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Author Topic: Famous female composers  (Read 19030 times)
mikeyj
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« on: November 29, 2009, 03:17:15 AM »
I was chatting with this guy the other day who starting saying that there are virtually no good female composers. Anyway, to cut a long story short I basically argued that just because he doesn't know any doesn't mean there aren't any good ones. But I myself couldn't think of many off the top of my head (I'm not THAT knowledgeable in regards to who wrote what except for bands that I like) so I was wondering if people could list any famous female composers or even females who have written one big chart hit or whatever. Please note I don't mean lyricists, I mean females who we know for sure composed music.
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The Heartical Don
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« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2009, 04:30:30 AM »
Laura Nyro. Judee Sill. Sandy Denny (?). Kate & Anna McGarrigle.
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« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2009, 04:54:06 AM »
The obvious of course:

Carole King, Cynthia Weill, Ellie Greenwich, Joni Mitchell.
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smile-holland
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« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2009, 05:03:29 AM »
not sure if Jackie deShannon would fall under this category...
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The Heartical Don
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« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2009, 07:35:24 AM »
Quote from: 8o8o on November 29, 2009, 04:54:06 AM
The obvious of course:

Carole King, Cynthia Weill, Ellie Greenwich, Joni Mitchell.

...but did King and Will compose the music or write the lyrics, or both? (Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann did their part).
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the captain
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« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2009, 08:17:08 AM »
There are some very talented modern females in modern pop: Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards), Lhasa, Joanna Newsom, Inara George. All of them write music, lyrics, and play and sing. Great is a big strong word so it's tough to lump people without long histories into that batch, but a lot of the best stuff coming out is coming from women. PJ Harvey is one who is established and I think appropriate, even though she's not my cup of tea.
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« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2009, 08:21:43 AM »
Zooey Deschanel is my personal favorite.
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« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2009, 09:02:47 AM »
I like her album, but more for the production (which is M Ward) and playfulness she brings to it. I wouldn't call her anything near a great composer: just enjoyable ... which is fine, considering it's just fucking pop music!
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« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2009, 09:40:36 AM »
Exactly what I like about it too.
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I like the Beatles a bit more than the Boys of Beach, I think Brian's band is the tops---really amazing. And finally, I'm liberal. That's it.
the captain
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« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2009, 09:55:04 AM »
But thus only about half relevant to the thread, if we're talking great female composers.
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« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2009, 10:40:00 AM »
Aretha Franklin writes songs and plays piano -- she's not well-known for it, but she did write "Think," which is an unquestionably great song.
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« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2009, 04:52:58 PM »
Kate Bush?
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SloopJohnB
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« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2009, 10:05:30 AM »
Quote from: THE SurferGirl7 on November 29, 2009, 04:52:58 PM
Kate Bush?

I concur - and her impressive composing skills shouldn't overshadow the fact that she's also a great lyricist, singer and composer.

Definitely the most talented female musician in my opinion!
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« Reply #13 on: November 30, 2009, 11:55:57 AM »
Wendy Carlos
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« Reply #14 on: November 30, 2009, 12:28:20 PM »
Quote from: phirnis on November 30, 2009, 11:55:57 AM
Wendy Carlos

I see what you did there.
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I don't know where, but their music sends me there
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the captain
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« Reply #15 on: November 30, 2009, 03:01:37 PM »
Quote from: TdHabib on November 29, 2009, 08:21:43 AM
Zooey Deschanel is my personal favorite.
New She & Him album completed and due out this spring, according to Zooey as quoted in Pitchfork today.
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« Reply #16 on: December 01, 2009, 11:30:52 AM »
Quote from: TdHabib on November 29, 2009, 08:21:43 AM
Zooey Deschanel is my personal favorite.

I concur, not only is she a great singer, but fun to look at.    Wink
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« Reply #17 on: December 01, 2009, 12:07:19 PM »
Quote from: Luther on November 30, 2009, 03:01:37 PM
Quote from: TdHabib on November 29, 2009, 08:21:43 AM
Zooey Deschanel is my personal favorite.
New She & Him album completed and due out this spring, according to Zooey as quoted in Pitchfork today.

YAY!!!
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« Reply #18 on: December 01, 2009, 02:52:14 PM »
Quote from: punkinhead on December 01, 2009, 11:30:52 AM
Quote from: TdHabib on November 29, 2009, 08:21:43 AM
Zooey Deschanel is my personal favorite.

I concur, not only is she a great singer, but fun to look at.    Wink
If by "great singer," you mean "fun to look at," then I whole-heartedly agree. (She's actually pretty bad, especially live. But she's cute. I feel bad saying this on a thread originally dedicated to great female composers. Because she's pure pop confection.)
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Amy B.
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« Reply #19 on: December 01, 2009, 06:00:18 PM »
Tori Amos.
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TdHabib
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« Reply #20 on: December 01, 2009, 07:18:49 PM »
Perhaps I should elaborate. What I meant with "great female composer" was someone that leaves me with a tune in my head, something memorable and well-crafted. Daschanel fufills those in her songs. No she isn't a serious composer, but my personal favorite at the moment currently. Of all time I think Carole King or to a lesser extent Joni Mitchell fufills it for me.
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I like the Beatles a bit more than the Boys of Beach, I think Brian's band is the tops---really amazing. And finally, I'm liberal. That's it.
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« Reply #21 on: December 01, 2009, 09:37:56 PM »
Funny you made this topic. A few months ago, I realized that I didn't have much in the way of female music in my music collection, so I worked on expanding that aspect. The Dresden Dolls have a pretty wild gothic image, but Amanda Palmer sure can write a tune on her piano. Very talented, and the percussion on songs like "Coin-Operated Boy" reminds me of "Vegetables" off of SMiLE. Fiona Apple wrote some interesting music on Extraordinary Machine, I thought, although I don't think she was that involved in the arrangements. The Raincoats self-titled debut album had some interesting compositions, sort of a Captain Beefheart meets the raw pop "we don't know how to play our instruments" simplicity of the Sex Pistols combination.
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« Reply #22 on: December 01, 2009, 10:57:34 PM »
You could argue Carly Simon, Stevie Nicks (one of my faves!), and Christine Mcvie (sp?) fit into the good AND catchy, though maybe Carly isn't really good. I can't tell...
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The Heartical Don
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« Reply #23 on: December 02, 2009, 02:46:33 AM »
Quote from: SloopJohnB on November 30, 2009, 12:28:20 PM
Quote from: phirnis on November 30, 2009, 11:55:57 AM
Wendy Carlos

I see what you did there.

Funniest. Reply. Ever.  LOL
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BJL
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« Reply #24 on: December 04, 2009, 02:22:13 AM »
Quote from: The Heartical Don on November 29, 2009, 07:35:24 AM
Quote from: 8o8o on November 29, 2009, 04:54:06 AM
The obvious of course:

Carole King, Cynthia Weill, Ellie Greenwich, Joni Mitchell.

...but did King and Will compose the music or write the lyrics, or both? (Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann did their part).

I don't think Gerry Goffin even played an instrument.   Carol King was a brilliant composer with out Goffin; Goffin's lyrics are drivel without Carol King. 
my personal opinion
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