So the big news in Australia this week has been the passing of Helen Reddy, who had the huge hit “I Am Woman” in 1971. And a few other hits as well. She was a local girl made good – went to the US with a 3 year old and $200 in her pocket and became a star. Aussies love those kind of stories. And it is a great story.
In 1971 I was a frustrated 17 year old in my first year at university (yeah, way too young), more interested in Neil Young, Led Zeppelin and ELP than the pop singles of the day. However, I remember my mother talking about “I Am Woman”. She loved it. Mum was a frustrated feminist. She was a gentle soul, actually very happy to be the Good Wife while recognising that the feminist movement happening at the time was a Good Thing. I remember her saying to me that she thought the song was WONDERFUL, and singing the lines “yes I am wise but it’s wisdom born of pain”. I guess it was water off a duck’s back for me at the time, being a testosterone filled idiot, but it’s a very strong memory for me, hearing her express such strong feelings for the lyrics of what I thought was just another commercial pop song.
I suspect this is a typical bloke’s reaction. Look forward to hearing other opinions, especially from women on the blog
Not a fan of that song, but I love Angie Baby.
Yep……I always liked Angie Baby too.
Me too. I loved Angie Baby as a pre-teen spotty kid.
When I first met my future wife, she owned three CDs: S&G’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Peter Paul & Mary’s debut, and Helen Reddy’s Greatest Hits. She’s never been into music in a big way, but she seemed quite knowledgable about Helen Reddy and this one song in particular, that she sang along to. I thought Helen Reddy was a bit naff, but in those early days, ‘I Am Woman’ became a sort of knowing link between us. That opening line, ‘I am woman, hear me roar’ became one of our shared catchphrases, and still gets an occasional airing today.
There’s a Frank Zappa line – “her favourite group is Helen Reddy” – if that’s any help.
@H-P-Saucecraft – which song?
@Mousey
Honey Don’t You Want A Man Like Me
err answering your question, not soliciting.
Yes of course, Zappa In New York. Shoulda known!
By ’84 in live performances, the line had changed to
“Her favourite group was Twisted Sister”.
I honestly don’t really know of her. I am vaguely aware of the name Helen Reddy and the phrase “I Am Woman” but I’ve never knowingly heard the song.
Maybe she wasn’t as big a deal in the UK? I’m from Scotland, born in the early ’70s.
Yes – interesting how these inter-continental differences play out. It’s headline news here in Australia!
Helen Reddy’s 1977 album “Ear Candy” was produced & arranged by the arch-hustler Kim Fowley.
This was intended to get her hit singles & away from her “queen of housewife rock” image (as Alice Cooper called her) Fowley said it was like “Sam Peckinpah directing a movie starring Julie Andrews.
Sounds were always plugging Kim Fowley – particularly due to the Runaways – and I bought a cheap copy in the early 80s, but haven’t listened to it in decades. I was expecting something rocky, like Jim Steinman producing Bonnie Tyler, instead it’s well produced, lush 70s pop.
The last time I heard her mentioned, was about seven years ago, when her family denied that she was suffering from dementia…sadly the reports were true.
I thought I Am Woman was a wonderful anthem at the right time, lyrics that were strong and not clunky and could be belted out by every girl and woman who felt empowered singing it.
As far as political songs in popular culture it was a very important song.
Indeed.
This morning I caught Jenni Murray’s farewell from three centuries at the helm of BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour” current affairs prog. For those that don’t know it, it’s been a quality, interesting listen since the rise of class Mammalia. Her final final sign off on the programme was to play Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman”.
Purely by chance I always seemed to catch Woman’s Hour on my work van radio, while driving between jobs. Usually an interesting programme with very good interviews.
I seem to recall the BBC trying out an equivalent R4 programme aimed at men a good few years back, presented by Tom Robinson. It was a flop and disappeared fairly quickly.
Have to say that 3 centuries is extremely impressive.