Sam, from one dark, loving heart to another.
The Boys Wanna Be Her, by Peaches. Yeah, just listen—I don’t need to say anything more.
Once and Never Again, by the Long Blondes. If I could go back in time and play just one song to my lost 19 year old self—it would be this one.
Me Quieren en Chile, by Los Abandoned. This song is full of bad words in Spanish, so don’t play it around your students—even if you think they don’t understand it! But DO listen to it liberally with other adults.
The Pill, by Loretta Lynn. I was fortunate enough to see this goddess perform a while back. Jack White produced a godsend of an album which I listened to everyday for months. It turned me on to her music, and this song is perfection.
Jar of Hearts, By Christina Perri. I play and sing along to this song on my piano at home (BADLY…but I do NOT care). This song is a perfect testament to what happens to our boys if they are not given the support to become whole. All baby boys are born perfect—whole—with the ability to give and receive love. Our societies decimate our men, and they in turn, ruin us.
I’m Just Your Problem, performed by the character of “Marceline” on Adventure Time. I am not the only adult in love with this show. A kindred soul, Anthony Bourdain (RIP) also loved this show. He, like I, was introduced to this show, and its heart-achingly human themes, by his kid. Being a parent has made me so utterly human, and incredibly connected—as much as someone like me can be—to my fellow humans. Some kind of love for everyone, and everything ignited inside of me when I became a mom, and loving MY kid, has nurtured this love in leaps and bounds. In many, fundamental ways, I am not the person I was before he was born. Anyways, this song (which is just a piece of a thing) is incredibly good—like EVERYTHING in “Adventure Time.”
You Don’t Own Me, by Leslie Gore. This one is just incredible. How did this song get made at all?
Fixing Her Hair, by Ani DiFranco. Yeah, I am listening to multiple Ani songs right now. I played this one for the Battered Women’s Support Group I facilitated when I ran the DV shelter. I also quote this song in another blog.
Torn, by Ednswap. Yeah, this is not really a feminist song, but I wind up listening to it along with these others. It was covered by someone else in the 90s, and if you listened to the radio back then, you probably remember it. THIS is the original, and it is epic.
Mother, by Idles. I was gonna put this one in the honorable mentions, because its an all-dude band, but it is the MOST applicable song to this cause, and I quote them on the homepage. “Sexual violence doesn’t start and end with rape. It starts in our books, and behind our school gates.” Thank you Shawn for sending me this one, and so many other excellent songs over the years.
Important honorable mentions, by some rad dudes, and ALWAYS on rotation:
List of Demands (Reparations), by Saul Williams. Holy cannoli—this is one of my all time favorites. I saw him perform at, “The Casbah” in San Diego a kazillion years ago with my amazing husband, and it was the BEST show I think I’ve ever seen. I have had students interpret portions of this song for Black History Month, but I always leave out one line which might get me in trouble: “God is just a baby, and her diaper is wet.” SCREAM along with this one when you think the final straw has landed on your heavily laden back. You won’t break, I promise! Let Saul sing it for you.
Freak Me Out, By Weezer. I have no idea if these dudes are down with the cause, but this song helps center me when people who are numb, dumb, and in charge freak me out.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright, by Bob Dylan. Hear me out here folks. I used to think this song was about some dude who just could not commit properly. Boy, was I wrong!!! I listen and sing along in the car to this one everyday on the way to work. Cuz— there are some GREAT break up songs which can also capture how teachers like me feel about the profession right now. “I gave you my heart, but you wanted my soul.”
Photosynthesis, By Frank Turner. I sent this to Amanda, and we both cried because it so perfectly summed us both up.
Seven Nation Army, by White Stripes. A personal anthem—and a strike line favorite.
No One Knows, by Queens of the Stone Age. Wanna song to help you remember how rad you are when everyone around you is drinking the cool-aide? Here ya go…
Uprising, by Muse. Another personal anthem, and also another strike line favorite.
