I AM WOMAN, STILL ROARING
Helen Reddy was lying in bed, her career going nowhere special, when something remarkable happened.
The lines: ‘I am woman/hear me roar’ popped into her subconscious, words she was convinced were ‘delivered’ to her by a higher force.
Fortunately, she had a notepad handy. The rest is history.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of ‘I Am Woman’, a song that became the anthem of a powerful and vibrant social force — the so-called ‘women’s movement’ — that scared the pants off those who still believed women belonged in the bedroom.
Strong willed and outspoken, Reddy was quite the force herself, the perfect spokeswoman.
‘I Am Woman’ came with a complicated bloodline. Originally recorded in 1971 for Reddy’s second solo album, it was then tapped for a long forgotten film named Stand Up and Be Counted, a Hollywood quickie designed to cash in what the (male) producers dismissed as some passing fad: women’s lib.
Reddy duly re-recorded ‘I Am Woman’ and with the help of some 20 appearances on US daytime TV — Reddy virtually reserved a spot on Dinah Shore’s couch — the song slowly worked its way onto radio playlists. Reddy, however, was a little preoccupied when it finally hit number one; she was giving birth to son Jordan, her second child, at the time.
But Reddy did seize the moment soon after with her famous Grammy speech. ‘I would like to thank God,’ Reddy declared, barely suppressing a grin, ‘because she makes everything possible.’
So what anthems of sisterhood have followed in the wake of ‘I Am Woman’? Did the revolution end in 1972?
Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ may have lacked the emotional wallop of ‘I Am Woman’, but it did capture the early 80s zeitgeist, wherein the modern woman strived to juggle a career and kids. And, in Dolly’s case, what to do once you’ve kidnapped the boss.
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16 Responses to this article
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Penster December 7, 2012
Today’s women probably don’t understand the struggle for the gains they take for granted. And this is probably a good thing – like access to education & healthcare, you SHOULD expect and therefore be able take for granted, equality.
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TraceyA December 7, 2012
Less mainstream, but another great feminist song is ‘Listen Up Ladies (This is a New Day)’ by Cedella Marley Booker. It’s so funny and fabulous. Any song that contains the lyric “being female don’t mean you’re somebody’s footstool” is okay with me. Cedella is Bob Marley’s mum – clearly his talent didn’t just come from the ether.
And if we want to include feminist songs written by blokes then surely Peter Gabriel’s ‘Shaking the Tree’ deserves an honourable mention.
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Jennifer Barlow December 7, 2012
Massive Attack’s “Protection!” Brilliant, haunting. And well worth another listen.
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Tracy December 7, 2012
My eldest daughter found the album and bought it for me a few years ago, she kew I loved it. The song is also set as the ring tone on her phone when I call her! It is a favouite with us feminists!
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DeeDee December 7, 2012
um respect by aretha; you oughtta know, alanis; best beyonce empowerment song has to be who runs the world (girls) – video is amazing!
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DeeDee December 7, 2012
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Christine Gates December 7, 2012
OMG I loved the blast from the past Wendy Harmer, with the Carol Bayer Sager fabulous words – must YouTube that one. Aren’t we the lucky ones to have been young through the 60′s and 70′s and still around in this new century
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Glenis December 7, 2012
Call me old if you, I was at uni when that song came out and it was a mantra. I STILL love it. It takes me right back instantly. Nothing since has the same impact in my opinion.
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ro.watson December 7, 2012
Good to see that old girl do her thing. Agree Shirley Bassey is incomparable. Annie and Aretha same. For acting out possibilities on the dance floor~maybe “I will survive”(as long as I have love to give).
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Shannon December 8, 2012
John Lennon wrote a pretty good one, if you’re not afraid of confrontational lyrics, “Woman is the n****r of the world”. (I’m a wuss, can’t bear to type that word) Pretty powerful if you ask me
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Olivia December 9, 2012
“You Don’t Own Me” sung by Leslie Gore in 1963 – way before Helen Reddy (I was surprised such a feminist song was around well before Helen’s)
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Pauline December 17, 2012
Was reading a book the other day, had a reference to the Suffragettes in it, protesting to gain the right to vote in England in 1917. Glad to hear Oz was a bit ahead of that, but it’s still amazing to see how much women have achieved, throughout history, but especially in the last hundred or so years. Maybe sometime soon we’ll be able to figure things out and women can have rights to do whatever we want and can, and so will men.
