There are some fierce ladies bringing women to the fore-front of music. Radiating girl power and dealing with perceptions of femininity, Ali Barter’s new track, ‘Girlie bits’ is joining the allegiance, in the push for women-to-the-front and the overthrow of stereotypes within the industry.
As women still struggle to be recognised for anything other than their female attributes and looks, the track couldn’t have been released at a more perfect time. The release of ‘Girlie bits’ bites back at female stereotypes of women within the industry and what “a woman is supposed to look like”. The song itself, on first listen, sounds like a theme tune strung straight from a classic 90’s chick flick – all sweet and bubbly, oozing all things pink and fluffy – but there are some real underlying, womanly dilemmas that are begging to be addressed. While it may be disguised as a cute girly track – in which one feels the urge to dance around in their underwear to, with a hair-brush/ microphone clasped neatly at hand – Ali’s new tune is super kick ass and has us all singing her praises.
Loaded with heavy sarcasm, Ali hits the nail on the head, marking the general ‘feels’ of women within the industry and more broadly, women in general, raising the questions women often struggle with in regards to identity and femininity. With lyrics like “Give us a smile princess it’s better for business. None of this angriness, show us your girlie bits.” It’s really a tune for all ears and a little reminder perhaps to the mainstream media who are so inclined to discuss boobs and butts over all else.
When premiering the track on Triple J Ali Barter had this to say:
“Girlie Bits has nothing to do with body parts, it’s about the cage of what we expect of women: girlie guitar parts, girlie singing, hair; this idea of ‘femininity’ and how to fit within it. But women are not some gentle, watered down version of men. We do it our own way. We work really hard to write good songs and play great gigs – only to have people critique our clothes and the look on our faces, instead of the music.”
It’s refreshing to see female musicians who aren’t afraid of being labelled “angry girls” and are all about fighting female stereotypes because newsflash – there’s more to a female than her womanly attributes. Love your work, Ali Barter.