❌Monthly Song Challenge: Archived🎵

Day 22: A song from the 70's

This track means a lot to me for, at least to those who know me, obvious reasons. But I can only imagine Poly Styrene singing this as a Black woman in the punk movement of the 70's!

"Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself?"



Poly Styrene and X Ray Spex - Identity
 
Day 22: A song from the 70's

This track means a lot to me for, at least to those who know me, obvious reasons. But I can only imagine Poly Styrene singing this as a Black woman in the punk movement of the 70's!

"Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself?"



Poly Styrene and X Ray Spex - Identity
When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself?
Do you see yourself on the TV screen?
Do you see yourself in the magazine?
When you see yourself, does it make you scream?

She really did make 12 year-old me think about identity and representation. So very important in that rock against racism, anti-NF era. Formative experiences.
 
Day 22: A song from the 70s.

In 1973, Peebles, along with her partner Don Bryant, were heading out to a concert when a downpour hit. Ann looked out and said, "I can't stand the rain," and that rang withy Bryant, who immediately went to their piano and started working on this song. They completed it all that night (and didn't make the concert).

"When we were together
Everything was so grand
Now that we parted
There's just one thing that I just can't stand
I can't stand the rain"

I adore this song, both for the percussion and her wonderful vocalizations. It has been remade several times, and was sampled by Missy Elliot for her debut single. Just a lovely song by an artist who doesn't get the recognition she deserves.

"I Can't Stand the Rain," Ann Peebles (1974)


(+1 for a WOC artist, +2 total so far.)
 
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