International Women Of Mystery

Just a playlist

Last year, for International Women’s Day, I wrote a bit about legendary bassist Carol Kaye. Mostly I just wanted you to listen to the playlist, though, and revel in just how much of music history she laid the foundation for (answer: SO MUCH).

While we’re talking International Women’s Day, I thought I’d share a playlist I’ve been making over the years of some of my favorite women in music. Of course, I recognize the richness of a man sharing his playlist of women. But I like it enough that I decided to deal with my internal dissonance.

this is just an image; it won’t play the music.

It’s just songs I love. At first, I tried to limit it to only one song per artist. But I surrendered that idea pretty quickly when I had to pick just one, say, Aretha Franklin song. It wasn’t happening.

Also, I suppose I ought to asterisk the playlists with two asterisks. The first: it’s probably not solely women, but women and female adjacent, in a world where I support people identifying however makes them feel good, divine, belonging. I think there are some they/them-identifying artists in here; so I’m neither ignorant of it, nor trying to offend anyone. Second asterisk: I probably missed a song or artist you love, sometimes for good reasons (Joni isn’t on Spotify) and sometimes less-good. That’s the beauty of art: there’s always more to discover.

My recommendation: hit shuffle and let it ride.