A new theme for Wednesdays to counter these Wednesday Blues – Women In Music Wednesday. Two Women In Music. Five Favorite Songs. Put them on Shuffle. Choose your favorite or love them both.

Women In Music Wednesday is inspired by Woman-Crush Wednesday. I definitely have a crush on both of these women in music – Karen O and PJ Harvey.

Karen O and PJ Harvey
Women In Music Wednesday

Karen O was born Karen Lee Orzolek, in South Korea, in 1978. She is a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. She’s best known as the lead vocalist for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. (from Wikipedia)

I first heard Karen’s voice on the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s track “Maps”. It was 2003. The song would lead me to the band, and lead me to the album Fever to Tell. The song would stick and stay, and settle in while I was trying to make a long-distance relationship work. I’ve always loved the raw desperation in the track, the strength and the pleading. This song is full of want, but it’s not weak at all. “Maps” hurts a bit more today. I feel strong and weak listening to it. Raw and wanting.

Five Favorites – Karen O

1. “Maps”
from the Album, Fever To Tell (2003)

2. “Zero”
from the Album, It’s Blitz! (2009)

3. “Soft Shock”
from the Album, It’s Blitz! (2009)

4. “Ooo”
from the Album, Crush Songs (2014)

5. “Turn Into”
from the Album, Show Your Bones (2006)

What are your favorites from Karen O? What song did you first experience Karen O on?

PJ Harvey was born Polly Jean Harvey in October 1969, in the United Kingdom. She is a musician, singer-songwriter, writer, poet, and composer. She is mostly known for her stunning vocals and guitar work.

I first heard PJ when I worked at Tower Records in the mid-90’s. It was the entire To Bring You My Love album that I heard first. The next day I played the entire Rid of Me album. Both became part of my collection immediately. My favorite album though has got to be Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. I’ve written many stories while this album played adjacently to me.

Five Favorites – PJ Harvey

1. “Down By the Water”
from the Album, To Bring You My Love (1995)

2. “You Said Something”
from the Album, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)

3. “This Is Love”
from the Album, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)

4. “Rid of Me”
from the Album, Rid Of Me (1993)

5. “C’Mon Billy”
from the Album, To Bring You My Love (1995)

What are your favorites from PJ Harvey? What song did you first experience PJ Harvey on?