Here are 99 books that Why Solange Matters fans have personally recommended if you like
Why Solange Matters.
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Iāve been thinking about and researching obscured narratives for a long time, now. As a lawyer, I learned about how systems and structures marginalize and hide important voices because of overt discrimination and implicit biases, and I took that knowledge with me while I earned a PhD in literary studies. Iāve learned ā and am still learning! ā that if we want to remedy exclusions from cultural histories, weāve gotto learn to think about what voices are missing and why. I hope reading my book and those recommended here will give you a chance to learn with me. Letās change the ways we think about so-called ādefinitiveā histories of music.
This is an essential book for anyone who wants to learn about women in punkāfrom the explosion in the UK in 1976 to the present, and across geographic spaces.
Goldman covers a broad and diverse range of artists, highlighting the critical work women have put into making punk what it is while also illuminating the ways in which punk as a DIY ethos has allowed women musicians to push back against barriers built by misogyny and discrimination to create lasting and influential records.
This book gave me in-depth information about bands I already knew and loved, and it introduced me to other women in punk across the globe. Thanks to Goldmanās book, Iāve become invested in punk from Indonesia, Mexico, Tokyo, Iran, and more. What a gift.
As an industry insider and pioneering post-punk musician, Vivien Goldman's perspective on music journalism is unusually well-rounded. In Revenge of the She-Punks, she probes four themes-identity, money, love, and protest-to explore what makes punk such a liberating art form for women.
With her visceral style, Goldman blends interviews, history, and her personal experience as one of Britain's first female music writers in a book that reads like a vivid documentary of a genre defined by dismantling boundaries. A discussion of the Patti Smith song "Free Money," for example, opens with Goldman on a shopping spree with Smith. Tamar-Kali, whose nameā¦
Iāve been thinking about and researching obscured narratives for a long time, now. As a lawyer, I learned about how systems and structures marginalize and hide important voices because of overt discrimination and implicit biases, and I took that knowledge with me while I earned a PhD in literary studies. Iāve learned ā and am still learning! ā that if we want to remedy exclusions from cultural histories, weāve gotto learn to think about what voices are missing and why. I hope reading my book and those recommended here will give you a chance to learn with me. Letās change the ways we think about so-called ādefinitiveā histories of music.
As far as I know, this is the first biography of an all-female or female-fronted band. When I saw it come out, I was thrilled but also thought: how in the world has it taken this long for someone to write a book about The Slits?!
Lucky for me (and for all of you), Zoe Howe was the one to do it because this book taught me that itās more than possible to write about women in music (even when male journalists and music writers omit women altogether, marginalize them in print, or criticize their work).
Wild, defiant and startlingly inventive, The Slits were ahead of their time. Although they created some unique hybrids - dub reggae and pop-punk, African rhythms, funk and free jazz - they were dismissed as being unable to play. Their lyrics were witty and perceptive while their influential first album challenged perceptions of punk and of girl bands - but they were still misunderstood. And that infamous debut album cover, with the band appearing topless and mud-daubed, prompted further misreadings of the first ladies of punk. Author Zoe Street Howe speaks to The Slits themselves, to former manager Don Letts, mentorā¦
Iāve been thinking about and researching obscured narratives for a long time, now. As a lawyer, I learned about how systems and structures marginalize and hide important voices because of overt discrimination and implicit biases, and I took that knowledge with me while I earned a PhD in literary studies. Iāve learned ā and am still learning! ā that if we want to remedy exclusions from cultural histories, weāve gotto learn to think about what voices are missing and why. I hope reading my book and those recommended here will give you a chance to learn with me. Letās change the ways we think about so-called ādefinitiveā histories of music.
There are incredible and powerful queer musicians making country music, but you wouldnāt know it given the ways a lot of journalism works.
This book is absolutely essential reading if youāre interested in untold stories of country music, and queer artists working against the grain and despite rampant discrimination.
Also, the University of Illinois Press is doing amazingthings for bringing smart books to public readersādonāt assume this book isnāt for you because it was published by an academic press! The opposite is true. This book is brilliant and accessible.
A Variety Best Music Book of 2022
A No Depression Most Memorable Music Book of 2022
A Library Journal Best Arts and Humanities Book of 2022
A Pitchfork Best Music Book of 2022
A Boot Best Music Book of 2022
A Ticketmaster Best Music Book of 2022
A Happy Magazine Best Music Book of 2022
Though frequently ignored by the music mainstream, queer and transgender country and Americana artists have made essential contributions as musicians, performers, songwriters, and producers. Queer Country blends ethnographic research with analysis and history to provide the first in-depth study of these artists and their work.ā¦
Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctorāand only womanāon a remote Everest climb in Tibet.
Iāve been thinking about and researching obscured narratives for a long time, now. As a lawyer, I learned about how systems and structures marginalize and hide important voices because of overt discrimination and implicit biases, and I took that knowledge with me while I earned a PhD in literary studies. Iāve learned ā and am still learning! ā that if we want to remedy exclusions from cultural histories, weāve gotto learn to think about what voices are missing and why. I hope reading my book and those recommended here will give you a chance to learn with me. Letās change the ways we think about so-called ādefinitiveā histories of music.
This is an essential history for anyone interested in the story of punk, andfor anyone who loves comics or graphic novels!
Not only does the book convey untold stories of Black artists in punk, post-punk, new wave, and more, but it tells those stories through incredibly drawn images. Yes, itās a comic book! It also pushes back against the idea that āpunkā is centered around a specific period or sound, highlighting crucial artists like Sister Rosetta Tharpe alongside Black women of the original UK punk scene like the fabulous Poly Styrene.
Youāll be making yourself a playlist and buying this book as a gift for readers of all ages in your life.
Iām a journalist whose work is often heard on NPR's national news magazines, and read in publications such as The New York Times, New York Magazineās Vulture, BBC Culture, Wired, and Bandcamp. I'm most interested in stories about people, communities, and scenes that have been overlooked, forgotten, seen through a distorted lens, or perhaps never seen at all. Iām on a mission to get to a deeper understanding of whatās at stake in the way we see music and art- and the way we see ourselves.
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Margo Price is the real deal.
Her beginnings were humble, and her struggles have been many. Her memoir takes you on the road with her through bad low-paying, low-attended early gigs, drinking, and drugs. Price's marriage/creative partnership is tender and beautiful, yet becomes fragile as it shoulders the unbearable loss of a newborn son.
Through it all, you can feel Priceās grit and determination to survive with her soul intact, making it in an industry that pressures artists to conform to its priorities and sets them up to fail when they resist- or simply try to be themselves.
Priceās music is the soundtrack to her courageous story in progress. In the best possible way, this book reads like the liner notes: honest, heartfelt, and profound.
"[An] engaging and beautifully narrated quest for personal fulfillment and musical recognition...This is a fast-paced tale in which music and love always take center stage...A truly gifted musician, Price writes about her journey with refreshing candor."-Kirkus, starred review
"Brutally honest...a vivid and poignant memoir."-The Guardian
Country music star Margo Price shares the story of her struggle to make it in an industry that preys on its ingenues while trying to move on from devastating personal tragedies.
When Margo Price was nineteen years old, she dropped out of college and moved to Nashville to become aā¦
Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated with peopleās stories. I think this came from my grandfather, who, whether we liked it or not, would gather his grandkids in his study and wax poetically about his life. He was a writer and a teacher, so he knew how to spin a tale and keep even the most inattentive grandchildren captivated. I have for many years referred to myself as a āmemoir junkie,ā consuming life after life like a starving drifter. Memoirs are a great way to continue to remind ourselves that life is guaranteed to provide us with struggle, but we are equipped to overcome it. We must endure, explore, and prevail.
āWowā was the reaction in my mind more times than I can count as I was reading this book. I have always loved Jewelās music and have seen her in concert a couple of times. When I saw she had a memoir on audiobook, I immediately started listening, and I am so glad I did. This book is a MUST LISTEN because she infuses her stories with live renditions of music she references in the chapters.
I received her story about her life the same way I received her music, brimming with raw emotion and spirit. Her life was so unique, growing up in backcountry Alaska, a third-generation product of pioneering grandparents who settled the wild frontier. There is never a dull moment in Jewelās story, her life seemed to almost magically flow from one extreme to the next. Hearing the stories behind her songs made me connect with themā¦
New York Times bestselling poet and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Jewel explores her unconventional upbringing and extraordinary life in an inspirational memoir that covers her childhood to fame, marriage, and motherhood.
When Jewelās first album, Pieces of You, topped the charts in 1995, her emotional voice and vulnerable performance were groundbreaking. Drawing comparisons to Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, a singer-songwriter of her kind had not emerged in decades. Now, with more than thirty million albums sold worldwide, Jewel tells the storyā¦
Truth told, folks still ask if Saul Crabtree sold his soul for the perfect voice. If he sold it to angels or devils. A Bristol newspaper once asked: āAre his love songs closer to heaven than dying?ā Others wonder how he wrote a song so sad, everyone who heard itā¦
As a life coach and author of two dozen self-help books, Iāve spent the past twenty years helping people to be more creative. I love reading about the early lives of artists because it is an engaging way to learn about the creative process. Even rock stars have doubts, insecurities, regrets, and setbacks. Yet, fueled by their passions, they persist. They overcome their obstacles and pursue unique paths to success. These books are inspirational and informative for anyone with a creative dream.
This is a candid autobiography of an unlikely rock star. Relying on her early journals, Carly Simon conveys the details of her privileged childhood and storybook career as a singer/songwriter. Woven through her musical accomplishments are her relationships ā primarily her marriage to James Taylor ā but also with Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger, Jack Nicholson, Cat Stephens, and Kris Kristofferson.
#1 New York Times Bestseller A People Magazine Top Ten Book of the Year 'A sensational memoir ...brilliantly well written. Carly Simon is incapable of writing a boring sentence ...you can forgive anything for the unparalleled brilliance of her writing' - Lynn Barber, Sunday Times 'Hugely affecting memoir ...heartfelt and remarkable' - Fiona Sturges, Independent Carly Simon is a household name. She was the staple of the '70s and '80s Billboard charts and was famously married to James Taylor with whom she has two children. She has had a career that has spanned four decades, resulting in thirteen top 40ā¦
My name is David Seow, Iāve been a huge entertainment fan since I was a child and met Jack Lord when he came to Singapore. Iāve been fascinated by celebrities and what drove them to succeed. Since then, Iāve amassed a collection of over 400 celebrity autographs. My passion for the entertainment scene and celebrities led me to work as a freelance entertainment journalist and a sitcom scriptwriter. For the past 26 years, I have followed my other passion of writing childrenās picture books, and I have published 48 books to date, some of which Iāve gifted to some of my favourite celebrities.
I was lucky enough to meet Taylor, so I dove into this book with gusto. Itās an easy and highly engaging read. I love how the author emphasizes the importance of Taylorās values: hard work, perseverance, and love of a supportive family. What I found particularly appealing was the adorable description of how an 11-year-old Taylor had the gumption to hand out CDS of her music to record execs in Nashville! Five years later, she released her first album and it was a hit!
I love how this talented young lady has used her life experiencesāboth good and badāto build a bridge to success. This is a well-researched, inspirational, and enjoyable read.
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER ā¢ Celebrate global superstar Taylor Swift with this collectible Little Golden Book, which tells her inspiring life story alongside gorgeous original illustrations!
āA must-have for any Taylor Swift collection.āāRolling Stone
Taylor never lets anything hold her back from creating music she loves.
With full-color illustrations on every page, Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography brings her story to lifeāfrom her childhood living on a Christmas tree farm, where she discovered her passion for songwriting, to her early days on Nashvilleās Music Row and her rise as one of the biggest stars in pop music. When youāreā¦
I am all about support, and support is a big part of Black Girl Magic. I believe that every woman should have a support system and community that values each and every person in it. Many of these authors have been featured on my podcast Support is Sexy, an interview-based podcast that introduces dynamic women professionals and the stories of their journeys to my audiences around the world. I recommended the books of these women because I love their message of self-care, self-love, support, and nurturing a healthy community.
I have known the amazing author Danyel Smith for over 15 years. At first, I only knew her through her incredible writing, but I grew to know her personally when she hired me as a Managing Editor at Vibe magazine when she was the Editor-in-Chief. During that time, I was able to personally witness her knowledge of music and the entertainment industry, as well as her unwavering passion for storytelling behind the music.
Her new book, Shine Bright, which she has been writing for more than five years, seems so fitting as part of her journey. Described as āa weave of biography, criticism, and memoirā itās a history of Black womenās music as the foundational story of American pop.
American pop music is arguably this countryās greatest cultural contribution to the world, and its singular voice and virtuosity were created by a shining thread of Black women geniuses stretching back to the countryās founding. This is their surprising, heartbreaking, soaring storyāfrom āone of the generationās greatest, most insightful, most nuanced writers in pop cultureā (Shea Serrano)
āSparkling . . . the overdue singing of a Black girlās song, with perfect pitch . . . delicious to read.āāOprah Daily
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, Esquire, Publishers Weekly
As an author of historical fiction, I have a number of time periods that I go back to again and again. Both the 1960s (specifically, the late 1960s) and the 1990s are two of those eras that I just canāt get enough of. The parallels between these two time periods are very compelling: both were times of political upheaval and amazing music, with young people leading the charge, hoping to create a better world than the one they were disenchanted with.
This non-fiction work is the definitive grunge memoir, told in stark ā sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking ā detail.
Lanegan is candid and honest about his own struggles as well as those of his music colleagues and friends like Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain, and others, always keeping their humanity at the forefront.
A must-read for anyone interested in the grunge scene of the Seattle ā90s.
"Mark Lanegan-primitive, brutal, and apocalyptic. What's not to love?" Nick Cave
"A stoned cold classic" Ian Rankin
"Powerfully written and brutally, frighteningly honest" Lucinda Williams
From the back of the van to the front of the bar, from the hotel room to the emergency room, onstage, backstage, and everywhere in between, Sing Backwards and Weep reveals the abrasive reality beneath one of the most romanticized decades in rock history-from a survivor who lived to tell the tale.
When Mark Lanegan first arrived in Seattle in the mid-1980s, he was just "an arrogant, self-loathing redneck waster seekingā¦