Let’s travel back in time for a moment to the late 60’s- a time of revolution and social change. Women were really starting to come into their own and let their voices be heard in a world that was dominated by males. Gone were the days of the happy homemaker ideal of what the American woman should be like. No. This was the new modern woman. The one who wasn't afraid to go up against the boys- the one who fought for equal rights in all areas of society. The music industry was no different. Before the late 60’s, you had to be pretty, soft-spoken, and easy-going in order to make it as a woman in any industry, nonetheless, the music industry. The Sexual Revolution changed all that…Women were becoming dominant forces in their own right, proving that they could sing just as hard and put on a show that was every bit as radical and edgy as any man- without losing a single ounce of femininity. Women were starting to be recognized for not only singing lyrics to songs, but also for writing, playing the music, and arranging them as well- something that men were only privy to at the time. Take a moment and really think about where the music industry as a whole would be if it weren't for the contributions of these women and countless others. They weren't afraid to go against the grain and challenge the notion that a woman's only place was behind a man. Instead, they were standing in front of the man (or a group of men), usually singing lead...
Each of these women helped to “redefine a woman’s role in Rock Music as more than just a sex symbol backed by a band.” Women could sing with all the heart, passion, and grit as any man- and sometimes even more. In the60’s, at the forefront of the movement, you had women like Grace Slickand Janis Joplin, both the lead singers of their respective groups (Jefferson Airplane & Big Brother and Holding Company) who dominated the music scene and were among the first to prove that women had a place in Rock n’ Roll. They were two of the first female rock stars and paved the way many to follow in their footsteps. Each of their voices, different, yet distinct, could not be imitated or duplicated.
Also prominent in the 60’s were women like Michelle Phillips andCass Elliot of The Mamas and the Papas- whose perfectly woven, 4-part harmonies helped to provide the soundtrack to the "Flower Power" generation. Songs like “California Dreamin” and “Monday Monday” still get airplay in different outlets some 45 years later.
On the other hand, there were artists like Aretha Franklin, who brought all of the powerful soul of Southern Gospel to Mainstream, Popular R&B. Aretha, who was dubbed “The Queen of Soul” early on in her career, became “The Voice of Black America” in late 60’s and throughout the 1970’s. When she commanded R-E-S-P-E-C-T, we stood up, took notice, and listened. Because of her pride and dignity, she represented “The New Black Woman,” and would in turn, provide the soundtrack to The Civil Rights Movement.
Tina Turner proved that she was a force to be reckoned with by lighting up the stage with her “wild, fiery performances” and vocals to match. Tina, along with husband, Ike, created “The Ike and Tina Revue” and was billed as “one of the most hottest, most durable and potentially explosive of all R&B ensembles, with its show rivaling that of aJames Brown show in terms of musical spectacle.” What most at the time didn't know is that behind the scenes, Tina was enduring her own private hell, at the hands of her husband Ike, who physically abused her for the duration of their 16-year marriage. In 1976, Tina finally found the strength to get out of the relationship and the act, and carve out her own destiny as one of the true legends in the music industry.
The 70’s brought about a whole new era of women that were the products of what came out of the rebelliousness spirit of the 60’s. Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell became widely regarded as some of the most important songwriters of their generation. Stevie Nicksand Fleetwood Mac wrote heartfelt music, drawn from themes of love and life experience. Coming from extremely diverse musical backgrounds, Fleetwood Macchanneled the drama and tension going on in the band into creative masterpieces that have stood the test of time. By the end of the decade and going into the 80’s, acts such as Heart, Blondie, Joan Jett, and Pat Benatarproved that a woman could rock just as loud and just as hard as any man. Both Benatar and Ann Wilson from “Heart,” have voices that are every bit powerful as they are pretty; edgy as they are heartfelt.
These artists and several others have re-defined what it is to be a woman in the music industry. As we fast-forward through time, we see the influence of each of these artists extend into the 80's with Madonna and Cyndi Lauper; and the 90's and beyond in Alanis Morrisette, Avril Lavigne, Florence Welch, and Taylor Swift. If it weren't for the pioneers of female rock, we wouldn't have the Rihanna's and the Nicki Minaj's of today. Nowadays a woman in the public eye can be provocative and sultry; empowering and opinionated- choices that weren't given as little as 50 years ago. Whether or not some of them choose to use their voice to inspire and educate or not, is an argument for a different day......
Until Next Time....
Resources:
- Revolution, the Counterculture, and the Pill, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
http://rockhall.com/education/resources/revolution-the-counterculture/
- Tina Turner, Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Turner