Scarleteen's Spotify- Songs for Sexual Violence Survivors

[maille]

Hi there!

Here at Scarleteen we are thinking of revamping out Spotify account, which you can find here. We would love to collect user input.

I am currently focused on curating a playlist for sexual violence survivors. I would love to gather songs that communicate some of the following:

-what you wish the public knew about sexual violence
-what you wish perpetrators knew about sexual violence
-what is helpful for you to hear as a survivor

For instance, I love the song 'Not Ready to Make Nice' by The Chicks. It encapsulates how I feel about my trauma, unforgiving, fired up and ready to make change. I listen to it before I present on intimate partner violence topics.

The lyric that resonates with me most is "I'm still mad as hell and I don't have time To go 'round and 'round and 'round".

Feel free to share a song, a lyric and its meaning to you!!

Are there any other playlist themes you want to see?

[char]

Hi Maille! Songs from Jaguar Jonze's first full-length album, BUNNY MODE, definitely fits this playlist. A lot (if not all) of the songs are about being, escaping, and advocating against sexual assault. My suggestion for the playlist would be "Know My Name" and "Little Fires"!

[maille]

I've got another song to share. It is titled Wolves by Jensen McRae. To me, it shows the naivety that we are only privileged to live with for so long. The writer tells a story of being attacked by wolves in the woods, and how she is now, unfortunately so, much more cautious about going about the life she lives. One favorite lyric of mine reads "He smiled and howled in the same moment- It knocked the wind right out of me". I think this sticks out to me because of how charming and charismatic some perpetrators can be, whether they are a sack-of-shit politician, or just an average joe sack-of-shit.

[lilikoi]

I second wolves! Everything about that song is so validating! The key at the edge of her range, the voice like a whisper, the heartbeat of a guitar. I would also say We'll Never Have Sex by Leith Ross. "Oh you kissed me just to kiss me not to make me cry" gets me. Another song that speaks to the violent impact of gendered and sexual abuse is Man Down by Rihanna. I like the lyric "what do you expect me to do if you're playin me for a fool i will lose my cool"

[Sunbent]

I have so many songs!! As lilikoi said, "We'll never have sex" is really good and special to me.
Another one of my favorites is "Favorite Toy" by Jazmin Bean. To me, I think it really encapsulates how helpless one might feel, along with the strange connection people might have with their abuser and disassociation that comes with that. I really like the lyrics "I feel nothing, throw me in the backseat, use me how you need to, so long as Im your favorite toy"
Another song is "Poison" from Hazbin Hotel. The character singing it, Angel, has gone through sexual abuse and I find a lot of comfort in both this song and him as a character. A lot of people dont think that he is good representation, but he's the first bit of representation I've ever seen, so he means a lot to me.
I have a lot more songs but this is getting long and I'm new so I don't want to clog up the forum!! I may add more sometime though

[catcreature77]

one I've been (maybe unhealthily?) obsessed with is 'November' by Sparkbird, one of my favourite artists at the moment.
'I said it, I didn't, it doesn't matter what I said or didn't / Admit it, you were never going to get it / I was always gonna get it' - somehow having these words put in (very catchy and fun) song form made them so much easier to believe. Also, it's kind of nice to have songs about heavy topics that are still upbeat and whimsical? Sometimes you want catharsis but you don't want to kill the mood XD

another song that's not SA necessarily but is about abuse is 'boys, bugs & men' by Paris Paloma. all of her songs touch on abuse, sexual violence, and feminist issues in some way but this one is particularly special to me. at the part where she says 'if I don't make a sound, it doesn't even hurt / I'm bending to the ground just to pick up little worms' I just start crying, this is definitely more of a comfort song for me

and in the process of typing this, I was reminded of a third song (promise this is the last one...) 'Unattractive' by Sofia Isella... which is a very uncomfortable listen purely because of how perfectly fitting it is to how I feel right now. but I absolutely adore it. every line is a punch to the gut.

[maille]

Also, it's kind of nice to have songs about heavy topics that are still upbeat and whimsical? Sometimes you want catharsis but you don't want to kill the mood XD

I totally second this. Sometimes you just need a killer beat with downer lyrics! And Paris Paloma is a great artist. I could shout 'Labour' from the rooftops.

Sending you hope and healing!

[Lyle Lanley]

I suggest "Sullen Girl" by Fiona Apple. She wrote it about her own experience with SA.
"They don't know I used to sail the deep and tranquil sea / But he washed me 'shore, and he took my pearl / And left an empty shell of me"