With recent music trends, the riot grrrl genre is becoming more and more mainstream, with artists such as Mannequin Pussy, Olivia Rodrigo and illuminati hotties integrating parts of it in their current discography.
Riot grrrl was a part of an underground feminist movement in the early 90’s that mixed punk music and politics. A lot of the genre is still loved today and has become immortalized because of the many iconic songs that dominated this genre. This article will go through some of my all-time favorite riot grrrl songs.
“Rebel Girl”- Bikini Kill
“Rebel Girl” is one of my favorite songs from this genre because it can serve as an introduction to what riot grrrl is all about. A lot of these musicians were singing about their queerness and sexuality in a more prominently feminist way. I think this song perfectly describes how progressive this movement was for its time period. I love the lyric “That girl think she the queen of the neighborhood / I have news for you, she is / They say she’s a slut, but I know / She’s my best friend”.
“Brat Girl” – Bratmobile
Even though this song is just under 2 minutes long, it carries a punch. It’s grungy, sexy and powerful. I love the instrumentals of this track and how well they pair with the imperfect vocals in the song. This song is meant to be speaking to a man who is not respecting the singer, so she fights back, dubbing it “Brat Girl”. My favorite lyric from this song is “So yr the one that loves me so / Letting me know blow by blow… / Now who you callin looks like a whore / It never kept you commin back for / More”
“Cherry Bomb” – The Runaways
This song is constantly in my head because of how catchy and iconic this song is. Throughout the song, The Runaways proclaim that they’re a cherry bomb. Meaning that they’re wild, different, and are ready to take the world head on. Because of this, “Cherry Bomb” is often seen as the manifesto of riot grrrl.
“Shitlist” – L7
I am a big fan of “Shitlist” because of how scathing it is. L7 is truly punk at its core with rumors of tampons being thrown at their concerts. The band also helped put together the pro-choice movement at the time, Rock for Choice, performing with Bikini Kill, Nirvana and Joan Jett. Definitely keep this song in mind when someone pisses you off.
“White Boy” – Bikini Kill
This song opens with an excerpt of a man saying “I don’t think it’s a problem ‘cause most girls ask for it”, before Kathleen Hanna begins her verse. One the most powerful lines from this song are “it’s hard to talk with your dick in my mouth / I will try to scream in pain a little nicer next time”. Another lyric that stands out is “I’m so sorry if I’m alienating some of you / Your whole culture alienates me”. This song is angry, feminist and punk and truly defines this genre.
Although parts of the riot grrrl era have become problematic due to its lack of nuances when discussing race and privilege, a notable song that tries to address this is “White Girl” by Heavens to Betsy. Much of this genre is dominated by white women who were tired of the oppression they were facing, but tends to look over intersectionality within the movement. Much of this movement is revolutionary as it commands space within the punk scene and tries to make these women heard.
I am a student at University of Houston currently studying Strategic Communications. In my free time, I write for different publications as I am extremely passionate about music. I collect vinyls, go to concerts, and play guitar. Some of my favorite artists include Paramore, Kendrick Lamar, and Lorde. On the weekends I make pottery, sew, and spend time with my dog.
