10 Songs By Female Musicians That Should Be In Triple J’s Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years

The last time Triple J held a Hottest 100 of All Time, no female artist or band with a permanent female vocalist made the countdown. 100 songs and not one female in the entire list. Given the number of amazing and talented Australian and international female musicians, this is a pretty deplorable statistic.

In light of this, I’ve put together a list of my own favourite songs by female artists and female fronted bands that are more than worth voting for in the station’s upcoming Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years. As it turns out, the same list is almost identical to the list of my favourite songs, female or male, from the past 20 years.

Of course, this list is very far from exhaustive. Every day female artists release more and more brilliant songs. You don’t have to vote for all, or any of these songs, but hopefully you will be more keenly aware of the ongoing gap that exists between male and female musicians in modern independent music.

Beyonce - Crazy In Love

Missy Higgins – Scar

The Cranberries – Zombie

Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak On

Robyn – Dancing On My Own

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

Bjork – Hyperballad

M.I.A – Paper Planes

Sarah Blasko – Don’t U Eva

The Knife – Heartbeats

Liam

Sexism 101: An Observation of Tasmanian Parliament

Two days ago I spent 9 hours sitting in the speaker’s box in the Tasmanian lower house watching a debate on legislation that proposed the decriminalisation of abortion. The legislation is both controversial and sensitive and it will come as no surprise to any of you that I support it. During the debate, thanks to where I was sitting, I had a direct view of facial expressions and reactions, as well as being able to hear cross-floor conversations.

The proposed legislation would allow women equal rights under Tasmanian law, as terminations are the only health procedure covered under the criminal code. Prior to the debate I expected some of the more conservative politicians not to understand this and I expected them to offend me. What I did not expect was to see members of the parliament, specifically from the Tasmanian Liberal Party, be blatantly sexist during the entirety of the debate.

I find it no coincidence that under the leadership of women, the most progressive legislation in Tasmanian history has been introduced into the parliament. I also find it no coincidence that overwhelmingly, conservative men oppose and undermine it. These are men who tick all the boxes; white, privileged, older, overtly religious – the stereotype seems to be so often true.

It began when member for Lyons, Rebecca White, stood to speak for the bill. Bec is a popular, intelligent and strong female presence in the parliament. She is also young, in her first term, incredibly well dressed and attractive. Can you guess what comes next?

As she spoke Misogynist #1* turns to his parliamentary colleagues and starts having seemingly irrelevant and certainly not urgent conversations, loudly. He also mumbles objections, loudly. At this stage I wasn’t sure if what I was watching was blatant sexism, but then he sealed the deal. He pulls out a laptop, sits it (appropriately) on his lap, thrusting it open so it makes a loud bang against he desk and then closes it not long after. There is no doubt in my mind that it was intentional. One of Bec’s staffers begins to fume, I look at her and she says, ‘He always does this’.

Next, his sidekick Misogynist #2** picks up his water glass. Does he take a sip? Is he, as you would expect, thirsty? No. He picks it up only to move it across his desk and slam it down noisily and again, in the middle of Bec’s contribution. This is also the man who thinks that if we decriminalise abortion women will not hesitate to demand abortions up to 9 months, committing a, “terrible assault on the unborn”. This is a blatant misrepresentation of the legislation.

From that point onward, any female MP in the Green or Labor party had to endure the same treatment. Admittedly, Misogynist #1 was rude to males but the tone and persistence was different. Furthermore, the men he heckled responded and it was clear it was some kind of macho-off or power struggle. When the females spoke they turned away from him and did their best to hide their frustration.

Some people will tell me that this is just how these men do politics, that it’s their style. My response: that doesn’t mean it’s not sexist and I believe our society is too apologetic of such behaviour.

I left the parliament with incredibly mixed reactions, the bill had passed, now making its way to the upper house and on the other hand, I had watched our top political institution demonstrate it wasn’t ready to treat me as an equal. Reactions to my comments on Twitter and conversations with other women who were there only seem to confirm my observations and their frustration and weariness of such treatment was clear.

This is why our Prime Minister still needs to make speeches about misogyny.
This is why it’s OK to still call men out for sexism, you’re not overreacting.
This is why we need to decriminalise abortion; because a political environment such as the one I described proves current legislation is an insult to the idea of gender equality.
This is why we still need feminism.

Jamila.

* Rene Hidding, Member for Lyons http://www.renehiddingmp.com/
** Michael Ferguson, Member for Bass http://michaelferguson.com/

5 Conservative Leaders More Progressive Than Julia Gillard on Marriage Equality

1. David Cameron

 

In the past David Cameron has criticised multiculturalism, has cut billions of dollars from health, education and entitlement programs in the United Kingdom and yet he has still been happy to consistently support marriage equality.

2. John Key

Amongst notable gaffes, John Key has called David Beckham, ‘thick as batshit’ and criticised a radio host’s shirt for being ‘gay’. More recently he said New Zealand would be happy to support military action against North Korea only to backtrack the next day, saying any chance they would go into the country was ‘so far off the planet’. Key, however, supports marriage equality.

3. Dick Cheney

One of the most powerful Vice-Presidents in US history, Cheney was George W. Bush’s final counsel on almost all major policy decisions made by his administration. This included invading Iraq, holding back global action on climate change and supporting torture techniques like waterboarding. Cheney did support marriage equality though.

4. Malcolm Fraser

This was the guy who got rid of Gough Whitlam. Let that sink in. Gough Whitlam. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t support marriage equality though.

5. Barack Obama

Many might not see him as ‘conservative’, but Obama, like Cheney, has been responsible for holding back global efforts to fight climate change, has overseen a deeply controversial drone program that has killed hundreds of innocent Pakistanis and was (for a long time) against marriage equality. This changed in the lead up to last year’s Presidential election and it is Obama’s experience with marriage equality that should be most informative for Gillard.

Obama’s conversion on marriage equality shows it doesn’t pay to be a contrarian. Whilst many gay and lesbian Americans were already going to vote for him, Obama’s support for marriage equality engendered a more important kind of response. Gay and lesbian Americans didn’t just vote for him, they told their friends to vote for him. Some would’ve spent a few hours calling neighbours and many would’ve been out door-knocking to help him get re-elected.

If anyone in the world needs this kind of support it is Julia Gillard.

Liam

6 Celebrity Breakdowns More Composed Than The Australian Labor Party

1. Tom Cruise 

Remember that time Tom Cruise repeatedly jumped up and down on Oprah’s couch after professing his love for Katie Holmes? Yeah, that was more composed than the Australian Labor Party (ALP). 

2. Britney Spears

2007 was Britney’s annus horribilis. She went to rehab, she shaved her head, and perhaps most disturbingly, she attacked a car with an umbrella. This seems apt, as it often appears the ALP is content to keep attacking itself with an umbrella. 

3. David Hasselhoff

The image above depicts a drunken David Hasselhoff trying to eat a cheeseburger. If you substitute the cheeseburger for the Australian people, and Hasselhoff for the ALP trying to convince them, you’ll probably understand politics in 2013. 

4. Charlie Sheen

Not even Charlie Sheen’s post-rehab meltdown can match the Australian Labor Party. I often wonder whether the entire ALP caucus secretly think they too are ‘warlocks’ with ‘tiger blood’ and ‘Adonis DNA’. Or maybe that they’ve just had way too much of the kool aid. 

5. Mel Gibson

This one was close. Mel Gibson did once tell the mother of his child that he was going to murder her and use her remains to fertilize a rose bush. But then again, Labor MP Belinda Neal did tell Sophie Mirabella that that her unborn child could turn into a ‘demon’, so again the ALP take the demon-calling cake. 

6. Tony Abbott

Whilst we hesitate to use the word ‘celebrity’ when describing Tony Abbott, we have to congratulate the ALP on making this guy seem electable. Tony Abbott’s protracted breakdown is reflected in the bizarre, sexist, homophobic and borderline racist comments and speeches he’s made over a lengthy career. Sadly, the ALP’s recent history means it often appears less composed than this man. 

Liam

6 Unflattering Photos of Beyonce Respond to Quotes from the Liberal Party Front Bench

Barnaby Joyce on climate change: 

‘The two great mysteries in 1000 year’s time will be, “Is Stefano DiMera from Days of Our Lives really dead?” and, “Who in the Australian Labor party honestly thought they could change the climate from a room in Canberra?”‘

Beyonce: ‘I’m sorry what?’

 Barnaby Joyce on the consequence of marriage equality for his daughters:

‘We know that the best protection for those girls is that they get themselves into a secure relationship with a loving husband, and I want that to happen for them.

“I don’t want any legislator to take that right away from me.”‘

Beyonce: ‘MAKE IT STOPPPPPPPPPP’

Eric Abetz on marriage equality: 

‘Whilst at university those on the extreme Left of politics always denounced marriage as a vile institution – a tool to oppress women – you know the jargon.

Now this same group all of a sudden believe marriage is so wonderful it should be available to all. – You know what  – I don’t trust them.’ 

Beyonce:  ‘HAHAHAHA AND MY HAIR DOESN’T TRUST YOU’

Tony Abbott on Immigration: 

‘These people aren’t so much seeking asylum, they’re seeking permanent residency. If they were happy with temporary protection visas, then they might be able to argue better that they were asylum seekers.’

Beyonce: ‘TWO HANDS UP IF YOU THINK THEY PROBABLY ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS? AMIRITE LADIES?!?’

Scott Morrison questioning the Government on their decision to fly relatives to funerals of the Christmas Island tragedy victims in February last year, including a nine-year-old boy whose parents were killed:

‘Any other Australian who would have wanted to go to the funeral of someone close to them, they would have paid for themselves to get on a plane and go there’

Beyonce: ‘Did he? WHAT?!?’

Joe Hockey:

‘Tony Abbott, the next Prime Minister of Australia’

Beyonce: ‘OH HELL NO’

Liam

How To Be A Fraudulent Twentysomething in 2013

Stop listening to Triple J. Like actually please stop, you’re only encouraging them. Instead only listen to songs that have been made Best New Music by Pitchfork. In fact, don’t even listen to all of them. Just listen to albums that Pitchfork have given a rating of >9.0 to. Don’t actually tell anyone you read Pitchfork though (the first rule of Pitchfork?).

Choose at least one band from the 70s, 80s and 90s that you have a cursory understanding of and pretend you’ve been listening to them since you were a misunderstood thirteen year old. Some relatively easy choices include: The Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, Nick Drake, Cocteau Twins, Pixies or pretty much any girl group in which [at least] one of the singers suffered an addiction to a class A drug.

Make up a backstory. Like IDK, maybe tell people you were a fundamentalist Christian before you discovered ‘Blue’ by Joni Mitchell. Or that you’re gay. That’s pretty cool these days.

Make sure you like at least one piece of popular culture so it’s absolutely clear you’re not trying too hard. As a rule, check that it’s not the one piece of popular culture that everyone else who is trying too hard pretends to like [read: Taylor Swift or Gossip Girl (RIP)]. In 2013 it’ll probably involve something with Emma Stone in it.

Find ways to ‘intelligently’ undermine the hard work of people who are actually making refreshing culture. Criticize a show that explores someone’s very personal experience of being young by saying that it misrepresents the racial profile of city with more than ten million people in it.

Oh what, you’re having fun at that party? Stop. Now. You’re showing way too much gum and giving everything away. As soon as is practical, find the coolest person you can see at the party and drag them away from everyone else. Imagine you’re both encaged and don’t give anyone the key. Above all, ensure that everyone can see you judging them. Oh and make sure you’re smoking at the same time.

Stop reading; it’s a complete waste of time anyway. Keep buying books though. Buy enough to fill an entire shelf in your room. Occasionally get drunk and poignantly observe that a bookshelf filled with books you’ve never read is an accurate metaphor for the vacuous life you’re living.

Actually I take that back, read at least one obscure book a year. Then find at least one new person at every party you go to and impress them by raving about a book they won’t have read. Most people will literally freak out that someone has actually read a book and, if by chance they bring up anything you haven’t read, steer the conversation in the direction of novels where you’ve seen the movie (and then proceed to shit all over the movie adaptation, mmmmm irony).

I actually have no idea what any of these things are, but I’m just going to write them down here so you can throw them out into a conversation sometime: ‘Charles Bukowski’, ‘Serge Gainsbourg’, ‘Dancer In The Dark’, ‘Zola Jesus’, ‘Four Tet’.

Keep trying your hardest to seem like you’re not trying at all. Perhaps you could write a blog about all of the things you’re insecure about and pretend you’re better than those very same insecurities?

Liam

On Being Gay in 2012

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.’

2012 was an incredible year to be gay.

It was a year in which a President in a deeply religious nation, riven by political division, found the courage to come out and openly support marriage equality; a year where the Premier of my state did everything in her power to pursue equality for gay Tasmanians. It was the year where more and more shows and movies explored and developed meaningful gay characters, where a web series challenged clichés about gay men and found an adoring audience.

This was the year where, true to our Internet age, one Tumblr post changed hip hop forever; where one of our biggest reality television shows crowned an openly gay man as its winner (a winner who had the audacity to propose to his boyfriend on live television); where more and more and more prominent gay men and women could comfortably be queer and not risk damaging their career prospects.

I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone in saying that I have never felt more conscious of being a proud and openly gay man. 

But, in the midst of what was a banner year to be gay, 2012 was also the year Julia Gillard could not find the courage to support marriage equality. Let me not mince words, Gillard continues to comprehensively fail gay Australians. In the context of so many stunning advances for the gay community, most days I’m surprised people are not more angry. Or furious.  

She’s not only out of step with Labor’s more courageous state and territory leaders; she’s now out of step with the party’s platform and almost every other leader of the world’s centre-left parties (and many conservative leaders too). Gillard no longer represents a mainstream view on marriage equality and 2012 was the year where she repeatedly failed to support it. Instead, it was a year where she was willing to speak in front of a group whose senior members had said ‘legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse’. A year where she voted with Tony Abbott to stop historic legislation that would have ended needless discrimination. 

More and more, Gillard is as isolated as the Mayans she so brilliantly parodied. Like the small number of people who believed the world was going to end, Gillard appears to still accept the perverse logic of an increasingly small minority who believe marriage equality will destroy traditional marriage. The truth is: I’m no longer optimistic about Gillard changing her mind.

Instead, this Christmas I’m stumping up to the unfortunate truth that the gays are just another victim of Gillard’s last remaining political commitment: expediency. Like the forgotten asylum seekers who will spend this Christmas rotting in a detention center somewhere in the Pacific, or the struggling single parents who face a happy New Year having their already measly allowances cut in half; or those who will suffer because of the massive reduction in our foreign aid, we’re all the victims of the price we pay.

And for what? An NDIS and the now mythical Gonski Review? Policies that are undoubtedly worth pursuing, but are currently without clear funding plans or concrete legislation. Perhaps I should just be happy that me being a victim only means I won’t be able to get married. For others though, the cost is much, much worse.

The question then, is whether it’s a price still worth paying? This Christmas, I’m not so sure.

Liam