YOU GO GRRRL

A few years ago, I was walking down Haight (in SF) with a friend, when we happened upon a kid, a teenager really, who was at that age when one is discovering that a lot of black, and a general disheveled appearance, separates people in two groups; those who get it, and those who don't. Especially if you're sitting on the sidewalk, writing in a journal about your tortured existence and how nobody understands you. My friend and I started talking about our own "woe is me" journals, and how every kid at that age, who is just trying desperately to find their identity, has to have a journal. We laughed at our younger selves, because we were identifying with what the kid was going through. Though I don't know for a fact, I'd bet that Kathleen Hanna started out like that kid. And she's a great example of what happens when you keep that part of you alive.

She's got a varied CV, but it all involves her outspokenness, and self-empowerment, both as a woman and an individual. She's had a good run too. First with Bikini Kill, and the whole Riot Grrrl thing. Later going solo as Julie Ruin, which would morph into Le Tigre. All along the way, she's been a vocal feminist, often making a point to simplify the message. You can read about her at Wikipedia. Suffice it to say that, like that kid writing in their journal on the sidewalk, I've got a soft spot for her. After running into the recent video below, I finally relented on my reluctance to do a post about her (for lack of specific mp3s). Because you might be the people who do get it.

Storytelling and song, a winning combo: Hanna on 12/15/10

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Bikini Kill - New Radio mp3 at Kill Rock Stars
Bikini Kill - I Like Fucking mp3 at Kill Rock Stars
Bikini Kill - Carnival mp3 at HBML
Julie Ruin - The Punk Singer mp3 at Recidivism
Julie Ruin - Stay Monkey mp3 at FredFlare
Le Tigre - Deceptacon mp3 at IndieShuffle
Le Tigre - Bang! Bang! mp3 at Aquarium Drunkard
Le Tigre - TKO mp3 at Kels the Nu
Le Tigre - I'm So Excited mp3 at Kenny44200
Le Tigre - My Metrocard mp3 at FredEeky
Le Tigre - Fake French mp3 at CCMixter
Le Tigre - Get Off the Internet mp3 at Fimoculous
Kathleen Hanna - Smells Like Teen Spirit/Rebel Girl (live) at YouTube
Kathleen Hanna's Blog
Le Tigre World (official site)
Kathleen Hanna interview at The Fader
NYU Acquires the Kathleen Hanna Papers for Their New Riot Grrrl Collection at the L Magazine
Kathleen Hanna entry at Wikipedia
Totally unrelated, but totally funny:
Hipsters Through History, the Definitive List at the L Magazine