“When she walks, the revolution’s comin’
In her hips, there’s revolution
When she talks, I hear the revolution
In her kiss, I taste the revolution”
These are lyrics to Bikini Kill’s tune “Rebel Girl”, widely considered the anthem of the riot grrrl movement.
“The power of “Rebel Girl” is that it’s about being a feminist pirate, being an adventurer,” states Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna. “It’s not about standing at the back and not participating. It’s about loving and defending your friends and the confusion between friendship and sexuality.”
Originally written in 1991, three different recorded versions were released in 1993. The first version was part of a spit album with UK riot grrrl band Huggy Bear (Our Troubled Youth/Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah), the 2nd version was the 7-inch single and the 3rd was for the album Pussy Whipped.
The most frequently played version is the 7-inch single that was produced by Joan Jett and also featured Jett “on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. “They were unapologetic, doing what they wanted to do, and you didn’t see a lot of that, particularly with women,” Jett says. After Jett heard a cassette of the band, she suggested they record “Rebel Girl” together and the band was excited for the opportunity to work with one of their musical heroes.
Three-quarters of Bikini Kill were female, and even within the politically left-leaning DC punk scene, females were ill-treated and dismissively viewed as “coathangers” who were delegated to the back holding the coats while their boyfriends were upfront moshing. The band’s fearlessness and empowering anthems such as “Riot Girl” helped influence a new generation of female punks, including The Linda Lindas, who notably covered the tune.
With Bikini Girl and the riot grrrl movement, it was girls at the front. “Rebel Girl” encapsulated this needed shift.
