What’s Going On? Five Songs Written by Linda Perry
A brief history of the former 4 Non Blondes lead singer and songwriter’s life in songs.
Who is Linda Perry? I had never heard of Linda Perry. But it turns out she has written and co-written quite a few of the powerhouse hit songs that I find meaningful, as well as some I’d not heard of but now find equally meaningful.
I have presented five songs on a theme that signifies personal meaning in my life. I would like to invite you to do the same. ~ Rasheed Hooda
Linda Perry was formerly the lead singer of 4 Non Blondes which she left because the record company wanted the second 4 Non Blondes album to be the same as the first, which sold 7 million copies. The second album was never completed.
Her childhood, with the exception of a guitar given to her by her mother one day, was dreadful. Her mother believed punishment for playing with a dog was to put a collar and leash on her five-year-old daughter and leave her in the garden. As if that wasn’t bad enough, still aged five, Linda was molested by her sixteen-year-old half-brother, Mark.
John Perry, her other half-brother, saved her life after she found and swallowed a bottle of sleeping tablets. This was a turning point for her and her brother became her protector.
Linda’s pain and anger came out in her songs when she found her rock goddess raspy voice and started performing on stage.
At the age of twenty-one, she moved to San Francisco. At an open mike night, She was asked by Crista Hillhouse and Shaunna Hall to be their singer.
As she was writing What’s Up, her flatmate, Christa, heard her and actually stopped having sex to run down the hall to ask what Linda was playing! It became a crowd-pleaser at their gigs.
The band got their record deal in the summer of 1991. Their record producer had all sorts of ideas on how to change the song. Linda played along until one change too many forced her to go to the top of Interscope records.
She played both versions of the song to Jimmy Iovine. He chose her original version.
The song came out in 1992, the year my son was born. I remember it like it was yesterday, who doesn’t? Seven million copies were sold worldwide. The song spoke to me, a catchy tune, memorable words that are so easy to shout out! Feels good.
Cocaine, heroin, and booze played starring parts in her life at various times.
A solo album, reflecting her mood, called In Flight was critically acclaimed but it flopped big time in 1996.
“Both subtle and bombastic, sweet and aggressive, and intellectually and sonically challenging.” ~ Vincent Jeffrey, AllMusic
After the poor sales of her very personal album, Linda continued her use of drugs and alcohol for several years before she hit rock bottom. She shut herself in her house.
Her best friend, Aubin Crowell, said he thought she realised the drugs were taking her power.
One day she got out of bed and decided to go cold turkey and move to Los Angeles.
A drum machine replaced her guitar and she wrote a song but she didn’t have anyone to sing it until a year or so later. Linda had bowed out of performing her songs herself.
In spring of 2001, who should come knocking but a young upstart.
“What the f*ck is a Pink?” ~ Linda Perry
“Linda was my childhood idol, I stalked her, literally.” ~ Pink
Pink and Perry co-wrote seven songs including Mizunderstood on the album of the same name. However, jealousy caused a falling out between Linda and Pink when Linda started working with Christina Aguilera. The two became friendly again in 2003 after Perry admitted it was her fault.
Shirley Bassey also did a version of Get the Party Started. Far more sophisticated!
This song is impossible to ignore.
“For what it’s worth, I would use that darkness in you.” ~ Linda Perry
“Excuse me, what darkness?” ~ Christina Aguilera
“The darkness you’re hiding.” ~ Linda Perry
Aguilera knew the song Beautiful was for her. And Perry knew there was a dark side to the shy young woman whose career was in the formation stage. When the songwriter heard Christina whisper, “don’t look at me” she said it gave her chills because the younger woman had revealed her vulnerability.
This song is new to me today. Linda Perry and Natasha Bedingfield use words that are intended to unite the people of the world. When Angel Haze’s rap comes in my eyes well up and my throat catches.
Not written about any president in particular according to Songfacts but definitely fits into the long list of things that need to be addressed worldwide.
I hope you enjoyed the songs and getting to know Linda Perry a little as much as I did. If you’d like to watch the TV Show: Linda Perry Behind The Music you can find it here.
Linda does seem to have found her niche in life and is finally happy. The world and we are better off with her in it.
What I’m great at is helping other people to learn how to create who they are. ~ Linda Perry
Are you what you listen to?
I care about the world and I’m always asking what’s going on.
I can be the life and soul of the party and on occasion sophisticated.
I believe everyone could be beautiful if they love themselves and others.
Everybody coming together to heal the planet with the help of a world president would be the icing on the cake.
Yes, I am what I listen to. Are you?
This is a Rasheed Hooda challenge mentioned in his article Dream On!
