However, I do know what was responsible for reigniting the feminist flame within as of late. (Good lord, that was cheesy.)
I have the very talented Welsh singer/song writer/musician, Ms Marina Diamandis (what a glorious name), to thank for the spark.
It was December 2012 and the purchase of Marina and the Diamonds' second album Electra Heart.
I loved her first album, The Family Jewels. It was very concerned with personal identity and I could relate to most of the songs on the album. They continuously inspired me and allowed me to feel better about myself.
1.) Are Your Satisfied?
2.) Shampain
3.) I Am Not A Robot
4.) Girls
5.) Mowgli's Road
6.) Obsessions
7.) Hollywood
8.) The Outsider
9.) Hermit the Frog
10.) Oh No!
11.) Rootless
12.) Numb
13.) Guilty
The tracks in purple are my personal favourites, but realistically, I love them all.
"It is a body of work largely inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality," she explained. "Each song was intricately produced and written by myself, and my only hope is for it to be enjoyed and consumed as a story and theory that encourages people to question themselves."*
"I think it’s a really diverse album stylistically speaking because I’m such a flexible writer,” she says. “So there’s a lot of pop on it, but there’s kind of a lot of leftfield experimental stuff as well. It’s basically an album about what not to be.”*
Now, with the purchase of Electra Heart came a less alternative and more pop sound throughout the tracks. This worried me a little as I thought she'd gone to the 'dark side' and was more interested in appealing to the masses. Such song titles as 'Bubblegum Bitch', 'Teen Idle', 'Primadonna' and 'Sex Yeah' didn't help quell this fear, despite hearing many positive reviews about the album.
I found myself thinking, 'No, Diamandis, don't go backwards! You had such potential!'
Luckily I was so very wrong on all accounts.
Her new album is a collection of cleverly disguised pop songs. All the tunes are catchy with seemingly simplistic lyrics, however each contain deeper messages. Most are a critique on modern society, relationships and archetypes of women.
We have the:
Primadonna
Su-Barbie-A (Pronounced 'suh-barbie-ah' like Suburbia. Suburban House-Wife
Homewrecker
Teen Idles
And the main character, Electra Heart
It turned out Electra Heart was also a musical project, and not just a second album. I'm a lazy bugger so I'll expand on that later...
The track that I feared the most turned out to be, not only be my favourite off the album, but also the one that really hit home.
Yep, that's what she called it. Of course, without knowing what it's about it conjures up scenes involving midnight romps with mystery men, and daring escapades that should be novelised. Well, for me, anyway.
Well, done, Marina, you gave nothing away.
On first listen I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics, and really only heard the chorus.
Second listen warranted a small epiphany where I paused for a moment and instantly felt depressed and angry by the truth behind the words.
*(Now, admittedly, after checking in the actual booklet supplied with the CD, it does in fact say "hide" each chorus. However to me, and to everyone else I know who's listened to this song, we think she says "fight", save the last chorus. Personally I like to sing "fight" since it makes it seem as if she's trying to change society's perception, instead of just avoiding it.)
[Hopefully, upon looking at the above text, you tried to read the foreground words, but got distracted by the text behind it, because that was the idea.]
Simple as the words may seem, they ring with such an agonising truth I'm torn between wanting to dance or go on a feminist rant.
And by all that is unholy and wrong, I bloody-well shall. One way or another.
Here, have some inspirational Rosie to get you in the mood too.
Oops, wrong one. Here we go.
Notice how I didn't go on a feminist rant? Despite being sorely tempted I'll save it for another time hehe.
*http://www.nme.com/news/marina-and-the-diamonds/48651
*http://www.clashmusic.com/news/marina-on-musical-background
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Jewels_(album)
*http://electraheart.tumblr.com/tagged/Electra+Films/page/2
*http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electra_Heart
Now, with the purchase of Electra Heart came a less alternative and more pop sound throughout the tracks. This worried me a little as I thought she'd gone to the 'dark side' and was more interested in appealing to the masses. Such song titles as 'Bubblegum Bitch', 'Teen Idle', 'Primadonna' and 'Sex Yeah' didn't help quell this fear, despite hearing many positive reviews about the album.
I found myself thinking, 'No, Diamandis, don't go backwards! You had such potential!'
Luckily I was so very wrong on all accounts.
Her new album is a collection of cleverly disguised pop songs. All the tunes are catchy with seemingly simplistic lyrics, however each contain deeper messages. Most are a critique on modern society, relationships and archetypes of women.
We have the:
Primadonna
Su-Barbie-A (Pronounced 'suh-barbie-ah' like Suburbia. Suburban House-Wife
Homewrecker
Teen Idles
And the main character, Electra Heart
It turned out Electra Heart was also a musical project, and not just a second album. I'm a lazy bugger so I'll expand on that later...
The track that I feared the most turned out to be, not only be my favourite off the album, but also the one that really hit home.
"Sex Yeah"
Yep, that's what she called it. Of course, without knowing what it's about it conjures up scenes involving midnight romps with mystery men, and daring escapades that should be novelised. Well, for me, anyway.
Well, done, Marina, you gave nothing away.
On first listen I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics, and really only heard the chorus.
Second listen warranted a small epiphany where I paused for a moment and instantly felt depressed and angry by the truth behind the words.
"If history could set you free
From who you were supposed to be
If sex in a society didn't tell a girl who she should be
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight*
What history has given me
Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex
Yeah
Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex
All my life, I've felt it deep inside of me
All this time was fighting for what I believed
All my life I've tried to hide what
History has given me"
*(Now, admittedly, after checking in the actual booklet supplied with the CD, it does in fact say "hide" each chorus. However to me, and to everyone else I know who's listened to this song, we think she says "fight", save the last chorus. Personally I like to sing "fight" since it makes it seem as if she's trying to change society's perception, instead of just avoiding it.)
 |
| Lyrics © Marina Diamandis,/Greg Kurstin, 2012 Typography attempt © Kit Richardson, 2013 |
[Hopefully, upon looking at the above text, you tried to read the foreground words, but got distracted by the text behind it, because that was the idea.]
Simple as the words may seem, they ring with such an agonising truth I'm torn between wanting to dance or go on a feminist rant.
I would like to set us free from history.
And by all that is unholy and wrong, I bloody-well shall. One way or another.
Here, have some inspirational Rosie to get you in the mood too.
 |
| http://snapdragonfly.deviantart.com/art/Rosie-the-Riveter-172485784 |
Oops, wrong one. Here we go.
Notice how I didn't go on a feminist rant? Despite being sorely tempted I'll save it for another time hehe.
*http://www.nme.com/news/marina-and-the-diamonds/48651
*http://www.clashmusic.com/news/marina-on-musical-background
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Jewels_(album)
*http://electraheart.tumblr.com/tagged/Electra+Films/page/2
*http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electra_Heart
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