Out today from the mighty The Menstrual Cramps, ‘Body Politics’ is our #trackoftheday!
The lyrics draw from Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity (from her 1990 book Gender Trouble) as vocalist Emilia Elfrida explains that the song is about
“how gender constructs are forced upon us all, how capitalism reinforces gender stereotypes to benefit the patriarchal structure that thrives under it, and the need for true gender liberation in society. It’s also more personally about my own journey and relationship with my gender being very fluid.”
Emilia Elfrida
The accompanying video depicts Elfrida’s experiences of growing up in the early 2000s in beautiful detail (the burger phone and scrunchie on wrist? perfection!).
“it’s a look at the gender stereotypes that were rife at that time in magazines, TV, books, advertising, schooling systems, clothes, parents, and peers. The list could go on! I wanted the video to be a kind of letter to my younger self, who didn’t have the vocabulary to express everything they felt in their messy teenage brain at the time, and had minimal queer people in the media to look up to. The music video is a loop, so the end of the music video is also the start of the music video my younger self watches when turning on the TV in the bedroom. Metaphorically, it’s letting myself become who I wanted to be, or finally being happy with who I am—being inspired by myself to relive my younger years with that expressive freedom.”
Marking a levelling-up from The Menstrual Cramps, the single follows an announcement last week that they will be working with the supercool Alcopop label (joining other LOUD WOMEN faves such as Chroma, Cheerbleederz, Loose Articles and Problem Patterns – what great company!). This is the part where we get a bit ‘proud Aunty’ about The MCs, and recall dreamily hosting their very first gig at the Fiddlers Elbow, and many more since then … and they went and won the 2017 Hercury Prize … and we can’t wait to hear what’s next for these brilliant punx!
The Menstrual Cramps Live Dates:
22nd Nov – Exchange, Bristol
23rd Nov – Oslo Hackney, London (Rock Against Violence)
9th March – Birds Nest, London
10th March – Prince Albert, Brighton
29th-31st March – Manchester Punk Festival
13th April – Ill Repute, Bristol (Outer Town Festival)
10th-13th July – 2000 Trees Festival
Tickets on sale now: https://linktr.ee/themenstrualcramps
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