# Intense songs by women **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216 "2009-06-18T20:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/1 "2009-06-18T20:40:44Z")
Every once in a while, just for fun, I keep to a theme in my listening. Sometimes I’ll go through my music files and play songs by harmonica players. Sometimes it’ll be songs about crying, or drinking, or songs with numbers, or animals, or rain, or cars. You get the idea. Well I just recently selected several songs at random and remarkably they were all very intense songs by women. Here are three of mine. Please add some of your favorites. 1. Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynett 2. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) - Melanie 3. Down So Low - Tracy Nelson ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/2 "2009-06-18T20:44:09Z")
1. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrisette 2. I will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 3. I will Always Love you - Dolly Parton (please) 4. Joey - Concrete Blonde 5. Respect - Aretha (for what it was at the time as a statement of equality, it was intense!) 6. Plenty of Pretenders stuff… ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/3 "2009-06-18T20:49:21Z")
Me and a Gun by Tori Amos Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco Stay by Sugarland Fuck and Run by Liz Phair I’ve also always felt like Jolene by Dolly Parton was especially intense and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/4 "2009-06-18T21:13:43Z")
Fidelity- Regina Spektor I Am Woman- Helen Reddy The Only One- Melissa Etheridge Son of a Preacher Man-Dusty Springfield Constant Craving-KD Lang Gloria-Laura Brannigan Didn’t Know My Own Strength - Lorrie Morgan Good As I Was To You- Lorrie Morgan Independence Day- Martina McBride I Take My Chances- Mary Chapin Carpenter Don’t Tell Me What To Do- Pam Tillis I’m That Kind of Girl- Patty Loveless Jose Cuervo - Shelly West No Scrubs -TLC Baby, no one can bring it like country girls can. Roll those ladies on to your playlist and get your feet a tappin’. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/5 "2009-06-18T21:28:52Z")
“Traveling Soldier” by the Dixie Chicks. Not musically intense, but the last time I heard it in traffic, I cried like a baby. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/6 "2009-06-18T21:50:29Z")
‘Never is a Promise,’ Fiona Apple (I’m sure there are a ton more of hers that qualify, but that’s the first one that came to mind. Like ‘Sullen Girl,’ it’s about her brutal rape at 12.) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/7 "2009-06-18T22:11:07Z")
“Rid of Me,” PJ Harvey “Drunken Butterfly,” Sonic Youth ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/8 "2009-06-18T22:15:57Z")
**Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria** and **Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances/La Mer** , both by Patti Smith on _Horses_ are pretty damned intense! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/9 "2009-06-18T22:20:53Z")
“Fast Car” - Tracy Chapman ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/10 "2009-06-18T22:29:58Z")
“Black Velvet” - Alannah Myles ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/11 "2009-06-18T22:44:35Z")
PJ Harvey – so many, but “Long Snake Moan,” especially (also “Victory,” “The Sky Lit Up,” “Harder,” “50 Ft. Queenie”…you get the picture 🙂 I love her.) Marion Anderson – “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” Bjork – “Pluto” The Genitorturers – “Lecher Bitch” Mahalia Jackson – “How I Got Over” (makes me cry every time I hear it) My Bloody Valentine – “No More Sorry” (not musically intense, but chilling) Neko Case – “Blacklisted,” “Running Out of Fools,” “Behind the House” Stevie Nicks – “Stand Back” …And anything by Diamanda Galas. That woman could be a Greek Fury. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/12 "2009-06-18T22:56:19Z")
My kind of music … “Criminal” - Fiona Apple Lots of Melissa Etheridge … “Chrome Plated Heart,” “Your Little Secret,” “I Wanna Come Over,” “Bring Me Some Water,” “Come to My Window,” among others “Portions for Foxes” - Rilo Kiley “I Hate Myself for Loving You” - Joan Jett “Queen of the Night” - Whitney Houston (I know, I know, but … it works) “My Lovin” - En Vogue “Walk Away” - Kelly Clarkson “Human Nature” - Madonna “Don’t Let Me Get Me” - P!nk Trisha Yearwood - “Walkaway Joe”, “Wrong Side of Memphis” Kim Richey - “Those Words We Said,” “Echos of Love” Joan Osborne - “Right Hand Man,” “St. Teresa” Sarah McLachlan - “Possession” Natalie Inbruglia - “Torn” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/13 "2009-06-18T23:28:10Z")
“[Piece of My Heart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw-TR2tN9Mk)” or "[Cry Baby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjD4eWEUgMM) by Janis Joplin (who should have been mentioned before this) “My Man” by either Fanny Brice or Barbra Streisand “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun” sung by Bernadette Peters. “Somebody to Love” by the Jefferson Airplane ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/14 "2009-06-18T23:43:15Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > My kind of music … Mine, too. _Every Little Bit_, _Let Him Fly_ - Patty Griffin _Long, Long Time_ - Linda Ronstadt _You’re So Vain_ - Carly Simon _Mad, Mad Me_ - Wendy Waldman _Down to You_, _Song for Sharon_ - Joni Mitchell _Lose Again_ - Karla Bonoff ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/15 "2009-06-18T23:57:51Z")
The track [Aftermath](http://www.amazon.com/Aftermath/dp/B000QQPOAY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1245369268&sr=8-2) by Battery is among the most intense songs I know, female or male. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/16 "2009-06-19T00:22:27Z")
My roommate liked playing “I Surrender”, by Celine Dion. That’s pretty intense. And why do people hate Celine Dion? I suppose that’s a topic for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/17 "2009-06-19T00:24:50Z")
I’m not sure what you mean by intense, but as female vocalists are my favorite kind, here’re a ton: Jesca Hoop – Seed of Wonder Sarah Fimm – Sets Us Apart Sarah Fimm – Virus The Romanovs – The King Dar Williams – Are You Out There Charlotte Martin – Veins Tegan and Sara – The First Loquat – Take It Back Thea Gilmore – The Gambler Neko Case – The Pharaohs The Romanovs – White Flag Charlotte Martin – Limits of Our Love Vienna Teng – The Tower Sarah Fimm – Bombay Cafe Lennon – Where Do I Fit In The Romanovs – La Mer Enchanté Concrete Blonde – Joey Grand Ole Party – Gypsy March Grand Ole Party – Look Out Young Son Northern State – Girl for All Seasons Pretty Balanced – My Mind is a Box Sarah Fimm – Spit Trap Ghetto The Romanovs – Olden Times Regina Spektor – Hotel Song Sinéad O’Connor – Daddy I’m Fine Amanda Ghost – Cellophane Eisley – Telescope Eyes The Romanovs – Exit Wounds Lacuna Coil – Heaven’s a Lie Beth Orton – She Cries Your Name Sarah Fimm – Sky Is Falling Down K’s Choice & Indigo Girls – Rockin’ In The Free World Anna Nalick – Breathe (2 AM) PJ Harvey – This Is Love Kidneythieves – Zerospace K’s Choice – Paradise in Me The Romanovs – Sonnet Jem – 24 Dixie Chicks – Not Ready To Make Nice Cocteau Twins – Persephone Vienna Teng – Between Regina Spektor – Consequence of Sounds Grand Ole Party – Bad, Bad Man Sarah Bettens – Not Insane Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue The Romanovs – Kiss in the Chemicals Jefferson Airplane – Somebody to Love The Vincent Black Shadow – Metro The Romanovs – China Shop Amanda Ghost – Filthy Mind K’s Choice – Everything for Free Kristin Hersh – Your Ghost Vienna Teng – Cannonball Holly McNarland – Elmo Amanda Ghost – Glory Girl Charlotte Martin – Pretty Thing The Veronicas – Secret Tegan and Sara – Dancing in the Dark K’s Choice – Not an Addict The Dresden Dolls – Shores of California Garmarna – Gamen Tin Cup Prophette – Going Numb The Birthday Massacre – Happy Birthday Pink – Just Like A Pill The Birthday Massacre – Video Kid Jack Off Jill – Love Song The Romanovs – Four Things Eyes Set to Kill – This Love You Breathe Sarah Fimm – Scream Grand Ole Party – Troubador of the Water Sarah Fimm – Lioness Pretty Balanced – Miriam Nina Gordon – Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds Tegan and Sara – Living Room Charlotte Martin – Madman Sarah Fimm – Running From the Whole Jack Off Jill – I Touch Myself Imogen Heap – Whatever t.A.T.u. – All the Things She Said Sarah Fimm – Circus Type Thing Krezip – I Apologize Kate Bush – Under Ice Amy Studt – Just a Little Girl Holly McNarland – Dallas PJ Harvey – Kamikaze The Sounds – Painted by Numbers Pink – U + Ur Hand All Saints – Chick Fit Morningwood – New York Girls Imogen Heap – Airplane Grand Ole Party – Redrum Heart Lizette & – Bright Side of the Moon k Pretty Balanced – Hero of the Story Natalie Imbruglia – Torn Angie Hart – Blue Poe – Fly Away Ani DiFranco – Angry Anymore Garbage – Androgyny Imogen Heap – Sweet Religion Rose Kemp – Violence Rasputina – Bad Moon Rising Evanescence – Going Under Regina Spektor – Oedipus Emilie Autumn – God Help Me Jack Off Jill – Nazi Halo Hungry Lucy – Rainfall ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/18 "2009-06-19T00:32:16Z")
Intense and no one listed Hole? Violet Doll Parts ---
**Author:** ![Rin\_Twisted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Rin\_Twisted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rin_Twisted)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/19 "2009-06-19T00:56:53Z")
Intense is an interesting adjective for songs- I like it. One of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had listening to a song was the first time I heard Billie Holliday’s ‘Strange Fruit’. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216/20 "2009-06-19T02:06:37Z")
> [@Rin\_Twisted](#): > > Intense is an interesting adjective for songs- I like it. > > One of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had listening to a song was the first time I heard Billie Holliday’s ‘Strange Fruit’. Yeah, you got it **Rin**. When I say intense I mean a song that will send shivers down to the core of your soul. A song strong enough to make you a basket case in a crowd of people and you don’t even care. The first time I heard _Down So Low_ it started out as a pretty soulful tune. And it built up, and built up until the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I began to shiver, and the tears welled up in my eyes, the room began to spin and I wanted to bang my head on the wall and tear out my own heart and stomp on it and shout out to the whole world “Yes, yes! I am one with the universe!”. Okay, maybe I’m being a little overdramatic here. But suffice to say: _It moved me_. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intense-songs-by-women/500216.md?page=2)