Something younger people don't understand is us 'boomers' grew up through the civil rights act, the women's movement and the Vietnam war . The music of that era influenced alot of us ' younger' people. We listen as music progressed through out the years and I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING! thank you again.
This was the era of Women's Liberation, it was a rallying cry. This song was so timely. That was an exciting and very very frustrating period for women, I lived thru it
Helen Reddy was a hero to a generation of women fighting just to be treated like something more than a cook and housekeeper. So many hearts broke when we lost her last year. RIP GREAT LADY !!💔💖💔💖
More than the little wifey. Women today don't understand that in some occupations you had to resign if you got married and in others if you got pregnant you had to resign. No maternity leave then. The woman's place was in the kitchen or the bedroom. Watch any old episodes of Password on youtube. The host always asked the men what they did for a living and asked the women if they were married and how many children they had. Even in the 80's I was told by a boss that the problem with promoting women was that it was a waste of time training them because they got married and left their jobs to have babies. I'm 65. I never had a husband or children because I had a career.
This was the song that started off the Women's Liberation movement of the early-'70s. She had recorded a more sparse version on her first album that caught people's attention, and then re-recorded it as a pop anthem that went straight to #1 all around the world in 1972.
@@raenellefisher8514 True, it didn't literally start the movement for equal rights--I didn't mean that--but it gave Woman's' Liberation an anthem and that kicked things off once the media jumped on board.
I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with this awesome woman while in the Army in South Korea. She was very nice to talk to her and express how much I loved her work. She was awesome! It was so sad when she passed. Loved her.
Civil Rights, women's rights, war protests, you can hear it in our songs. I was 17 when this came out, I was already protesting for women's rights, civil rights, against Vietnam....we played this song at rallies, Good Old Days. Shame women are losing their rights as I'm writing. Next generation needs to step up, and take back our rights. One thing about music different generations you can get a pulse of our Country at that time,
In 1973 Bobbie Riggs, a former No. 1 ranked tennis player started talking smack about Billie Jean King, a top ranked tennis player at the time. Riggs was in his mid 50s and Billie Jean was late 20s. He claimed he could beat her because he was a man and no woman could beat a man at tennis. Billie Jean King beat him handily. My college campus went wild that night, with sterio speakers turned towards the quad from every dorm in the area blaring out "I am Woman" at top volume. It was so fun that night, and a vivid memory of my younger days.
BJK declined his challenge but Margaret Court, the #1 woman in the world, accepted and Riggs crushed her in less than an hour [Court won three games]. Some have said that organized crime got Riggs to throw the march against King.
@@leonardshevlin7260 I'd never heard that story about the game being rigged. There certainly was a lot of media hype prior to the match, so anything is possible. I just remember the fun we had that night on the quad.
This is the only song I can sing word for word without having to have the song playing along. And I'm a guy. And not embarrassed how much I love this song
Hahaha. I'm lucky to be retired and only wear a bra when I leave the house. This song came out when I first started to wear a bra, but women everywhere were burning theirs. Needless to say as a perky boobed teenager, I was with them. (My father, not so much.)
Helen Reddy is an Australian and the younger sister of an entertainer famous in Australia, Toni Lomond. This song was an anthem for the women's movement of the 70's.
Not too many people know she was an Australian. Went to USA, shown the world what women can do. Helped create the women's liberation movement. An amazing woman.
I sang this song on my walk to school in 5th grade. I was proudly wearing my "pantsuit" I was the first girl at that school to wear pants to school! Shocking!
This song became a number 1 hit the year i graduated from high school. It was time of women’s liberation, flower power, the war, muscle cars, Roe v Wade and the concept of peace and love. It was a wonderful time to be young. What freedom we felt we had. The music of the era tells so many of our stories.
50 years ago! This was needed to claim our power. It's hard to realize looking back now but a lot of folks then didn't believe a word of this anthem. And we're still struggling on many fronts. Thank you Helen.
We fought hard for the right for equality, self worth, to be heard and the right to make decisions for ourselves, yet here we are 40 - 50 years later and still fighting for the same crap! I can remember when I was little my parents split up and my mom needed a loan so she could get an apartment and the first thing they asked her at the bank was where was her husband. Yeah back in the day women were not allowed to have their own bank accounts, credit cards or even be able to take out a loan. I’ll never forget the disappointment on her face as she was trying to get back on her feet and I made a promise that day that I would be part of the changes that we have now that the younger generation has no clue of what it took for us to get here.
My favorite line is “yes I am wise but it’s wisdom full of pain”. Young people really don’t get the struggle women have had. As always awesome reaction.
This song was my mom's anthem on chore day. She was a single mother of 2 and I was a kid... it was grown up music... listening to the lyrics as an adult blows me away.
Well hello from Canada, that is a beautiful Australian lady singing and I was really really Young when she came out cuz I think they put her in a Disney thing with Puff the Magic Dragon or something like that anyways I remember that and I love the fact that you stopped to go hey hey this is great what a very awesome secure man, God bless you.
This is one of my anthems from when I was young! I am really happy you did a reaction to this! When I got married in 1976, I could not have a bank account, unless my husbands name was on it. But he could. We changed so many things. I still have hope, for a better future for us all! 🌎✌️
8th grade and this song was sweeping the air waves . Loved this song! She did delta dawn which was another big hit for her . I really liked Angie baby it’s really different worth a listen
this song meant so much to us as women in 1971. Helen led the charge with this song and we embraced it with our whole beings. i wish young women now could have experienced it, but you have something we didn't. there's still a long way to go. some men today seem more afraid of us than ever. or afraid of us having any power over our own lives. it's lovely for young women like you, Mel, to see and hear how we were then.
Yes, Helen loved You and Me Against The World however it did not work as a woman/man love song. She recorded it as a mother/daughter song. From her fifth album, Love Song For Jeffrey.
YES!!!! TEARS FLOW from the WORDS of this song!!!! I'm a BABY BOOMER but was 9 yrs old in 1971 when it came out. But, I LOVE THIS SONG..... THE WORDS!!! YES!!
This was such an empowering song. Loved Helen Reddy. I was on the cusp of women’s lib. I chose a different path; got married, had 4 sons. I raised them to respect women but to realize they are equals. Still married, after 48 years.
The women's movement gave women, and men, the choice to be what they wanted to be! Raising four boys to respect women and treat them as equals is a great accomplishment that makes for a better world for all of us.
This song started a great career for Helen Reddy. Great voice and she had a long streak of great songs. I think she even held a Government Arts position for the State of California. Even though she was from Australia. Sad that she died recently. She was wonderful. Thanks for the reaction.
Yes. Helen had some initial success with "I Don't Know How To Love Him" . A version of the song was included on the album. After it was featured in the film, "Stand Up and Be Counted", it received some interest. Capitol Records encouraged Helen to re-record it and release it as a single. The new version was featured on her third album, I AM WOMAN. Yvonne Ellman also had that single going up the charts at the time.
I'm a child of the 70's and I also remember hearing this song but not really understanding it's importance. My grandpa was one of "those" men. I remember some comments he made. One was "women were put on earth to serve man." He'd say he was kidding, but I questioned it. He also said that women shouldn't be in the workplace making important decisions! When I told him I was going to law school, I thought he was going to have a stroke! I had to walk away from grandpa while uttering under my breath "ohh this old man is pushing the wrong button today!" Don't misinterpret this...my grandpa was a great man that provided extremely well for his family's future. My grandma was his Queen and he proved that everyday of their lives! But, that knuckle-dragging, chauvinistic thinking was strong in gramps! I also need to thank all the women from the generation before me for finally taking a stand - the stand that allows me to be in the profession of my choice, allows me to have my own money, bank accounts, credit cards, and my own opinion! From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all!
I think it's great that a women or person of color was able to rise above the prejudices and roadblocks that empowered men threw in their path. BRAVO !!
I remember that time well. Womens rights were huge. This was The anthem! I think I was in that generation of women finally believing that we can do anything!
This is an actual bona fide ANTHEM. Helen Reddy was recognized by multiple agencies and entities for this powerful song affirming women. Even though I never felt oppressed as a woman, this was still an emotional song for all of us women. RIP Helen.
I sing this in choir and know every word by heart. It's our Women's anthem. Us boomers generation and our mother's! Australian Helen Reddy had huge success here as well as in the US in the 70s. Sadly she passed away a few years ago. Check out, Delta Dawn, Angie Baby
This has been an anthem for me and for so many women of my generation when this came out. It is still so relevant. Helen had a terrible fight to get this recorded at all. The male execs at her label were entirely against it. And it is her most powerful and endearing song.
I was only 11 when I saw this episode and it gave me chills just as it does now at 61!! Thank you for this reaction. Every woman on this earth should hear this song! Please go down the female's of 70's rabbit hole!!! Very powerful stuff during that time 👏
Damn straight!!! I may not have been through what a lot of people have been through, but I’ve been through some stuff in my life that I’m not sure I would wish on anyone. Having said that, I take it one day at a time! I remember that my Heavenly Father loves me and has a purpose for me!!!! I was six years old when this song came out! I’ve listened to it all of my life and have loved it since day one! So glad y’all have discovered it!
