The writing of an anthem

by Fiona Baker | 14 Feb 2013

It would be a rare woman who was around in the 1970s – even if she was a child then – who could not recite at least a couple of lines of Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem, I Am Woman.

It was a brave song to put out there then, particularly for a relatively unknown Australian artist trying to break into the male-dominated US music scene. But Reddy felt compelled to pen it.

“I wrote it because there weren’t any songs about strong women being played," she says. "There were these dreadful songs with lyrics about being a good wife or turning a blind eye to your man cheating on you, but nothing that would have inspired women. It made me angry that at this time when women should have been equal this rubbish was still being pedalled to young girls.

“I come from a long line of strong women – and I know women are strong because they manage to get through so much. I Am Woman is a tribute to that strength and I wanted to ‘roar’ about it, loud and proud.”

Reddy had to knock very loudly on a lot of doors to men’s offices to get it played, but after women saw her perform it on a few television variety shows they started ringing the radio stations and demanding it.

“In those days, radio stations would only play one new female performer a week – it was mainly about bands and men. But then the radio executives’ wives started demanding it and my song climbed the charts,” she recalls proudly. 

I Am Woman propelled Reddy to the top of the charts, making her the first Australian to top the US charts and to win a Grammy.

Today, as she prepares to start her comeback tour in the US next month, the song that made her famous remains a key part of her show – but with a twist.

“I recite it, like a poem, because the words are so powerful and remain relevant today," she explains. "I am a woman and I still want to be heard."

See Helen Reddy perform

You can see Helen Reddy live in concert as she performs two exclusive concerts for members as part of the Probus ‘Christmas in July’ tour to Norfolk Island. See the Retreats section of the Probus website for more details and itineraries, or contact Trade Travel to book your spot.

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