This week's articles really made me think about credibility, but also the impact that a lack of
recognition has. I feel like both articles touched on artists not being recognized for their
music, but also there’s this sense of challenging society's ways of excluding minority artists.
recognition has. I feel like both articles touched on artists not being recognized for their
music, but also there’s this sense of challenging society's ways of excluding minority artists.
In Professor Habell-Pallan’s article, she investigates Alice bags role or relationship to punk culture on
the West Coast in the 1970s. In one section she discuss the characteristics in which Lucha Reyes
uses when she took the stage. She states,
the West Coast in the 1970s. In one section she discuss the characteristics in which Lucha Reyes
uses when she took the stage. She states,
“A woman’s adoption of a powerful presence on stage, and unwillingness to allow the
audience to disrespect her, demanding respect as a professional musician from other
musicians; changing the pronouns of songs, changing the intent of the lyrics, changing
alternate interpretations of the song, questioning male privilege, mocking male privilege,
challenging sexual norms, and interweaving personal narrative with performance” (pg. 11).
audience to disrespect her, demanding respect as a professional musician from other
musicians; changing the pronouns of songs, changing the intent of the lyrics, changing
alternate interpretations of the song, questioning male privilege, mocking male privilege,
challenging sexual norms, and interweaving personal narrative with performance” (pg. 11).
What really struck me about this specific quote was how These characteristics seem to help fuel
Reyes’ determination and her power over her audience, as she demands respect and challenges
so many social norms. It’s really interesting to read about how these influential women helped shape
other musicians as Alice Bags seemed to take inspiration from Lucia Reyes and exemplified it and
made it her own. Their voices are filled with emotion, and you can hear that there’s a very deep feeling
behind how they express their voices.
Reyes’ determination and her power over her audience, as she demands respect and challenges
so many social norms. It’s really interesting to read about how these influential women helped shape
other musicians as Alice Bags seemed to take inspiration from Lucia Reyes and exemplified it and
made it her own. Their voices are filled with emotion, and you can hear that there’s a very deep feeling
behind how they express their voices.
And in relation to the Sister Rosetta Tharpe article, written by Gale Wald, it’s really important that we
give recognition to an influential, powerful, emotional woman who before this class, I had never heard
of before. The Rosetta Tharpe article talks a bit about how a simple change in the narrative can impact
how people receive or know about what you do. Towards the end of page 158, this quote reads:
give recognition to an influential, powerful, emotional woman who before this class, I had never heard
of before. The Rosetta Tharpe article talks a bit about how a simple change in the narrative can impact
how people receive or know about what you do. Towards the end of page 158, this quote reads:
“While this would not, on the surface, seem surprising (Elvis was, in fact, deeply influenced
by Rosetta, to the point that he is said to have sung one of her songs, ‘Strange Things Happen
Every Day’ at his 1954 audition for Sam Phillips at Sun Studios), this observer had gone on to
write that Rosetta Tharpe looked and sounded like a ‘blacked-up Elvis in drag,’ there by not
merely causing offense but getting the narrative of musical influence completely and utterly
wrong” (pg. 158)
by Rosetta, to the point that he is said to have sung one of her songs, ‘Strange Things Happen
Every Day’ at his 1954 audition for Sam Phillips at Sun Studios), this observer had gone on to
write that Rosetta Tharpe looked and sounded like a ‘blacked-up Elvis in drag,’ there by not
merely causing offense but getting the narrative of musical influence completely and utterly
wrong” (pg. 158)
By shutting her out of history, we are presented with this very white-run industry, where we are meant
to believe that White people are the originators of these new music creations, where in fact, they
were taken from African Americans, Mexicans, etc. I think that by asking questions, we are getting
to the bottom of how things were during this time period, but then we also reflect them back into our
society, and how our current social norms are. And nowadays, social media plays such a huge role
in the sharing of information and misinformation. I feel like we focus heavily on when things are
going wrong for white artists, like this recent issue with Taylor Swift’s older albums being bought,
but when it comes to African American artists and other minority artists music and art being stolen
over the decades, people don’t want to acknowledge that.
It’s really hard for me to understand why exactly women like Alice Bag and Sister Rosetta Tharpe
aren’t as recognized as they should after reading these articles. I feel like they broke so many
boundaries not only for women of color, but they broke so many social norms that at the time,
people weren’t ready to discuss. I think that what really has struck me about these two articles is
how through all the ups and downs they went through, and all of the hardships they face, they still
continue to do what they loved.
to believe that White people are the originators of these new music creations, where in fact, they
were taken from African Americans, Mexicans, etc. I think that by asking questions, we are getting
to the bottom of how things were during this time period, but then we also reflect them back into our
society, and how our current social norms are. And nowadays, social media plays such a huge role
in the sharing of information and misinformation. I feel like we focus heavily on when things are
going wrong for white artists, like this recent issue with Taylor Swift’s older albums being bought,
but when it comes to African American artists and other minority artists music and art being stolen
over the decades, people don’t want to acknowledge that.
It’s really hard for me to understand why exactly women like Alice Bag and Sister Rosetta Tharpe
aren’t as recognized as they should after reading these articles. I feel like they broke so many
boundaries not only for women of color, but they broke so many social norms that at the time,
people weren’t ready to discuss. I think that what really has struck me about these two articles is
how through all the ups and downs they went through, and all of the hardships they face, they still
continue to do what they loved.
The songs that I have selected are:
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor (1978)
I’m Every Woman - Chaka Khan (1978)
Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
What speaks to me about these songs is the emotion that the women express through their voices.
I think what really spoke to me about the articles was how the women were trying to not only
advocate for more representation in the music industry for P.O.C., but I also feel like they were
trying to break down these social norms that women were often scrutinized for. So I wanted to
find songs from powerful, Black women who I grew up listening to and which move and have
inspired me.
advocate for more representation in the music industry for P.O.C., but I also feel like they were
trying to break down these social norms that women were often scrutinized for. So I wanted to
find songs from powerful, Black women who I grew up listening to and which move and have
inspired me.
Articles:
Gayle Wald, “Rosetta Tharpe and Feminist Unforgetting,” Journal of Women's History, Volume 21,
Number 4, Winter 2009, 157-160. (PDF)
Michelle Habell-Pallán, “ ‘Death to Racism and Punk Rock Revisionism’ in Alice Bag’s Vexing Voice
and the Unspeakable Influence of Cancion Ranchera on Hollywood Punk” in Pop When the World
Falls Apart. (PDF)
Number 4, Winter 2009, 157-160. (PDF)
Michelle Habell-Pallán, “ ‘Death to Racism and Punk Rock Revisionism’ in Alice Bag’s Vexing Voice
and the Unspeakable Influence of Cancion Ranchera on Hollywood Punk” in Pop When the World
Falls Apart. (PDF)
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