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Women Make Noise: Girl Bands from Motown to the Modern
‘When was the last time you heard an all-girl band on the radio? Why don’t all-girl bands get attention they deserve?’
In Women Make Noise musicians, journalists, promoters and fans excavate the hidden story of the all-girl from country belles of the 20s–40s and girl groups of the 60s, to prog rock goddesses, women’s liberationists and punks of the 70s–80s; from riot grrrl activists and queercore anarchists of the 90s to radical protesters Pussy Riot and the most inspiring all-girl bands today. These aren’t the manufactured acts of some pop svengali, these groups write their own songs, play their own instruments and make music together on their own terms.
All-girl bands have made radical contributions to feminism, culture and politics as well as producing some unique, influential and innovative music. It’s time to celebrate the outspoken voices, creative talents and gutsy performances of the all-girl bands who demand we take notice.
Including commentary from members of the original 60s girl groups and classic punk-inspired outfits like The Raincoats and The Slits, as well as contemporary Ladyfest heroines like Beth Ditto, this timely exploration shows the world that sidelining all-girl bands is a major oversight.
In Women Make Noise musicians, journalists, promoters and fans excavate the hidden story of the all-girl from country belles of the 20s–40s and girl groups of the 60s, to prog rock goddesses, women’s liberationists and punks of the 70s–80s; from riot grrrl activists and queercore anarchists of the 90s to radical protesters Pussy Riot and the most inspiring all-girl bands today. These aren’t the manufactured acts of some pop svengali, these groups write their own songs, play their own instruments and make music together on their own terms.
All-girl bands have made radical contributions to feminism, culture and politics as well as producing some unique, influential and innovative music. It’s time to celebrate the outspoken voices, creative talents and gutsy performances of the all-girl bands who demand we take notice.
Including commentary from members of the original 60s girl groups and classic punk-inspired outfits like The Raincoats and The Slits, as well as contemporary Ladyfest heroines like Beth Ditto, this timely exploration shows the world that sidelining all-girl bands is a major oversight.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2016
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40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 1, 2016
This is certainly not the book I was expecting it to be. It is better. What I was expecting was a lightweight (in tone) coffee table type book charting the history of the most famous all girl bands. Perhaps the Ronnettes, Supremes, Bananarama, the GoGos, All Saints, that kind of thing.
OK, so I didn't read the blurb thoroughly, if at all. This is a far more intelligent and interesting book than that. First up, it isn't a single author's history of the all girl band. The chapters have different authors and hit a tone three quarters along the spectrum from top end magazine article to feminist academic paper.
While some of the most famous names appear, the real subject is much more underground, more garage than that. Different chapters take the story from country in the 50s, through some of the best known groups of the 60s, touching on even prog in the 70s before hitting the real ground zero of punk. If I were to take a single theme of this book it would be that punk was even more of singularity for women's music than it was for the general scene.
Almost inevitably, after touching post punk, riot grrrls, and queercore, the book arrives at its epilogue of Pussy Riot. Along the way, the most notable, but probably not surprising absence is hip hop, which is barely touched upon.
So overall, this is a book which deserves serious attention. It is one which needs to be properly read rather than dipped into.
OK, so I didn't read the blurb thoroughly, if at all. This is a far more intelligent and interesting book than that. First up, it isn't a single author's history of the all girl band. The chapters have different authors and hit a tone three quarters along the spectrum from top end magazine article to feminist academic paper.
While some of the most famous names appear, the real subject is much more underground, more garage than that. Different chapters take the story from country in the 50s, through some of the best known groups of the 60s, touching on even prog in the 70s before hitting the real ground zero of punk. If I were to take a single theme of this book it would be that punk was even more of singularity for women's music than it was for the general scene.
Almost inevitably, after touching post punk, riot grrrls, and queercore, the book arrives at its epilogue of Pussy Riot. Along the way, the most notable, but probably not surprising absence is hip hop, which is barely touched upon.
So overall, this is a book which deserves serious attention. It is one which needs to be properly read rather than dipped into.
August 27, 2019
Un libro muy completo sobre la participación (e invisibilización) de la mujer en la historia de la música. Analizado estilo a estilo, contiene además mucha bibliografía y es magnífico como libro de consulta en este ámbito.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews