Red Ajah’s International Women’s Week – Music for, by, or about women

[poetstorm]

If anything, the field of music seems almost to be the great equalizer. Male and Female singers abound in every generation and have found their way to fame.

 

What are some of your favorite songs written or sung by women, written about women, or are inspiring to women?

 

I'll start with two of my favorite female artists: Loreena McKennitt and Martina McBride

 

Loreena McKenniitt - "The Mystic's Dream"

Boy does she have such a beautiful voice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDoHh2wtz4

 

Martina McBride - "This ONe's For the Girls"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTowId2CWHA

[poetstorm]

These two are not only sung by women but are also about women. Both are from a vocalist named Heather Dale.

 

Joan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84xZYSQRhQ4

 

I love the chorus on this one:

 

And they won't call me mother, or sister, or wife

They will know me or not by the strength of my life

I will burn with a light of my own

They'll know me as Joan

 

 

The next one is called "One of Us"

It is about an unnamed female warrior and the confidence she inspires in others.

 

Lyrics:

Before I got to fighting (or when fighting got to me)

I looked to find examples on the field of chivalry

I saw mighty arms much stronger than my arms would ever be

And I thought perhaps the field was not for me

 

But I stayed and watched the fighting 'til one figure stood apart

In armour newly fashioned and a helm more pot than art

But each blow was thrown with honour and a lightness of the heart

So I took that step which soon became a start

 

'Cause she was not the biggest fighter nor one to raise a fuss

But I remember being proud that she was one of us

And we might never stand together in the shield-wall side by side

But because of her I lift my sword with pride

 

She was ladylike and lively, not the type you would expect

With a braver heart than many and a slot-shot to respect

I guess she'd once decided this was where she'd like to be

And I thought if she could do it, why not me

 

'Cause she was not the biggest fighter nor one to raise a fuss

But I remember being proud that she was one of us

And we may never stand together in the shield-wall side by side

But because of her I lift my sword with pride

 

So now as I gather armour, bits and pieces here and there,

I think about examples: how you act, and what you dare

'Cause you never know who's watching or how far the story goes

And where'er that Lady is I hope she knows

 

'Cause she was not the biggest fighter, nor one to raise a fuss

But I remember being proud that she was one of us

And we might never stand together in the shield-wall side by side

But because of her I lift my sword with pride

We may never stand together in the shield-wall side by side

But because of her I lift my sword with pride!

[poetstorm]

Here's two more I find inspirational...and I promise that's it for tonight. Music is kinda my thing LOL. I could go on all night. :D

 

Superchick - Stand in the Rain

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlXlUgHUc60

 

 

And Miley Cyrus - "The Climb"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

Lyrics:

I can almost see it

That dream I'm dreaming but

There's a voice inside my head sayin,

You'll never reach it,

Every step I'm taking,

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking but I

Got to keep trying

Got to keep my head held high

 

There's always going to be another mountain

I'm always going to want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle,

Sometimes you going to have to lose,

Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what?s waiting on the other side

It's the climb

 

The struggles I'm facing,

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes they knock me down but

No I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm going to remember most yeah

Just got to keep going

And I,

I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on, cause

 

There's always going to be another mountain

I'm always going to want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle,

Sometimes I'm going to have to lose,

Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

 

There's always going to be another mountain

I'm always going to want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle,

Sometimes you going to have to lose,

Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

 

Keep on moving

Keep climbing

Keep the faith baby

It's all about

It's all about

The climb

Keep the faith

Keep your faith

[Panchi]

My favorites-

Shreya Ghoshal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYSA1kMKx-g

 

Sunidhi Chauhan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQr8lD7Kvpk

[Panchi]

Lata Mangeshkar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1UgUpKz3Lc

[poetstorm]

My favorites-

Shreya Ghoshal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYSA1kMKx-g

 

Sunidhi Chauhan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQr8lD7Kvpk

OOh I like these! Though I wish I understood what they were singing. Sunidhi Chauhan has an awesome voice. ^^

[poetstorm]

Here's a really pretty melody from a Japanese vocalist.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDlz7AHFlhw

 

Ooh...more prettiness! Just found this one. Beautiful voices and beautiful scenery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQNB2sea894

[Mystica]

I have one!!! OMG OMG! *restrains herself*

 

Anneleen Lenaerts, a Belgian young woman of only 23 has landed the job as First Harpist in the world renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

While the VP Orchestra has up to 140 musicians playing, there are only 27 members of the ensemble. The other musicians are referred to as 'non-members'. Only those 27 are considered 'members of the association of the Vienna Philharmonic' and as such, they act as judges whenever a new member needs to be chosen.

 

Out of the 700 candidates that sent in their resumes, only 7 were invited for an audition. The candidates had to play with the 27 members who could not see the candidates, only hear them. For a screen seperated the 27 judges from the applying candidates. That way, they had to judge solely on what they heard and not on what they saw.

 

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was until very recently an all-male ensemble where women could not become a member eventhough there were female musicians playing in the orchestra as non-members. This changed in 1997 when the first female musician was granted membership after having played with the ensemble for over 20 years. Slowely (as these things go) the tide is turning, but still today there are only 7 (inlcuding Anneleen now) women out of the 140 musicians in the orchestra.

 

As a Belgian (and a woman), needless to say I am extremely proud of this young woman and her accomplishments and her music is absolutely beautiful (to use an understatement).

 

But judge for yourself

 

Click to visit Anneleen's website,

where you can listen to her work

 

The Vienna Philharmic Orchestra

Click to visit their site

[Tynaal Consen]

One of my all time favourites by.. Elton John which is Candle in the WInd which he wrote in honour of MArilyn Monroe.

 

 

Lyrics:

 

Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

They crawled out of the woodwork

And they whispered into your brain

They set you on the treadmill

And they made you change your name

 

chorus:

And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

And I would have liked to have known you

But I was just a kid

Your candle burned out long before

Your legend ever did

 

Loneliness was tough

The toughest role you ever played

Hollywood created a superstar

And pain was the price you paid

Even when you died

Oh the press still hounded you

All the papers had to say

Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

 

[repeat chorus]

Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

Goodbye Norma Jean

From the young man in the 22nd row

Who sees you as something more than sexual

More than just our Marilyn Monroe

 

 

And another is Meredith Brooks: I'm a Bit*h

 

 

Lyrics (In spoiler tags cause it's PG13)

 

I I hate the world today

You're so good to me

I know but I can't change

tried to tell you but you look at me like maybe I'm an angel

underneath

innocent and sweet

Yesterday I cried

You must have been relieved to see the softer side

I can understand how you'd be so confused

I don't envy you

I'm a little bit of everything

all rolled into one

 

Chorus:

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover

I'm a child, I'm a mother

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

I do not feel ashamed

I'm your health, I'm your dream

I'm nothing in between

You know you wouldn't want it any other way

 

So take me as I am

This may mean you'll have to be a stronger man

Rest assured that when I start to make you nervous

and I'm going to extremes

tomorrow I will change

and today won't mean a thing

 

Chorus

 

Just when you think you've got me figured out

the season's already changing

I think it's cool you do what you do

and don't try to save me

 

Chorus

 

I'm a bitch, I'm a tease

I'm a goddess on my knees

when you hurt, when you suffer

I'm your angel undercover

I've been numbed, I'm revived

can't say I'm not alive

You know I wouldn't want it any other way

 

 

[Panchi]

Sunidhi Chauhan's song is a love song. There is that heart has travelled over seven seas but there is no one like you. And then there is that I couldn't forget you. When i open my eyes I see you, when I close my I see you.

 

This is a song on mother. Even if you couldn't understand the lyrics, the song gives a feeling of sadness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBhSoQczTvs

 

The Japanese ones are good. I love Japanese songs.

[poetstorm]

I have one!!! OMG OMG! *restrains herself*

 

Anneleen Lenaerts, a Belgian young woman of only 23 has landed the job as First Harpist in the world renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

While the VP Orchestra has up to 140 musicians playing, there are only 27 members of the ensemble. The other musicians are referred to as 'non-members'. Only those 27 are considered 'members of the association of the Vienna Philharmonic' and as such, they act as judges whenever a new member needs to be chosen.

 

Out of the 700 candidates that sent in their resumes, only 7 were invited for an audition. The candidates had to play with the 27 members who could not see the candidates, only hear them. For a screen seperated the 27 judges from the applying candidates. That way, they had to judge solely on what they heard and not on what they saw.

 

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was until very recently an all-male ensemble where women could not become a member eventhough there were female musicians playing in the orchestra as non-members. This changed in 1997 when the first female musician was granted membership after having played with the ensemble for over 20 years. Slowely (as these things go) the tide is turning, but still today there are only 7 (inlcuding Anneleen now) women out of the 140 musicians in the orchestra.

 

As a Belgian (and a woman), needless to say I am extremely proud of this young woman and her accomplishments and her music is absolutely beautiful (to use an understatement).

 

But judge for yourself

 

Click to visit Anneleen's website,

where you can listen to her work

 

The Vienna Philharmic Orchestra

Click to visit their site

 

That's beautiful Mystica! I love classical music as well though I don't get to listen to it so much. The harp has such a peaceful sound.

 

One of my all time favourites by.. Elton John which is Candle in the WInd which he wrote in honour of MArilyn Monroe.

 

 

[snip]

 

And another is Meredith Brooks: I'm a Bit*h

 

 

 

Love it! Those are great songs.

 

Sunidhi Chauhan's song is a love song. There is that heart has travelled over seven seas but there is no one like you. And then there is that I couldn't forget you. When i open my eyes I see you, when I close my I see you.

 

This is a song on mother. Even if you couldn't understand the lyrics, the song gives a feeling of sadness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBhSoQczTvs

 

The Japanese ones are good. I love Japanese songs.

 

Pankhuri those are such poetic lyrics. It's absolutely beautiful. ^^ And that video is very sad. Poor kid.