Others had to forge their own vocabularies, braving entrenched taboos because their chosen instrument or mode of expression was previously considered to be exclusively for men. Still others put their lives on the line by raising their voices at all, enduring ostracism or exile. The artists are defined as much by their impact on their cultures as by their gender, which is the point anyway. Musically speaking, the set is engrossing and an education. The cuts are well selected distillations of the singers' catalogues, bridged by segues calibrated to give each tune its best shot.
Song lyrics can be frank or elusive as the situation indicates.
In many cultures, passion is enacted behind a discreet veil of metaphor and it would be unspeakably rude to state the obvious. Also, empowered female sexuality tends to oppose conventional femininity and wreaks havoc on good-girl admonitions to remain chaste. Religion and morality are fervently praised or lampooned with irony, depending on whether the woman has experienced them as a solace or a prison. Social pariahs confront dominant patriarchies and call racism by its name in the full light of day. Public forums are raised with political commentaries baldly stated or else slyly couched for safety's sake.