Featured Artist: Ani DiFranco

If you don't have Ani DiFranco's music in your playlist, you're missing out on one righteous babe.

Born Angela Maria DiFranco in Buffalo, New York on September 23, 1970, Ani is unlike any other artist. She's political, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a poet, a pioneer, and she writes and performs awesome music.

At age 18, she became one of the first independent musicians to create her own record label, Righteous Babe, and since has produced albums for a variety of artists.

To label her as a folk artist is inaccurate. Part folk, alternative, jazz, punk, funk and hip hop DiFranco's music crosses genres.

Her clever and raw lyrics mixed with the quality of her musical performances are what make Ani so special. If you haven't given her a listen, we're certain after a few samples, you'll want to hear more.

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SONG OF THE monDAY

Buildings and Bridges is from Ani DiFranco's fifth studio album, Out of Range (1994). Though the album wasn't as commercially-successful as some of her others, it's one of our favorites. Buildings and Bridges is about being able to adapt in the face of difficult times because, as Ani says, what doesn't bend breaks.

SONG OF THE tuesDAY

Shameless is from Ani DiFranco's seventh album, Dilate. Released in 1996, Dilate is her highest-selling and most critically-acclaimed album. Written by DiFranco, Shameless is about coveting another man's wife. She has performed it live multiple times and has been applauded for openly discussing bisexuality during a time when that wasn't done. 

SONG OF THE wednesDAY

O.K. is from Ani DiFranco's eleventh studio album, Revelling/Reckoning (2001). Your Next Bold Move, the lead track of Reckoning, was used in GASCD, a 2002 political compilation. Peaking at No. 50 on US Billboard 200, there are several great songs on this double album, but O.K. is more than just okay. It's one of our favorites.

SONG OF THE thursDAY

Written by Ani DiFranco and originally released on her 1995 album, Not a Pretty Girl, 32 Flavors is one of our favorite Ani songs. A pun on Baskin-Robbins’s slogan “31 flavors”, it was used in a 1999 NFL commercial and was covered by Alana Davis on her debut album, Blame it on Me (1997). Her version of the song peaked at No. 37 on Billboard Hot 100.

SONG OF THE friDAY

Deep Dish is from Ani DiFranco's eighth studio album, Little Plastic Castle. Released in 1998, it is her highest-charting album, reaching No. 22 on Billboard Top 200. There are several great jams on Little Plastic Castle, but we chose Deep Dish because of the upbeat tempo and awesome use of horns. It's a perfect way to welcome Friday.

SONG OF THE saturDAY

Both Hands is from Ani DiFranco's debut album, Ani DiFranco. The album was recorded in September 1990 and was the first Righteous Babe release. We like most songs on the album, but Both Hands stands out as a touching ballad that showcases Ani's softer side. We also like the live version of the song from her 1997 album, Living In Clip.

SONG OF THE sunDAY

Up Up Up Up Up Up is the title track for Ani DiFranco's ninth studio album, Up Up Up Up Up Up. Released in 1999, the album landed at No. 29 on US Billboard 200, and the song Jukebox earned a Grammy nomination for Female Rock Vocal Performance. We think the song, Up Up Up Up Up Up is one of the best on an album full of bests.

SONG OF THE monDAY

Fire Door was originally included on Ani DiFranco's debut album, Ani DiFranco. Though we like the original, we prefer the live version from her 1997 album, Living In Clip. Rolling Stone named that album one of the Essential Recordings of the 90s. Fire Door's sporadic guitar, upbeat tempo, and poetic lyrics make the song one of the best on the album.

SONG OF THE tuesDAY

Bliss Like This is from Ani DiFranco’s thirteenth studio album, Educated Guess (2004). The album was recorded alone at her homes in Buffalo and in New Orleans and has more jazz elements than some of her previous work. We especially like the song, Bliss Like This because of the fun-loving lyrics and the swanky vibe of the music.

SONG OF THE wednesDAY

Back Back Back is from Ani DiFranco's tenth album, To the Teeth. Released in 1999, it is a tad more political than some of her other work. The album addresses topics like America's gun culture and the Columbine massacre. The music fuses jazz, funk, and folk, and Back Back Back is an ode to self-reflection and a call to denounce anger.

SONG OF THE thursDAY

Originally from Ani DiFranco's second studio album, Not So Soft (1991), Gratitude is a song about the harassment that women endure, even from so-called-friends. The song is one of Ani's most popular for live performances, and the version from So Much Shouting So Much Laughter (2002), Ani's second live album, is our favorite. 

SONG OF THE friDAY

Napoleon is from Ani DiFranco's album, Dilate (1996). Slant Magazine ranked Dilate as one of the best albums of the 1990s. Napoleon is a passionate song about, in our opinion, the music industry. Ani created her record label, Righteous Babe, and has maintained complete artistic control over her work. It is one of the things we respect most about this artist. 

SONG OF THE saturDAY

First recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1962, Wishin' and Hopin' was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. It became a hit for Dusty Springfield in 1964. Ani DiFranco recorded a version for the 1997 movie, My Best Friend's Wedding that, along with the Austin Powers movies, led to renewed popularity of Bacharach-David music.

SONG OF THE sunDAY

Hell Yeah is from Ani DiFranco's 1994 album, Out of Range. The song is about being too afraid to tell someone that you like them. The lyrics are beautiful, quirky, and unique, and Hell Yeah is ranked in the top five on our list of most poetic songs. Not surprising seeing as Out of Range is among our top five most poetic albums.

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