Ani DiFranco


NrrdGrrl! Discussion Forum: Music, Lit, and Pop Culture: Music-- who do you love?: Ani DiFranco
By
Amelia Wilson (Admin) on Friday, November 21, 1997 - 11:45 pm:

Okay, this feels like an embarrassing admission already-- but I've never heard any Ani DiFranco (I know, I know, I'm totally out of it). I keep hearing everyone raving about her music and quoting her lyrics all over the place.

So my question is-- for the total Ani novice, what is the best intro to her music?


By Mish on Sunday, November 23, 1997 - 03:16 pm:

As addicted as I am to music, I've never heard any of her stuff either. Well, maybe I have but just didn't know that it was her. heh!


By Kathy W. on Tuesday, November 25, 1997 - 09:00 pm:

ANI!!! ani rules. if you want a good "intro" ani album, i suggest "Not A Pretty Girl".. one of her best cd's. she's an amazing artist, check her out!


By Zooey on Sunday, November 30, 1997 - 02:03 pm:

Amelia (may I call you that?) I have never heard of Ani DiFranco, nor I have listened to her music! Erk! Fans, would you consider her a radical feminist or something?


By Amelia Wilson (Admin) on Sunday, November 30, 1997 - 05:00 pm:

Zooey, yes you may call me Amelia! I can't tell you much about Ani's music having never heard it-- all I know is how deeply her songs seem to have affected a number of my friends and I've been very curious to hear what she has to say.


By Gretchen ramke on Sunday, December 7, 1997 - 11:16 pm:

I respect Ani, but I don't really dig her music. I guess she's indie and all but she gives interviews to shitty corporate magazines all the time. She was also in Seventeen, which is always embarassing...


By Amelia Wilson (Admin) on Tuesday, December 9, 1997 - 11:11 pm:

Ya know what though, Gretchen? I hear what you're saying about Seventeen (imagine how I felt when NrrdGrrl! got a good review in their prom issue!!), but part of me realized that sometimes it's best to "subvert from the inside"-- if you know what I mean. A lot of cool girls found this site through that mention in 17 mag... so what can you do? As limiting as it may be, 17 is still a good way to reach girls. What are you supposed to do? I feel way conflicted about it.

'Course I still have to pick up one of Ani's CD's before I can pass judgment on her music!!


By Meg on Wednesday, December 10, 1997 - 08:31 pm:

I think that you should buy Living in Clip cause i heard its awsome. But if you want a non-live album (but of course, ani live is half the fun) buy dilate.


By Becca on Monday, December 22, 1997 - 12:37 am:

I second the vote for dilate... Ani is WONDERFUL! This is the first time i've ever been to this site and i was thrilled to see her name! (hehe, becca's happy!)


By Esk on Tuesday, December 23, 1997 - 01:27 pm:

ani has been playing music for a long time, and her sound has changed a lot over the years. her more recent albums like "dilate" and "not a pretty girl" are more electric and rock/pop oriented (for want of a better description). her older stuff ("ani difranco", "imperfectly", "out of range" etc.) is much more folky, with an emphasis on solo acoustic guitar or guitar/drums.

i can't possibly pick one album to recommend, but "living in clip" is probably as good a place as any to start. it's got a good selection of her songs from old to new, and you get to experience her fabulous on-stage charisma.

eskarina8@hotmail.com


By Pezgrrl on Wednesday, December 31, 1997 - 04:50 pm:

Ani is awesome!!!!!!


By Punkgrrl on Thursday, January 1, 1998 - 05:54 pm:

Just recently I became a fan, and... I don't know. How can you describe Ani??? She is great!!
Finally I found a women rocker who doesn't act like Mariah Carey or dress like the Spice Girls!!!!


By Pamela on Saturday, January 3, 1998 - 01:40 pm:

I had heard of Ani in passing, but I never heard her music until I went to see Bob Dylan live last summer. Ani opened and was amazing....I instantly liked her. See her live, it's worth it :)


By The Muse on Sunday, January 11, 1998 - 01:55 pm:

Ok, I have a question. There is this new song being played on this radio station I listen to. The song is called "32 Flavors". The DJs keep saying that the debut (?) artist is some girl named Alanis Davis. But recently I saw on PBS a woman w/ pink braids, a tatoo across her chest and she was playing this song, "32 Flavors". BUT, then she played "Not a Pretty Girl" and immediately I knew that had to be Ani Defranco, because over the summer I heard that song and her music featured on "All Things Considered" on NPR (Nat'l Public Radio). But now I am confused because that song isn't new. Did Alanis Davis get permission to cover the song? Or is Alanis Davis=Ani Defranco?


By Anonymous on Sunday, February 22, 1998 - 10:22 pm:

Alana Davis did the remake of "32 Flavors". I don't know if she got permission, but I love the song!


By Carol Ann on Monday, March 2, 1998 - 09:36 am:

i think that after a certain amout o time, any song can be covered by anyone. You just have to give the original (writer) due credit. Of course I don't think its right to change the words like Alana Davis...i guess she heard a different version than the album or Living in Clip version...poor girl couldn't handle the bisexual lyrics. Where am I going? oh, I'm trying to say...she didn't really research this song...didn't really have the feeling. I'm just babbling now...i'm gonna stop.


By Aleza on Sunday, March 8, 1998 - 05:40 pm:

so i'm a long time ani fan, wondering what others' reactions to the new album are. I liked it- and i think its cool she's exploring musically- but part of me is still nostalgic for the "old ani" -that is, more folky, more political ( though i do admit that "fuel", from the new album is certainly political.)
to amelia or anyone who hasn't yet listened to ani, i would highly reccommend her, but would suggest listening to songs from throughout her career, not only the recent stuff.


By Rachel on Thursday, March 12, 1998 - 03:37 pm:

I am a long-time Ani fan, I have all the CDs and I've seen her in concert a buncha' times, and I just wanted to say that the Alana Davis cover of 32 Flavors irks me. A LOT!! She took out some of the best stuff lyrically, and turned it into a "pop mix". Uugh! The other day I heard some people saying what a wonderful songwriter Alana Davis is, and I wanted to scream!


By Lya on Friday, March 20, 1998 - 11:54 pm:

Okay.....I just got Little Plastic Castle, after hearing about Ani DiFranco. I love the words to "32 Flavors"--but I don't really like Alana Davis, so I read that Ani wrote it and bought her newest CD....I love it...WoW.


By Skamp on Monday, March 30, 1998 - 09:32 pm:

i would suggest dilate as a first album, but i don't have any real reason for it. i like it a lot. i can listen to it over and over again (and i do.) however, little plastic castles is good...but like i've read in previous posts, when i get a little nostalgic, i dig out some of her older more angsty stuff. it's a nice listen, indeed. especially when i'm pissy or cleaning the apartment.


By Anonymous on Monday, April 13, 1998 - 09:24 am:

i just recently bought 'little plastic castles'. i love it! when i bought it the guy at the record store said "alright! yr buying some ani, she's grrreat!" i was like "hmmm cool she must be good" but then when i took it home and listened to it... it was so beautiful.... it sent chills up and down my spine. ani is amazing! as soon as i get more money, i'm going to have to check out some of her older stuff.....


By Amy on Sunday, May 3, 1998 - 05:55 pm:

I went to an Ani DiFranco concert two weeks ago and I'm still on an amazing high from it. It was an awesome experience. If you ever get a chance to go to an Ani DiFranco concert, GO!


By Sassy girl on Friday, May 8, 1998 - 09:36 am:

Who the hell is Ani DiFranco,what is her music like, and what nationality is she? Is she similar to Alanis Morrisette, as Alanis rocks!! One more thing, how do I find out about her?


By Scallie on Monday, June 1, 1998 - 08:23 pm:

ok, ok... i'm a hardcore ani fan... i definitely recommend her earlier work. many of you like *dilate* and *little plastic castle*, both of which are great, but i would suggest you check out her earlier stuff, too... *not so soft* is probably my favourite ani album, along with *puddle dive*. i don't know if i'm allowed to plug other websites (not mine, though) here, but if you want to find out virtually anything about ani, check out *absolute ani* at *http://www.anidifranco.net*... in response to some of the questions being tossed about here... ani is the lil folksinger from buffalo, ny. how can you describe ani? she describes herself in an open letter to Ms. magazine as *songwriter. musicmaker. storyteller. freak* ok, i think i've rambled on long enough... if i've caught your interest, e~mail me or something, ok? ok. puddlemud@aol.com


By Kristina on Tuesday, June 9, 1998 - 07:58 pm:

Thanks for the web address, Scallie!!
Ani is SUPERWOMAN! Lordie, she is so cool. :-) I got her "Living in Clip" while I was "puddle diving" for used CDs at a local store. That's the first album I got of hers. It's one of my top 3 favorite CDs of all, and I have 200! "LIC" sure gives you a taste of what her lyrics and energy are like. I hope to see her in person sometime. "LIC" kinda spoils ya though because you get to hear her live and that's the first impression ya get. Thank goodness it's a good impression. :-) I also have "Dilate" (another used CD purchase) and I taped my boyfriend's copy of "Little Plastic Castles." I hear complaints from a lot of "old" Ani fans about "LPC" cuz it's pop-ish, but I like it. :-) "LIC" and "LPC" are good intros to Ani. If you like her after listening to those, then dive into her older stuff!


By Anonymous on Tuesday, June 30, 1998 - 04:34 am:

anyone else a bit bummed that ani went and got *married*? to a boy? I mean i`m happy she`s happy and all but.....


By Keely on Wednesday, September 9, 1998 - 08:04 pm:

While i was away this summer i got really turned on to Ani's music. I had never heard of her before and one day a friend told me i had to hear the song "Untouchable Face" . The lyrics hit me hard. After that whatever mood i was in there was an Ani song to express exactly what i couldn;t put into words.........


By Colleen on Tuesday, September 29, 1998 - 08:55 pm:

About the 32 flavours issue, Alana wrote to Ani with her version and Ani loved it and told her to go ahead. Just to clarify.

P.S. You should check out Alana's album blame it on me as well. It's amazing


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