It's no wonder that the feminist
movement gained momentum in the politically charged 70's. The fight
for social equality between men and women connected well with the
struggle for working class liberation. It paved way for #1 feminist
band Röda Bönor, and later Andra Bullar, but prior to that, several
feminist projects had already received attention.
SÅNGER OM KVINNOR (MNW, 1971)
International relevance: *
Swedish vocals
The first album entirely devoted to the
topic of feminisim was ”Sånger om kvinnor” in 1971 with its
origins in a stage play called ”Tjejsnack” written by Suzanne
Osten and Margareta Garpe for Stockholms Stadsteater (Stockholm City
Theatre). MNW wanted to release an album with the music used in the
play, but as there wasn't enough material for a full LP, additional
songs were written specifically for the release.
Much appreciated upon its release
”Sånger om kvinnor” was also questioned. While the lyrics were
written by women, the music was composed by Gunnar Edander (formerly
active in independent theatre group Fickteatern), and the backing
musicians were an all male cast of Bengt Berger, Urban Yman, Kjell
Westling, Roland Keijser, Tord Bengtsson, Leif Nylén and others.
Ironically enough, it's the musical backing that impresses the most,
with several fine efforts from the musicians involved. The album
sports a massive lot of singers including the aforementioned Suzanne
Osten and Margareta Garpe, but also Ulla Sjöblom, Lise-Lotte
Nilsson, Lena Söderblom, Louise Waldén, author Sonja Åkesson and
the excellent Marie Selander. Not all of them are as good singers as
Selander. Also, the music is annoyingly silly and yippee jolly from
time to time, but it has a couple of good moments – ”Innerst inne
är du en riktig kvinna, Louise”, and Leif Nylén's excellent
”Törnrosa” (sung by Marie Selander). ”Vi måste höja våra
röster” became an instant classic feminist anthem.
TJEJCLOWN - MED LIVMODER I STRÄNGARNA
(MNW, 1974)
Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: *
In response to ”Sånger om kvinnor”,
”Tjejclown” was made with only women writing and performing the
songs, some of them spilling over from ”Sånger om kvinnor”, but
also including such well-known names as Anita Livstrand, Turid,
Hélène Bohman (of Stenblomma) and Lena Ekman. Obviously of greater
symbolic value than ”Sånger om kvinnor”, but if you don't want
to listen to political symbols just for the sake of it, it's a bad
and largely amateurish album. There's not one track here of the same
stature as ”Innerst inne är du en riktig kvinna, Louise” and
”Törnrosa”, but ”Flugsvampens visa” is passable.
JÖSSES FLICKOR - BEFRIELSEN ÄR NÄRA
(YTF, 1975)
Swedish vocals
International relevance: *
”Jösses flickor – befrielsen är
nära” was originally highly successful musical/play premiered at
Stockholms Stadsteater in 1974, depicting the evolution of the
women's liberation movement (three years before ”Tältprojektet”
did a similar thing with the working rights movement). Again the
music was written by Gunnar Edander, meaning it was a little more
carved out than ”Tjejclown”. Unfortunately, he borrowed so much
from the pamphlet progg style so fashionable among the communist
crowd at the time that the best thing I can say about the album is
that the songs at least are short...
To sum it up, all this is (mostly) bad
music for a good cause. For more enduring, digestible and
entertaining feminist progg, please turn to Röda Bönor.
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