This Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Yann Barthès received two women on the set of Quotidienwho came to promote their book, Give it to me, published by Flammarion. Designed by La Rata, it was translated by Virginie Despentes. And both artists were invited to speak
of this feminist book which evokes the different revolutions of women through music.
And La Rata remembers a Spanish singer, who meant a lot to her. This is Maria Jimenez, who did not hesitate to rebuke a journalist who had questioned her about the strength of her voice and her texts: “He defined her as someone who sang with her guts, and she replied straight away: ‘No, no, I sing with my pussy.’ For me it was a moment like someone seeing the Virgin”.
Yann Barthès revives his guest
Yann Barthès then continues his interview and will refer to Maria Jimenez’s remark: “So it’s a book that explains how the feminine revolution happened through singers and the singers you love are Maria Jimenez but also Janis Joplin, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Tina Turner… What do they have in common except singing with their pussy?”asks the host, making his guest smile.
For La Rata, all the women cited are “strengths”. An ode to femininity and feminism told through images and musical anecdotes.
An interview that moves the lines
For Virginie Despentes, “this book is about popular music, disreputable female singers, post-colonialism, radical feminism and sex. Especially sex. And it was me who translated it”she says.
Enough to make Yann Barthès react: “You say, the girls who sing almost naked, who move, only talking about sex, do it first for the girls and the guys take advantage of it”. For La Rafa, talking about sex in song is above all a feminist act that allows women to free themselves. It is in this book that the two women wanted to show this strength which could inspire other women around the world. A strong testimony which made Yann Barthès react on several occasions.
