Music In-Person: Female Songwriters

Female Songwriters of a Generation: From Joni Mitchell to Taylor Swift
Four In-Person Sessions
Wed., Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, 2024, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

Music fans are a lucky lot―especially those who appreciate female songwriters. We’ve been flooded with talent. In this class, music historian Paul Turelli takes you on a tour of that talent―exploring the well-known and rediscovering the often overlooked as he examines all of their vast influence and artistic genius from biographical, historical and political viewpoints. “I explore the liberating perspective their music, lyrics and poetry bring to us all,” Turelli says. He begins with the giants such as Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Carly Simon, Nina Simone and Dolly Parton. Next, he surveys the writing genius of Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks along with the explosive scene in Laurel Canyon. Greats like Madonna, Chrissie Hynde and Annie Lennox follow. Turelli then turns to today’s music scene, which he says is “undergoing a female songwriting revolution” with the likes of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish who’ve totaled over 175 million albums sold. Consider this line from Swift: "You said it was a great love, one for the ages, but if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?” Students are encouraged to bring their perspectives on the songwriters and their songs, their messages and their genres. “Music evokes memory, personal growth, opinion and emotion,” Turelli says. “These women are worthy of this examination.”

Paul Turelli holds a master’s degree in history and has taught courses on The Beatles, Laurel Canyon, the blues and Bruce Springsteen, along with general history, film and literature.