The November 2018 Spotify Playlist: Listen to the Women

It’s not often that I apply a theme to a playlist. The November 2018 set is one of those rarities.

The past two years have been full of unrest, anxiety and uncertainty, both politically and personally. Less than two weeks after the electoral college gave Donald Trump the election, I uprooted my life of 22 years in New York and moved to Cleveland. Since then, between what has happened in our country and in my own life, I can’t remember when I experienced more anger, heartbreak and uncertainty on so many levels in such a concentrated period of time.

But, between the “Grab ‘em by the pussy” audio, the Brett Kavanaugh hearings and ultimate confirmation, and the avalanche of reckoning for perverted pricks who’ve used their power positions to abuse, I think few are more justified in their fury than women.

I think of all the women in my life who’ve helped shape the man I’ve become, and I think of all the young women who are learning who they are and shaping who they will become in a hostile climate. I imagine if Trump, Weinstein, Cosby, Kavanaugh or any of their bent breed assaulted or stunted the progress of my mother, my sister, my niece, my friend, and my blood boils. And if they ever tried to speak truth to power, calling their assaulter out, only to have their voices disbelieved or delegitimized by that power, the fury within me would be immeasurable.

I’m with the women.

This month’s playlist is those who’ve rocked, rolled, grooved, wailed, hipped, hopped or cleverly called a man on his bullshit. Many of these are ground breakers who kicked open doors, flipped a middle finger to (male) gatekeepers who tried to keep them down and fought like hell to do their own thing on their own terms. Some are rule-breakers, some are game-changers, some were nasty when only boys were allowed to be and some just made us wanna dance. All of them kicked ass and made great music.

I could include so much more here, but I gave myself the constraint of one song per artist. As the month goes on, I may add more. I love every song here.

This month, we have a make-or-break midterm election whose outcome could shape the future of our country for better or worse. Everyone’s vote matters. Let’s get out there and do our part.

In the meantime, hit play and listen to the women…

November 2018 Playlist

Further listening…

Feel free to dive into the complete playlist archive on Spotify and The Men’s Shop Playlist, a growing eclectic mix of classics that I would play in my fantasy men’s store or barbershop.