3 Feminist Anthems That Were Originally Written by Men

You’re probably just as shocked as I am to discover that some of the best feminist songs in history actually weren’t written by women. That doesn’t make them any less anthemic or authentic, though. In fact, I think the ability of an artist to look past a song’s original message says a lot. Sometimes, it’s about seeing the potential for empowerment that lies under the exterior. Here are three songs that became feminist anthems that women didn’t originally write.

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“Respect” by Aretha Franklin

Before Aretha Franklin got her hands on this one, “Respect” was actually a song written by Otis Redding. However, when Franklin added backup singers and the hooky “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” spelling, the song took on a totally different meaning. In Redding’s version, lines like “All I’m askin’ / is for a little respect when you come home” presented a harsher male perspective. But Franklin turned the song into an empowerment anthem, not just for women, but for women of color as well.

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper

Although it’s a staple of her catalog now, when Lauper first heard this song, she wasn’t the biggest fan. The original version was written and released by songwriter Robert Hazard. If you look at some of the lyrics from Hazard’s version, honestly, it’s no wonder Cyndi wasn’t feeling it.

“The phone rings in the middle of the night / My father says, “My boy, what do you want from your life?” / Father dear, you are the fortunate one / Girls just wanna have fun / Yeah, girls just wanna have fun.”

As you know, if you’ve heard the song for yourself, Lauper made a few tweaks that ultimately change the message of the song altogether.

“Gloria” by Patti Smith

Smith turned “Gloria” into a gay anthem that compares sex to a religious experience. But before that, there was another version written by Van Morrison and released by his rock band Them. Morrison sings of a “Gloria” who “comes around here / At just about midnight.” But Smith uses the song to make a statement with lyrics of her own.

“Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine / Melting in a pot of thieves, wild card up my sleeve / Thick, heart of stone, my sins, my own / They belong to me, me / People said, “Beware”, but I don’t care / Their words are just rules and regulations to me, me.”

Photo by: David Redfern/Redferns