Happy March! Considering it’s Women’s History Month, we decided to share our favorite tracks by our favorite female artists.
Cali’s Picks
“Jennifer’s Body” by Hole, “Live Through This” (1994)
An embodiment of the angst, adaptive song structure, and blunt lyricism of the riot grrrl movement, “Jennifer’s Body” is a driving number that serves as the fifth track on Hole’s seminal “Live Through This.” The track begins with a mysterious riff that brings a hurried eeriness before lead vocalist and guitarist Courtney Love enters with her melodic voice. Quickly, this rhythmic style is replaced by gritty guitar shrills and Love’s dominant vocals present within the pre-choruses, which exhibit the dynamic nature and versatility of the ditty. In contrast to the peaked pre-chorus, the refrain features a much softer vocal and guitar style with repetitions of the lines, “Found pieces of Jennifer’s body” and “Just relax/Just go to sleep,” before being drowned out with a distorted series of power chords courtesy of Love. Throughout the composition, the undertone of Patty Schemel’s drums bring a greater sense of heaviness to “Jennifer’s Body,” hammering in the haunting message of the track. Ending on an elongated note, the song highlights Love’s vocal prowess, as well as honing in on the band’s musicianship with a variety of breakdowns and grungy riffs. Pioneering in genres like alternative rock and punk, Hole showcases the strength of female musicians and continues to pave the way for generations to come.
“Spit” by Kittie, “Spit” (1999)
Released when the all-female, Canadian metal band were mere teenagers (the youngest being 15-year-old drummer Mercedes Lander), “Spit” is the face-melting title track off of Kittie’s remarkable debut album. A track dismissing critics and doubters of their music, “Spit” begins with a warped riff and a relentless callout of “Coward” by vocalist Morgan Lander. In the first verse, Morgan Lander, accompanied by the rhythmic instrumentation of the band, drops a few clear lines before diving into a full-blown metal ensemble with Morgan Lander’s harsh growls and apt guitar riffs. The ferocity of the number continues until the midsection where Morgan Lander establishes her vocal talents through exhibiting the contrast between her heavy screams and soft coos in this bridge. Clocking in at just over two minutes, the composition never fails to deliver intensity, even with the two closing guitar blasts. Delivering the same energy throughout the album, “Spit” was certified gold by RCAA nearly a year after its release, as well as a top spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers charts, breaking the gender barrier in the male-dominated genre of heavy rock and metal.
Brianna’s Picks
“Grace” by Violet Grohl (2022)
At just 16 years of age, Violet Grohl shares the stage with her father and many other notable musicians, singing in front of hundreds of thousands for the Taylor Hawkins Tribute concert on Sept. 3, 2023, at Wembley Stadium in London. As the daughter of legendary musician Dave Grohl, Violet paves her way into the music scene – making a name of her own – with extraordinary vocal tonality and talent. These talents are especially emphasized in her cover of “Grace” by Jeff Buckley, one of Hawkins’ favorite artists. This track displays Grohl’s singing capabilities and control as she perfectly captures Buckley’s enchanting voice. Overall, Grohl’s cover of “Grace” heavily highlights how easily she can pull off difficult songs and even adds her individual flair to the songs. Just a year following the tribute concert, Grohl would appear on, “Show Me How,” the third single for Foo Fighters’ 11th studio album “But Here We Are” (2023). The Foos dedicate their newest album to Hawkins and Grohl’s grandmother Virginia who passed four months following Hawkins. Significantly, Grohl’s voice pioneers the next generation of music by integrating the vintage, soulful voice, evidenced by her impressive covers of phenomenal artists, pulling each song off seamlessly. Namely, her Jeff Buckley covers will remain widely memorable in music.
“Smile More” by Deap Vally, “Femejism” (2016)
American rock duo, Linsey Troy and Julie Edward encapsulate unapologetic attitudes with this upbeat, rocking track. Through the lyrics, the track takes the listener through the perspective of a woman tired of being belittled by those she meets. Because of this, she reflects on her attitude by realizing that “I don’t wanna be a reflection/I’m so bored with this rejection/I don’t wanna be a reflection/I don’t need your direction.” However, this introspection is exhausting on its own for the individual. Ultimately throughout the track, the listener learns about the narrator’s unapologetic mention of her imperfections in a world obsessed with proving perfection and flawlessness. Even with the raw and unfiltered lyrics, Troy exhibits remarkable vocal skills from beginning to end. This overall embracement and passion that is depicted through the lyrics alone creates an anthem, backed by an upbeat and infectious rhythm from the duo. Their energy throughout the track is undeniable, contributing further to the empowerment set forth by the opening beat.
