It’s one of the best days of the year, GALENTINE’S DAY! Coined by Amy Poehler’s ‘Parks and Recreation’ character Leslie Knope back in 2010, Galentine’s has since been recognised by gals across the globe and used as a light-hearted way to celebrate the women who enrich our lives.
With this in mind, we’ve chosen tracks from a handful of our favourite female and LGBTQ+ artists and put them together into one eclectic playlist. We’re all about self-love and sisterly love – not just cis-terly love – so scroll down, press play and share the Galentine’s joy!
Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox – ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves’
I know I put this on all of our Galentine’s playlists, but that’s because it’s a classic! It may have been released back in 1985, but the lyrics are just as relevant today. Annie Lennox also reminds me of my Mum, who is one of Get In Her Ears’ most loyal fans. Thanks for everything Cindy.
(Kate Crudgington)
Queen Latifah – ‘U.N.I.T.Y’
If you haven’t watched the documentary Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World already, I urge you to do so. Public Enemy’s Chuck D and many other pioneers of the genre give one of the best history lessons on this revolutionary form of protest music, that continues to thrive 50 years after its inception in the Bronx in the early 70s. I was moved by the way many of the interviewees spoke about Queen Latifah’s contribution to the movement. This track ‘U.N.I.T.Y.’ won her a Grammy back in 1993. It ruthlessly calls out street harassment, domestic violence and the blatant disrespect black women endure in hip-hop culture. Queen Latifah is one of many excellent women named in the documentary, alongside Monie Love, Roxanne Shante and activist Sister Souljah. (KC)
ARXX – ‘Ride Or Die’
A total Galentine’s anthem from our total faves, Brighton duo ARXX! ‘Ride Or Die’ is an utterly uplifting celebration of queer love and platonic friendship. Propelled by Clara’s thrashing time-keeping and the gritty emotion strewn vocals of Hanni, it’s a sweeping pop classic, oozing an empowering euphoria. Happy Galentine’s Day, ARXX – we love you!
(Mari Lane)
Big Joanie – ‘In My Arms’
GIHE faves and all round punk icons Big Joanie continue to inspire and impress us with all that they do, both on and off stage. Watching them play a sold out headline show at The Garage earlier this year was equally as exciting as it was emotional. This track ‘In My Arms’ celebrates queer love and friendship, and is taken from their acclaimed second album, Back Home. The accompanying video was shot in Southend too, which is 30 minutes away from where I grew up in Essex. (KC)
Ethel Cain – ‘American Teenager’
It was hard to pick just one Ethel Cain track for this playlist, but I figured ‘American Teenager’ captures the euphoric, giddy nature of Galentine’s Day best. I’d like to dedicate this anthem to my GIHE pals Mari & Tash. They let me freely express my teenage angst – despite being in my 30s – frequently on all of the GIHE platforms. That’s the sort of love and patience you just can’t buy. I feel very lucky to have you both. ** cheerleader fist pump ** (KC)
Robyn – ‘Dancing On My Own’
One for our GIHE co-founder and all round hero Tash Walker! Robyn is an outspoken ally for LGBTQ+ rights and we all know romance isn’t just for the heterosexuals out there. So whether you honour Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day, make sure you have a good old dance! (ML)
Blonde Maze – ‘Leaving Home’
I cannot get enough of the shimmering, heartfelt splendour that Blonde Maze is consistently able to create; a comforting embrace in audio form. Blonde Maze just never fails to soothe and uplift with her beautiful creations, and I’m forever grateful to be able to immerse myself in her truly blissful soundscapes. Blonde Maze’s creations are a consistent companion to me whenever I feel lost, and I’ve also been lucky enough to get to know her as a friend over the years – showing the power of beautiful music to bring like-minded people together. (ML)
Maria Uzor – ‘Over This’
Reflecting on a time of reclaiming your identity and being honest with your emotions, this track from GIHE fave Maria Uzor whirrs with a glitchy splendour as her distinctive honey-sweet vocals flow. Shimmering with an immersive grace, it offers a resplendent slice of electro-pop fizzing with an empowering drive. Of the track, Maria explains: “… it’s about reclaiming parts of yourself after a period of silencing yourself and your experiences to keep other people safe and unchallenged in their ignorance. It can be an isolating thing to go through, and I wanted to write as though I was speaking to myself, or anyone else who may have felt silenced due to race, sexuality, or gender identity; I needed reminding that I wasn’t alone.” (ML)
NOVA TWINS – ‘K.M.B’
Like everyone else who saw Nova Twins ruling the red carpet in their custom-made Bad Stitches dresses at The BRITs on Saturday night, I am in awe of Amy Love and Georgia South. Firm favourites of the GIHE team since they were guests on our radio show back in 2018, they have triumphed in the face of so much adversity in predominantly white, male music industry spaces. They’ve stood their ground, remained true to themselves, lifted up their peers and made some of the best heavy music that’s hit our ears in the last decade. This track ‘K.M.B’ is lifted from their Mercury-prize nominated album, Supernova. (KC)
Le Tigre – ‘Keep On Livin’
Such an empowering and motivating anthem from my utter favourites – a song I listen to whenever I need a pick-me-up. And I never tire of listening to it twice in a row (with this name and ‘Cry For Everything Bad That’s Ever Happened’) at the end of 2001’s Feminist Sweepstakes. I CANNOT WAIT to dance and cry in euphoric joy to this live with my GIHE gal pals Kate and Tash (and Paul!) in June. (ML)
Dream Phone – ‘Strut’
The debut single from Oxford duo Dream Phone (aka my new favourite band), ‘Strut’ showcases everything there is to love about their utterly unique creations. Combining playful voice augmentation and synth-driven soundscapes, all fuelled by Jen and Hannah’s sparkling charisma and vibrant energy, it’s a gloriously danceable Galentine’s anthem. Dream Phone played for us last Friday at Shacklewell Arms, and their wonderfully quirky joy and sense of fun-filled friendship was instantly infectious and a truly entertaining spectacle (even their swirling Papa Roach cover!) I cannot wait to see and hear more from this exciting duo. (ML)
Currls – ‘Honey’
Currls wowed us live, headlining for us at Shacklewell Arms for us in December and their track ‘Honey’ is a colourful ode to female friendship and owning your own unique individuality. I just love its empowering energy and unifying, singalong refrains – a truly energising and compelling anthem of self-love that’ll motivate and inspire on first listen. (ML)
Personal Best – ‘This Is What We Look Like’
A track dedicated to the queer community, ‘This Is What We Look Like’ perfectly showcases Personal Best’s “classic rock for tragic lesbians”. As the poignancy of the lyrics “I wanna kiss you in the street / where everyone can see /’cause this is what we look like” shines through with an empowering sense of unity, it’s a perfect anthem for love between anyone and everyone. (ML)
Fightmilk – ‘Overbite’
As the raw emotion and distinctive smooth-yet-husky charm of front-person Lily’s vocals deliver a heartwarming sentiment (“You don’t have to smile if you don’t want to darling, you’re perfect as you are”) alongside scuzzed-out riffs and an infectious, shimmering energy, Fightmilk have created the perfect, alternative fuzzy love-song. A totally joyous ode to your best pal or lover, or both, it offers another slice of blissful power-pop from one of my favourite bands. (ML)
Wolf Alice – ‘Bros’
The scene in this Wolf Alice video where the two young girls are colouring each other’s nails in with felt-tip pens takes me right back to doing the same thing with my younger sisters when I was a kid. The overwhelming nostalgia makes me want to cry? ANYWAY. I adore music that celebrates the importance of platonic love, and ‘Bros’ is one of my all-time favourites. Love you Wolf Alice. Love you Holly and Sarah. x (KC)
Brimheim – ‘Hey Amanda’
I put this track by Danish alt-pop artist Brimheim on our playlist last year, but it’s too good not to include again! An ode to friendship in all its bittersweet glory, ‘Hey Amanda’ is taken from her brilliant debut album, can’t hate myself into a different shape, which I have had on repeat since it was released last year. (KC)
Self Esteem – ‘I Do This All The Time’
As always, I just want to dedicate this track to my awesome GIHE team mates and leave you with Self Esteem’s inspiring lyrics from this perfect anthem of self-love: “Be very careful out there / Stop trying to have so many friends / Don’t be intimated by all the babies they’ve had / Don’t be embarrassed that all you’ve had is fun. Prioritise Pleasure.” (ML)
M(h)aol – ‘Period Sex’
As M(h)aol’s bassist Zoë Greenway so accurately puts it: “At the end of the day, it’s just a bit of blood, isn’t it?” ‘Period Sex’ is a sultry, slow-burning anthem about centering female pleasure, accompanied by a beautiful video that Greenway also directed. I’m consistently moved by the efforts that Irish post punks M(h)aol make to talk about what many perceive to be shameful or painful subjects. This track is one of ten poignant songs that make up their debut album, Attachment Styles. (KC)
Boygenius – ‘Emily, I’m Sorry’
So, it turns out dreams do come true… When news hit last month that absolute super group of dreams Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker – aka Boygenius – were releasing new music, I couldn’t have been happier. The three songs they’ve shared so far are all total beauts, but what’s been even more lovely is seeing these three friends clearly having such a blast promoting them – especially their incredible, playful takes on Nirvana photoshoots of the ‘90s in their recent Rolling Stone feature. (ML)
Get In Her Ears 