The World Heard Her Roar: Helen Reddy, 1941-2020
September 29, 2020 10:12 PM Subscribe
Australian-born feminist singer-songwriter Helen Reddy has died at the age of 78. Her 1972 song “I Am Woman” became a feminist anthem, winning her accolades and a place on the top 10 in several countries. In the 1970s, Reddy had 6 top 10 hits, and 3 #1 hits. Reddy also made forays into acting, with a role as the guitar playing nun who comforts a young girl (played by Linda Blair) in the disaster film Airport 1975, and as Nora in the 1977 children’s film Pete’s Dragon. An Australian biopic about Reddy called I Am Woman debuted at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, and had its theatrical release in 2020. Before it was completed, the filmmakers were able to screen the film for Reddy, who was living in a Los Angeles care home at the time, her ex-husband, and her two children.
Director Unjoo Moon: “As a filmmaker, sitting in the cinema with Helen Reddy was, and it’s probably going to be, one of the hardest screenings I had to do for the film. I suddenly realised that this is her life and she was watching it through my eyes. During the screening, Helen sang along to her songs, and when she cried, it wasn’t because she was sad that we made the movie, she cried because she found the whole experience so touching, and I think really cathartic in a way.“
Director Unjoo Moon: “As a filmmaker, sitting in the cinema with Helen Reddy was, and it’s probably going to be, one of the hardest screenings I had to do for the film. I suddenly realised that this is her life and she was watching it through my eyes. During the screening, Helen sang along to her songs, and when she cried, it wasn’t because she was sad that we made the movie, she cried because she found the whole experience so touching, and I think really cathartic in a way.“
One of the first to call out the discrepancies between men and women.
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posted by Windopaene at 10:36 PM on September 29, 2020
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posted by Windopaene at 10:36 PM on September 29, 2020
I have Helen Reddy burned into me from my childhood. Not from my parents, lord no, not such a radical feminist as that, but so many friends' families owned her greatest hits album that I have it basically memorized to this day.
And Pete's Dragon... The original Roger Rabbit. Totally captured 9 year old me. I got to see a Main Street Electrical Parade featuring Elliot who would "go invisible" when Pete told him to along the parade route. Again, child me... wow!
So, I've been listening to a "early 50s to late 80s" radio station at work (great fun!) and Reddy makes an appearance there regularly and she was so strong.
And the music camp I went to for years often did an SATB arrangement of Candle On The Water for group chorus, and so... like BURNED into my youth.
So sorry to hear she's gone, but she contributed a lot to my life in a way that is indelible, so it's hard for me to feel she is gone because she's just right there!
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posted by hippybear at 10:41 PM on September 29, 2020 [7 favorites]
And Pete's Dragon... The original Roger Rabbit. Totally captured 9 year old me. I got to see a Main Street Electrical Parade featuring Elliot who would "go invisible" when Pete told him to along the parade route. Again, child me... wow!
So, I've been listening to a "early 50s to late 80s" radio station at work (great fun!) and Reddy makes an appearance there regularly and she was so strong.
And the music camp I went to for years often did an SATB arrangement of Candle On The Water for group chorus, and so... like BURNED into my youth.
So sorry to hear she's gone, but she contributed a lot to my life in a way that is indelible, so it's hard for me to feel she is gone because she's just right there!
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posted by hippybear at 10:41 PM on September 29, 2020 [7 favorites]
I was in school, and our music teacher had us learn to sing I am Woman... 45 some years later, I can still sing the chorus
"I am woman, hear me roar, I am too big to ignore, and I know too much to go back down (home?) again..."
posted by infini at 10:50 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
"I am woman, hear me roar, I am too big to ignore, and I know too much to go back down (home?) again..."
posted by infini at 10:50 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
Candle on the Water from Pete's Dragon.
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posted by bryon at 10:50 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by bryon at 10:50 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by AugustWest at 11:01 PM on September 29, 2020
posted by AugustWest at 11:01 PM on September 29, 2020
I was twelve turning thirteen in 1972 when I Am Woman was everywhere. I had a friend who couldn't stop singing it. A boy. Eventually another kid asked him what the hell he was doing singing that song?
"It's women's lib," said my friend with a big boyish smile.
the things you do remember
posted by philip-random at 11:06 PM on September 29, 2020 [14 favorites]
"It's women's lib," said my friend with a big boyish smile.
the things you do remember
posted by philip-random at 11:06 PM on September 29, 2020 [14 favorites]
My mother & I used to listen to the very personal album that this tear-jerking song came from, an album which Helen dedicated to family, including her kids and to her parents, who'd died not long before.
posted by NorthernLite at 11:09 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 11:09 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
I was a child of the 70's and Helen was a personal hero of mine. RIP, dear lady.
posted by crayon at 11:21 PM on September 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by crayon at 11:21 PM on September 29, 2020 [4 favorites]
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You'll sing in the sunshine, Helen.
posted by fairmettle at 12:18 AM on September 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
You'll sing in the sunshine, Helen.
posted by fairmettle at 12:18 AM on September 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
The first thing I though of was her performance of “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine” with a pantomime camel on The Muppet Show.
RIP
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:24 AM on September 30, 2020 [8 favorites]
RIP
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:24 AM on September 30, 2020 [8 favorites]
The sound of her voice takes me back to being 8 years old, when her Greatest Hits was one of my mother's favourite records. I recall being fascinated by the song Angie Baby in particular.
posted by misteraitch at 1:25 AM on September 30, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by misteraitch at 1:25 AM on September 30, 2020 [6 favorites]
That Muppet Show performance is the most charming thing ever.
posted by nevercalm at 2:06 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by nevercalm at 2:06 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I recall being fascinated by the song Angie Baby in particular.
Yeah, that was the sing that really captured my young attention too when I saw it performed on the Carol Burnett Show, with Reddy singing in close up and dancers from the show sort of acting out the drama behind her.
posted by gusottertrout at 2:34 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yeah, that was the sing that really captured my young attention too when I saw it performed on the Carol Burnett Show, with Reddy singing in close up and dancers from the show sort of acting out the drama behind her.
posted by gusottertrout at 2:34 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:35 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:35 AM on September 30, 2020
I was born in the 70s and Helen Reddy was a huge part of the soundtrack of my early childhood. My mom used to sing You and Me Against the World (very sentimental, you've been warned) to me when I was a little girl, and I think I'm going to go cry for a while.
posted by kimberussell at 5:51 AM on September 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by kimberussell at 5:51 AM on September 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
RIP Helen Reddy. She first came on my radar when I was really young and found a warped vinyl LP of hers in the woods behind my house, mistaking her for Helen Keller and wondering how she made an album.
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:00 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:00 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
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posted by LobsterMitten at 6:05 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:05 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by dannyboybell at 6:08 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by dannyboybell at 6:08 AM on September 30, 2020
"And when one of us is gone
And one of us is left to carry on
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
You and me against the world"
posted by briank at 6:19 AM on September 30, 2020 [9 favorites]
And one of us is left to carry on
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
You and me against the world"
posted by briank at 6:19 AM on September 30, 2020 [9 favorites]
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posted by Halloween Jack at 6:23 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:23 AM on September 30, 2020
When I was a kid in the 70s, there used to be showings of Disney movies in a local theatre, as a night double feature on Wednesday nights in the summer. I’m talking about ones that would be considered “In The Vault” - I saw Blackbeard’s Ghost and The Shaggy Dog, and Fantasia where Night on Bald Mountain scared me to bits. and may be one of the few people who has seen Song of the South in a movie theatre.
And then one Saturday we went to see Pete’s Dragon. I didn’t understand, it wasn’t Wednesday and it wasn’t summer. But oh, I loved that movie. So many good songs, even if I didn’t completely understand, I could even at that age understand how sad “Candle on the Water” was.
And of course, that was when you’d get “I am Woman” and “You and Me Against The World” everywhere. I don’t think you could be of a certain age and raised in the US and not have heard it.
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posted by mephron at 6:35 AM on September 30, 2020 [4 favorites]
And then one Saturday we went to see Pete’s Dragon. I didn’t understand, it wasn’t Wednesday and it wasn’t summer. But oh, I loved that movie. So many good songs, even if I didn’t completely understand, I could even at that age understand how sad “Candle on the Water” was.
And of course, that was when you’d get “I am Woman” and “You and Me Against The World” everywhere. I don’t think you could be of a certain age and raised in the US and not have heard it.
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posted by mephron at 6:35 AM on September 30, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by hypnogogue at 7:43 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by hypnogogue at 7:43 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 7:47 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 7:47 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by the sobsister at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by the sobsister at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by ChuraChura at 8:44 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by ChuraChura at 8:44 AM on September 30, 2020
Sooo much Helen Reddy in my house growing up. Mom was a big fan.
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:05 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:05 AM on September 30, 2020
To this day, whenever I, a small woman, do something that surprises other people, I proudly say: I am woman, hear me roar.
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posted by AMyNameIs at 9:42 AM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by AMyNameIs at 9:42 AM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
I got to see a Main Street Electrical Parade featuring Elliot who would "go invisible" when Pete told him to along the parade route. Again, child me... wow! - hippybear
This was always one of my favorite parts of the MSEP. The way Elliot's voice was handled with all the tecnho music was also a delight. What a wonderful thing to think about today!
I only knew Helen from Pete's Dragon, so I will need to check out her other work. Candle on the Water is still such a sweet, romantic song. First dance level sweetness.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:00 AM on September 30, 2020
This was always one of my favorite parts of the MSEP. The way Elliot's voice was handled with all the tecnho music was also a delight. What a wonderful thing to think about today!
I only knew Helen from Pete's Dragon, so I will need to check out her other work. Candle on the Water is still such a sweet, romantic song. First dance level sweetness.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 10:00 AM on September 30, 2020
She was a good woman. Her passing leaves us all poorer •
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:22 AM on September 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:22 AM on September 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by Silverstone at 10:28 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by Silverstone at 10:28 AM on September 30, 2020
Helen Reddy was a constant in my home growing up; like many of you, I have her songs memorized, word for word, courtesy of my wonderfully feminist parents. Her songs were some of the first I learned to play on the piano.
I have been slow-dancing my very colicky baby girl to sleep each night, over the past 6 months. "You and Me Against the World" is on repeat until she falls asleep in my arms.
I feel so very sad today :(
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posted by NorthernAutumn at 10:35 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I have been slow-dancing my very colicky baby girl to sleep each night, over the past 6 months. "You and Me Against the World" is on repeat until she falls asleep in my arms.
I feel so very sad today :(
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posted by NorthernAutumn at 10:35 AM on September 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I loved Pete’s Dragon when I was a kid. I’m pretty sure we had the soundtrack on vinyl! When I was older, I learned about Helen Reddy and “I Am Woman,” but I never connected her with the role of Nora in PD until I read her obituary.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:52 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:52 AM on September 30, 2020
Oh, I had seen Pete's Dragon, but didn't remember until I heard the name "Elliot". Such a faint memory - but I did love it.
posted by jb at 10:57 AM on September 30, 2020
posted by jb at 10:57 AM on September 30, 2020
I'm so glad she got to see the movie before she passed--that was my first thought: Oh no, the movie about her is coming out...
Little proto-feminist me was thrilled by that song, even if it did start to turn into an earworm from overplay. It took quite a few years before I was able to listen to it later and appreciate it all over again. And like others, Angie Baby was the one that stuck with me the most. I might want to have a little retrospective now, even though it'll make me sad.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:27 AM on September 30, 2020
Little proto-feminist me was thrilled by that song, even if it did start to turn into an earworm from overplay. It took quite a few years before I was able to listen to it later and appreciate it all over again. And like others, Angie Baby was the one that stuck with me the most. I might want to have a little retrospective now, even though it'll make me sad.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:27 AM on September 30, 2020
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posted by Slithy_Tove at 12:09 PM on September 30, 2020
posted by Slithy_Tove at 12:09 PM on September 30, 2020
What a great voice. I was totally with her with "I Am Woman," though I was a guy in 11th grade.
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posted by lhauser at 12:57 PM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by lhauser at 12:57 PM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Everyone thinks she died. She still lives in a rock and roll radio.
posted by otherchaz at 1:31 PM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by otherchaz at 1:31 PM on September 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:02 PM on September 30, 2020
posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:02 PM on September 30, 2020
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posted by selfmedicating at 5:37 PM on September 30, 2020
posted by selfmedicating at 5:37 PM on September 30, 2020
Her 1972 song “I Am Woman”
Among the sadness for losing her, I get the double hit of sadness from the nostalgia of the long defunct Video Hits block. I’m pretty sure by the Ten ident the video was recorded right, smack when I was a teenager.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 8:24 PM on September 30, 2020
Among the sadness for losing her, I get the double hit of sadness from the nostalgia of the long defunct Video Hits block. I’m pretty sure by the Ten ident the video was recorded right, smack when I was a teenager.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 8:24 PM on September 30, 2020
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posted by daybeforetheday at 12:30 AM on October 1, 2020
posted by daybeforetheday at 12:30 AM on October 1, 2020
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By music and pop culture reporter Paul Donoughue, Australian ABC
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posted by freethefeet at 10:19 PM on September 29, 2020 [3 favorites]