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How To Write A Perfect Girl Power Anthem

Pete Paphides is on a mission to find the perfect formula for making a bonafide hit.

Pete Paphides is on a mission to find the perfect formula for making a bonafide hit by talking to the people who make them - the songwriters.

In this episode, he looks into what makes a perfect Girl Power Anthem - a term coined in the 90s that still has reverberations now. Pete hears from Spice Girl Melanie C about the origins of her group, and why it wasn’t always so easy for them. Texas’ Sharleen Spiteri explains how she’s treated differently as a songwriter because she’s a woman. And it should be noted that some brilliant Girl Power Anthems are written by men, including Klas Åhlund. He was writing songs for Britney Spears, right at the epicentre of her darkest moments. And what about now…are the Spice Girls still relevant? Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem seems to think so.

28 minutes

Music Played

  • Spice Girls

    Wannabe

  • Texas

    I Don't Want A Lover

  • Pretenders

    Brass in Pocket

  • Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand

    No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

  • Kate Bush

    Wow

  • Madonna

    Express Yourself

  • Brilliant

    It's a Man's Man's Man's World

  • Aretha Franklin

    Respect

  • Britney Spears

    Piece of Me

  • Britney Spears

    I've Just Begun

  • Self Esteem

    I Do This All The Time

  • Self Esteem

    Prioritise Pleasure

  • Spice Girls

    Who Do You Think You Are

  • Little Mix

    Power

Broadcast

  • Sun 28 Nov 2021 21:30