Canzoniere Femminista – Amore E Potere (Love & Power)
Canzoniere Femminista – Prostituzione (Prostituion)
Canzioniere Femminista – Siamo Tanta Siamo Belle (We Are Many, We Are Beautiful)
While its clear, especially after almost exactly thirteen years, that we tend to focus on funky, soulful records and sounds, I collect a wide variety of music (which hopefully I’ll be much better about sharing in the next year). One of the types of records that I almost always pick up whenever I run into them are political records, especially international ones. Beyond my musical tastes, these records often connect to my own personal political philosophies and are reminders of the solidarity of oppressive experiences, as well as the beautiful struggle to overcome them. Given the current state of affairs here in the US, giving into rage-filled despair is a normal and justified response. On multiple fronts, this society is moving backwards, where some groups, especially trans folk and all people who give birth, are repeatedly losing their bodily autonomy and even their right to exist. In truly tragic moments like this, there is also hope. To say so does not diminish the real harms and terrors that so many will go through in the coming months & years, its just a recognition that we call the struggle for human rights a “beautiful” struggle for a reason. When I’m in need to hope and optimism in dark times, its helpful to be able to look to the past and see examples of protest and solidarity that were successful and did effect positive change for society. This record is one such example, released one year before abortion was legalized in Italy.
There isn’t a lot of information online about Il Canzoniere Femminista, but what’s clear from the lyrical content as well as the liner notes, that they’re serious Leftists. As someone who teaches Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci in one of my theory classes, it was clear there was some of his influence on the group when they were talking about the State.
The songs by the group are fairly simple in instrumentation, often just vocals, with guitar and minimal percussion, but they are marvelous in execution. Played and sung with great passion.
Most focus on issues of economic inequality & unpaid domestic labor, as was often the case for Feminists of the 1970s, but there are times where these songs fit some more radical sentiments of the present day. “Prostituzione” is a rare explicitly sex worker positive song, rare for any era.
Some of the lyrics in “Amore e Potere,” and “Siamo Tante, Siamo Belle,” seem tailored made to our present moment, something that is both depressing and inspiring.
This struggle may be a “beautiful” struggle, but it is a struggle nonetheless. The music we listen to sometimes serves as a distraction, sometimes as a needed balm, and sometimes, as is the case here, it serves to act as a way to bring people together under a common righteous cause and that kind of solidarity is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. Times are hard, but these times clarify what is truly at stake, clarifies the sides that people are on, and also serve to push society as a whole towards greater change. The historical examples of past movements, knowing how far things have come gives me hope. And for those that haven’t had much of that emotion in supply of late, I hope you feel it as well, when you hear these songs.