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Friday, Mar 6 2020, 6AM
This R.E.M. cover was used in the soundtrack for the 2014 movie"Wild." The message is about finding courage and not being afraid: "I'll trip, fall, pick myself up and walk unafraid." The song was inspired by Michael Stipe's longtime heroine Patti Smith.
That's Tony-winning singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell singing here, along with the National's Josh Kaufman, and Fruit Bats' Eric D. Johnson. Listen to a NPR World Cafe session: www.npr.org
This album was an extraordinary collaboration from k.d. lang, Neko Case, and Laura Veirs.: pitchfork.com
Wye Oak will be LIVE on KEXP Friday, on March 20th at 12:00 PM.
Wye Oak will perform at The Crocodile on Friday, March 20th, 2020.
"Easily one of the strongest female voices in rock;... power is Sinead's main goal here, power to communicate radical, fearless, convincing messages." Read a review of Sinead O'Connor's debut album: starling.rinet.ru
See rare photos of the great Kate Bush, released by her brother last month: tonedeaf.thebrag.com
HAIM has just announced a new album, "Women in Music Part III," out April 24th via Columbia. Watch the video, replete with makeup and toothpaste, of "The Steps": www.rollingstone.com
"She was a great writer, with warmth and humour and a keen ear and eye for humans and their foibles," says Jem Finer of the Pogues. "No bullshit or pretensions or posturing. A great singer and a genius with harmony.": www.theguardian.com
Waxahatchee will be LIVE on KEXP on Friday, May 15th, at 12:00 PM. she'll be playing The Neptune Theatre that evening.
Soccer Mommy will be here in Seattle, playing Neumos on Monday, April 27th, 2020. Watch the official music video for "circle the drain": www.youtube.com
"I had a feeling I could be someone...." Tracy Chapman's appearance on the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute was the catalyst for the song's becoming a top 10 hit in the United States.
After Stevie Wonder was unable to perform at the event due to a programming mishap, little-known Tracy - who had already performed - filled the gap.: www.smoothradio.com
This wonderful song was written by lyricist Hope Sandoval and composer David Roback, who also served as producer.
Bloodworks NW needs blood consistently to care for our community. Call 800-398-7888, visit bloodworksnw.org, or text bloodapp to 91985 to download the Bloodworks app to find a convenient time and place to donate.
Read a biography of this very influential singer and songwriter: www.allmusic.com
The single was accompanied by a music video which saw Annie Lennox in a number of different character guises which she later became known for in subsequent videos. At one stage of the video Annie removes a curly blonde wig to reveal close-cropped orange hair underneath, which gave her an androgynous look. Said Lennox: "The video is basically a little cameo story. I would say 'Love Is A Stranger' is a song about love objects. The concept of love in relationships is very often a person projecting what they want onto another person. We are all in love with the idea of love but what we want is not always good for us. We might get obsessed with something very dangerous. I wanted to put these ideas into a pop song.": www.youtube.com
Written by King and husband Gerry Goffin in 1967, the song was originally intended for and recorded by Aretha Franklin. Inspired by music producer Jerry Wexler, King and Goffin were asked to write a song titled “Natural Woman” specifically for Franklin. Read American Songwriter's story behind this great song: americansongwriter.com
When Aretha sang this at a tribute to Carole King in 2015, it brought Barack Obama to tears.: www.nytimes.com
Don't you love that voice? Nina Simone is singing a medley of two songs, "Ain't Got No" and "I Got Life", from the musical "Hair.": www.youtube.com
On May 5, 2017, country music icon Loretta Lynn suffered a stroke and was quickly taken to a Nashville hospital near her Tennessee home. Learn about her difficult and tumultuous life here: www.littlethings.com
When Parton released "Jolene" in 1973, it became one of her first hit singles. The song has only 200 words — and a lot of those are repeated. But Parton says that that very simplicity, along with the song's haunting melody, is what makes the character of "Jolene" memorable.: www.npr.org
Recognize that guitar? And that voice? Here's a live performance from the Rock Hall of Fame in 2013: www.youtube.com
"I was born like this, don't even gotta try (now you know...
I'm like chardonnay, get better over time (so you know)...": www.youtube.com
All of the founding members of Gossip were friends from Searcy, Arkansas. Beth Ditto riled up the press when she said that as a child she ate squirrels because that is what "people in Arkansas just do - they'd think you were a freak if you ate squid there."
Brittany Howard's great debut album, "Jaime," was on many (!) top ten lists last year: pitchfork.com
Sampa The Great will be LIVE on KEXP on Wednesday, April 8th, at 12:00 PM. You can hear her at The Crocodile that night.
"I wrote these words for everyone who struggles in their youth / Who won't accept deception, instead of what is truth.": theboombox.com
"If Brian Eno and Janet Jackson somehow both recorded "Here Come the Warm Jets" and "Control" in the same Nigerian studio at the same time, and they paused to have Peanut Soup together, and the hot soup spilled on the analog tapes and melted them together...." you would get this song: store.cdbaby.com
"The music video [for "Q.U.E.E.N."] is loaded with subtle imagery and intriguing subtext—alluding to historical Black iconography and examining the paradox of museum culture—while playing with the ideas of Afro-Futurism and the past being reignited to usher us into a future with a multitude identities and equality." enjoy an Afropunk review of this excellent song: afropunk.com
A Queen theme here... Queen Latifah sang this song at the Noble Peace Prize Concert in Oslo in 2014: www.youtube.com
"Prejudice, wrote a song about it
Like to hear it? Here it go...
Free your mind..." This song by all-female R&B group En Vogue was recorded and released in response to the 1992 Los Angeles Rodney King riots. King, who was black, was a Los Angeles resident who became internationally famous when he encountered police brutality from four white Los Angeles police officers, who beat him with police sidearm batons and tasered him.: www.youtube.com
"When I feel the funk, I give in...
Get up on a-yo' feet,,," There's a lot of dancing going on in the booth today! And also in this video!: www.youtube.com
The wonderful Tres Leches will play a vinyl release party at The Tractor Tavern on Friday, April 17th, 2020.
Welcome, What's Up (Arlo, Brooklyn, Parker, Julia, and Carly), to the KEXP airwaves! This original song was composed by these (mostly) 12-year-old participants in the Rain City Rock Camp for Girls). Rain City Rock Camp is the only nonprofit in the Seattle area that combines music education, gender-responsive programming and a commitment to positive social change. Learn more at their website here: www.raincityrockcamp.org
Poly Styrene, the singer with 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex, died in 2011 at age 53. Here's a remembrance of this punk pioneer from her daughter: www.theguardian.com
Joan Jett was touring England as a member of an all teenage girl group called The Runaways when she discovered this song. She wanted to record it with The Runaways, but the other members didn't like the song and made the mistake of passing it up. So, in 1979, Jett recorded it with Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols and released it as a B-side. Finally, in 1981, Jett recorded the song with her band The Blackhearts, resulting in a monster hit.
Lisa, this one's for you! Bikini Kill will be at The Paramount Theatre on Monday and Tuesday, March 16th and 17th, 2020.
Watch the official lyric video for Sleater-Kinney's "Hurry On Home": www.youtube.com
“Woman is a Word” is a clanging, yearning censure of women’s objectification, one where [Lorely] Rodríguez passionately condemns those who write her off as a purely physical being. “I’m only a figure if you can see my frame/I’m only a struggle if I get in your way.” Read a discussion of this feminist anthem: remezcla.com
The official video for "We Got The Beat" features The Go-Go's live: www.youtube.com
The video was filmed in Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert over three days in April 2011, and boasts a cast of over 200 dancers, a menagerie of exotic animals and Beyoncé as the leader of a female army. The dance sequences were choreographed by Beyoncé's long-time friend Frank Gatson with help from Sheryl Murakami and Mozambican kwaito dance duo Tofo Tofo, who also feature in the clip. The Texan singer first came across Tofo Tofo on YouTube, and the Mozambicans had no idea whom Beyoncé was when she reached out to them.:www.youtube.com
Read Stevie Nicks' comments about this wonderful song: www.inherownwords.com
John just discussed New Beginnings, a non-profit dedicated to empowering survivors and mobilizing community awareness and action to end domestic violence. Call their 24-hour helpline at 206-522-9472 or go to their website at www.newbegin.org
Here's one critic's call about the ten best Siouxsie and The Banshees songs: www.theguardian.com
Here's a biography of Concrete Blonde, a group founded by singer/songwriter/bassist Johnette Napolitano and guitarist Jim Mankey.: www.allmusic.com
Patti Smith plays The Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, March 11!
www.pattismith.net