both hands

I wish Ani Difranco spent more time exploring human relationships and less on girl-power politico stuff. The song Both Hands off the Living in Clip CDs is her using her great song writing skills to explore something that will remain timeless and powerful whereas the struggle for gender equity, while probably eternal, will change from decade to decade and date her material.

The live version features the Buffalo Philharmonic opening and closing the song to great emotional effect. She sings the song with this breathless intensity that is sort of her trademark style. (Although in other songs with lines like “My cunt is built like a wound that will not heal” it would be intense no matter who sang it) “Living in Clip” is great, which is I guess why Rolling Stone named it one of the ten must own CDs of the 90s. This song is the highlight for me though.

Every song I’ve ever treasured for its perceived insights into relationships has always become dated and silly with time. I wonder how long this one will last..