Female songwriters

[MK Shrimper]

As their is not a single lady entrant in the latest Battle of, I've been wondering why that is? There's some great female songwriters out there - Carole King, Patti Smith, Bjork, Tori Amos for example, but not a single one made the 32.

Are we all sexist pigs?

 

[Supernaut]

Yeah, it is odd. I put it down to music obsessives being mostly male (did any females even nominate anyone?), and most great songwrters being male too :)

I considered nominating Joni Mitchell or Sandy Denny, but didn't think either had a hope in hell of winning.

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

As their is not a single lady entrant in the latest Battle of, I've been wondering why that is? There's some great female songwriters out there - Carole King, Patti Smith, Bjork, Tori Amos for example, but not a single one made the 32.

Are we all sexist pigs?

And especially with Joanna Newsom's ode to Southend v Swansea
[video=youtube;NUpElXWVMj4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpElXWVMj4[/video]

and this for good measure
[video=youtube;KCCl3nzL5PI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCCl3nzL5PI[/video]

 

[MK Shrimper]

Yeah, it is odd. I put it down to music obsessives being mostly male (did any females even nominate anyone?), and most great songwrters being male too :)

I considered nominating Joni Mitchell or Sandy Denny, but didn't think either had a hope in hell of winning.

OBL went for Stevie Wonder.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

And especially with Joanna Newsom's ode to Southend v Swansea
[video=youtube;NUpElXWVMj4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpElXWVMj4[/video]

and this for good measure
[video=youtube;KCCl3nzL5PI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCCl3nzL5PI[/video]

Bah! Can't Green you as I "Have to spread it around". But suffice to say Miss Newsom earns you major brownie points.

There are/have been plenty of superb female songwriters around, maybe it is a simple case of as a majority male board, we identify better with male songwriters, all about perspective i suppose.

How about we come up with a list of female songwriters and make a mini-battle poll for it?

Other suggestions:
Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Lady Gaga, Vashti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Karen O, Debbie Harry, Annie Lennox, Siouxsie Sioux, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Dolly Parton (Mrs DS would kill me if I didn't mention her), Billie Holiday, Missy Elliott...

 

[MK Shrimper]

Bah! Can't Green you as I "Have to spread it around". But suffice to say Miss Newsom earns you major brownie points.

There are/have been plenty of superb female songwriters around, maybe it is a simple case of as a majority male board, we identify better with male songwriters, all about perspective i suppose.

How about we come up with a list of female songwriters and make a mini-battle poll for it?

Other suggestions:
Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Lady Gaga, Vashti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Karen O, Debbie Harry, Annie Lennox, Siouxsie Sioux, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Dolly Parton (Mrs DS would kill me if I didn't mention her), Billie Holiday, Missy Elliott...

Sounds like a plan mate, suggest after this battle has ended.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Kate Bush certainly worth a mention, also Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac.

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

Bah! Can't Green you as I "Have to spread it around". But suffice to say Miss Newsom earns you major brownie points.

There are/have been plenty of superb female songwriters around, maybe it is a simple case of as a majority male board, we identify better with male songwriters, all about perspective i suppose.

How about we come up with a list of female songwriters and make a mini-battle poll for it?

Other suggestions:
Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Lady Gaga, Vashti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Karen O, Debbie Harry, Annie Lennox, Siouxsie Sioux, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Dolly Parton (Mrs DS would kill me if I didn't mention her), Billie Holiday, Missy Elliott...

Cheers - I'm sure Rusty will green me on your behalf.
I do whatever Shrimperzone tells me and since it said 'spread it around' I have engaged in several morally dubious but physically pleasing affairs.
Vashti Bunyan makes Kevin Shields look like a workaholic!
Best female song writer defo of interest when this one has run its course, and best songwriter since 2000 could educate us all.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Kate Bush certainly worth a mention, also Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac.

Agreed, and one Cricko mentioned in another thread, Carole Bayer-Seger.

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

Agreed, and one Cricko mentioned in another thread, Carole Bayer-Seger.

I just had to google her, maybe we should have a 'best songwriter that our comrades may not have heard of' comp. I love learning.

 

[ldnfatso]

I'm going for Madonna

 

[MK Shrimper]

I'm going for Madonna

Who probably hasn't written that many of her own songs.

 

[SupaBlues]

As their is not a single lady entrant in the latest Battle of, I've been wondering why that is? There's some great female songwriters out there - Carole King, Patti Smith, Bjork, Tori Amos for example, but not a single one made the 32.

Are we all sexist pigs?

I didnt realise this poll was running but if I had seen it then this is where my nomination would have gone. Most of the songs written and performed by this artist are timeless classics.

 

[ldnfatso]

Who probably hasn't written that many of her own songs.

Not true, she wrote Material girl for a start! She didn't write all of her stuff though. From what i am led to believe she wrote a lot of lyrics but not the music.

 

[Cricko]

I didnt realise this poll was running but if I had seen it then this is where my nomination would have gone. Most of the songs written and performed by this artist are timeless classics.

I know I must these polls clearer in future :dim:

 

[Davros]

Not true, she wrote Material girl for a start! She didn't write all of her stuff though. From what i am led to believe she wrote a lot of lyrics but not the music.

'Ray Of Light' being a perfect example (and a f**king good album to boot!)

It does raise a good question though. What is more important to song writing, writing the lyrics, or writing the music. Which influences which more? Certainly within the dance music genre, lyrics are second place to the music/production side of things, but that said most instrumentals wouldnt become as 'popular' without the lyrics added (Avicii's - 'Penguin' ---> Leona Lewis/Avicii - 'Collide', or Tim Berg 'Bromance' ----> Tim Berg 'Seek Bromance' as a couple of examples).

 

[MK Shrimper]

Not true, she wrote Material girl for a start! She didn't write all of her stuff though. From what i am led to believe she wrote a lot of lyrics but not the music.

Doesn't really count then does it?

 

[Firestorm]

Joan Jett
Siouxsie Sioux

 

[Cricko]

Sarah McLachlan.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Love a bit of Tori Amos. Would hang out of her as well, the lucky girl.