Kim Gordon names five songs to heal a broken heart
As the effortlessly cool frontwoman of Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon brought a desperately needed sense of innovation and defiance to the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. Existing within a sphere dominated by men, the singer provided a breath of fresh air, infusing her work with feminism and paving the way for women in arty punk. Decades from the inception of Sonic Youth, Gordon has retained a permanent place as an icon and influence in alternative scenes, and for good reason.
Gordon’s excursions into punk and alt-rock, both as a soloist and as part of Sonic Youth, have become essential listening for budding riotous women with guitars, but she has also become an enduring reference point outside of her music. Between self-penned essays and feminist reading recommendations, her influence has extended far beyond Goo’s mammoth success.
For those who, understandably, take Gordon’s words as gospel, the Sonic Youth icon has even provided a collection of alternative female-focused breakup songs guaranteed to get you through heartbreak. Divulging the list in a conversation with Rolling Stone, Gordon’s picks entirely spotlight women in music, ranging from alt-rock contemporary PJ Harvey to modern indie folk star Angel Olsen.
Gordon’s first pick is ‘Roosevelt Island’, a groovy track from Eleanor Friedberger, which presents an optimistic look at the end of a relationship. “On ‘Roosevelt Island’, she sings about riding the train and there’s a line, ‘And it goes and it goes.’ And I think that song is kind of like, ‘See you on the other side of a breakup.’ It sounds actually hopeful,” Gordon explained.
The Sonic Youth star also picked out Aimee Mann’s ‘Save Me’ which she called a “classic”, and Lucinda Williams’ ‘Steal Your Love’, which she praised for its raw vulnerability. “The album Essence is such a great heartbreak record, and I love the lyrics, ‘I don’t want your drugs and I don’t want your money/I just want to steal your love,’” she specifies.
Her fourth pick comes from PJ Harvey’s 2004 record Uh Huh Her with ‘Shame’, a song she, fittingly, admires for its defiance. Gordon rounds out the list with a more modern choice – ‘Unfucktheworld’ by Angel Olsen. A song that marries simplicity with emotional devastation, Olsen herself never expected the track to take off, but it has become a well-loved modern break-up anthem.
Gordon was particularly enthusiastic about the lyric, “I am the only one now, you may not be around,” a succinct demonstration of Olsen’s power to distil huge emotions and hurt into stunning yet succinct lyricism. Gordon’s list is perfectly curated, sure to ease the pain of heartbreak, and reflects her own interests – it prioritises women who channel both defiance and vulnerability into music.
Find the full list of songs below.
Kim Gordon’s songs to heal a broken heart:
- ‘Roosevelt Island’ by Eleanor Friedberger
- ‘Save Me’ by Aimee Mann
- ‘Steal Your Love’ by Lucinda Williams
- ‘Shame’ by PJ Harvey
- ‘Unfucktheworld’ by Angel Olsen
