From 15 August 2021
Female Musicians
It’s Women’s Month and time to celebrate their musical talents! Your choice is any vocal or instrumental track where the primary, lead, or solo artist is female. Your song must showcase her talent. Thank you, Sue, for this August theme!
Geraldine
P!nk – Try
Celebrating Woman’s month with music, song and dancing exclusively for female artists. Fabulous!!
My biggest challenge was to select an artist that shares a strong message and great entertainment.
Friends I give you P!nk and it is clear what her message is in her song Try.
Arno
Miley Cyrus – Just Breathe (MTV Unplugged Presents Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions)
Errol
Patricia van Haastrecht – Rise Up | TVOH | The Liveshows | S9
You all know I’m a big fan of the talent contest shows and the opportunity it presents artists to publicly showcase their talents, and maybe get a chance to make their passion their career.
I chose to select an artist from The Voice of Holland, Patricia van Haastrecht, covering the song ‘Rise Up’ (by Andra Day) in the finals.
If you can get past the noise and applause of the show, she has a beautiful voice. I always enjoy watching the judges on their journeys through the artist’s presentation. Enjoy!
Liezel
Vendulka Wichta sings ‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club | The Voice Stage #60
Hello dear ones. For this song I have to admit that Errol’s love for music talent shows rubbed off on me. I was watching this show randomly one day with Jay and this version of the song blew me away. I loved the effect it had on Boy George too. She’s a new artist to me and I absolutely loved this style. Enjoy
Esther
Helena Hettema – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien
One of Johann and my absolute favourite artists. Born in South Africa. Actress, singer, songwriter, cabaret artist, voice artist, and she sings French, Italian, Netherlands and Flemish. Yes, Afrikaans and English as well. We went to a few of her shows in the good old days. I present to you Helena Hetema
Chrisna
Tori Kelly – Colors Of The Wind
Tori Kelly is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Kelly first gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube as a teenager. This Cover of “Colors of the Wind” is a highlight of the We Love Disney compilation album. Enjoy.
Sarah
Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire
My choice really is what I like to call my “theme song”.
And Alicia Keys is such a magnificent talent!
Happy Saturday Musos!!! Sending all my love to all of you ❤️
Deborah
Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves [Ft. Aretha Franklin]
At the heart of Women’s Month in our country is the tribute to more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9th August 1956 to protest against legislation aimed at tightening control over the movement of Black women in urban areas.
I felt that this modern feminist anthem about women’s freedom, power, and strength is fitting for the theme.
Zosia
The Boxer – Allyson Krauss, Shawn Colvin and Jerry Douglas ( Paul Simon Tribute)
Allison Krauss won her first contest at the age of 10. At 14 she had her first recording contract. Allison has won 27 Grammy awards beaten in the female category by Beyoncé has more. A bluegrass singer I have selected ” The boxer” where she is accompanied by Shawn Colvin
Richard
Joan Baez – Diamonds and Rust
I was having coffee with Joan in downtown LA shortly after her breakup with Bob. She was not handling it well and was quite heartbroken. I suggested that she write a song saying it would help the healing process. The result was truly amazing. This is Joan at her best. I haven’t spoken to Bob since
Lynda
Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion – Tell Him
My song is a duet by two amazing vocalists. They’re my two favourite female singers (sorry Adri, I know you hated the one🤭). They both have very powerful voices. This duet was recorded in 1997. Enjoy
Karen
Golden Buzzer: Nightbirde’s Original Song Makes Simon Cowell Emotional – America’s Got Talent 2021
Jane Marczewski, was poised as one of the favourites to win, but she left fans everywhere in utter despair when she announced that she wouldn’t be able to compete in the live shows because her health had taken a turn for the worse.
Nightbirde became a huge fan favourite following her appearance on the show and was seen by many as a strong contender to win the entire thing. She told the audience and judges about her struggles with cancer in the audition round and proceeded to wow everyone with a performance of her original song It’s OK.
Via a video link with the judges and host Terry Crews, she revealed her disbelief at just how many times her audition video had been viewed online.
During her return to the show, Simon was visibly emotional as he told the singer: “You made the decision rightly so that your health is your priority right now, and when we spoke you feel like you’ve let people down.
“And I just want to say on behalf of all of us that you haven’t let anyone down. Even though you haven’t competed you have already won.”
Sue
Sissel – Unchained Melody
There is nothing new about this often recorded song. I have chosen this exceptional version by Sissel. It is my absolute favourite as it holds very precious memories for me. Sissel has the amazing skill of “playing” with the notes of a song giving beautiful nuances to the words. This tenderness touches my heart. Enjoy her pitch-perfect gentle tones of “Unchained Melody” on this early Friday evening.
Wilfred
Madonna – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Cancer took her at the young age of 33.
Despite her short life, and never holding any government post, she had an impactful life.
Eva Perón is Argentina’s favourite daughter. She was revered by the Argentine public because of how she championed workers’ rights, the rights of the poor, and also women’s rights.
She was instrumental in establishing thousands of hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the aged, and other charitable institutions. Eva was largely responsible for the passage of the women’s suffrage law and formed the Peronista Feminist Party in 1949.
(Women’s suffrage, also called woman suffrage, is the right of women by law to vote in national or local elections.)
Madonna famously campaigned for the role of Eva in the 1996 musical film Evita by sending the director a four-page letter about why she should be the chosen one.
The Evita soundtrack took four months to record, and all of the parties involved recalled it as a nerve-wracking experience.
Madonna was “petrified”. She said, “I had to sing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber … I was a complete mess and was sobbing afterwards.”
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina is about the generosity of Evita’s spirit in death, asking the public not to mourn her.
Enjoy this song, sung by a powerful woman about another powerful woman.
Paul
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
The embodiment of fairy tale and romance, Stevie Nicks has fashioned herself into a mystical poet from the 19th century. Never ageing, and never failing to inspire, the Fleetwood Mac icon danced a path across the world’s stages for all women in rock’n’roll to follow. From her first Fleetwood Mac hit, Rhiannon, though to penning the group’s sole US No.1, Dreams, and her enigmatic solo work, Nicks’ music continues to transport listeners to another time and place. Collaborating with some of the best in the business – including Prince, Tom Petty, and Don Henley – Stevie Nicks has demonstrated the importance of women in the industry, showing fans how to draw power from femininity. The only woman to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame twice, Nicks more than earns her place at the top of our list of the most influential female musicians of all time. As she sang herself: “Once in a million years a lady like her rises.”