Feminine Art of Music: Must Listen to Before You Die

Five genre-dominating artists whose femininity redefined music

Gloria Namgung, Editor-in-Chief • February 28, 2024

Lorde’s ‘Pure Heroine’, Lauryn Hill’s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’, Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’, Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’ and Lana Del Rey’s ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ have all made an impact on the way the music industry is shaped today.

As I have thoroughly listened to all five of these well-praised and intricately produced albums, I can attest to the fact that they are a must listen-to.

Feminine Art of Music: Must Listen to Before You Die

Lorde: 'Pure Heroine'

In her debut album, ‘Pure Heroine’, Lorde was just 16 years old when she produced this piece. I undoubtedly chose Pure Heroine and Lorde as a musician to be ranked number one on my list because of this album's influence on me. When Pure Heroine was initially released in 2013, Lorde was competing against prominent artists such as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars amongst others. However, Lorde presented a work that made her stand out as an artist with a unique sonical approach in a time period of dominating pop music as a genre.

According to Pitchfork, Pure Heroine “is a collection of throbbing, moody, menacingly anesthetized pop.” The general theme of the album I took away as a listener was pure teen angst and the raw beauty of adolescence that Lorde was able to articulately capture into sound.

Tracks like “Team”, had lyrics that represented this concept, “Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams and you know, we're on each other's team.”

Another track like “400 Lux”, a personal favorite of mine, encapsulated teenage love at its best, “I love these roads where the houses don't change (and I like you) Where we can talk like there's something to say (and I like you).”

Above all, a song on Pure Heroine that made this album arguably one of the most influential of all time is called “Ribs”. Ribs is a track based on the “bittersweet experience of growing up” as Genius puts it. It’s about the perspective of being a naive teenager who has to go through changes and develop into adulthood-- and that can be scary. Ribs will be a track that will most likely end up on my Spotify Wrapped this year in addition to staying on repeat every day as I gear into adulthood soon as well.

Lorde and her work in Pure Heroine is undeniably impressive and an incredible feat in the music industry. As I, a teenage girl, prepare for young adulthood life, I continue to listen to pieces like this for connection and a sense of empathy.
Lauryn Hill: 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'

Lauryn Hill is named one of the greatest female rapper acts of all time for a reason. Once in the renowned music group, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill broke out with ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ in the 90s which would change the rap industry for women and the Black community.

Global Citizen says, “From beginning to end, the album is draped in themes of love, heartache, self-worth, spirituality, and motherhood.” After the release of this album, Lauryn Hill took home five well-deserved Grammy awards to celebrate the art, that is, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

One of the most frequently streamed tracks on the album is “Ex-Factor”. This song clearly depicts a situation of emotional toxicity and abuse in a relationship. There is a powerful message behind this song: working diligently to perfect a relationship for a partner at the expense of losing oneself.

Another favorite of mine on this album is called “Tell Him”. This track was a symbol of healthy love, where transparency and communication are encouraged. It demonstrated one viewpoint of vulnerability and keeping oneself accountable-- some of the many elements of a loving relationship between two people.

It is without a doubt that The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is still making an impact on the industry and its listeners today, twenty-six years after its release. As a listener, I was able to delve deeper into a more authentic style of music with this album and extend my taste to a work that existed long before the music I am most familiar with at my age.
Beyonce: 'Renaissance'

Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ is an album I only became familiar with after many nights of scrolling through TikTok and many other social media platforms. The Renaissance World Tour that took over in 2023 became recognized by many super fans, and others like myself, who just stumbled upon it. As I saw multiple clips of the concert, I became truly entranced by every facet of it-- the costumes, choreographies, sets and overall performances of some of Beyonce’s greatest hits.

It was not until I watched the documentary of the tour, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce”, that I became fully aware of the album itself. As an audience member and listener, I watched how a superstar like Beyonce herself can direct, produce and perform. This newfound respect I had for her as a woman and a musician allowed me to become a part of the Renaissance as well.

One song that struck me the most in this piece is called “Alien Superstar”. Alien Superstar is a track that emphasizes the importance of individualism that Beyonce wanted to center around in Renaissance overall. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this song during times of day when I needed a boost to be driven and unafraid to convey an aspect of myself-- whether it be the outfit I put on that day, the poise I wanted to show to others or making an effort to appear more confident.

Directing back to Beyonce’s virality on social media, many moments of hers have been captured with songs like “America Has a Problem”, “Cozy” or “My Power” to name a few. With that being said, when watching the film, Renaissance, I was able to pick up on other tracks that I hadn’t been familiar with before.

“Heated” is the eleventh track on this album that stood out to me in the documentary because of the visuals and performance of it all. Beyonce wants to come across in one way on this track; “Beyonce declares her self-worth after her man doesn’t give her enough attention,” as said by Songfacts. This song perfectly catches Beyonce in her prime and most authentic version of herself.

As one of the most praised artists of this generation in addition to past generations, Beyonce stunned the world with Renaissance to add to her collection of well-known productions like “Lemonade”, “Beyonce” and “Dangerously in Love”. As an avid listener of Renaissance, I look forward to more of Beyonce-- her iconic looks and performances.
Amy Winehouse: 'Back to Black'

The late Amy Winehouse was one of the many women behind soul music who has greatly shaped the industry today and some of its top artists-- Lady Gaga, Adele and Lana Del Rey to name a few.

I believe that Winehouse was truly influential to the music industry and gifted its listeners with her raw, deep, soulful voice that was unheard of in her era of time. From her winged eyeliner to her beehive hairdo she was best known for, Winehouse stood out to many in her prime.

I chose this album as a ‘Must Listen to Before You Die’ because of its strong melody and lyrics that made Winehouse sound capable and fierce. This made her look different from her counterparts like the Spice Girls who were active in her time.

‘Back to Black’ as the title of the album, and a well-known track on the album itself is a song that many will be familiar with as they listen, whether or not an Amy Winehouse fan. “‘Back to Black’ details the harsh reality Winehouse faced after her then-boyfriend, Blake Fielder-Civil, ended their relationship to return to his ex-girlfriend,” according to Genius. My favorite part of this song has always been the chorus-- “We only said goodbye with words, I died a hundred times, you go back to her and I go back to black”. This track off of the deluxe album captured Amy Winehouse at her true self; she had a way of using her voice to tell a story with genuine emotion and passion for the message she was trying to convey.

Another track in several playlists of mine is ‘Love is a Losing Game’. I personally prefer the Original Demo version on Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition album, more specifically. Love is a Losing Game is a heartfelt ballad that reflects Winehouse’s feelings after a breakup and the inevitable loneliness that comes with it. “One I wish I never played, oh, what a mess we played, and now the final frame, love is a losing game”. In a time period when I needed it the most, I felt personally connected to this track. As Winehouse was more soft-spoken in this song, it was refreshing to hear her versatility in regard to the music she put out.

Amy Winehouse’s legacy still lives on today-- her timeless classics and ability to stand out in a large industry still touches the listening audience in the past, present, and eventually, the future.
Lana Del Rey: 'Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd'

Dream pop, alternative pop, soft rock and alternative indie are just some of the genres singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey is famously known for. ‘Born to Die’ by Rey has been one of the star’s breakout albums, featuring a track many have heard of once before, ‘Summertime Sadness’. For over twelve years of her musical career, Lana Del Rey has stayed relevant and relatable, especially to many young adult women like myself.

Lana Del Rey released ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ recently last year in March, and many of the tracks on the album became hits overnight and on many social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Lana Del Rey was later then recognized for the Visionary Award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards.

Two songs on the album became quick favorites of mine: ‘Let the Light In’ and ‘Margaret’. It also happens to be that these two tracks became favorites of many others, from 70 million to over 100 million streams on each song.

Let the Light In, featuring Father John Misty, is an affectionate and intimate track sung by both artists. According to Neon Music, “It’s a lyrical journey through the nuances of a hidden relationship, a song that invites listeners to explore the depths of love that exist in the shadows.” Rey and Misty want to encourage listeners to “let the light in”, and to face the beauty of love below the surface. “Ooh, let the light in, at your back door yelling ‘cause I wanna come in, Ooh, turn your light on”, are some of the lyrics that represent this idea and general theme. I feel that this track in addition to the album overall embodies Lana in her genuine identity as a musician-- her sound, visual and lyrical thought.

Margaret is the thirteenth track off of Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. As stated by SongTell, “The song "Margaret" by Lana Del Rey (ft. Bleachers) is about knowing when to run away from a troubled relationship.” Rey makes this clear in her pre-chorus-- “‘Cause baby if your love is in trouble”. The featured artist, Jack Antonoff of The Bleachers, helps Rey convey this message in the second verse. “You gotta run, gotta run, run, run, run like your head’s on fire”. The knowledge of ‘knowing’ and holding oneself accountable, being realistic with oneself to think with the mind rather than the heart is the beauty of this track. “When you know, you know,” is the chorus that encapsulates the idea of it all.

Lana Del Rey still remains relevant and an active voice in the industry that awes many listeners. From her aesthetics to lyrical choices, Lana Del Rey is becoming a new classic of this musical generation.

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Feminine Art of Music: Must Listen to Before You Die

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