The Women Who Changed Music

In honor of the close of Women’s History Month, Street Beats is showcasing some of the women in history—herstory, if you will—who changed the music industry.

 Aretha Franklin

It’s hard not to R–E–S–P–E–C–T this woman for all her contributions to music. One of the biggest selling female artists of all time, Aretha Franklin started her career at age five, when she sang gospel tunes in her preacher father’s traveling revival show. Franklin then came into her own as a full–fledged gospel singer and sang chart–topping hits like “Chain of Fools” and, of course, “Respect.” Her powerhouse pipes have inspired many musicians, from Whitney Houston to Beyoncé, and landed her a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—she's the first female christened with the title.

Björk

Remember Miley Stewart’s swan dress on Hannah Montana? That was inspired by alt–indie goddess Björk. Credited with bringing eclectic, artsy indie to the mainstream, Björk's made a career out of the weird. The Icelandic musician’s multidimensional approach to music manifests itself in the genre–bending nature of her art, and her otherworldly creativity knows no bounds. From creating new instruments with MIT engineers to creating app albums, Bjork’s avant garde yet pop style has widened the lens of the music industry.

Joni Mitchell

Ah, the '70s: hippies, flower–power and great music. Joni Mitchell rose to popularity during the Vietnam War era with folksy hits like “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now” and quickly became one of the most celebrated artists of her time. The highest ranking female guitarist on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” Mitchell is known for her unique open guitar tunings that she developed so she could play them with her polio–weakened left hand. Her music demonstrates her full artistry: as the producer, writer and illustrator of her award–winning albums, Mitchell creates beautifully relatable art that's vulnerable and powerful all at once.

Clara Schumann

The girl just wanted to have fun–damental rights: classical composer and pianist Clara Schumann’s talent and plight carved her legacy for years to come. Born in the 1800's as Clara Wieck, the classical musician was expected to stay home and play a woman’s role, not make music.  Schumann had to sue her father in order to marry her husband, Robert Schumann. One of the first musicians to play the piano from memory, as well as one of the earliest acclaimed female composers, Schumann sadly quit composing at age 36 because “a woman must not desire to compose.” Still, her legacy (and gorgeous concertos) live on.

Madonna

The “Queen of Pop” is the most (in)famous musical icon in history. Historians compare her impact to that of the legendary Beatles and Elvis Presley. And with good reason—through scandal and skill, Madonna shattered the male–dominated 80s music scene. Raised a devout Catholic, Madonna rebelled against her religious upbringing after her mother’s death. Her ties to religion inspired much of her music as well as her pseudonym. Through constant reinvention, exploration of taboo topics like sex, queerness and religion and sheer talent, Madonna became a global cultural icon and subverted expectations of women, hit by hit.

Riot Grrrl Bands

From Bikini Kill to Bratmobile, the Riot Grrrl movement changed the face of feminism. Touted for being one of the forbearers of modern–day third wave feminism, Riot Grrrl rock arose as a response to a still very male–dominated society. Groups of girls banded together to make punk music and zines that subverted gender roles and broke musical barriers.

Selena

Quintanilla, not Gomez. The Tejana pop star that suffered a tragic death left a lasting impact on the music world. Selena was a cultural figure that united the Latin population and introduced a new genre of music to the mainstream. A Mexican–American who never compromised her heritage, Selena represented the manifestation of the American dream and was dear to her people. Before her star could get brighter, the singer was tragically shot—uniting the nation in tragedy. J. Lo owes her career to her, and Selena Gomez her namesake. 

Missy Elliot

Q: Is it worth it? A: Yes, let Missy work it. Emcee Missy Elliot paved the way for women in the testosterone–heavy world of hip–hop. From her poverty–stricken, abuse–ridden youth, Elliot's made power moves to become the most influential female rapper in history. Missy Elliot teamed up with longtime–friend Timbaland in the 90s to achieve this feat. Her music was always progressive in its incorporations of eclectic samples and unabashedly feminist, always witty and hard–hitting lyrics. 

Photo: InSapphoWeTrust / CC 2.0