Amanda Marshall is a singer based in Canada. In this blog, I look at how and why her music is really neat and special. Most importantly, her music is very feminist and free of so many of the problems we see in our contemporary music. 

Amanda Marshall has been my favorite singer since the mid 1990s. Her band, her voice, and her songs are perfect and very unique. The “live” versions (many are available on YouTube, many of these are linked on the unofficial Facebook fan page) are very different than the CD versions in most cases. All are of outstanding quality. 

Before going further, take 6 minutes. Relax. Close your eyes. And please listen to this: 

I am the Amanda Marshall fan! She is one of just a few singers who I would love getting to visit with. 🙂 I have every song she has recorded on both of my computers, on my iPhone, and of course, on all of my backup systems. Once a long time ago–sometime in the late 1990s–I got word that she was going to be on some radio station somewhere far away but it was going to stream live on the Internet, and my parents let me stay up late (past midnight for a 4th/5th grader is a big deal!) to hear her. 

While in Canada her music has generally ranked very highly, her music hasn’t been given the same opportunity in the United States or elsewhere. 

I have never figured out why she isn’t an everyday house-hold name. She certainly deserves to be one more than many who are house-hold names. 

One thing that makes her a really special musician is that all of the songs on her major CDs are 100% original to her. Many of them she wrote or co-wrote. The others songs were written for her by friends. She never sings “her version” of already-popular songs. 

Her songs all tell some kind of story or life lesson; discuss feelings (not looks); have some kind of special, positive message; and/or communicate that any kind of relationship must be about mutual, consensual love. The positive messages in these songs is communicated without being over the top or even that obvious (except for Believe in You). Its regular, adult contemporary music that goes against the usual beat. Many of her songs are autobiographical in full or in part. AND unlike so much music that perpetuates the Culture of Rape, Marshall’s music never does that. Additionally, her music frequently uses gender neutral pronouns. 

It was just last night that I went through all of her music song-by-song, line-by-line to look for any potential problems. Now, I like her more than ever before. Music that sounds great, is unique, and is free of racism, sexism, heterosexism, cisgender sexism, classism, imperialism, etc. What more can we ask for!

Below, is a list of her songs with the lyrics linked. A brief excerpt, summary, and/or comments are provided for some of the ones I really, really like. On the right you’ll see the album cover. Clicking on the image will take you to the Amazon page to buy a copy! If you want to start with her music, I would recommend her 1999 album as the prefect starting point. Or pull up YouTube!  

Amanda Marshall (1995):

Let It Rain

Birmingham – about a woman who escapes from her abusive husband – and, in the words of Marshall, about respect at its core

Fall From Grace

Dark Horse

Beautiful Goodbye – the instrumentals are really outstanding on this one

Sitting On Top Of The World

And everybody’s got an opinion ’bout how this should be

Last Exit To Eden – an especially unique sound 

Trust Me (This Is Love)

I’m here for you baby
There’s nothing I want more
Our day is coming
And we’ll reach that peaceful shore

Let’s Get Lost

Promises

Tuesday’s Child (1999)

Believe In You – a unique song of inspiration for anyone 

Love Lift Me

And when it’s all said and done
It’s just the same for everyone
Your busy making your plans

Why Don’t You Love Me?

Too Little, Too Late

If I Didn’t Have You

Ride – another inspirational/love song 

I’ll be your ride
We’ll get a, running start
and we’ll take to the skies, baby
Ride
Keep your hands on the wheel, and your eyes on the prize
and ride

Right Here All Along

Wishful Thinking

Shades Of Grey – linked above – the difficulties of having interracial parents and her grandmother’s negative reaction  

You can’t change a stubborn mind
You can’t see the world if your eyes are blind
What does it matter anyway
In our darkest hour we’re all just shades of grey

Give Up Giving In

Best Of Me

I’m a tough tough game that no one can master
I’m a tall tall tale no one believes
I’m a long dark night with no morning after
Lucky you
You get the best of me

Never Said Goodbye

Out Of Bounds

Everybody’s Got a Story (2001)

Everybody’s Got A Story – a great song about accepting people without any judgment

Everybody’s got a story that would break your heart

The Voice Inside – about not following “rules,” making mistakes, and letting life happen 

The Gypsy – about being patient and enjoying life

It is not the destination it’s the journey

Colleen (I Saw Him First) – the struggles between two friends as they figure out life and guys 

Double Agent – absolutely love this one about navigating the world as being Black while looking White  

I’m a double agent on my momma’s side
The shit I hear you say just blows my mind
Every time, recognize
Though who I am to you is not a lie
I don’t have to volunteer and say
That I was born a particular way
I got not uniform, I’m camouflaged in any light
Obviously you can’t tell
I’m a double agent on my momma’s side

Red Magic Marker – a final declaration of love but with an understanding that it may not be reciprocated  

Sunday Morning After – one of my least personal favorites, but explores the questions that follow an unexpected adventurous night

Love Is My Witness – something of an attempt to define and explore the meaning of love 

Dizzy – the wild adventures of love

Brand New Beau – discovering that the person loved is gay 

Marry Me – an extended marriage proposal and declaration of love without the need for any outside approval 

Inside The Tornado – an acapella song about the craziness of life

Other songs:

Until We Fall In – a really interesting song about experience, perspective, and point of view

Every soldier in the war’s got God on his side

Just Love Me

Cross My Heart – a really neat song about two people who fall in love really young, get married, and one of them is unhappy being in a small town

But she wants to fly
So he gives her the wings
And tells her goodbye

Please let me know what you think. Have you heard of her before?

It would be great if Amanda Marshall got the attention she deserves. I also hope she has more CDs come out as rumored. 

Thank you, dear readers, as always. 

Categories: Thoughts and Perspectives

Tags: culture, gender, music, politics, rhetoric